The Boston Mountains is a Level III ecoregion designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. states of Arkansas and Oklahoma . Part of the Ozarks , the Boston Mountains are a deeply dissected plateau . The ecoregion is steeper than the adjacent Springfield Plateau to the north, and bordered on the south by the Arkansas Valley . The Oklahoma portion of the range is locally referred to as the Cookson Hills . There are several theories of how the mountains were named, though apparently none are related to the Massachusetts city.
15-604: The Boston Mountains ecoregion has been subdivided into two Level IV ecoregions . The ecoregion is mountainous, forested, and underlain by Pennsylvanian sandstone , shale , and siltstone . It is one of the Ozark Plateaus; some folding and faulting has occurred but, in general, strata are much less deformed than in the Ouachita Mountains . Maximum elevations are higher, soils have a warmer temperature regime, and carbonate rocks are much less extensive than in
30-876: A basis for risk analysis , resource management , and environmental study of the continent's ecosystems . In the United States, the EPA and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) are the principal federal agencies working with the CEC to define and map ecoregions. Ecoregions may be identified by similarities in geology , physiography , vegetation , climate , soils , land use , wildlife distributions, and hydrology . The classification system has four levels, but only Levels I and III are on this list. Level I divides North America into 15 broad ecoregions; of these, 12 lie partly or wholly within
45-490: Is low; recreation, logging, and livestock farming are the primary land uses. Water quality in streams is generally exceptional; biochemical, nutrient, and mineral water quality parameter concentrations all tend to be very low. Fish communities are mostly composed of sensitive species; a diverse, often darter-dominated community occurs along with nearly equal proportions of minnows and sunfishes. During low flows, streams usually run clear but, during high flow conditions, turbidity in
60-643: Is the Osage people ’s name for themselves in the Dhegiha Siouan language . Turner Ward Knob (TWK) is the second highest named peak, 2.2 miles (3.5 km) east of Wahzhazhe Summit. Located in western Newton County, Arkansas , its elevation is 2,463 feet (751 m). Nearby, four other unnamed peaks have elevations at or slightly above 2,560 feet (780 m). The other three highest peaks are located 4–5 miles (6.4–8.0 km) south-southwest of Turner Ward Knob along Arkansas Highway 16 . The Boston Mountains are
75-731: The Mulberry River , Lee Creek , Frog Bayou, Big Piney Creek, Illinois Bayou, and the Little Red River . To the south, the Arkansas River valley separates the Boston Mountains from the Ouachita Mountains . In Arkansas, the Boston Mountains are found in the following counties: Boone , Carroll , Cleburne , Conway , Crawford , Franklin , Independence , Johnson , Madison , Newton , Pope , Searcy , Stone , Van Buren , and Washington . In Oklahoma,
90-633: The Ozark Highlands . Physiography is distinct from the Arkansas Valley . Upland soils are mostly Ultisols that developed under oak-hickory and oak-hickory-pine forests . Today, forests are still widespread; northern red oak , southern red oak , white oak , and hickories usually dominate the uplands, but shortleaf pine grows on drier, south- and west-facing slopes underlain by sandstone. Pastureland or hayland occur on nearly level ridgetops, benches, and valley floors. Population density
105-457: The Boston Mountains are found in these counties: Adair , Cherokee , Muskogee , Sequoyah , and Wagoner . List of ecoregions in the United States (EPA) This list of ecoregions in the United States provides an overview of United States ecoregions designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). The CEC
120-579: The Boston Mountains tends to be greater than in the Ouachitas. Summer flow in many small streams is limited or non-existent but isolated, enduring pools may occur. The Boston Mountains are a physiographic section of the larger Ozark Plateaus province, which in turn is part of the larger Interior Highlands physiographic division. The area is underlain by Pennsylvanian sandstone, shale, and siltstone, where some folding and faulting has occurred. The sandstone beds become thinner with higher shale content in
135-418: The United States. Fifty Level II regions were created to allow for a narrower delineation of Level I areas. Three level I areas were not subdivided for level 2. Level III subdivides the continent into 182 smaller ecoregions; of these, 104 lie partly or wholly with the United States. Level IV is a further subdivision of Level III ecoregions. Level IV mapping is still underway but is complete across most of
150-769: The United States. For an example of Level IV data, see List of ecoregions in Oregon and the associated articles. The classification system excludes the U.S. state of Hawaii , which is not part of the North American continent. The corresponding CEC ecoregion in Canada is called the Pacific Maritime Ecozone . The corresponding CEC ecoregion in Canada is called the Montane Cordillera Ecozone . The corresponding name in Canada for
165-614: The same ecoregion is the Prairies Ecozone . These forests stretch from the Southern Appalachians towards Canada, up to the northern Midwest. For a general description of these forests, refer to Temperate Deciduous Forest . The standard reference is The Deciduous Forest of Eastern North America . The adjoining forests in Canada are generally referred to as the Mixedwood Plains Ecozone or
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#1732772526799180-655: The source of rivers and streams that flow out from the mountains in all directions. Within a 3 miles (4,800 m) radius of a point just west of the summits discussed above are located the sources of the White River , the Buffalo River , the Kings River , War Eagle Creek , and Little Mulberry Creek . Other rivers and streams having their headwaters in the Boston Mountains include the Illinois River ,
195-596: The southwestern part of the Ozark plateau where they are the highest portion of the Ozarks. Summits can reach elevations of just over 2,560 feet (780 m) with valleys 500 feet (150 m) to 1,550 feet (470 m) deep. Wahzhazhe Summit (formerly known as Buffalo Lookout), is the highest point in the Ozarks at 2,561 feet (781 m), and is located in the Boston Mountains, 3.4 miles (5.5 km) east of Pettigrew, Newton County, Arkansas , at N35.8637°, W093.4931°. Wahzhazhe
210-511: The west as the mountains decline in elevation. The range covers an area of 5,770 square miles (14,900 km). The rocks of the region are essentially little disturbed, flat-lying sedimentary layers of the Paleozoic age. The highest ridges and peaks are capped by Pennsylvanian sandstone and shale . The deeply eroded valleys are cut into Mississippian limestones and below that layer Ordovician dolomites . The Boston Mountains form
225-715: Was established in 1994 by the member states of Canada , Mexico , and the United States to address regional environmental concerns under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), the environmental side accord to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The Commission's 1997 report, Ecological Regions of North America , provides a framework that may be used by government agencies, non-governmental organizations , and academic researchers as
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