Independance Oaks County Park

The sections designated within Independence Oaks consist of a large 229 acre section in the SE section of the park composed of a mosaic of southern hardwood swamp, hardwood-conifer swamp, and mesic southern forest, of which 14 acres apparently have never been logged and present a rare truly old growth condition, with the oldest trees being 300+ years in age (MNFI 2006). The dominant tree species varies across the area, but include tulip tree, red oak, yellow birch, white cedar, and white oak. This section shows no signs of plow or tillage with evidence of ancient tip-ups and a very high floristic quality and diversity.

The other two sections are old second growth forest totaling 73 acres, and are Oak dominated dry-mesic forests situated on rolling glacial topography in the central-western portions of the park. These sections were likely logged at some point, but are present as mature or maturing woodlots in aerial photography circa 1940, and contain a moderately high floristic quality and diversity.