ORIGINAL PURPOSE Protection of calcicolous vegetation, hydrology and geology as well as ecosystems representative of the Interior Douglas-fir zone Physical: The reserve lies mostly on the west-facing slope of a north-south trending ridge, about 300 m east of Columbia Lake and 150 m higher in elevation. Slope exposure is mostly to the west and southwest
ORIGINAL PURPOSE Preservation of representative ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir ecosystems in a prominent interior valley Physical: This reserve, located on the north side of the Thompson River valley, has two distinct landforms. Its northeastern half consists of steep, gullied slopes which drop away sharply from the Red Plateau to the north. These have much exposed
Physical: Biological: Most of the reserve consists of steep east to southeast-facing slopes formed by downcutting of Big Creek into the lava plateau. Small areas of more level topography include the Big Creek fan and terraces above the Chilcotin River. Surficial materials are primarily glacial till and fluvial deposits. Soils of grasslands and open woodland