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AUG 7 1984j
Natural Areas Inventory
of
Carteret County, North Carolina
John O. Fussell III
Morehead City, N.C.
Jeannie Wilson
Hampton Mariners Museum
Beaufort, N.C.
JUNE 1983
North Carolina
Coastal Energy Impact Program
Office of Coastal Management
North Carolina Department of Natural Resources
and Community Development
CEIPREP0RTN0.9
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Box 27687
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Series Edited by James F. Smith
Cover Design by Jill Miller
NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF
CARTERET COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
for
The North Carolina Natural
Heritage Program
Coastal Natural Area Inventory Project
by
John 0. Fussell III'
and
2
Jeannie Wilson
The preparation of this report was financed through a Coastal
Energy Impact Program grant provided by the North Carolina
Coastal Management Program, through funds provided by the
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, which is
administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources
Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
This CEIP grant was part of NOAA grant NA-79-AA-D-CZ097 .
CEIP REPORT NO. 9
June 1983
1412 Shepard Street
Morehead City, N. C. 28557
2
Hampton Mariners Museum
Beaufort, N. C. 28516
200 copies of this public document were
printed at a cost of $14 15, or $7.08 per copy,
1^"
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Editor's Preface iv
Introduction and General Discussion 1
Bibliography 5
National and Statewide Priority Areas 8
Carrot Island-Horse Island-Bird Shoal Complex 8
Cedar Island Marshes 28
Cedar Island-North Bay Barrier Island 36
Core Banks and Portsmouth Island 4 1
Croatan Pocosins 45
Minis Road Longleaf Pine Savanna and Pocosin 54
Patsy Pond Natural Area 80
Shackleford Bank 99
Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area 105
Regional Priority Areas 112
Atlantic Natural Area 113
Browns Island. 134
Emerald Isle Woods 150
Hadnot Creek on White Oak River 170
Hadnot Creek Ponds and Longleaf Pine Woodlands 178
Masontown Pocosin 183
North River Marshes 187
Pr ingle Road Carolina Bays 196
Sea Gate Woods 200
Union Point Pocosin 2 12
Walker's Mill Pond 217
Wildberry Woods 239
i
LIST OF MAPS
Page
1. Carteret County Natural Areas 7
2. Rachel Carson Sanctuary and Its Environs 9
3. Cedar Island - North Bay Barrier Island 40
4. Core Banks - Portsmouth 44
5. Croatan Forest Peat Deposits 50
6. Pocosin Natural Area 51
7. Pocosin Natural Area 52
8. Pocosin Natural Area 53
9. Minis Road Longleaf Pine Savannah Natural Area 73
10. Patsy Pond Natural Area 83
11. Patsy Pond Natural Area 97
12. Shackleford Banks 104
13. Roosevelt Natural Area 106
14. Ownership of Theodore Roosevelt Tract 108
15. Atlantic Natural Area 114
16. Atlantic Natural Area Significance Summary 1 !6
17. Brown's Island 135
18. Western Portion of Brown's Island 137
19. Emerald Isle Woods 15 1
20. Ownership Map of Emerald Isle Natural Area 153
21. Hadnot Creek 17 1
22. Hadnot Creek Ponds and Longleaf Pine Woodland 179
23. Masontown Pocosin 184
24. North River Marshes 188
ii
LIST OF MAPS
Page
25. Pringle Road Carolina Bays 197
26. Sea Gate Woods 201
27. Union Point Pocosin 213
28. Walkers Mill Pond Natural Area 220
29. Wildberry Woods 240
111
PREFACE
The North Carolina Office of Coastal Management and the
North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, both units of the
Department of Natural Resources and Community Development,
have commissioned a series of natural areas inventories for
ten counties in the coastal zone of this state. The Carteret
County inventory was conducted in 1980 and was financed by
a Coastal Energy Impact Program (CEIP) grant. CEIP funded
the Carteret County survey because of the potential environ-
mental impacts of peat mining and other energy-related
development.
The recommendations in this report by John Fussell and
Jeannie Wilson are advisory. Their inventory and recommenda-
tions are designed to help state and federal agencies, county
officials, resource managers, landowners and developers
work out effective land management and preservation mechanisms
to protect the outstanding or exemplary natural areas de-
scribed in this report. Agencies such as the N.C. Division
of Environmental Management, Division of Land Resources,
Division of Marine Fisheries, Wildlife Resources Commission,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
National Marine Fisheries Service, and Environmental Protec-
tion Agency should find this report useful, as may university
researchers, private consultants, and private conservation
groups. The Office of Coastal Management will use the report
in assessing permit applications and for federal and state
consistency reviews.
Jeannie Wilson and John Fussell are experienced field
biologists, with intimate familiarity with the ecological
resources of the project region. The investigators were
exceptionally well qualified to identify, describe, and
evaluate the most outstanding natural areas of the project
region.
Project investigators were instructed to identify natural
areas that contain highly unique, endangered, or rare natural
features, or high-quality representations of relatively un-
disturbed natural habitats, and which may be vulnerable to
threats and damage from land use changes. Consequently,
the investigators were advised not to report extensively
on the large expanses of brackish and salt marshes, that
fringe most of the county's shoreline, and which, for the
most part, are ecosystems protected through state and
federal regulatory programs. The investigators did not
report on the barrier islands composing Cape Lookout National
Seashore (Core, Portsmouth, and Shackelford islands).
iv
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Carteret County possesses extraordinary natural diversity.
The original document compiled by Fussell and Wilson con-
tained reports on 23 natural areas. It has been necessary
to reduce that number to those areas considered to possess
ecological resources of national, statewide, or regional
significance. Descriptions for other sites of local
interest are obtainable from the Natural Heritage Program.
National and Statewide Significance (High)
Carrot Island - Bird Shoals
Cedar Island Refuge Natural Area
Core Banks and Portsmouth Island
Shackle ford Banks
Croatan Pocosins
Minis Road Savanna and Swales with Pocosins
Patsy Pond Complex
Roosevelt Natural Area
Bogue Inlet Heronry
Core Sound (Wainwright) Nesting Islands
Dump Island Nesting Colony
Morgan Island Nesting Colony
Phillips and Annex Islands Nesting Colonies
Regional Significance (Medium)
Atlantic Natural Area
Browns Island
Emerald Island Woods
Hadnot Creek Natural Area
Hadnot Creek Ponds and Longleaf Woods
Masontown Pocosin
North River Marshes
Pringle Road Carolina Bays
Sea Gate Woods
Union Point Pocosin
Walkers Millpond Area
Wildberry Woods
White Oak River - Cedar Point Marshes
The Office of Coastal Management, and the Coastal
Resources Commission which it serves, implement the
Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 (CA^IA) . Under this
statute, the North Carolina Coastal Management Plan
has been prepared and approved. It includes the
definition and designation of various Areas of Environ-
mental Concern (AEC). In some cases, AECs coincide
with natural areas that are herein recommended for
preservation or special management. In come cases,
AECs may encompass other areas — such as marsh zone
wetlands — which are not extensively treated in this
inventory.
Peat mining has particular implications for these
natural areas, some of which overlay exploitable peat
deposits. Mining will remove natural vegetation,
permanently alter the hydrology of the region, lower
surface soil types from high organic histosoils to the
clayey, sandy, and loamy soils typical of other parts
of the outer coastal plain. Thus, natural communities,
once mining is complete, almost certainly could never
be re-established or reclaimed on mined-out land.
Preservation of the best natural areas, and appropriate
hydrological management, is necessary prior to and
during active peat mining.
The Natural Heritage Program is most pleased to have
had this opportunity to conduct this project for the
Office of Coastal Management. The inventory has revealed
a number of high quality natural areas that possess
natural elements of national and statewide priority and
are important parts of North Carolina's natural diversity,
Some of the identified sites were previously unknown and
undocumented by the state's scientific community. The
Natural Heritage Program hopes that these areas will be
protected for the benefits of present and future genera-
tions of North Carolinians and for the preservation of
the state's truly exceptional natural heritage.
Charles E. Roe, Coordinator
N.C. Natural Heritage Program
November 18, 1982
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INTRODUCTION
Purposes of Study
The goals of this study were to identify and map
the most significant "natural areas" of the county.
These include exemplary physical features, exemplary
plant communities, and special habitats. Special
habitats — habitats harboring rare species and/or
notably large populations — may or may not be asso-
ciated with exemplary physical features or plant
communities. Also, we prepared reports, according to
Natural Heritage Program specifications, on natural
areas that had not previously been reported on.
Brief Description of Carteret County
Excluding water area, Carteret is a medium-sized
(land area about 340,000 acres) but long (axis oriented
generally WSW-ENE) county on the central North Carolina
coast. Especially prominent physical features are the
great length of barrier islands (including a Carolina
cape — Cape Lookout); large shallow sounds and other
estuaries); extensive tracts of salt marshes, especially
the irregularly flooded marshes (ca. 38,600 acres),
which are primarily in the NE half of the county; and
extensive pocosins — poorly drained flatlands dominated
by stunted pond pines (Pinus serotina) and several
broadleaf evergreen shrubs. Also notable are several
Pleistocene relict beach ridge complexes with their
associated Carolina bays. These ridges support the
majority of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) woodlands
and savannahs found in the county.
Until recent years, the great majority of the land
area of the county was "undeveloped". As recently as
1965, most towns and communities, agriculture and
sylviculture were largely restricted to well-drained
sections of the mainland adjacent to the estuaries
or larger drainage systems. Since then the barrier
island Bogue Banks has been converted from a mostly
undeveloped to a mostly developed island. In the last
decade, vast areas of pocosin (which formerly totaled
over 118,000 acres in the county) have been converted
to sylviculture and agriculture. One agricultural
enterprise alone, the Open Grounds Farm, has converted
over 30,000 acres of pocosin to agriculture. Only about
half of the original pocosin area of the county remains.
Most of this is in Croatan National Forest in the
western half of the county.
- 2 -
Public lands that contain significant areas of
physical features, plant communities, and special habitats
are Cape Lookout National Seashore (generally unaltered
barrier islands); Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge
(vast area of mostly unaltered irregularly-flooded salt
marsh-brackish marsh) ; Croatan National Forest (Pleistocene
relict beach ridge complex with Carolina bays, pocosin,
freshwater ponds, exemplary longleaf pine savannah);
Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area (Holocene relict beach
ridge complex vegetated with maritime forest and other plant
communities) .
Previous Work on Natural Areas of County
Being the site of one or more marine science labora-
tories since the turn of the century, Carteret County
has long had a wealth of literature dealing with the
marine biology and ecology of the area. However, broad
studies of terrestrial sites and land plants and animals
have begun only recently. The broadest (in terms of
area covered) studies we have seen are Engels (1952)
(vertebrate animals of Shackleford Banks); Fisher (1962)
(geology of all former inlet sites); Fisher (1967)
(geology of relict beach ridges on mainland and barrier
islands); Au (1969) (ecology, plant communities, plant
species lists of Shackleford Banks); Godfrey and Godfrey
(1976) (geology and ecology of Core and Shackleford
Banks); Mixon and Pilkey (1976) (detailed geology of
majority of county); Fussell (1978) (plant communities
and terrestrial verebrate animals of Bogue Banks);
Osborn and Custer (1978) (thorough censuses and maps
of all wading bird colonies in 1975 and 1976); Synder
(1978) (plant ecology, plant communities of portion
of Croatan National Forest); Parnell and Soots (1979)
(thorough censues and maps of all waterbird colonies in
1977). In addition to these major papers, we have in
the past and as part of this study gone over many
(probably hundreds) papers dealing either directly or
indirectly with the geology and biology of the county.
Our primary source of information regarding the
numerous localities of endangered, threatened, and other
rare species was the Natural Heritage Program's data bank
computer printout of reported occurrences.
Thirteen reports to the Natural Heritage Program on
significant natural areas in the county - Fuller (1978),
Wilson (1978), Wilson and Fuller (1978), Fussell and
Wilson (1979), Otte and Whetstone (1979), Wilson and
Fussell (1979), and Fussell and Wilson (1980) - have
been done prior to this study. They include some of the
highest priority areas; these reports are included with
this study.
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- 3 -
This Study
This study was conducted from July to December 1980.
During July and August, we did preliminary literature
searches and mapping. We reviewed the Natural Heritage
Program computer print-out on Carteret County, contacted
several persons who are knowledgeable about different
aspects of the natural areas of the county, reviewed
orthophotoquads , 1971-1979 aerial photography, and topo-
graphic quadrangles, and reviewed the unpublished Soil
and Conservation Service soil survey of the county. We
purchased several 1971ASCS aerial photographs for use in
field work. Some persons contacted were: Dr. Gene
Huntsman, Bob Simpson, Rick Carraway, and Mike Alford —
all local outdoorsraen; Dr. Frank Schwartz — ichthyologist
at UNC Institute of Marine Sciences; Dr. Julian —
herpetologist at College of Charleston, has done much
collecting in this county; John Collier — county land
surveyor; Susan Schmidt — Office of Coastal Management
at Morehead City; and Charles Johnson — invertebrate
zoologist at the N.C. Marine Resources Center on Bogue
Banks .
WTiile designating and mapping tentative natural areas,
we stressed areas in which significant physical features,
plant communities, and special habitats were "clumped".
