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
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Field Height
1
m
Field Cover
90
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This habitat is a 2 acre floating peat mat supporting an unusual community dominated by a vast colony of Scirpus subterminalis. The factors which caused the formation of the pond and peat mat are not known, but may have included the beavers, a road impoundment or both. The area probably once supported swamp forest and is currently in slow succession to palustrine scrub. The dam for the entire Smoots pond complex is privately owned and the complex is drained annually in the winter. The effects of this annual drain down on the community are not clear.
Plot location: West edge of Uppermost pond of Smoots Pond.
