Lower positions on island are sparsely vegetated cobble/boulder bars along the main channel side of island. Upstream on back channel side of island supports a forest/woodland (plot 318) dissected by braided channels. At head of island are Justicia americana stands, a unique Platanus-Betula stunted woodland (plot 319) and patches of Carex emoryi.;Grassland on cobble, boulder alluvial island. Dominated by Andropogon gerardii, Baptisia australis and Hypericum prolificum with scattered Fraxinus, Platanus, and Betula. Seasonally or intermittantly flooded, but natural flood regime has been altered by Bluestone Dam upstream. Notably low diversity compared to similar grasslands sampled along the Gauley and Cheat Rivers.
Representativeness
ELU 1330 (low elevation dry flat on shale), near edge with 1333 (slope bottom), 323 (south facing cove?? wierd). Small patch of grassland which occurs on higher ground on the tail end of the island. The only well developed prairie community seen along the