We also thought in terms of a general cross-section of
physical and biological features, e.g. what is the best
example of Pleistocene beach ridges, Holocene beach
ridges, Carolina bays, pocosins, etc.
On 25 August, we made a systematic two hour flight
over the county with the county surveyor, John Collier.
We hoped to further evaluate potential naturel areas
from the air and to ascertain if all the large roadless
areas shown on the most recent State Forest Service map
of the county (shows all roads) made in 1978 were still
intact. Our flight accomplished the second goal but not
the first; we found aerial photographs to be more helpful.
From the first week of September through November, we
surveyed 23 areas we had identified as being of potential
interest. We compiled four long reports and 19 short
reports on these areas. In general we made long reports
for the most significant or most complex areas, and made
short reports on the less significant or the "simplest"
(although these might be significant) areas — e.g. a
tract of pocosin that's primary value is in its large
roadless extent. We made no report on one very signifi-
cant area — the largest pocosin in Croatan National
Forest. However, we did survey three adjacent smaller
- 4
pocosins. We were not able to visit "Luken's Island"
which is very inaccessible and which may be a highly
significant area; we compiled a report on that area
based on observations by a person who is very knowledgeable
about the area. Approximately 4-5 days in the field were
required for each area described by a long report. Also,
for each of these areas, we included data previously
collected by us at various times as early as 1970.
Approximately one day in the field was spent at each of
the areas described by a short report.
From late October to December, we refined our maps of
selected natural areas and compiled the reports. Approxi-
mately 3-4 days were required for each of the long reports
and one day for each of the short reports.
Our final report includes: 1) a set of topographic
quadrangles and a set of orthcphotoquads , each with
primary physical features, plant communities, and special
habitats mapped; 2) a "key" describing primary values
and a general rating of all mapped areas; 3) copies of
our 13 previous reports on natural areas of the county;
4) our 23 reports prepared for this study.
Recommendat ions
Descriptions of the county's natural areas of greatest
ecological significance are included in this document.
These are (see Map 1):
National and Statewide Priority Areas
Carrot Island-Horse Island-Bird Shoal Complex
Cedar Island Marshes
Cedar Island-North Bay Barrier Island
Core Banks and Portsmouth Island
Croatan Pocosins
Minis Road Longleaf Pine Savanna and Pocosin
Patsy Pond Natural Area
Shackle ford Bank
Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area
Regional Priority Areas
Atlantic Natural Area
Browns Island
Emerald Island Woods
Hadnot Creek on White Oak River
Hadnot Creek Ponds and Longleaf Pine Woodlands
Masontown Pocosin
North River Marshes
Pr ingle Road Carolina Bays
Sea Gate Woods
Union Point Pocosin
Walker's Mill Pond
Wildberry Woods
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- 5 -
Information on other sites reported on by Fussell and Wilson
or others may be obtained on request from the Natural Heritage
Program, NC DNRCD. These sites include:
Alligator Tram Road Loblolly Pine Forest
Crow Hill (Huntley's) Impoundment
Fort Macon Park Natural Area
Grantsboro "Shoreline"
Hunter's Creek
Jarrett Bay Waterfowl Impoundment
Little Deep Creek Road Pocosin
Luken's Island
Lake Ellis-Simon Sweet Gum Forest
Nine Foot Road Ponds
Northwest Prong of Newport River
Southwest Prong of Newport River
U.S. Forest Service Road 177 Longleaf Pine Woodland
Ward's Creek Marshes
White Oak River and Cedar Point Marsh
Wolf Swamp
Lastly, in Map 1, we have shaded the most significant
colonial waterbird colonies in the county, i.e. those having
over 500 nests of breeding brown pelicans (endangered).
Details about these colonies are in the "key" accompanying
the topographic quadrangles.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Au, S-F. 1969. Vegetation and Ecological Processes on
Shackleford Banks, North Carolina. PhD. dissertation.
Duke Univ.
Engels, W.W. 1952. Vertebrate fauna of North Carolina
coastal islands II. Shackleford Banks. Am. Midi . Nat .
47:702-742.
Fisher, J.J. 1962. Geomorphic Expression of Former Inlets
along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Masters thesis.
UNC-Chapel Hill.
Fisher, J.J. 1967. Development Pattern of Relict Beach
Ridges, Outer Banks Barrier Chain, N.C. PhD. dissertation.
UNC-Chapel Hill.
Fussell, J.O. 1978. Bogue Banks Study — Bogue Banks, North
Carolina: A Description of Vegetative Communities and
Annotated Lists of Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals,
and Endangered and Threatened Species. N.C. Depart, of
Admin., Off. of Marine Affairs.
Godfrey, P.J. and M.M, Godfrey. 1976. Barrier Island Ecology
of Cape Lookout National Seashore and Vicinity, North
Carolina. Natl. Park Serv. Scient. Monog. Series No. 9.
- 6 -
Mixon, R.B. and O.H. Pikley. 1976. Reconnaissance Geology of
the Submerged and Emerged Coastal Plain Province, Cape Lookout
Area, North Carolina. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 859.
Osborn, R.G. and T.W. Custer. 1978. Herons and their Allies:
Atlas of Atlantic Coast Colonies, 1975 and 1976. U.S. Depart,
of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.
Parnell, J.F. and R.F. Soots. 1979. Atlas of Colonial Water-
birds of North Carolina Estuaries. UNC Sea Grant Publ. 78-10.
Snyder, J. 1978. Analysis of Coastal Plain Vegetation, Croatan
National Forest, North Carolina. Veroff. Geobot. Inst. ETH
Stiftung Ruble, Zurick 69. Heft. 40-113. ,
Soots, R. and J. Parnell. 1979. Inland Heronries of North
Carolina. Chat 43: 10-15.
Soil Conservation Service, USDA. 1979. Soil Survey of ,
Carteret County, N.C. (interim report).
Carrot Island-Horse Island-Bird Shoal Complex
Name of Area: Carrot Island, Horse Island, Bird Shoal, and
associated spoil islands.
County: Carteret
Location Description: The area covered by this report is all
high land and all intertidal land (mud and sand flats and
marshes) that is bounded by Taylor Creek on the north,
North River on the east, Beaufort Inlet on the south, and
Bulkhead Channel on the west. (See Map 2.)
Topographic Quadrangle Map: Beaufort and Markers Island.
Ownership: Recently acquired by the State of North Carolina
for management by the N.C. Office of Coastal Management
as the Rachel Carson National Estuarine Sanctuary.
Report Prepared by: Jeannie Wilson and John 0. Fussell, III.
Date: August 1979
Other persons knowledgeable about site:
JoAnne Powell, Hampton Mariners Museum, Beaufort, N.C. 28516.
Chairman of the Carteret County Environmental Resources Comm.
Several individuals at the Duke University Marine Labora-
tory and the National Marine Fisheries Laboratory are
knowledgeable about the Bird Shoal area. Perhaps the two
most notable are:
Dr. John Costlow (Director of the Duke University Marine
Laboratory) . He was instrumental in securing funds for
the purchase of the Carrot Island area to protect it from
development. One of Dr. Costlow's students in the
"homosapiens and the marine environment" course. Spring
1979, Lisa Blumenthal, prepared a report on management
guidelines for the Bird Shoal-Carrot Island area; and
Dr. William Kirby-Smith (on the staff at Duke University
Marine Laboratory) . He is knowledgeable about the marine
invertebrates of the Bird Shoal area.
Two other persons that are knowledgeable about the site,
because of their involvement in the effort to protect
Carrot Island from development and the effort to procure
funds to purchase it, are:
James King, 1400 Front St., Beaufort, He was the leader
of the citizens group that organized to protect Carrot .j
Island; and *'
-8-
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MAP 2: THE RACHEL CARSON SANCTUARY AND ITS ENVIRONS
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10 -
Warren Davis, Beaufort attorney. He was the attorney
who represented the above citizens group.
Several other long-time residents of the Beaufort bare
are knowledgeable about the Bird Shoal-Carrot Island area,
particularly its human history, as the kinds of and degrees
of human influences on the area. One such person is:
Claude Guthrie, 213 Pollock St., Beaufort, N.C. (former
custodian at the National Marine Fisheries Laboratory).
Current Use and Protection Status:
1. Current uses:
a) Scientific Research. Because of the proximity of
Duke University Marine Laboratory and the National Marine
Fisheries Laboratory (and also the U.N.C. Institute of Marine
Sciences, Morhead City), the Bird Shoal-Carrot Island area,
as well as surrounding estuarine areas, is among the bio-
logically most studied estuarine sites in the world. Many
published scientific papers were based on research done on
the Bird Shoal area.
b) Education. Scores (maybe hundreds) of organized
groups use Bird Shoal for field trips every year. These range
from elementary school age to adults. Most field trips are
associated with Duke University Marine Laboratory or the
Hampton Mariners Museum.
c) Recreation. Bird Shoal and the associated spoil
areas are used for swimming, sunbathing, picnicking, and shell-
collecting. These activities are mainly restricted to the
period from May to September. Most fishing and much shell-
fishing is recreational rather than commercial. There is
some hunting for rails (marsh hens) in autumn, but very
little duck hunting (mostly in the Carrot Island-Horse
Island area). Each year, several persons visit Bird Shoal-
Carrot Island to go bird-watching.
d) Esthetic Value. This sort of value is hard to
evaluate. However, probably most Beaufort residents would
agree that the "open space" of the Bird Shoal area to the
south greatly enhances the "atmosphere" of the Beaufort
waterfront. Actually, esthetics was probably the motiva-
tion for most Beaufort citizens' involvement in the effort
to protect Bird Shoal-Carrot Island from development.
e) A strip along the north and west sides of Bird Shoal
and Carrot Island - i.e. along Taylor Creek and Bulkhead
Channel - has been used regularly for the deposition of spoil
material when these water bodies are dredged.
f) An ostensibly minor, but probably ecologically
important, use of the Bird-Shoal-Carrot Island area is as a
grazing area for several privately owned horses (at least
they are claimed to have owners).
- 11
g) The Bird Shoal area is used to some extent by the
conrraercial fishery. Considerable "clam-kicking" was obvious
on Bird Shoal in the winter 1978-1979. Some oystering is
done in the area near Horse Island and a few nets are often
set in this area. In fall "hauling for mullet" is done on
the outer beach of Bird Shoal. The above are direct contri-
butions of Bird Shoal-Carrot Island to the commercial fishery.
Of course, the area's major contribution to the commercial
fishery would be more indirect, i.e. as a productive nursery
ground (mainly the marsh and eelgrass areas) for species that
are harvested elsewhere.
2. Protection Status:
The State of North Carolina will have acquired by the
Fall of 1983 approximately 2,025 acres of islands, marshes,
intertidal flats, tidal creeks, and shallow estuarine waters.
Land areas include Carrot Island, Horse Island, Bird Shoal
and Town Marsh. A Management Plan has been developed and
reviewed extensively by Beaufort citizens, scientists and
local officials. It will be submitted by July 1, 1983 to
the Federal Office (OCRM) for approval.
Contact Person: Sanctuary Coordinator
Office of Coastal Management
Raleigh, N. C. 27611
919/733-2293
Vegetation and Plant Communities:
The "original" topography of the Bird Shoal-Carrot Island
area, amplified by spoiling operations of this century, has
contributed to a large diversity of habitats in a relatively
small area. There are:
1) deep water areas adjacent to Bird Shoal-Carrot Island,
i.e. Beaufort Inlet, Bulkhead Channel, Taylor Creek, and North
River.
2) some deep water (not exposed by tides) areas within
the study site, i.e. the deeper tidal creeks, the deeper open
water near Horse Island, and the relatively deep "bay" at
the west end of Bird Shoal. These areas have some eelgrass
(Zostera marina) growth, but it appears to be sparse.
35 ^oyster rocks. There is also a small section of rock
breakwater.
4) mud flats. Flats are most muddy adjacent to Horse
Island and at the west end of Bird Shoal. At the last loca-
tion, the muddiness is probably largely due to spoiling
operations in this century.
5) sand flats. The flats of Bird Shoal near Beaufort
Inlet, especially in the southeastern section of the shoals,
are sandy. This broad area of sand flats may be the largest
area of intertidal sand flats in the state.
12
6) the inlet beach. This is the strip of slightly elevated
land that lies between the intertidal section of Bird Shoal and
the inlet. It is submerged only by extreme tides. In the last
3 or 4 years, this strip of land has begun to "build up" and
some small sea oats (Uniola paniculata) dunes have developed.
7) Spartina alternif lora marshes. Most Spartina alternif lora
is grazed intensively by the horses. The only ungrazed areas
are the deeper areas of Town Marsh and the marshes of Carrot Island.
8) High marsh-low meadow areas are common along the lower
slopes of the spoil sites. Species composition changes with
elevation. Juncus roemerianus , Spartina patens , and Fimbristylis
spadicea adjacent to the Spartina alternif lora, changes to
Andropogon virginicus and other species further up the slopes.
9) maritime shrub thicket. This is most common on dredge
spoil along the north side of Carrot Island. However, there
is also shrub thicket on the natural ridge along the south
side of Carrot Island. Dominant shrub thicket species are
red cedar ( Juniperus virginiana) , live oak (Quercus virginiana) ,
and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) . The "natural" shrub thicket
appears to have a greater species diversity than the spoil
shrub thicket and at least one species that doesn't occur in
the spoil shrub thicket-palmetto (Sabal minor) .
