Riparian:
The riparian plant communities are vital to wild life in the Lake Earl and Lake Tolowa region. Riparian vegetation along the water courses are in some instances the only cover in the otherwise open pasture lands. The most common species associated with this habitat type include red alder, spruce, blackberry and salmonberry (Monroe et al, 1975).
Intertidal Mudflats and Channels:
These habitat areas aresubject to tidal exchange from the ocean. Due to the salinity, tidal fluctuations and scouring the channels, the mudflats are mostly lacking vegetation except for a few species of green, red, and brown algae (Monroe et al, 1975). Though lacking in vegetation these habitat types are extremely important to various wildlife species (Monroe et al, 1975).
Open Water:
The two lakes, Lake Earl and Lake Tolowa comprise 13% of the Lake Earl area (Monroe et al, 1975). The normal summer level of both lakes is four feet above sea level with a surface area of 2,500 acres (Monroe et al, 1975). The primary plant species found in these open water habitats are floating mats of yellow water lily, duckweed and water buttercup (Monroe et al, 1975). The type and density of these species is determined by water depth, salinity, and the composition of the bottom sediments (Monroe et al, 1975).
Coastal Sand Dunes:
The sand dunes in this area extend from Point Saint George to the Smith River. In some places the dunes extend inland 2,500 feet and can reach elevations of 60 feet above sea level (Monroe et al, 1975). These dunes create and maintain the natural barriers that are responsible for the formation of Lake Earl and Lake Tolowa (Monroe et al, 1975). Vegetation typical of dune habitat includes scattered saltgrass, pickleweed, beach strawberry and dune tansey (Monroe et al, 1975). Other plants that are common to this habitat type are European beach grass, sand verbena, silver weed, lupine and rush (Monroe et al, 1975). There are also scattered patches of Sitka spruce, shore pine, wax myrtle and silktassel (Monroe et al, 1975). In areas of the dunes where moisture is greater there are stands of sedges, rushes, clover and a variety of grasses (Monroe et al, 1975).