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Catskill High Peaks

Ecoregion in Catskill Park, Appalachian Mountains in NY

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The Catskill High Peaks ecoregion contains the same horizontal strata of sandstone, shale, and siltstone as those underlying the surrounding Northern Allegheny Plateau (Ecoregions 60c and 60a); however, the Catskill High Peaks are capped by sandstones and conglomerates that resist erosion, and their summits rise up to 2000 feet above the plateau. The Catskill High Peaks are included in the Northeastern Highlands ecoregion (58) because they contain some boreal elements at higher elevations above 3000 feet, such as red spruce, balsam fir, quaking aspen, yellow birch, red-backed vole, and Bicknell’s thrush. Transition hardwoods species typically found in the warmer climate of the Hudson Valley (59i) penetrate the southern and eastern Catskills to high elevations up major alluvial valleys and on south-facing slopes. Streams in the Catskills High Peaks are at risk for acidification, although there has been some recovery, indicated by improved stream chemistry, in the past decade.

— EPA

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