10) the sparsely vegetated domes of the spoil sites.
The most common plants here are little bluestem (Andropogon
scoparius ) and camphorweed (Heterotheca subaxillar is) .
11) non-tidal pools. Most of these may dry up occasionally
and the salinity probably varies greatly. Some have a growth
of widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima) , These pools are mostly
restricted to the spoil areas, but there is a natural one on
Horse Island.
Physical Features:
The primary physical features of Bird Shoal-Carrot Island-
Horse Island complex are:
1) the long strip of spoil material (up to 10-15 feet in
elevation) that stretches from North River along Taylor Creek
and the south toward Beaufort Inlet. This strip is broken
only at two points - the tidal creek near the west end of
Carrot Island and the tidal creek through Town Marsh.
2) the vast intertidal flat that makes up much of the
central and southern part of the complex.
3) the narrow "beach" that separates the intertidal flat
from Beaufort Inlet.
4) the remnant of Town Marsh (Spartina alternif lora) at
the northwest end of the complex and the fairly large expanse
of Spartina alterniflora marsh at Carrot Island.
5) the low ridge vegetated with shrub thicket hammocks
along the south side of Carrot Island. This ridge is on old
(1800's) charts. Perhaps it is a relict beach ridge. The
ridge is sand on the surface. It would be interesting to
know if the sand continues down, or if it is only along the
immediate surface with mud or marsh peat just below it.
13 -
Rare Plants and Animals:
Plants: Probably none.
Marine invertebrates:
Annelida
Polychaeta
Chaetopterus variopedatus Special concern
Parchment tube worm
Mollusca
Gastropoda
Busycon canaliculatum Special concern
Channeled whelk
Busycon carica Special concern
Knobbed whelk Special concern
Busycon contrarium Special concern
Lightning whelk
Pelecypoda
Panopea bitruncata Special concern
Atlantic geoduck-one record at Bird Shoal
Reptiles and Amphibians:
Atlantic Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta caretta,
(endangered in North Carolina) probably occur, at least
occasionally, in the adjacent inlet, and they might rarely
nest on the inlet beach of Bird Shoal.
Birds:
Species
Brown pelican
Great blue heron
Great egret
Snowy egret
Litcle blue heron
Louisiana heron
Black-crowned night heron
Yellow-crowned night neron
American bittern
Glossy ibis
Wliite ibis
Black duck
Turkey vul*:iire
Marsh hawk
Osprey
Peregrine falcon
Merlin
Piping plovi^r
'v i 1 , -on ' s pi over
Gull-billed tern
Gi million tern
Least tern
Royal tern
Sandwich, tern
Black skimmer
Barn owl
Purple martin
B L a c k- a n d Wli i t e wa r b 1 e r
Prothonotary warbler
Yellow warbler
- 14 -
Status at Bird Shoal
perm .
perm.
perm .
perm.
perm .
perm.
perm.
summe
win te
rare
perm.
VI i n t e
wine V >
wintt'
s unmie
fall
fall
p(.:riil.
sunniie
sumru
s unim .
suiim .
perm,
trans
perm,
win te
s umme
trans
fall
fall
res
res
res
res
res
res
res
r re
r vi
V L s i
r i-s
r vi
r V i
r re
r r^.:
tran
t ran
res
r ro
res
res
res
res
rt.>s
r re
r re
ienL
tran
trail
tant
nt
s Kant
s i t a n t
d.Mit
win
\; J n
. ma y n
s . ncs
. some
. some
. ne s t
.St-iitl 1 s in N.C ._
Endangered
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Spec ia 1 concern
Special concern
Special concern
Undetermined
Special c(3ncern
Special ccncern
Spec ) nl concern
Threat I -nod
Undo term i nod
Special concern
tor VIS
t . vis.
est
ts
times nests
times nests
Endangered
some tintes
s .
s .
s .
s .
Threatened
Special concern
Special concern
Spec, concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
nests Spec, conce.rn
Special concern
Special concern
llnde termini^'d
Special concern
Special concern
Publications and Scientiiic References:
Gooper, J.E., S.S. Robinson, and J.I). Fuuderburg (eds).
Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals of Nortli Garolina
N.C. ^!useum of Natural History. Kaleigli.
Fussellj J. 1^70. Annotated Gliecklist of the Birds of the
Bird Shoal-Garrot Island-Horse Island complex. unpublished
manuscript, (based on approximately 150 visits to the area
1971-1976).
Radford, \.E., H.E. Ahles, and C.R. Bell. 1968. Manual oftiie
Vascular Flora of the Garolinas. UNG press. Chapel Hill
- 15 -
Flora Species List:
Eol grass :
Zostt^m ni.irina
Pools on Spoil:
Bacopa monniori
Ruppia maritima
Boacli :
Herbs:
Auiarantlius pumiliis
ALripiex j^atiila
Cakiie edentula or liarperi?
Euphorbia polygonifol ia
Sal sola knli
Sosuviuin por tuLicas trum
Snaedu linearis
Grain i nc i ds :
Fiuibr is tyl is spadicea
Spartina patens
Uniola pan icu Lata
Dimes and sanay soil (spoil) :
Slirubs :
Croton punetatus
Iva imbricata
Myrica cerifera
Tamarix gallica
Yucca .'iloi folia
Vines
Calystegia sepiuiii
Cynanchiim palustre
Ipomoea sagittata
Rubus trivia lis
Smilax auri^ul:!ta
S tr o plios ty 1g s he 1 vo 1 a
Herbs
Achillea uiille folium
Cassia fasciculata
Chenopodiuin albun
C. ambro!-'. ioides
ec Igrass
bacopa
widgeon 'fS.c^i^^
seabcach amaranth
orach
sea rocket
.'.ea .Tpiirgf"'
Russian t!'. is tie
sea purslane
sea L)lite
Fiinbr is tyl i s
salt niarj.h c^ird ^.ras:
Svi'a oats
croton
seaside elder
wnx myrtle
salt cedar
Spaiiish bayonc>t
he d ge b i n d we e d
cyi^anchum
morning glory
devyberry
greenbriar, catbriar
sea bean
mil foil , varro\v
partidge pea
lanb ' s quarters
Mr-xican tea
- 16-
Herbs :
Cnidoscoius sLiiimlosus
Diodia tores
Erigercn canadensis
Euphorbia polygonif olia
Gaillardia pulchella
Heterothcca subaxillaris
llydrocotyle bonariensls
Lactuca sp.
Lepidium virginicuni
Lippia nodiflora
Medicago lupnlina
Melilotns alba
Monarda punctata
Oenothera humifusa
0. laciniata
Opuntia drummondii
Oxali-s dillonii
Paronychia riparia
Physalis viscosa Sb-p. mari
Phytolacca americana
Plajitago aristata
P. lancoolata
Portulaca oleracca
Runii'X act! tosc 11a
Sabatia stellaris
SolanuTi gracile
Solidago sempervirens
Tri folium canipestre
T. re pens
Xanthium s truniariiini
sand nettle
diodia
horsewoed
sea spurge
Gaillardia
camphorweod
pennywort
wild lettuce
poor man ' i. pepper
lippia
black medicago
sweet white clover
bee-balm
evening primrose
evening primrose
prickly pear
sour grass
paronychia
tima ground cherry
poke
plantai n
pi an ta i n
sea purslane
sheep sorrei
sabatia
nightshaile
seaside goldeurod
low tiop clover
clover
cocklebur
Gr amino ids :
Andropogon scoparius
Gcnchrus longispinus
C. tribuloides
Cynodon dactylon
Muhlenberg ia capillaris
Setaria geniculata
Spartina patens
Uniola paniculata
Salt marsh :
Herbs:
little blu,^ stera
sand spurs
sand spurs
Bermuda ^;rass
muhly
foxtail grass
salt meadow hay
sea oats
Agalinis niaritima
Atrip] ex pa tula
Limoni urn carol in i an am
Salicornia virginica
Spiranthes vernalis
gerardi a
orach
sea lavendar
glasswor L
spring lady's
tresses
17 -
Grami.no ids :
Distichlis spiccita
Fimbr is ty 1 is spacicLa
Juncus roor.ierianus
SparLina altcrni flora
S . pa ti'iKS
High Marsh Mcachjw (on spoil)
Shrubs :
sail gras.';
f imbriy fy Lis
black ncc^dlerush
salt marsh cordgrass
salt: nic:adow hav
Baccliaris ha 1 iinif oi ia
Borrichia f rutenccns
Iva frutescous
Kos tele tskya vir;.; i nirn
ground so l-tireu , cot l:onbush
oca ox-c;yo
marsh elri.-r
seashore -iiallow
Vinos
Mclothria p^jndula
M i ka n i a s c and ens
Herbs
c rec p I ng cu :u:;u-)e r
c limbLng her.ipwi'ed
Aster teniiiiolius lari r
Atriplex patula ora
Centella asiatica cen
Eupatorium capil liio"' ivim tho
Galium hispidulum bed
Lythxrum line a re loo
Piuchea foetida mar
Portulace oieracoa sea
Salicornia virgin ica gla
Samolus parviflorus wat
Suaeda • 1 inearis sea
sh asti-r
ch
tella
rougliv/ort
s trav.'
sestr 1 fe
sh ileabane
purs lane
ssvjor L
er pimpernel
blite
Gr amino ids :
Andropogon ^irginicus
G I a d L 1 un j ama i c e ri s ^^
E 1 ymn :5 v i r g i n i c u s
Finbr i s ty ] i s spadicea
PanicLim virgatum
Scirpns robustus
Setaria geniculata
Spartina patens
^lar i I' iiiK" Shru!) Thicket:
brooriisedge
rye grass
t iiiibr .i. s tvl is
pan Lc grass
bulrush
fo": tail grass
i^a 1 t meadow hay
Trees :
Dies py L"us V i rg in 1 ana
Jiui:perus virgiaiana
Moras alba
Osman t Ivas ame r ic ana
Fe' sea borbonia
pers 1 ni. ncyn
red ced.jr
v;h i tt> mulberry
wild ■-;lvie
red bay
- 18
Trees
Pinus taeda
Prunus aagustifolia
P. caroliniana
Quercus virginiana
Salix caroliniana
Xanthoxylum clava-Iierculis
Shrubs
Aralia spinosa
Baccharis halimifolia
Bumelia lycioides
Hypericum hypericoides
Ilex vomitoria
LigusCrum japonicurn
Myrica cerifora
Pittosporum tobira
Rhus copal lina
Sabal minor
Yucca gloriosa
Callicarpa americana
Vines
Ampelopsis arborea
Gel somi um semperv irons
Lon ic e ra no aipe rv irons
Molothri ■ pendula
Pnssi flora lutoa
Rhus r ad ^' cans
Sniilax bona-nox
S. rotundilolia
Vitis rotundifolia
Horbs:
Galium liispiJuium
Hydrocotylo bonarieusis
Graminoids
Elymus virginicus
Pan i cum
VI rga tum
loblolly pine
Chickasaw plum
laurel cherry
live oak
Carolina willow
hercules club, toothache tree
hercules club
groundsel- tree ,
buckthorn
St. John's v7ort
yaupon
privet
wax myrtle
pittosporum
winged sumac
palmetto
yucca
Ame r i c a n beauty
cottonbush
b.'rry
pep per viae
yellow jess ami no
c o r ^; 1 h < J n o y s u del o
creeping cucumber
passion flower
poison ivy
greenbriar, catbri ir
greenbriar, catbrLar
muscadine grape
beds traw
pennywort
rye grass
panic grass
Ferns :
Asplenium platyneuron
ebony spieenwort
- 19 -
Fauna Species List:
Airphibians :
Possibly none. There is litLle cr no fr -^h v.'oter.
