See obs. Point MONFO.32 (MONF.249). Although there is private land across the river it feels isolated. The only sound pollution is the squawking of a blue jay and an occasional low flying jet. Between this point and the river is upland Spruce - hemlock / Rhododendron forest community on the river levee. The old trail marked on the map goes above the wetland. So therefore it is naturally impounded whereas most floodplains are impounded by old roads or rail grades.;Open woodland dominated by red spruce and hemlock over an almost impenetrable wall of shrubs (Great Laurel, Mt. Laurel, Nemopanthus). This community looks remarkably similar to the last obs. point only much older. The entire wetland is most likely in an ancient oxbow which is mainly seepage fed. However during major flood events (100yrs.) it probably receives inputs from the river. The Ilex and the Photinia are both in fruit. Cored a T2 Red Spruce approximately 56 years old.
Representativeness
Community makes up roughly 1/3 of the forest signature on this floodplain. Medium-sized patch of woodland swamp. See aerial photo for atnd size.