releve Virginia Division of Natural Heritage, see http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/nh_plotform_instructions.pdf
Overall Taxon Cover Values are Automatically Calculated?
no
Stem Observation Area
400
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
31
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
0
m
Tree Cover
95
%
Shrub Cover
10
%
Field Cover
50
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot is located on the back side of a narrow levee along the Rivanna River. This habitat is flooded frequently for short periods, and was observed to be under about 45-50 cm of water on May 18, 2011, three weeks before the plot was sampled. Although deposits of mud and flood debris, as well as some flattened herbaceous vegetation, were still visible on June 9, much of the grassy herb layer had recovered and put on additional, upright growth. The forest stand consists of a seemingly even-aged stand of medium-sized Platanus occidentalis in the overstory, with younger cohorts of Fraxinus pennsylvanica in both the overstory and understory. Acer neguno is also fairly abundant, but strictly in the understory. The shrub layer is very open, and the herb layer dominated by Elymus macgregorii. Exotics, particularly Microstegium vimineum, are very abundant along this reach of the Rivanna River, but the area around the plot had much less than usual.
No leaf litter due to recent flooding
Soil is a deep, medium-brown to yellow-brown silty alluvium with no profile development
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Major flood debris and mud were present due to recent flooding in May, 2011. This site was probably used extensively for livestock grazing when the property was a working farm in the past.