Re [) t i 1 e s :
We have observed only two r.pecies:
Carolina diamondback terrapin Malacloniys terrapin c«^ntrata
common in tidal creeks
Corn snake Elaphe guLtaLa guttata
Species that are possible or probable:
Snapping turtle Chelydra s>.!rpentina
Atlantic loggerhead Carctta caretta caretta
Grcon aiiole Anolis carol inen.-^is oaroi inensis
Six-lined racerunner Chemidopliorus sexlineatus
sexlineatus
Eastern glass lizard Ophisaurus ventral is
Northern black racer Coluber constrictor constrictor
Rough green snake Ophcodrys ai'stivus
II
Green3sh" rat snake Elapho ob^oleta obsoleta X
E. obsoleta quadrivit tata
MaiiuTu'ils :
Wo have obsetved:
River otter Lutra canadensis
Cray fox Urocyon cinereoargeaLe s
Norway rat Rattus norvegicus
Marsh i"abbit Sylvilagus palustris
ii.irse ■ Eiiuus caballus
Arlantic bottlenos(> uolpliin Tursiops tvuncatus
Possible or probable are:
Raccoon Procyon loror
Eastern h.irvest mouse Reithrodon tomy:^ iiuranlis
Rice rat Oryzoniys palustris
Meadow vole Microtus pennsylvanicus
- 20 -
B irds
Species
Common loon
Red-throated ioon
Horned grebe
Pied-billed grebe
Audubon ' s shearwa ter
Wliitc pelican
Brown pelican
Double-crested cormorant
Great blue heron
Green heron
Little blue heron
Cnttle egret
Reddish egret
Great egret
Siiov/y egret
i^ouisiana heron
Black-crowned night heron
Yellow-crowned night Vieron
Least bittern
American bittern
Glossy ibis
VJhito ibis
Canada goose
Snow goose
I'.allard
Black dick
Pintail
Green-winged teal
Blue-winged teal
American \-yigeon
Northern shioveler
Greater scaup
Lesser scaup
Common goldeneye
Bill" ileliead
Ruddy duck
Hooded merganser
R ■ d-breas ted merganser
Turkey vulture
Sliarp- shinned hawk
Marsh hawk
Osprey
Peregrine falcon
Merlin
American kestrel
Bobwhite
Clapper rail
Virginia rail
Sora
American coot
American oys tercatcher
Status
winter resident
winter resident
Winter resident
winter resident
one record
twe* records
permanent resident
winter resident
permanent resident
summer resident-nests
permanent resident
summer visitant
one record
permanent resident
permanent resident
permanent resident
permanent resident
summer resident
summer resident
winter vis i tant
rare visitant
permanent resident
wi nter visi t int
one record
Vi/inter visitant
winter visitant
winter visitant
winter visitant
transient
winter visitant
transient
winter visitant
winter visi tant
v;intcM; visitant
will tor ri'sident
win tor visi tant
wintei resident
winter resident
winter A^isitant
fall transient ,
winter resident
summer resident
fall transient, winter visitant
fall transient, v\finter visitant
winter resident
permanent resident-nes ts
permanent resident-nests
fall transient
transient
fall transient
permanent resident-nests
winter resident
21
Species
Status
Semipalma ted plovor
Piping plover
Wilson's plover
Killdeer
giack-bellied plover
Ruddy turn stone
Anerican woodcock
i.'.omnion snipe
Lcnig-billcd curlew
Whimbre 1
Upland sandpiper
Spotted sandpiper
Willet
Greater ycllowlegs
Lesser ye How legs
Rod knot
Purple sandpiper
R'ctoral sandpij)er
Wlii t(!-rurnped sandpiper
Ta- a s t s a n d p i p e r
Curlew sandpiper
Ounl i n
Shor t-bi 1 leu dowi tche r
Stilt sandpiper
Semi pa 1 raa te d s a nd p ipe r
western sandpiper
Marbled godwit
Hudsonian godv.'it
Sanderlmg
American avocet
VJil son's phalarope
r^or tliern ]jlialaropo.
Parasitic Jaeger
Glaucous gull
Great black-backed gull
iierrin!^ gijl^
Ri -"ig-bi 1 led
gu 1 1
uli
Laughing gull
ijonaparte's gull
Gu ] 1-bil led tern
Forster's tern
Commcni t'.'rn.
Leas I; tern
!-loy:il tern
Sandv/irli tern
Caspian tern
iilack tern
Black skiramer
Rock dove
Mourning dove
Barn owl
I'-r/'i-l^j/'o)
pcrmantjut resident
permanent resident-may nest
summer resident-nests
winter resident
permanent resident
permanent resident
winter \'isitant
w i n tor vi s i taut
wiiiLi,- r re:; i den L yv -i w.
Lrans ient
one record
trans i(.>n t
permanent res ident-nes ts
permanent resident
transient
permanent resident
one record
trans lent
transient
winter resident
one record
winter rcsicL'nt
winter v i s L tan t
transient
trans ient
winti^r re., ident
\v inter re ,-; i d e n t
two records
permanent resident
one record
one record
one record
one recorci
one record
ncr'mancMit res L. ient
permanen t res idea L
perm.'.ncMit res ident
permanen t res icJen t
winter r.-s ident
summer res ident-sometir'tis ne;;Ls
permanent res ident-some times nestr^
summer res ident- some t i.mes nests
sumiiier res ide'nt-nes ts
permanent res idem
t ransient
la L 1 trans ient
fall trans ieiit
pc^rnant-nt re sident-some times nests
perm-men t resident
pe r ma n e n t re s i d c ri t - n e s t s
u'inter resident
- 22 -
Species
Short-eared owl
Chuck-will's widow
Common nighthawk
Chimney swiit
Belted kingfisher
Coniraon flicker
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
Eastern kingbird
Great: crested llycaLcner
Tree swallow
Bank swallow
Rough-winged swallow
Barn swallov;
Purple martin
Blue jay
Common crow
Fish crow
House wren
Carolina wren
Long-billed marsh wren
Short-billed marsn wren
Mockingbird
Croy catbird
Brown thrashiir
z\merican ro]''in
Hermit thrush
Rubv-crowned kinglet
Water pipit
Cedar waxwing
Loggerhead shrike
Starling
R.ed-oyed vireo
Black-and-white warbler
Prothonotary warbler
Orange-crowned warbler
Northern pari;la
Yellow warbler
Yellow-rumped warbler
Prairie warbler
Palm warbler
Common yellowthroat
American redstart
Bobolink
Eastern meadowlark
Rod-v^;inged blackbird
Boat-tailed grackle
Common gracklc
Cardinal
Painted buntiug
Status
winter visitant
summer resident?
mc
y nest?
summer resident-
nes
Ls
summer resident
winter resident
fail tr ;nsient
winter visitant
fall transient
fall trans iout
fall transient
fall transient
summer resident
summer resident
summer resident
permanent rt^sid.-
at
permanent resident
permanent reside
nt-
-probably nests ;
winter resident
permanent resident-
-nes ts
winter resident
winter resident
permanent reside
nt-
-nrsts
permanent res idc
nt-
-ncsLs
perni.inv'iit r>;s ident-
-nests i
winter visitant
winter visitant
winter visitant
winter resident
winter visitant
rare visitant
permanent resident
fall transient
trans i ent
fall transient
winter resident
fail transient
f al 1 transient
winter resident
sumiaer lesident-
■nests j
fall transient
v;inter resident
fall transient
[(
fal 1 transient
1
permaiient residt
nt-
-nests 1
permanent residt
nt-
-nests 1
p^'rmanent reside
iit-
-nests 1
s u nim.e r r e s i J e n t -
-probably nestt; '
permanent resident-
-nests
summer resident-
■ne ,'
its !,
1
- 23 -
Species
Purple £inch
pine siskin
American goldfinch
Rufous-sided towhee
Savannah sparrow
Sharp-tailed sparrow
Seaside sparrow
Field sparrow
White-throated sparrow
Swamp sparrow
Song sparrow
Snow bunting
Status
winter visitant
winter visitant
winter visitant
permanent resident-nests
winter resident
winter resident
permanent resident-nests
v^7inter visitant
winter resident
winter resident
winter resident
winter visitant
-24 -
Ecological Significance:
1) The Carrot Island-Bird Shoal area is a significant
"field laboratory". It is used heavily for scientific
research and education. Scientific references to Bird Shoal,
go back to at least 1870.
2) Within the complex, there is one area that can be
considered a natural area. It is the ridge of maritime shrub
thicket along the south side of Carrot Island, Perhaps this
is a relict beach ridge.
3) The Bird Shoal complex is notable for the large
number of habitats that occur in relative proximity and
especially for the large number of wetland habitats. Such
wetland habitats include the inlet beach, oyster rocks,
sand flats, mud flats, non-tidal pools, and grazed and
ungrazed salt marshes.
4) The numbers of, diversity of, and notable species of
marine invertebrates that occur at the Bird Shoal complex
are related to the diversity of wetland habitats and to the
expanse of intertidal flats. The expanse of intertidal
sand flats especially adds to Carrot Island-Bird Shoal's
uniqueness. Elsewhere in North Carolina, there are often
expanses of intertidal sand flats on the updrift side of
inlets, but these are temporary, quickly building into areas
that are mostly above the tide's influence.
5) The Carrot Island-Bird Shoal complex is notable as a
major roosting area for waterbirds, and for having a rich
diversity of shorebirds. It has probably the richest diversity
of intertidal shorebirds of any area in North Carolina.
Although there is relatively little waterbird nesting on the
Carrot Island-Bird Shoal complex, it is an important feeding
area for young birds, from nesting sites near Cape Lookout,
near Fort Macon, and in the lower Newport River,
At certain times of the year. Carrot Island-Bird Shoal
serves as a roosting area for thousands of birds. Particu-
larly large concentrations exist in the fall. The narrow
inlet beach is the main roosting area. A notable roosting
use of Carrot Island-Bird Shoal is by thousands of Common
terns in late September. These birds are apparently migrating
southward offshore, and at mid-day, there may be none on the
islands. However, about 1-2 hours before sunset, they begin
streaming into the islands to roost, and at sunset, there may
be thousands present. Carrot Island-Bird Shoal may be ex-
tremely valuable to such migrating birds.
Several species of intertidal shorebirds are notable:
There are large wintering populations of Dunlins, Short-
billed dowitchers, and Western sandpipers. Bird Shoal is
an important feeding area for Wilson's plovers (special
concern) in summer and Piping plovers (special concern) in
winter. Carrot Island-Bird Shoal may have the largest
wintering population of Piping plovers along the entire east
coast (based on Audubon Christmas Bird Counts),
- 25 -
6) The complex is used by at least two endangered species,
two threatened species, and 29 species of special concern.
The endangered Brown pelican is a resident using the area
for feeding and roosting. The Peregrine falcon is a fall
transient/winter visitant. In December 1978, a Peregrine
falcon was resident for at least 2 weeks.
7) The complex is important to the esthetic appeal of
Beaufort .
Management Recommendations:
In suggesting management recomjnendations for the Bird
Shoal-Carrot Island-Horse Island complex, it is important
to stress that the primary biological values of the complex
are due to its diversity of wetland habitats and large expanses
of mud and sand flats, which have resulted largely from human
activities. There is no inconsistency in using management
in "preserving" these values.
1) The natural area (the low ridge of shrub thicket)
should be recognized as such and protected from alteration.
2) The broad expanse of intertidal mud and sand flats
should be maintained. There may be two threats to the con-
tinued existence of this expanse of flats:
a) development of the shoals by soil build-up to
elevations that are not intertidal. This is apparently
slowly happening now. It appears that the sand that is
causing the increase in elevation is coming from the
erosion of the large spoil mound at the southwest corner
of the complex. Spoil from future dredging of Bulkhead
Channel should be placed on Radio Island, not on the
complex. Spoil material along Taylor Creek, at its
present elevation, is not so likely to add to the elevation
of Carrot Island-Bird Shoal, but that spoil could "flood"
onto the islands during the storm tides of a hurricane.
Probably, no further deposition of spoil material on the
Bird Shoal-Carrot Island-Horse Island complex is desirable.
b) loss of the sand flat and mud flat habitat by
succession to salt marshes. Formerly, Carrot Island-
Bird Shoal was subjected to more wave and current action
and this was probably the reason salt marshes did not
develop. In the last two decades, the development of the
elevated inlet beach has created favorable conditions
for marsh development. Probably, the horses on Carrot
Island-Bird Shoal have been important in preventing marsh
succession. (No one who has watched a horse on these
islands feed for five minutes would doubt it!). Thus,
in this respect, the presence of the horses is desirable.
3) The effect of the horses on the ecology of the complex
should be studied (see above). For many people, horses add
to the esthetic appeal of the complex.
4) It should be assumed that the complex is not generally
good nesting habitat for waterbirds, but some habitat modifi-
cation might be appropriate. Sites having nesting Least
terns (of special concern), Wilson's plovers (Special concern),
- 26 -
and Piping plovers (special concern) are worthy of protection
(by posting signs etc.). A colony of almost 100 Least terns
on the inlet beach in 1979 apparently had almost no nesting
success, and this might have been the result of people who
did not realize they were walking through a nesting colony.
The Painted bunting, which is rapidly losing nesting
habitat in the state, ks a species for which habitat
maintenance/ improvement along the spoil site shrub thickets
would be appropriate.
5) At current rates of visitation (considering kinds of
visitation and the seasons of visitation), people do not
detract greatly from the primary values of the domplex. This
will probably continue to be true as long as permanent
structures do not exist in the complex.
- 27 -
Addenda to Bird Shoal-Carrot Island report:
Soil Information:
Higher ground: Newhan-Carteret complex, 0-30 % slopes
This is a very sandy soil that has a droughty condition.
It is not suitable for development, because of drought, narrow
dune ridges, and the soil's tendency to shift. Typical species
found on this soil type are Uniola paniculata and Ammophila
breviligulata.
Marsh: Carteret soils, high phase
These are regularly flooded sandy soils with an excess
concentration of salt. It is not suitable for development or
agriculture .
Reference :
Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. 1979.
Soil Survey Interim Report, Carteret County, North Carolina
(advance copy, subject to change).
Cedar Island Marshes
Name of Area: Cedar Island Marshes
County: Carteret
Location Description: The Cedar Island Marshes are located
in the northeastern section of Carteret County. They
are bounded by Long Ray and West Bay (arms of Pamlico
Sound) to the northwest and north, Cedar Island to
the northeast, Core Sound and Thorofare Bay to the
southeast, and the Carteret County mainland to the
southwest. See Map 1.
