Large river with little used railroad on one side. Downstream Tygart Junction has active tracks. Upland forests are sterile oak. Behind plot is oak - hickory / ericad forest on sandy alluvium (rarely floods).;Boulder bar frequently flooded, with warm aspect. Community is kept open by high energy floods. Community is dominated by Virginia pine, many knocked over and debarked, but still alive, others short by youth. Battered sycamore line the river's edge. Between the pines is lush tallgrass prairie with shrubs. Virginia pine has robust regeneration, but short life.
Representativeness
Plot samples most of small patch riverscour prairie with battered Virginia pine. Another patch is visible upstream across river.