NJ Natural Heritage Program, NJDEP Division of Parks and Forestry, Office of Natural Lands Management, 22 S. Clinton Ave, Plaza Bldg 4, Fl. 4, PO Box 404 Trenton, NJ, 08625-0404
From the intersection of Lockatong Creek and Rt. 12, enter woods from the SW corner of the bridge and follow stream for ~ 0.5km (direct line 0.46 km @ 235 degrees private property). It is easiest to enter woods from first home on Fitzer Rd. cross stream. Plot is on the N bank.
Lat/long is from NE corner. Coordinates for additional corners were not obtained. Plot is 20x20m.
Environment Fields:
Elevation
146.3
m
Slope Aspect
135
º
Slope Gradient
0
º
Topographic Position
Low level
Landscape Narrative
General Landscape Description: Floodplain forest located on N bank of Lockatong Creek. Forest lies about 5 feet above the level of the river, which is very shallow (6-12 inches) at this time. Stream is strong bottoms, slow moving and supports the growth of several aquatic species. Floodplain is about 350-750 feet wide in the section surveyed. To the N is a soybean field. Some parts of the streambank are undercut; others have a strong bar or terrace at the base of the slope. Quite a bit of flood debris is found in the floodplain.;
Soil Texture: Organic - muck; Mineral - clay loam
Von Post scale of peat decomposition: H9;
Organic Soil Horizon Type: Mull.
Overall Taxon Cover Values are Automatically Calculated?
no
Stem Observation Area
400
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(1) occurrence plot: sufficient for determining type occurrence
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
--no data--
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
General Description: Floodplain forest with co-dominant tree species Carya ovata, Fraxinus americana, Acer rubrum and Quercus palustris. It is located at the top of a rather sharp 3 degree slope up from the gravel bar at the slope base. Floodplain is relatively flat, with a few drainage ditches and seepage streams crossing it. Floodplain is located on both sides of Lockatong Creek, but this description is of the N bank. Floodplain varies from about 350-750 feet wide and terminates at its N edge at a soybean field. Shrub and forb strata are fairly dense. There is very little bare ground. Dominant shrub is Lindera benzoin. Microstegium vimineum is the dominant forb but is perhaps +/- 20% of the groundcover. Several large piles of flood debris indicate flooding this season. Soils are reddish brown loam and clay.; Evidence of Community Processes: Some scouring, undercut banks, piles of flood debris; General Comments: Floodplain is not as degraded as many others are. Invasive species are present but not dominant yet. Good diversity of forbs. Nyssa sylvatica not able to reproduce due to browsing.; Community Description: Floodplain forest dominated by Acer rubrum, Fraxinus americana and Carya ovata, located on the N bank of the NE to SW flowing Lockatong Creek. Low terrace that the floodplain sits on slopes downward to a gravel bar extending out into the river. To the N, the floodplain ands abruptly at a soybean field. Most of the floodplain is densely vegetated with thick forbs and shrubs, the dominant shrub being Lindera benzoin. Forb layer is also thick, partly with invasive species but also with a fairly dense mixture of other species. Numerous piles of flood debris litter the floodplain, especially toward the river. Upstream, the floodplain terrace has been scoured; little remains except trees. Soil has a thin, well-decomposed organic layer over clay loam or clay, with mottles appearing infrequently at about 50cm. Mottles increase in frequency with depth.