Topographic Quadrangle Map: Atlantic & Long Bay
Ownership: Most of the area of the Cedar Island Marshes
(which are about 7000 acres in extent) is owned by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (Total acreage
owned by the Fish and Wildlife Service is 9190.6
acres, but some of this acreage is high land at
Cedar Island.) A significant area of the south-
western section of the marshes is owned by the
U.S. Marine Corps and the Bayland Corporation,
but the acreage is hard to estimate because of the
poor resolution of the tax maps. We estimate that
the Marine Corps owns approximately 500 acres
(northwest of N.C. 12) and that the Bayland Corp-
oration owns approximately 500 acres (southeast
of N.C. 12). The address of the Bayland Corporation
is Fayetteville , N.C.
Report Prepared by: John Fussell, III and Jeannie Wilson
Date: August 1979
Other Persons Knowledgeable about Site:
Mr. Otto Florschutz
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Washington, N.C.
Mr. Dave Rackley
Ecological Services Division
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Raleigh, N.C.
Mr. Ray Whitmore
Assistant Refuge Manager
Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge
Swanquarter, N.C.
-28-
29
Mr. Rick Linthurst
Dept . of Botany
N.C. State University
Raleigh, N.C. 27607
Current Use and Protection Status:
These marshes are largely unaltered. They probably
contain the largest contiguous tract of undisturbed
irregularly inundated salt marsh in North Carolina.
Obvious manmade features in the marshes are: N.C. 12
and two adjacent borrow ditches that bisect the marshes
from southwest to northeast, the Thorofare channel that
crosses the southwestern section of the marshes, and
the John Day Ditch that crosses the northeastern
section of the marshes. The effect of these features
on the ecology of the marshes is unknown.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers all
the marshes northeast of the Thorofare channel (approxi-
mately 6000 acres). So far, the only alteration of the
marshes by the Service has been the blasting of a few
"potholes" and some control burning-both to improve
habitat for waterfowl. Currently, the Service is
considering the impoundment of approximately 2000
acres of marshes northwest of N.C. 12 for waterfowl
habitat, especially to improve habitat for nesting
Black Ducks .
We do not know of any plans by the Marine Corps
or the Rayland Corporation to alter the area of marshes
they own. Of course, all the Cedar Island Marshes
are designated as an area of environmental concern
under the Coastal Area Management Act.
Vegetation and Plant Communities:
The dominant plants of the marshes are Spartina
alternif lora, Spartina patens , Spartina cynosuroides ,
Panicum virgatum, and Juncus roemerianus . Along the
southeast side of the marshes (toward Core Sound),
Spartina alterniflora (the short form) is dominant.
In this area, pond holes (many containing Ruppia
maritima) are common. Northwestward toward N.C. 12,
the Spartina alterniflora grades into Juncus roemerianus
(often intermixed with Panicum virgatum) and Spartina
patens . Just northwest of N.C. 12, Spartina patens and
Juncus continue to be generally dominant, although in
some areas, Spartina cynosuroides is equally common.
In the central area of the marshes northwest of N.C. 12,
some shrubs ( Iva f rutescens and Baccharis halimifolia)
are present (These can be seen from N.C. 12). Their
presence suggests that the area is slightly higher and
the ground less moist. Perhaps the composition of grasses,
sedges and rushes in that area is different from the rest
- 30 -
of the marshes. Near the mainland (southwest of the Thorofare)
and near Cedar Island (northeast of the John Day Ditch),
there are extensive areas of fairly pure stands of Juncus
roemerianus .
In this report, we are concerned with only the marshes.
However, there are also several maritime shrub thicket
hammocks on the edges of the marshes, which we did not visit.
One of these, Rumley's Hammock, covers several acres and
might be of special interest.
Physical Features:
These marshes are essentially level. Lunar tides in
this area are very slight and the marshes are flooded only
by the tides of tropical cyclones or by the most
extreme wind tides. According to Mixon and Pilkey (1976),
the marshes are part of a "thin veneer of Holocene
saltmarsh peat, mud and sand" that lie on "silty and
clayey sand of Pleistocene age".
Rare Plants and Animals:
Plants: none
Reptiles: Water snakes (Natrix spp.) are common in
these marshes. Specimens here are probably
referable to Natrix sipedon williamenglesi ,
which was considered by Bruce et al. (in Cooper,
J.E., S.S. Robinson, and J.B, Funderburg (Eds)
1977) to be of undetermined status, i.e. the _
population is deserving of concern but the lack
of information makes it impossible to assign it
to the proper category of concern.
Birds: We list rare birds in two categories:
1) those directly associated with the marshes
and associated pond holes,
2) those occurring only on the adjacent waters
and along the marsh-forest border or those that feed
above the marshes.
Evaluation of the Site's Ecological Significance:
1) The Cedar Island Marshes are one of the largest
contiguous tracts of irregularly flooded salt marsh in
the state. They are probably the largest tract of such
marsh in the state that contains a significant amount of i
Spartina patens . ^
2) ^The Cedar Island Marshes are relatively unaltered.
Elsewhere in the county, most irregularly flooded marshes
have been subjected to ditching for mosquito control,
especially the more extensive marshes (as just southwest
of Davis). Post and Enders (1969) suggested that ditching
of salt marshes may be harmful to some species of birds.
- 31 -
3) Many persons believe that this several thousand acre
tract of unbroken marsh has a great deal of esthetic value.
4) The Cedar Island Marshes support possibly one rare
reptile and several rare birds (see above). However, some
less rare birds are also noteworthy. The Marsh hawk, if it
nest in the marshes, is probably at its southern limit here.
Perhaps, these marshes are most notable for the rail
populations present. Probably all U.S. species of rails
occur here (although the extremely secretive Yellow rail
has not been observed, it probably winters here). King
rails (special concern) occur here and may nest. Clapper
rails are common. Virginia rails are common here in winter,
and a few apparently nest. Here, they are at the southern
limit of their nesting range. Soras are probably common
in migration. Although not seen or heard. Yellow rails
(undetermined status) might actually be common in these
marshes in winter. Rail-wise, perhaps the Cedar Island Marshes
biggest claim to fame is its Black Rail (undetermined) popu-
lation. Numbers of these secretive and apparently local
birds in these marshes apparently rival those at Elliott
Island, Maryland, formerly considered to have the largest
Black rail population in the United States. The importance
of the Cedar Island Marshes to the Black Rail population
in North Carolina may be considerable, but since it is
such a secretive species, no one knows if this is the case.
Management Recommendations:
A major value of the Cedar Island Marshes involves
its importance to several species of birds that are so
secretive that their exact status in these marshes, as
well as elsewhere in the state, is largely unknown.
Therefore, it would be presumptuous to suggest any hard
and fast recommendations. Clearly, this area deserves
further study. If the Fish and Wildlife Service plans
to impound any marsh acreage, then rail populations,
especially King, Yellow, and Black rails, should be
ascertained.
Perhaps the best location for impoundments would be
adjacent to the mainland and adjacent to Cedar Island, where
the marshes have a higher percentage of Juncus roemerianus .
This would leave the marshes that are probably the best
rail habitat. This would also still leave a large
contiguous tract of unaltered marsh.
Fire management should be studied. Probably, fire is
"beneficial" to the marsh, at least a certain amount of it
helps to maintain it. However, in regards to many of the
marsh inhabitants, the alternate burning of several small
areas might be desirable to the use of two or three fires
that burn the entire marsh and thus remove large areas of
cover at one time.
Post, William and Frank Enders. 1969. Reappearance of the
Black Rail on Long Island, Kingbird. Vol 19:189-191.
- 32 -
1)
Species
Status in C.I. Marshes
Great blue heron
American bittern
Great egret
Snowy egret
Little blue lieron
Permanent resident
Winter resident
(or Perm, resident?
may rarely breed)
Permanent resident
Permanent resident
Permanent resident
Louisiana heron Permanent resident
Black-crowned night heron Perm, resident
Glossy ibis
Black duck
Marsh hawk
N.C. Status
Special concern
llnde t ermine d
Yellow rail
Black rail
King rail
Barn ovi/l
2) Species
Brown pelican
i'urkt^y vulture
Red- tailed hawk
Red-shouldered hawk
Osprcy
Gul J -billed tern
Laugkiing gull
Least tern
Common tern
Royal tern
Black skimmer
Purple martin
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Summer resident Special concern
Permanent resident (nests ) Special concern
Permanent res . (probably nests) Undetermined
(no records of this secretive
species-probably winter res.)
Permanent resident
(Probably nests)
Possible perm. res. may nest
Perm. res. (probably nests)
Status ad] acer t to C.I.
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
re SI dent
res idcn t
resident
res ident
Suimner resident
Summer resident
Permanent resident
Summer resident
Summer resident
Permanent resident
Pe rmane 1 1 1 re s ide n I
Summer resident
Undetermined
Undetermined
Special concern
Special concern
iN.C. Status
Endati, ,ered
Special concern
Special ccnici'rn
Special concern
Specia 1 concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Publications and Scientific references
Cooper, J.E., S.S. Robinson, and J.B. Funderburg (Eds.) 19/7.
Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals of North Carolina.
N.C. Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, N.C, 444 pages.
Mixon, R.B. and O.ll. Pilkey. 1976. Reconnaissance geology of the
submerged and emerged coastal plain province, Cape Lookout area.
North Carolina. Geological Survey Professional Paper 839,
U.S. Govt Printing Off. Washington, D.C.
- 33
Flora Species List:
Shrubs :
Baccharis ha 1 imifolia
Borrichia frutescens
Iva frutescens
Groundsel-tree, CoLtonbush
Sea ox-eye
Marsh elder
Herbs :
Aster tenuifolius
Atriplex patula
Ruppia maritima
Sabatia dodecandra
Salicoruia virginica
Graniinoids :
Marsh aster
Orach
V^idgeon grass
Sabatia
Glasswort
Andropogoii virj;inicus
Cladiura jainaic».'ase
Distichlis spicata
Finibris ty 1 is spadicea
Juncus roemerianus
Pan i cum vLrgaLum
Spartina alterniflora
S. cynosuroides
S. patens
Typha latiCoIia
Broomscdge
S aw g r a s s
Salt grass
Fimbris tyl is
Blade neodlerush
Panic grass
Salt marsh c^rdgrass
Cord grass
Salt meadow hay
Cat- tail
34 -
Fauna Species List:
Most of the following were observed by John Fussell during
roxiinately 50 visits to the marshes to study Black Rails, 19
app
1978
74-
Many of these visits were made at night
Amphibians ;
Amphibians are ostensibly absent in these marshes. However,
about 11 nm. 31 May 1974, there was an apparently Irugc chorus of
frogs Ln the r.inrshes northwest of N.C. 12. This was four days
after a very heavy (3 + inches) rain. Species identified by rail
were:
Southern toad Bufo terrestris
Southern cricket frog Acris ^ryllus gryllus
Green tree frog Hyla cmerea
Pine woods treefrog Hyla femoralis
Little grass frog Limhaoedus ocularis
Reptiles :
Northern diamondback terrapin Malaclemys terrapin ceutrata
VJater snake Natrix sipedon williaraengelsi?
Thesi- two species are common. Other specic^s probably occui
at least occasionally - especially uear shrub tliicket hammocks.
Birds :
or
Til is list includes only species that occur in the marsh proper
that feed in pond iioles in the mar^h.
Species
Great blue heron
Green heron
Little blue heron
Great egret
Snowy egret
Louisiana heron
Black-crowned night heron
Least bittern
American bittern
Glossy ibis
Roseate spoonbill
Mallard
Black duck
Gadwall
Pintail
Green-winged teal
Blue-winged teal
American wigeon
Northern shovcler
Marsh hawk
King rail
Clapper rail
Seasonal Status
Permane
Summer
Permane
Permane
Permane
Permane
Permane
Summer
Winter
Summer
One rec
Winter
Permane
Winter
Winter
Winter
Trans ie
Winter
Trans Le
Permane
Probabi
Permani.
nt
res
nt
nt
nt
nt
nt
res
res
res
ord
res
nt
res
res
res
nt
res
nt
nt
y p
at
rei idcnt
idcnt
resident
resident
resident
res ident
resident
ident (nests)
ident
ident
. or perm. nvs. (may nest) ;
resident (nests)
ident or Perm. res. (may
ident
ident
ident
rre i
res. (probably nests)
orm. res. (probably nests,
r( sident (nests)
- 35 -
Species
Virginia rail
Sora
Ycillov; rail
Black rail
Seasonal Status
Permanent resident (probably nests)
Winter resident (mainly a transient)
No records of this secretive species
Probably a winter resident
Permanent resident (probably nest?)
The areas of pond lioles were not visited during migrations. The
lolluwiug shc^rebird statuses are conjectural — only th^ iiio;;t likely
species are included.
