Northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) has been described as an opportunistic, pioneer species adapted to mesic sites, though its presence and site-specific occurrence in extreme soil-water conditions is not well understood. Fifty woodlots were investigated for the presence of Q. rubra on the Maumee lake plain of southeastern Michigan. Although it was found widespread geographically, Quercus rubra was observed only in dry-mesic to mesic ecosystems where adequate moisture remains throughout the growing season on sand, sand/clay, and clay lake plain landforms. Quercus rubra was absent in sand lake plain ecosystems of nutrient-poor, deep sand (>200 cm to clay), and from high sand ridges that were not adjacent to swampy depressions. Within the sand lake plain it was observed only on relatively mesic, well- to somewhat poorly-drained ecosystems. In all landforms, Q. rubra was absent in seasonally inundated depressions. Successful overstory recruitment of Q. rubra was very rare, with the exception of a single site on the sand lake plain. Lacking major disturbances in the overstory, Q. rubra will likely be replaced by basswood (Tilia americana L.) and elm (Ulmus spp.) on the clay lake plain, sugar (Acer saccharum Marsh.), and black maple (Acer nigrum Michx. f.) on the sand/clay lake plain, and red maple (Acer rubrum L.), black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), and sugar maple on the sand lake plain. Further studies with a particular focus on water-table relations are necessary to predict future migrations of Q. rubra under a warming climate.