Plot is on northeastern edge of remnant oxbow which remains flooded but has altered hydrology (constructed to the east) of the surrounding land. To the west of the plot moving from the water to the shoreline and up is a transition zone occupied by burr-reed and then a thick zone of alder swamp forest which transitions to patchy stand of sycamore - silver maple - box elder forest. Fragmented by mowed hay fields which extends 700ft until hitting the Ohio River. East of the boxbow a buffer zone of natural forest before hitting the railroad 400ft later and then the road another 150ft east.;Plot is in a flooded oxbow which no longer receives flood overflow from the Ohio River but remains flooded due to basin structure, clay soil, and burms around the oxbow which keep water ponding. Small alder stands have advanced out into the standing water on small island hummocks. Water lilies cover the surface of the pond with coontail submersed.
Representativeness
Plot was placed to capture Nymphea odorata signature which included rare Polygonum and Ceratophyllum echinatum. This is the dominant community in the oxbow.
