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
0
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
25
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
50
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: swampy ravine at east foot of High Point Mountain, 2.34 km NNW of Beverly Mill. Marked with a metal tree tag. See form/report for sketch. Rock types present: mixed metasedimentary alluvium / colluvium.
Numerous springs and seeps saturate this broad, headwaters stream bottom, which supports a notably species-rich wetland forest. Both the overall richness level and the prominence of certain species such as Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus nigra, and Carex prasina appear related to soils with relatively high base status. It seems possible that enhanced soil fertility results from groundwater in contact with basic rocks of the Catoctin formation shallowly underlying metasedimentary colluvium and alluvium. Although now reforested, much of the land just downslope from this seep appears to have been cleared in the past.
Water pH and temperature data were collected on 2005-03-09. Mean groundwater pH (5 samples) = 6.74. Mean groundwater temperature (deg. C, 5 samples) = 7.26.