Willet
Greater yello\>ylegs
Lesser yellowlegs
Pectoral sandpiper
Short-billed dowitcbcr
Lone-billed dowitchcr
Snowy ovj
Barn owl
Fish crow
Long-billed marsh v/r;:n
Short-billed marsh wren
Bobolink
Eastern Meadov/L'irk
Redwinged blackbird
Boat-tailed gracklt^
Savannah sparrow
Sharp-tailed sparrow
Seaside sparrow
Swaiiip sparrow
Mammals :
Sunuaer resident (probably n(.:sts)
VJinter resident
Trans ient
Transient
Winter res ident
Transient or winter resident
One record
Permanent resident (Prebably nests)
Permanent resident (probably nests
on liammocks)
Permanent resident (n(:;!ts-)
Probable winLi-r resident
Trans ien t
Permanent res iden t
Fi.'r innntMit res i dent
P e r ma n e n t r ( ^ s J d c. n t
W inter r e s i d c a t
Winter resident
Summer resident t^or perin
Winter resident
(^e^i ts )
(nes t s )
(nests)
res . , nes ts )
Raccoon
Mink
Kiver
Marsh
otter
rabbit
Procyoh iotor
Mas tela vis on
Lutra canadensis
Sylvilagus palustris
Other species undoubtedly occur. Four very likely species are
Cray fox
Eastern harvest mouse
Rice rat
Meadow vole
Urocyon cineroargentous
Reithrodon toniys humui i s
Oryj:omys palustris
Microtus pennsy Ivanicus
Cedar Island-North Bay Barrier Island
Name of Area: Cedar Island-North Bay Barrier Island
County: Carteret
Location: Strand of beaches, dunes, and shrub thickets
that fronts Pamlico Sound N and NE of Cedar Island,
See Map 1 .
Quad: North Bay
Physical/Habitat Feature: Barrier Beach system.
Site Quality: Away from the ferry terminal area, this island
system is essentially a natural area.
Elevation: 0-10'
Topography: Cross section of narrow beach, and narrow bare
and vegetated low dunes fronting level salt marsh.
Soil Series: Beach and dune soils are Beach-Newhan Association;
Marsh soils are Lafitte Muck. SCS . USDA. 1979. Soil
Survey of Carteret County, N.C., Interim Report. (Jeannie
Wilson) .
Size: excluding marshes, ca. 7 miles X ca. 300'.
Geological Formation: Barrier system is a Holocene age.
Mixon, R.B. 7 O.H. Pilkey. 1976. Reconnaissance Geology
of the Submerged and Emerged Coastal Plain Province,
Cape Lookout Area, U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 859. US
Govt. Print. Off.
Endangered & Threatened Species: Brown Pelicans are common.
Potential for Endangered & Threatened Species: Peregrine
falcons (endangered) and merlins (threatened) may occur
regularly here in fall migration.
Site Integrity: Encroachments are limited to the area that
extends from one mile W to one mile E of the ferry terminal.
These involve the terminal, nearby cottages, ORV traffic
and livestock. The westermost 2 miles of the system are
protected by its inclusion in Cedar Island National Refuge;
the eastermost 3 miles are protected by the presence of
several inlets.
Owners: The westermost two miles of this barrier beach is part
of Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge. The rest is
privately owned. The county tax maps are vague due to
recent changes in abbreviations, but it appears that ca.
-36-
37 -
k mile of the beach adjacent to the refuge has been
purchased by a Morehead City realtor — Joe C. Beam.
Investigator: John Fussell (Report by Fussell and Jeannie
Wilson)
Date: November 1980
Other Knowledgeable Persons: Mr. Hubert Brohawn, Cedar Island
Wildlife Refuge. Cedar Island, N. C. ':
Description of Area: Low where developed; high elsewhere.
The primary value of this area is its geological "unique-
ness". It is by far the most prominent barrier island
system along an estuarine shoreline in North Carolina,
and on a small scale, has virtually all the features of
barrier islands that front the ocean.
This barrier system is ca. 7 miles long and lies
WNW-ESE. See Map 3. The section of the island that lies
2-4 miles from the western tip has been humanly altered.
Here, there are a few beach cottages, the ferry terminal
at the end of N.C. 12, some ORV traffic, and grazing by
horses and cows. West and east of this section, these
islands are essentially undisturbed. On this visit, only
the area west of the ferry terminal was surveyed and the
brief description that follows pertains to that area.
This area is an intriguing small scale edition of a
barrier island system, complete with beach, dunes, maritime
shrub thickets sheared toward the SSW by salt spray, and
the back-barrier marshes. There are three inlets, and
numerous overwash fans, blow-outs, and peat outcrops on
the beach. Thus, the system presents a graphic small-
scale edition of a larger oceanfront barrier island
system.
The beach, unlike an ocean beach, does have vegetated
areas,, primarily Spartina alternif lora . However, most of
the beach is bare. The dune zone is ca. 200' wide, and
the dunes range up to 5-10'. The larger dunes are
dominated by Uniola paniculata in some areas, but by
Ammophila breviligulata at other sites. Lower areas
within the dune zone have a rich diversity of species
typical of seaside dunes. The shrub thicket zone is up
to 100' wide at some points; at other points it is absent.
Quercus virginiana is the dominant species; it averages
6 high and is typically salt sheared. Near the western
tip of the system, Myrica cerifera dominates. The
back-barrier marsh is nearly pure Juncus roemerianus , but
along the marsh-shrub thicket border, there is a rich
diversity of brackish/high marsh species.
The westermost two miles of this section of beach is
within Cedar Island Wildlife Refuge. This appears to be
a significant roosting/feeding area for many species of
waterbirds, including brown pelicans. Two dead loggerhead
turtles were seen on the beach. This species occurs
- 38 -
regularly in Pamlico Sound, and it is possible that it
might rarely nest along these beaches.
The eastern half of the barrier system is probably
similar. See Map 3. It has wider inlets and a larger
extent of backbarrier marshes, and is likely also a
significant roosting/feeding area for waterbirds.
Just east of the ferry terminal, where there are many
livestock, there is a series of brackish ponds just
behind the beach. These are excellent shorebird
habitat.
- 39 -
PLANTS OBSERVED (Jeannie Wilion aided in identification)
Trees: (often wind atunted) Diospyroa virginiana, Juniperua
virginiana, Magnolia virginiana, Pinus taeda, Quercus
virginiana .
Shrubs: Baccharis halimifolia, Borrichia frutescens, Hypericum
hyper ico ide 3 , Ilex glabra, Ilex vonitoria, Iva frutescens,
Myrica cerifera, Prunus angus t i f o 1 ia , Rhus copallina,
Yucca f i lamen tosa ,
Vines: Mikania ■ scandeens , Rhus radicans, Rubus trivialis,
Smilax bona-nox , Vi t is ro tund i f o 1 ia .
Herbs: Ambrosia ar temis i i f cl ia , Aater subulatus, Cakile
edentula, Chenopodiwim ambros io ide s , Diodia teres,
Eupatorium capi 1 1 i f o 1 ium , Euphorbia po lygon i f o 1 ia ,
Gnaphalium obtusifoli.um, Hydrocotyle bonariensis,
Lepidium virginicum, Lythrum lineare, Oenothera sp.
(0. laciniaCa X 0. humifusa?), Physalis viscosa,
Phytolacca americana, Pluchea foetida, Polypremum
procumbens, Portulaca oleracea, Salicornia virginica,
Samolus parviflorua, Solanum carolinense, Solidago
•empervire sn , Solidago tenuifolia, Spergularia mariana,
Graminoida: Ammophila brevi 1 igula ta , Andropogon virginicus,
Carex spp., Cenchrus tribuloides, Cynodon dactylon,
Cyperus spp., Distichlis spicata, Eleocharis microcarpa,
Fimbristylis spadicea, Juncus sp., Juncus roemerianus,
Muhlenbergia capillaris, Panicua amarum, Scirpus americanus,
Spartina a 1 terni f lor a , Spartina cynosur oide s , Spartina
patens, Uniola paniculate.
Ferns
Osmund a regal is
ANIMALS OBSERVED
Birds
Common
create
snowy
breast
mar sh
p lover
s andp i
gull.
For 8 t e
be 1 ted
blue j
mar sh
ahar p-
loon ,
d cormo
egre t ,
ed merg
hawk , o
, commo
per , du
herring
r ' a ter
k ing f i
ay , f is
wren , y
ah inned
pied
rant
b lac
anse
s pr e
n sn
n 1 in
gul
n . r
she r
h c r
ello
spa
-bil
. gr
k du
r , a
y . c
ipe ,
(ma
1. r
oya 1
I CO
ow ,
w-ru
r row
led g
eat b
ck, p
har p-
1 appe
grea
ny ) ,
ing-b
tern
mm on
gray
mped
s wa
r ebe
lue
int a
shin
r r a
ter
sand
ille
. bl
flic
ca tb
war b
mp a
, brown pelican, double-
heron, little blue heron,
il, black scoter, red-
ned hawk, red-tailed hawk,
il, killdeer, black-bellied
yellow legs, red knot, least
eriing, great black-backed
d gull, laughing gull,
ack skimmer, mourning dove,
ker , barn swallow (one),
ird, house wren, short-billed
ler, savannah sparrow,
parrow, song sparrow.
Mamma 1 s
Raccoon, marsh rabbit.
-^
Q
Z
<
-1
i/j
UJ
t^
<
CO
<
CO
X
H
o
<
-J
<
Q
LU
U
a.
<
IE
Core Banks and Portsmouth Island
NOTE: For more information consult National Park Service,
USDI (1980, 1983). General Management Plan and Final
Environmental Impact Statement, Cape Lookout National
Seashore . . ,
Name of Area: Core Banks and Portsmouth Island
County: Carteret
Location Description: Cape Lookout, Horsepen Point, Styron
Bay, Atlantic, Wainwright and Portsmouth USGS 7.5 min.
topographic quad map; stretches east and northeast of
Shackleford Bank separated by Barden's Inlet to the
boundary of Carteret and Hyde County and separated from
Ocracoke Island by Ocracoke Inlet, Cape Hatteras National
Seashore. See map 4.
Ownership and Administration: Both Core Bank and Portsmouth
Island is owned by the National Park Service (NPS) and
administered as part of the Cape Lookout National
Seashore .
Size: 21,500 acres.
Land Use: These islands are virtually free of development
with the exception of remains of the privately owned
"fish camps" built by sport fishermen and the Cape
Lookout Lighthouse on Core Bank. Associated with the fish
camps were derelict old automobiles and litter. Clean-up
operations are in progress to restore the islands to their
natural condition. Minimal development of visitor facili-
ties are currently planned on portions of both islands.
The NPS management plans call for the following activities
and development: ferry service will be provided to three
points, to the lighthouse area. Shingle Point and Ports-
mouth Village. Public transportation exists to the is-
lands via a concession ferry. The most significant
development will occur at the docking sites and will be
restricted to visitor facilities, ferry docking, ranger
station at Cape Lookout and maintenance facilities.
The natural area will be open to hiking and fishing.
Primitive camping will be confined to the area between
Cape Lookout and Shingle Point. Hunting, fishing and
shell fishing will continue in designated areas and be
regulated according to law.
Compiled by the Natural Heritage Program, DNRCD ,
Division of Parks and Recreation, Raleigh, N.C. (1979).
- 41 -
_ 42 _
Dangers to Integrity: The existing unnatural conditions will
be alleviated upon completion of NPS clean-up operations.
Protection Status: Under NPS management plans, most of the
islands will be managed as natural areas.
Reasons for Significance: Core Bank and Portsmouth Island
have experienced a variety of historical alterations
caused by both human and natural influences. Today they
exist as unmanipulated, remote barrier islands and serve
as excellent examples of the many stages of barrier island
development. In this way they are singularly important
to North Carolina's heritage since most other barrier
islands have been extensively developed and/or have been
subject to unnatural dune and shoreline construction.
Limited access to these islands has been the responsible
factor in limiting their development. The islands have
been left to respond naturally to the forces of wind and
ocean. Dramatic geological changes have resulted which
are worthy of study.
Core and Portsmouth can be described as long and narrow,
low lying barrier islands resembling sand bars because of
their extensive berra and shrub-grassland vegetation. The
islands are oriented predominantly across prevailing
winds; there is little protection from salt spray, and
overwash is frequent thus providing little opportunity
for successional growth beyond the lush terrestrial
grass-like Guthrie's Hammock with its savannah-like
appearance. As an indication of the islands' unstable
nature and dynamic tendencies, certain conditions prevail:
the islands feature the most extensive beach berms,
especially Portsmouth which has barren sand in places
reaching to the sound side. The development of new dunes
can be observed and the concomitant establishment of dune
vegetation. Vegetation zonation and sand flats is a
result of overwash and terracing rather than exposure to
salt spray as observed on islands where the dunes are
larger and more stable. Hence, these islands experience
vegetation patterns slightly different from what is observed
in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore islands since dune
stabilization has never been initiated and natural
conditions prevail. In contrast to the vast berm new
dunes and pioneer grasses, dune slacks closer to the sound
side provide mesic conditions vjhere rich, diverse flora
can be found. Furthermore, low, flat mesic meadows offer
additional diversity. These are below the typical elevation
of the flats and closer to the water table. Here grass-
lands may succeed to woody vegetation if environmental
stress is minimized. Blending gradually into the mari-
time grasslands on the sound side are vast salt marshes
which are the site of high biological productivity.
Several rare, uncommon plant and animal species live
on these Banks. The Atlantic Loggerhead Sea Turtle nests
on the islands.
