Geology | Fresh Water | Soils | Plants | Animals Cultural Environment | Topics & Habitats

Geology and Landscape Development
Unit 411 covers an area in southwestern Nova Scotia that is southwest and west of the South Mountain Granite (sub-Unit 451a). The greywacke-dominated bedrock contains mica and hornblende schists, interfolded with slate in the central area. As suggested in the regional description, the occurrence of schists and soils developed from them is not clearly documented.

Belliveau Lake Click to enlarge

The present landscape, morphology, and drainage reflects several phases of glacial deposition (these are considered in more detail under Unit 421). The low-lying bedrock has been covered and its relief obscured by glacial deposits, but in places a system of west- and southward-trending valleys can be seen. The present drainage has been glacially imprinted and is to the south.

The surface deposits are of quartzite and schist tills with numerous low drumlins, 2-20 m high. Drumlins on the quartzite are lower and less frequent than on the schists.

A few small eskers are present south and east of Wentworth Lake in the centre of the Unit, but generally the most interesting glacial deposits are along the shores of St. Marys Bay, where outwash deposits, raised beaches, and deltas, usually less than 5 m deep, are found (these are considered in detail in the description of District 820).

Fresh Water
Drainage occurs through a deranged pattern of sluggish streams and, because the drumlins create additional impoundments,

Hydrocotyle (Water Pennywort), a rare Coastal Plain plant Click to enlarge

numerous lakes are scattered across the surface. The surface-water coverage in the southern part of this Unit is one of the highest in Nova Scotia. Lakes are generally shallow and dystrophic. Wetlands are scattered throughout, and concentrations of peat bogs are found in the southern areas.

Unit 411 contains most of the Tusket River, which is sluggish and meanders from one shallow lake to another. Productivity in this system is relatively high, and it is a favoured recreational area for salmon, trout, and gaspereau.

Conductivity in the lakes averages about 45 micromhos/cm, and pH ranges between 4.3 and 6.5.

Soils
The soils in this Unit are derived mostly from quartzite and schist and are, with the exception of scattered drumlinoid features, generally shallow and stony sandy loams. The major soils derived from quartzite series are well-drained Halifax Formation and imperfectly drained Danesville, with small areas of poorly drained Aspotogan soil and peat. The schists have developed Yarmouth, Mersey, Liverpool, Deerfield, and Pitman soils. Soil drainage patterns are very complex and are reflected in the varied plant cover (see Figure 13).

Plants
This Unit falls within the Wentworth Lake District of Loucks' Red Spruce, Hemlock, Pine Zone. Deeper soils on the tops of drumlins, derived from schists, support the shade-tolerant deciduous trees - Sugar Maple, Yellow Birch, American Beech with Red Oak - and some shade-intolerant hardwoods. More Red Spruce, hemlock, and pine occur on the lower slopes with birches and aspen.

Wilsons Lake Click to enlarge

Swamp stands are composed of Black Spruce, Balsam Fir, larch, and, in certain localized areas, White Cedar. Swamps of Red Maple and Black Ash are also a common feature. In oldfields, Red Spruce, White Spruce, and Balsam Fir are the colonizers, with White Pine invading oldfields and pastures on coarser soils.

Coastal-plain plants are found on lake margins, meadows, and bogs. Most common in the Tusket Valley, they include some endangered species such as Pink Coreopsis and Plymouth Gentian. Other
rare species include Water-pennywort and Dwarf Chain Fern.

Animals
This Unit provides moderately good wildlife habitat, particularly for wintering Bald Eagles, migratory Woodcock (fall), Snowshoe Hare, and bobcats. The brush barrens in the southern portions provide abundant berries, and Black Bear are common. The Tusket River provides habitat for a diversity of freshwater molluscs and arthropods, some with coastal-plain affinities. Typical fish include Gaspereau, White Perch, Yellow Perch, Brook Trout, White Sucker, Chain Pickerel, Golden Shiner, and Brown Bullhead. The Atlantic Whitefish was once found in this area, but appears to be extirpated.

Cultural Environment
Part of this area makes up the French shore of Nova Scotia, where Acadians settled on their return after 1763. Backland forests have experienced repeated cutting and fires. Forest management is economically important here. Hydroelectric power has been harnessed at Weymouth Falls. The Tusket River supports an important Gaspereau fishery. The Tusket Valley runs through this area. A small area on Wilsons Lake has been designated as an ecological reserve to protect the habitat of rare coastal-plain plant species. Tin deposits were mined around Kemptville in the 1980s, but the mine was closed down in the early 1990s because of plummeting tin prices.

Sites of Special Interest

• Hectanooga (IBP Proposed Ecological Site 54) - largest known stand of White Cedar in Nova Scotia
• Belliveau Lake (IBP Proposed Ecological Site 57) - spring-fed lake with diverse aquatic plant communities, only known locality for Sweet Pepperbush

Ecological Reserves

• Tusket River Nature Reserve

Provincial Parks and Park Reserves

• Ogden Lake

Proposed Parks and Protected Areas System includes Natural Landscape 60.

Scenic Viewpoints

• Lake Vaughan

Associated Topics T2.2 The Avalon and Meguma Zones T3-4 Terrestrial Glacial Deposits and Landscape Features T4.1 Post-glacial Climatic Change T10.12 Rare and Endangered Plants T11.4 Birds of Prey T11.8 Land Mammals T12.3 Geology and Resources T12.10 Plants and Resources T12-11 Animals and Resources

Associated Habitats H3 Freshwater H4 Freshwater Wetlands H5.1 Barren H6.2 Softwood Forest (Spruce, Fir, Pine Association; Spruce, Fir Association) H6.3 Mixedwood Forest (Spruce, Fir, Pine-Maple, Birch Association)

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