Date Acquired: 2008

 

Location: Near Highway 95 and Route 540

Trails: None

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          Morrison Lake is a 52.5 ha preserve located in Richmond, New Brunswick, near the junction of Highway 95 and Route 540. The property protects Morrison Lake, a spring-fed lake, along with its outlet stream, Mill Brook, and an extensive forested wetland. Although situated away from the main stem of the Meduxnekeag River, the preserve safeguards an important tributary ecosystem that plays a vital role in maintaining water quality and aquatic habitat throughout the watershed.

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          Mill Brook flows from Morrison Lake to the Meduxnekeag River and is recognized as one of the watershed's important coldwater tributaries. Its cool, well-oxygenated water provides excellent spawning and nursery habitat for brook trout and other salmonids. During the warm summer months, the coldwater plume entering the Meduxnekeag creates a thermal refuge that attracts fish seeking relief from elevated river temperatures, underscoring the importance of protecting intact headwater systems.

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          The forests surrounding Morrison Lake are characteristic of riparian wetlands within the Meduxnekeag watershed. Poorly drained areas support hydrophilic tree species such as yellow birch, black spruce, tamarack, eastern hemlock, and eastern white cedar, while slightly elevated sites transition into mixed-wood forest with sugar maple, red maple, balsam fir, and a diverse assemblage of ferns, mosses, and native understory plants. Together, these habitats provide shelter and breeding areas for amphibians, reptiles, migratory birds, aquatic invertebrates, and numerous other wetland-dependent species.

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          Although Morrison Lake is not accessible to the public, its ecological value extends far throughout the Meduxnekeag watershed. Wetlands such as Morrison Lake naturally filter sediments and nutrients, store floodwaters, recharge groundwater, and regulate streamflow throughout the year. The surrounding forest helps stabilize soils, maintain cool water temperatures, and reduce erosion before water reaches the Meduxnekeag River.

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          Written by Devon Bustard