.A3
Designated Natural Area: The natural area includes
approximately 20,000 acres on Core and Portsmouth
which are outside the development zone (visitor centers,
sanitation facilities, etc., ferry docking sites) and
the area between Cape Lookout and Shingle Point,
Core and Portsmouth islands are unique in their
character and are among the few remaining stretches of
the Outer Banks where natural conditions can be enjoyed. •
For reasons of wilderness, habitat preservation and
scientific and educational pursuits, these islands
represent a significant measure of the State's heritage.
Preserve Recommendations: Because of the geological and
biological diversity, Core Bank and Portsmouth Island
should be protected from development and public over-
use. The islands serve as an ideal study ground for
barrier island ecology-geology, and further studies should
be encouraged.
Data Sources: Preston D. Riddle, Supervisor, and staff.
Cape Lookout National Seashore, Beaufort, N.C.
Paul J. Godfrey, National Park Service Cooperative
Research Unit, University of Massachusetts, Amherst,
Mass.
John Fussell, Morhead City, N.C. ' ' '^■z" '
National Park Service, General Management Plan and
Environmental Impact Statement.
Scientific References: Burk, C. J. (1961) A botanical ■ -.
reconnaissance of Portsmouth Island, North Carolina.
Jour. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc . 77: 72-74.
Godfrey, P. J. and Godfrey, M. M. (1976) Barrier
island ecology of the Cape Lookout National Seashore and
vicinity. North Carolina. National Park Service Scientific
Monograph Series, No. 9, 160 p.
Documentation and Authentication: Voucher specimens and
documentations are on file at the Cape Lookout National
Seashore headquarters in Beaufort, North Carolina. See
Management Report No. 22: Preliminary Resource Inven-
tory of the Vertebrates and Vascular Plants of the Cape
Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina.
PAULICO SOUND
••* \
••'Lp.\ PORTSMOUTH — * ^/.^
^^OV-"^ VILLAGE ifi ■ ^/N
tt.»'!;"'.-*''vSf-^ PORTS^
(■«»?••• Cf'" VILLAGE
CAPE HATTERAS
NATIONAL SEASHORE
I- '
-!— NORTH NEW DRUM INLET
NEW DRUM INLET
•beaufort
lantic beach
-" BANKS \Qr--- ^ (-"tf,,
WFORT INLET^ - (.- ~C ^
'SMYRNA A (S _,
^ (tr / SHINGLE POINT
if/
MARSHALLBERG
GLOUCESTER r"!]?^/
^^^^fsJ'lf EAST MARKERS ISLAND
*'-«'K0 (ADMINISTRATIVE SITEI
3?^
BARDEN INLET j/^ g^p£ iqOKOUT POINT AREA
\ ; '
VCAPE LOOKOUT
V.'
oCE
AN
- OCRACOKE INLET
-— NATIONAL SEASHORE BOUNDARY
£_^_^^ NATURAL ZONE
>fC DEVELOPMENT ZONE S:-
0 2 4 6 MILES
0 32 64 96 KILOMETERS
N
VICINITY
CAPE LOOKOUT NATIONAL SEASHORE/NORTH CAROLINA
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR / NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MAP 4: CORE BANKS - PORTSMOUTH
I
Croatan Pocosins
Name of Area: Croatan Pocosins
Location Description: Jones, Craven and Carteret Counties, North
Carolina; Maysville 15 min. and Masontown 7.5 min.
topographic USGS quad map in Croatan National Forest;
central Croatan National Forest, Catfish-Great Lake area.
See maps 5-7. Only the area called "Pocosin" lies within
Carteret County.
Ownership and Administration: Area owned and administered
by the USFS as holdings within the Croatan National Forest.
Four sections included in the natural area are those
proposed by the USFS as Wilderness - RARE II Areas (road-
less and undeveloped areas): Catfish Lake South, Sheep-
ridge, Pond Pine and Pocosin (see map 7). The Low
Pocosin area on the west side of Great Lake is premier
example of low evergreen shrub pocosin and is critical
to maintain the hydrology of the Sheep Ridge pocosin site.
The inclusion of the Low Pocosin area recognizes it as a
significant and necessary link to maintain the hydrology
of the other four areas. IvTiile the Low Pocosin area is
not included in the USFS proposed Wilderness Area due
to the presence of roads, it does meet all the qualifi-
cations of a Natural Heritage Area and its inclusion in
the natural area is recommended.
Approximate Acreage: Catfish Lake South 7,605 acres (3,042
hectares). Low Pocosin 4,035 acres (1614 hectares),
Pocosin 11,000 acres (4,400 hectares). Sheep Ridge
5,380 acres (2,152 hectares). Pond Pine 1,860 acres
(744 hectares).
Land Use: The proposed natural areas are restricted in
accessibility in that much of the area is covered by
impenetrable evergreen shrubs characteristic of pocosins
and flooded swamp forests. Maintained roads surround
the areas, but none actually transverse them with the
exception of the Low Pocosin area; therefore, land use
is restricted to hunting along the road edges. The land
is reserved primarily for wildlife habitat.
Dangers to Integrity: Massive wildfires are seen as a threat
to be controlled by the USFS. Pocosins are fire dependent
ecosystems and their successional status depends on both
hydroperiod and frequency of fires. Any major change in
Compiled by the NC Natural Heritage Program, DNRCD,
Division of Parks and Recreation, Raleigh, N.C. December
(1979).
- 45 -
J
_ 46 _
either or both environmental conditions would result in
a change or loss of the original characteristics.
Protection Status: The four RARE II study areas have been
proposed by the Forest Service for their protection as
wilderness areas and for inclusion in the National
Wilderness System. Furthermore, within the Pond Pine
section, three hundred acres have been recognized by
the USPS as the pond Pine Research Natural Area and are
protected as such.
Reasons for Significance: The Croatan National Forest was
recently included in a study of the location of peat
deposits in North Carolina. The proposed natural area
is contained within the area surveyed for peat deposits
with the exception of Pond Pine site which is of higher
elevation. Within the peatlands (see map 6), the eleva-
tion ranges from about 30 feet above sea level to slightly
greater than 40 feet above sea level. The highest
elevations are associated with the thickest peat thus
far found in the Croatan National Forest.
Pocosins are characterized by vegetation which is
adapted to periodic fires, low nutrient levels and periodic
flooding or high water tables. Pocosins are poorly
understood and especially sensitive ecosystems because
of complex hydrology combined with particular edaphic
conditions and their rugged nature. Thus, these unique
features depend on periodic fires and special hydrologic
conditions. As a result of extensive peat mining,
timbering and draining for agricultural purposes, these
lands are rapidly deminishing in area and being converted
to commercial use.
The Pocosin Natural Area is dominated by a mixture
of pocosin communities:
. Low evergreen shrub pocosin (low pocosin)
. Tall evergreen shrub pocosin (high pocosin)
. Open pond pine
Low pocosins are evergreen shrub bogs populated by Ilex,
Zenobia and Titi. Here, stunted Pond pine of only five
feet (or less) can be found on the organic soils. The
vegetation diversity here is low, but unique species
such as the rare yellow pitcher plant and Venus; fly-
trap (see Table 1) can be found.
The surrounding or bordering high pocosins have
soil with less organic content, although the water
table is still high. Here, Pond pine grows to heights
of sixty feet and high bay forests predominate.
In the transition from organic soils to mineral sub-
strate are found mixed pine forests (Loblolly or Long-
leaf pine). Hardwood swamp forest (Black gum, Red maple,
_47 _
Sweet gum) are found on the better drained mineral soils
near drainage creeks. Again, fire and hydrology play a
major role in limiting succession of other vegetation
forms, and therefore maintain the pocosin's integrity
providing habitat for the uniquely adapted species.
Sheepridge and Low Pocosin are prime examples of
well developed low pocosin and are considered as best
representative of "low pocosin ecosystems" in North
Caroina. This section, of higher elevation, is asso-
ciated with the thickest peat found in the above study.
This area is underlain by humic peat ranging from 4-6
feet thick.
The Catfish Lake South section supports a mixture of
high shrub pocosin and pond pine woodland. This area is
underlain by at least four feet of peat.
Pond Pine, as its name implies, is a prime example
of the open Pond pine dominated forest which is found
in areas underlain by shallow peat around the edges of
peat deposits. In the Pond pine overstory some of the
trees are 160+ years old.
The Pocosin section is also covered predominantly by
high shrub pocosin and Pond pine woodland. It is
believed that this area also should be underlain by
well-developed peat deposits.
As the demand for productive agricultural and timber
lands increase, these wetlands will come under increased
pressure for conversion into commercially productive
land. Therefore, it is important to preserve represen-
tative segments as natural areas for scientific and
educational purposes to accrue knowledge of their biolo-
gical structure, function and significance. Moreover,
wetland habitats such as the impenetrable pocosins are
the final refugia for heavily hunted species like the
black bear and alligator (see table 2).
Preserve Recommendations: The Pocosin Natural Area is
exemplary of the sensitive pocosin ecosystem and con-
tains the best examples in North Carolina of the low
shrub pocosin ecosystem. The sites provide habitat for
several plants or animals listed as endangered or threatened
nationally and within the state of North Carolina. For
these reasons, these sites should be protected as an
exceptional natural area.
Management Recommendations: A management plan should be
developed for the protection of the Pocosin Natural Area
as an outstanding natural area. Management should be
directed towards: 1) maintaining the existing hydrology
of the area through restriction on all draining in the
area or areas adjacent which would affect the watertable
here; 2) providing (allowing) for fire sufficient to
maintain the dominant vegetation now occupying each
site (If allowed to develop in the absence of fire, the
establishing trees/shrubs will grow and shade out the
_ 48 _
present understory, i.e. Pond pine evolves into a bay-
type forest.); 3) educating the public by providing
information on the uniqueness of the natural area. Heavy
equipment used for fire control should be limited to the
extent that it produces unsightly or deformed conditions
in the natural area.
Data Sources: Fuller, Manley, Fish & Wildlife Service, Intern
Washington, DC. (Currently: National Wildlife Fedn. , Raleigh, NO)
Huntsman, Gene, Mid-Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Research
Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Beaufort, N.C.
Otte, Lee, Dept . of Geology, ECU, Greenville, N.C.
Synder, J.R., Botany Department, University of Florida,
Gainsville, Florida.
Simpson, Bob, Box 643, Morehead City, N.C.
Wills, Richard, District Ranger, Croatan National
Forest .
Scientific References: Cermak, R.W. (1976). Establishment
Report for Pond Pine Research Natural Area within the
Croatan National Forest
Otte, L.J. and R.L. Ingram (1979). Quarterly Progress
Report: Peat Resources of North Carolina. Report to
North Carolina Energy Institute.
Smithsonian Institute, (1974), Survey of Natural Areas
of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Report for National Park
Service .
Snyder, J.R. (1977). Report on the vegetation and
site factors of the Pond Pine Pocosin Research Natural
Area, Croatan National Forest. USES Report. Southeastern ~
Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, N.C.
Documentation and Authentication: Voucher specimens for plant
speci.es are deposited in the following herbaria: North
Carolina State Museum, Raleigh, N.C. Supplementary surveys
and descriptions are as listed in the scientific references
above. The information contained in this report is well
documented and received from reliable resources.
Recognition by Other Agencies: Four of the areas have been
recommended as National Wilderness Areas. Three hundred
acres of the Pond Pine section have been recognized by
the USES as the Pond Pine Research Natural Area (see map
8).
_ 49 _
Table 1. Rare and Endangered Plant Species in* Minis Road Pocosin
Natural Area
Scientific Name
Conunon Name
Status
2 *
Dionaea rouscipula
Venus ' fly trap
TT
Peltandra sagittaefolia Arrowleaf shieldwort TP
Habitat
Wet sandy
ditches,
savannahs,
open bog
Bogs
* These plants are no longer listed as threatened or endangered by the N.C. Department
of Agriculture's Plant Protection Program.
Table 2. Rare and Endangered Animal Species in: Pocosin Natural Area.
Scientific Name
Common Ncime
Status'
Habitat
Alligator mississippiensis American alligator E
Crotalus adamanteus Eastern diamondback
rattlesnake E
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle E
Pandion haliatus
Picoides borealis
Rana areolata
Ursus americanus
Osprey SC
Red cockaded woodpecker E
Gopher frog
Black bear
SC
SC
Great rivers,
Flatwoods, inter-
spaced w bays
or pocosins w
sandy ridges
Chiefly near
oceans, rivers
lakes
Breed near water
Pine woodlands
longleaf/ loblolly
Upland sandy ridge
temp, or perm,
ponds
Taken from Cooper, J. E. , S. S. Robinson, and J. B. Funderberg (Eds).
1977. Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals of N. C. N. C. Museum
of Natural History, Raleigh, N. C. 444 pages + i-xvi.
Explanation of Status Categories;
EE - Endangered Endemic TE
ED - Endangered Disjunct TD
EP - Endangered Peripheral TP
ET - Endangered Throughout TT
UD - Undetermined
Threatened Endemic E
Threatened Disjunct T
Threatened Peripheral SC
Threatened Throughout
Endangered
Threatened
Special Concer
J
Scale 1:250.000
I — H..
