Higher floodplain bars with more diversity (big blue stem, Stachys, Platanus, and Ptilimnium - see plot MORG.7) sometimes abut these low cobble bars. Floodplain forest shades the banks. Road runs ca. 100 meters from the stream with floodplain forest in buffer. Forests are weedy (Tree of Heaven and Microstegium present). ATV trail connects road and weeds to stream.;Low in-stream cobble bars on both banks of Sleepy Creek. Cobble/sand bars are level and 0-20 cm above current water level. They are certainly inundated during high flows. Stream is very slow-moving with current water depth 5-20 cm. Cobble bars are kept open by high water table and flood scour. Community is shaded on banks by floodplain forest. Ptilimnium is in full bloom and quite spectacular.
Representativeness
Plot was placed to sample cobble bars with Justicia - Ptilimnium community. This community extends up and downstream with little variation in this stretch of river.
