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 Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
90
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A relatively young ridgecrest oak forest dominated by Quercus rubra. There is considerable evidence that Castanea dentata was an important associate in this habitat prior to the arrival of the chestnut blight; the current abundance of Acer rubrum may have resulted from disturbance of the stand by chestnut mortality, logging or both. The understory and shrub layers of this forest contain at least ten ericads, including both southern (Vaccinium erythrocarpum, V. simulatum) and northern (Vaccinium angustifolium) species.
Mountain Lake area on crest of Salt Pond Mountain, just north of the War Spur - Appalachian Trail connector at a point 0.4 mi northeast of trailhead parking area on Rt. 613. Plot is located on forested flat just west of the small depression pond documented by plot JBNF013.
