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
50
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Cover
5
%
Shrub Cover
5
%
Field Cover
50
%
Nonvascular Cover
25
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot documents the only example of a "Shenandoah Valley sinkhole pond" occurring within (partly) the boundaries of Shenandoah National Park. Dozens of similar ponds occur on the alluvial fan deposits stretching along the western foot of the Blue Ridge in Augusta and Rockingham Counties, where they formed from local solution of deep underlying carbonate rocks and reworking of surficial material by streams. The example documented here is relatively small but representative of seasonally flooded ponds with mineral soil bottoms.
A very small plot (50 sq. m.) was sampled in order to capture compositional homogeneity and keep the plot rectangular within a very irregular opening.
Plot location: 0.4 mi. NW of jct. of Rts. 659 and 663 and south of Mt. Vernon Church. NPS boundary runs through plot.
