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Tug Hill Plateau

Ecoregion in NY

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A combination of lake effect and orographic effect brings high amounts of rain and snow to the Tug Hill Plateau. The moisture picked up by winter clouds across warmer lake water and the subsequent uplift of clouds to higher elevations create belts of high precipitation downwind of the Great Lakes. The central core of the Tug Hill Plateau is elevated because it is underlain by Oswego sandstone that is not as erodible as the surrounding shales and siltstones. The topography of the surface of the plateau is flat and covered by dense glacial till. The flat topography and high annual precipitation amounts contribute to a high density of swamps and bogs. Like the Rensselaer Plateau (58ag), the Tug Hill Plateau is valued for its large contiguous block of forested land that is important for wildlife and water quality. In the mid-20th century, after widespread logging and farm abandonment, the plateau was reforested by successional hardwoods and large areas have been replanted to pine plantations.

— EPA

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