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
75
%
Field Cover
90
%
Nonvascular Cover
10
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: along tributary of Catletts Branch, 1.04 km south of Hopewell Gap and 0.63 km east of High Point Mtn. Summit. Permanently marked with a metal tree tag (see form report/form for sketch). Rock types present: quartzite boulders and fragments.
Despite the presence of an unsightly trash dump on the adjoining slope, this habitat is an exemplary seep supporting undisturbed seepage-swamp vegetation. The small bottom here is saturated by groundwater that emerges from several springs and is characterized by variable microtopography, including small spring runs, mucky hollows, and somewhat better-drained hummocks. The plot has a reasonable diversity of woody species, with Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, Alnus serrulata, and Chionanthus virginicus dominant. Symplocarpus foetidus and several ferns, including Osmundastrum cinnamomeum, Osmunda spectabilis, and Parathelypteris noveboracensis, are abundant in the herb layer.
Water pH and temperature data collected on 2005-03-09: mean groundwater pH (2 samples) = 6.30. Mean groundwater temperature (deg. C, 2 samples) = 7.80.