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Forested habitat comprises 13% of the Oak Lake station. Much
of this forest occupies East and North facing slopes around the perimeter
of Oak Lake. Bur oak, green ash, peach willow and wild plum are common
species.
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Tallgrass prairie comprises 66% of the station area. Fire
is used as a management tool to reduce dominance of introduced cool season
grasses and promote native warm season grasses and prairie forbs.
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Aquatic habitats comprise 8% of station area. The field station
sits within the Prairie Pothole Region and harbors several temporary and
seasonal wetland basins. Oak Lake (shown
left) lies adjacent to station property. Several small spring-fed
drainages flow into Oak Lake.
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Much of the Oak Lake watershed is managed for agricultural production.
Grazed and cultivated acreages are prevalent throughout the watershed.
One small field is maintained on field station property as a food plot
for wildlife.
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Spring snowmelt contributes water to the Oak Lake basin during
March 2002.
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