Surrounding wetland is approximately 100 acres in size in "basin" below cleared/grazed mountaintops. Cattle graze vegetation severely but soils are not too compacted to be restored. Half of wetland will be fenced off permanently, the other half will be livestock free on a seasonal basis only. Greenbrier limestone outcrops on slopes above wetland contributing to circumneutral nature of the west end of site. Sandstone underlies east end. Various rare species associated - especially with circumneutral side of wetland. Slight alder thicket in middle of site and Rhamnus alnifolia clonal patches on east end. Wetland primarily dominated by graminoids - large Carex zones and Glyceria zones. Landowner reports that this site was a fir-spruce wet forest at turn of century when logged - none now!;Alnus rugosa dominated wet shrubland, but heavily impacted by cattle grazing. Alder are more sparse than to be expected --> partially due to cattle trampling and possibly due to fact that soils are too dry and compacted -- not any surface water -- and doubt if there has been for years. The herbs that dominate the ground cover are not really any different than the Grass/Carex type that dominates the majority of Blister Swamp. I would assume this shrubland is going that direction over time -- due to impacts -- or that this is just a herbaceous community with sparse shrubs localized in the wettest portions. Could recover though with fencing.
livestock compaction; Very heavily browsed and trampled. Worst part of site. Cows use this shrub zone to graze and shade in - probably why it is so impacted. It is "possible" for this shrubland to recover - given care- hydrological impacts may be to great, though. To be seen.
