Uphill from plot ca. 40 m is a road (CR 22/?). Heavily used by log trucks and boaters accessing the middle Gauley (Put in for lower/ take out for upper). Below the plot ca. 50 m is a small ephemeral cove bottom which flows S to the river. Above rd. the community looks like sub-xeric oak. The cove bottom apprears the same as this plot.;Mid successional mixed-mesophytic forest on shale. Steep E facing gorge slope above a S flowing cove bottom. Somwhat rich community with a dense forb layer. Dense shady canopy causing the forest to feel cool and moist. The steepness and narrowness of the gauley gorge probably adds to this. Some garbage thrown from road above found in plot. Earthworms found in A layer.
Representativeness
(see aerial photo)
Small patch of mixed-mesophytic forest on E facing aspect. Similar to patches sampled at NERI but this area is smaller and less rich.