Releve Virginia Division of Natural Heritage, see http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/nh_plotform_instructions.pdf
Overall Taxon Cover Values are Automatically Calculated?
no
Stem Observation Area
400
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
30
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
90
%
Nonvascular Cover
30
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot located in forested swamp just north of the most upstream beaver meadow 40 m west of main channel of Catharpin Creek in Jackson Hollow, 0.6 mi ESE of White Rock Spring and 0.8 mi ENE of Signal Mountain summit. Not permanently marked. Rock types present: quartzite boulders.
An absolutely beautiful example of forested seepage swamp vegetation, unfortunately highly threatened by the potential expansion of beaver clearings and meadows located just downstream. Toxicodendron vernix is impressively large and abundant here. This community's floristic composition features several more or less montane disjuncts (Glyceria melicaria, Isoetes valida, Veratrum viride, Maianthemum canadense, Anemone quinquefolia, Mitella diphylla) along with species more typical of low elevations in Virginia (Toxicodendron vernix, Woodwardia areolata, Carex seorsa).
Water pH and temperature data collected 2005-03-09. Mean groundwater pH (5 samples) = 5.03. Mean groundwater temperature (deg. C, 5 samples) = 6.22.
Soil Nutrient Status: low.
Soil profile and depth of surface organic matter variable. Dark, sandy loam is prevalent in the A-horizon; organic-rich muck locally in hollows.
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Logged in distant past. Beaver activity and invasive exotics, especially Microstegium vimineum, just downstream, pose serious threats.