SUIiile MIIps S
0 KiloTi-iies 5
-J
MAP 5: CROATAN FOREST PEAT DEPOSITS - OTTE (1980)
8. CROATAN NATIONAL FOREST
\
ICt^fivt
•cdjl.
"^
MsHoN Fork
^I'v:
SHEEPRIDGE
'V
/" "i.^UiS NAVAL
V \? /RtSCRVATIOf
Havelocfc^
CRAVCN^'''
•POCOSIN
■- Area surveyed
Scjte 1:250.000
Si^iuw HtJ»^ 3
o
Area underlain by peat
Pocosin Natural Area sites
5
0 K.KynfI.e'i 3
-I '
Counties: Jones, Craven, and Carteret
7.5 minute topoquads: Maysville NE , Maysville NW , May'^viMc SE , and
Ma son town.
Square miles surveyed: 150
Sites investigated: 92
Taken from Otte (1979)
MAP 6: POCOSIN NATURAL AREA - OTTE (1979)
U.S. DKFARTMKNT OF A('.IMC'l'l,TL'lil-:
FOKKST SKitVICK
JOHN H Mt^;^lH^ I Mih ^
CROATAN NATIONAL FOREST
NORTH CAK(^LINA
11-21-77 ^^^*
I 0 1 1 _ 1 t » ^''-
LEGEND
COMPARTMENT BOUNDARY
FOREST SERVICE BOUNDARY
STAND BOUNDARY
STAND DESCRIPTION
\\\\\ PRIVATE LAND
< STREAM
M I M II RAILROAD
Pond Pine Research
300 Acres
G\eEAT LAtCE
/ ] GREAT LAKE NATURAL
AREA
) :
■x
=-\
MAP 8: POCOSIN NATURAL AREA
Millis Road Longleaf Pine Savanna and Pocosin
Name of Area: Millis Road Longleaf Pine Savanna and
Pocosin
County: Carteret
Location: Area of low sand ridges and shallow interlying
swales in Croatan National Forest. Tract is bounded
on the north by Millis Rd, (U.S. Forest Service Road
128); on the east and southeast by Peak "Swamp"; on
the south by the large tract of short pocosin that
stretches southward to Forest Service Rd. 154-2; on
the west by Millis "Swamp" (See Map 9). Coordinates:
approx. 34'°43'30" N, 77 57'50" W.
Topographic quadrangle: Masontown
Size: Ca. 300 acres (ca. 121 ha)
Elevation: 30-36'
Access: The section of Millis Rd. (Forest Service Rd. 128)
adjacent to the tract is 1.4-2.4 miles west of S.R. 1124
(Nine Foot Road) .
Names of investigators: John 0. Fussell, III
1412 Shepard St.
Morehead City, N.C. 28557
919/726-3476
Jeannie Wilson
Hampton Mariners Museum
Beaufort, N.C. 23516
919/728-7317
Dates of investigation: 1980
Sept. 17, 18, 19
Oct. 7, 8, 15
Nov. 10, 12, 13
Both authors have visited the area on previous occasions.
Fussell made numerous trips to the area 1972-1979, primarily
in search of red-cockaded woodpeckers, Bachmans sparrows
and other bird species. He also made a night trip for
herps on July 27, 1980. Wilson visited the area numerous
times during 1975-1978, while working on a Master's project
nearby.
54
I
55
SITE DESCRIPTION
This 300 acre tract (see map 9) consists of about 200 acres of a
Pinus palustris/Aristida striata community that lies on wide and low sand
ridges, about 50 acres of medium-height pocosin that lies in the inter-
ridge swales, and about 50 acres of a poorly defined intergradation of Pinus
palustris/Aristida stricta with low pocosin along the southern boundary of
the tract. (In this report, we use the term pocosin in the broad sense,
i.e., area dominated by broadleaf evergreen shrubs, regardless of the
topography of the area. )
Ostensibly the tract is nearly level; the slopes between ridges and
swales would be imperceptible at most points were it not for the very
noticeable differences in plant cover and soil moisture. However, there
are moderate slopes at the eastern and western borders of the tract, adjacent
to the Peak and Millis "Swamps" (actually bay forests). Along the ridge
"crests", the soil is usually xeric; in the swales, only a foot or two lower,
there are a few inches of standing water during much of the winter and the
soil is usually moist in summer. However, in the early fall of 1980, after
a very dry siimmer, the soil surface in the swales, away from Sphagnum cover,
was almost dry.
The sand ridges in this tract are a small part of a large complex of
basically NE-SW oriented ridges in this section of the county - the "Ne'^rport
Barrier" (see Mixon and Pilkey 1976). Apparently, these ridges are relict
beach ridges formed during the last major regression of sea-level in the
late Pleistocene. In the study area, the three easternmost ridges are well-
defined and definitely lie NE-SW. The ridge pattern in the western half
of the tract is more irregular and appears to some extent to be the result
of an original more prominent pattern that has been dissected by a drainage
system that has developed perpendicularly to the ridge-swale pattern.
There appears to be one "partial" Carolina bay at the southern edge of the
tract.
Plant Communities
The Pinus palustris/Aristida stricta sections of the tract are subjected
to prescribed burns about every 3 years. In June 1980, a wildfire swept
through the tract, burning the pocosin areas that had not burned for several
years. Thus, the physiognomy of this area was slightly different in the
fall of 1980 from what it was previously.
(1) Pinus palustris/Aristida stricta. All canopy height sized trees
are Pinus palustris ; trees occur in a generally sparse stand. Canopy height
is about TO'; canopy trees are probably mostly about 50 years old. However,
the presence of red-cockaded woodpecker cavity trees in the eastern half
of the tract suggests that some trees may be up to about 75 years old. The
largest trees are not much over 12" D3H. Ver;;- striking is the almost total
absence of vegetation at subcanopy and shrub levels. Also striking is the
near absence of xerophyllic oaks. In 198O, because of the J'une fire, Aristils
stricta was especially prominent - about 3 feet tall and fruiting throughout
the tract I giving it a prairie appearance). It varied from a dense cover
on the ridge slopes to a sparse cover on sections of the ridge centers.
Herbaceous species composition varies in a continuum from the ridge centers
to the ridge slopes.
56
In the fall of 1930, there was a pleasing floral display. Prominent
were Trilisa paniculata, Trilisa odoratissima, Solidaa;o stricta, Liatris
gramini folia, and Carphephorus tomentosus.
Plate 1
(2) Inter-ridge pocosin. Before the 198O fire, the swales supported
what might be called medium-height pocosin. There was a moderate stand of
Pinus serotina, up to UO-50' high and to 8" DBH. Beneath the pines was a
dense U-B' growth of mixed broadleaf evergreens, which was composed of
Ilex coriacea, Lyonia lucida. Per sea borbonia, etc. After the fire, these
areas were quite different. About one fourth of the Pinus serotina appear
to have survived; thus there is now a sparse stand. At the U-8' level,
there is a dense tangle of dead branches covered with a new growth of
Smilax lauri folia. Regrowth of broadleaf evergreens was up to 1-2' high;
common species at most sites were Ilex glabra. Ilex coriacea, Lyonia lucida
and Zenobia pulverulenta. Sphagnum is still abundant at ground level.
Ecotone. Between the Pinus palust r i s / Arist i da stricta commiinity and
the swale pocosin, there is a prominent ecotone, which varies in width from
almost nothing to 30'. In many sections, the ecotone has a 3' high growth
of Tridens f lavus , with a lesser amount of Andropogon virginicus , that
overtops a 1' high layer of Carex walteriana. Other secxions are more open
with a wide variety of herbs, including species such as Sarracenia flava,
Sarracenia purpurea and Dionaea muscipula. Many species that occur in the
300 acre tract are found primarily in the ecotonal area.
(3) Intergradation of Pinus palust ris/Aristi da stricca and low pocosin.
Within this 50 acre area, there are small patches of small and young Pinus
palustris , larger patches of low pocosin, and numerous ecotonal areas.
Before the fire, this low pocosin had a sparse stand of very small Pinus
serotina (mostly less than 10' tall and k' DBH) and a dense 1-2 foot growth
of broadleaf evergreens. After the fire most Pinus serotina were killed
and the dense foot-high shrubs were dominated by Ilex glabra. Also common
were Zenobia pulverulenta , Carex walteriana and Woodwardia virginica.
Sphagnum covers virtually all the ground area.
SSsSMnwTSSH
- 57 -
We fo'ond two rare species in this intergradation zonf
A?alinis virg-ata and Earracenia rubra.
These are
RELICT BEACH RIDGE AND SWALE PATTERN
Longleaf Pine/
Wiresrs-ss
Pond Pine/
evergreen
shrubs
unburned
Pond Pine'
ever.~reen
shrubs
burned
Ecotone rich in
herb species after
fire
Figure 2
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60
11. Ovnership type by percent area: Public 100^
12. Number of owners: one
13- Name of owner and supervisor: USDA, Forest Service
Mr. Lynn Young, District Ranger
Croatan National Forest
i+35 Thurman Rd.
New Bern, N.C. 2856O
919/638-5628
lU. Use of natural area: Current uses are low-intensity ones. This is
managed timberland, but the most recent harvest was a select cut over
10 years ago. The tract is prescribed burned every 2-3 years. Other
low-intensity uses are hunting (deer and quail), bird-watching and
nature study (wildflowers ) .
15. Use of surrounding land:
a) Agricultural land (pine plantations)
b) Wildland - 80^
16. Management Problem Description Impact
20f»
Need for fire management
significant
feature
Effort
continual
management
essential
IT.
18.
19.
20.
21.
Preservation status: Public land, not recognized as a natural area.
Regulatory protections in force: We know of only one - the Endangered
Species Act, but we do not know the exact acreage of the tract to which
it applies. There are several red-cocka.ded woodpecker (federally
endangered species) cavity trees in the eastern third of the tract,
so at least some of the tract is critical habitat for that species.
Attitude of owner or custodian toward preservation: See section 21.
Threats: See section 21.
Management and preservation recommenda'cion: The preservation of this
area is related to:
a) maintenance of present vegetational structure, which includes
a sparse stand of canopy height pines, a sparse growth of understory
and shrub layer vegetation, and a thick graminoid ground cover. This
structure would be altered drastically by clearcutting (some select
cutting may not be harmful, but see c. below), and/or absence of regular
ground fires. Ground fires greatly increase the height and density of
the Aristida stricta cover. Regular ground fires also decrease the
probability of a crown fire which would alter the structure of the
area. Maintenance of the distinctive plant structure is essential for
red-cockaded woodpeckers (federally endangered) and Bachman's sparrows
(threatened in North Carolina).
61
The above refers to the Pinus palustris/Aristida stricta community of
the sand ridges. However, within this tract, there are inter-ridge
swales dominated by Pinus serotina/mixed broadleaf evergreen shrubs
(pocosin vegetation). These pocosin swales and the adjacent ecotonal
areas have generally escaped burning d^oring prescribed burns. They are
less flammable (wetter) and fire breaks have been dug between the
ridges and the swales by the Forest Service to contain fires. Some of
the ecotonal areas are affected by the fire breaks. If these areas
could be burned regularly, there would be some conversion of broadleaf
evergreen shrubs to grass-sedge cover. The entire tract would "benefit"
from the intorduction (or re-introduction) of a "fire habitat" that is
rarer in this area (county and Croatan National Forest) than is scattered
Pinus palustris with a thick growth of Aristida stricta. The resulting
vegetation would be scattered Pinus palustris or Pinus serotina or no
trees with a very thick growth of more mesophyllic grasses and sedges.
This situation occurred to a moderate extent in June I98O after an
intense wildfire. Before the fire, the ecotonal strips were primarily
vegetated with a sparse growth of herbs and shrubs less than one foot
in height. After the fire, these same strips had a lush waist-high
growth of mixed grasses and sedges. These thick grassy areas (which are
thicker than the thickest Aristida cover) may be very important to winter-
ing Bachman's sparrows and Henslows sparrows. Henslows sparrows are
undergoing a pronounced nationwide decline in numbers. In the winter of
I979-I98O, several searches within the tract for this sparrow turned up
one individual. On November 12 and 13, 19S0, after the drastic increase
in grass cover after the J\ine wildfie, 5. individuals were censused here
- a truly noteworthy total.
Although fire eventually leads to a great increase in the density
of ground flora, there is virtually no ground cover for awhile. It
might be advisable to alternate burning instead of burning the entire
tract at one time. For instance, burn the eastern half one year and
the western half the next year, etc.
b) maintenance of the diversity of ground flora. This is closely
related to the maintenance of vegetational structure discussed above.
Those recommendations also apply here, especially the need for frequent
ground fires. We re-stress the potential value of more burning in the
pocosin and ecotonal areas. Currently, it is the ecotonal areas that
harbor the rarest plants on the tract: Calamovilfa brevipilis, Sarracenia
rubra, Dionaea muscitula and Ag-alinis virgata. Increased burning in
the ecotonal and pocosin areas could lead to increases in the populations
of these species and increase the likelihood of the introduction of
other rare savannah species that occur in the general area, out not
within the tract.
c) maintenance of the presence of some mature pines. Trees
generally 60 years old or older are a necessity for red-cockaded
woodpeckers. Increased burning in the pocosin areas could lead to greater
red-cockaded woodpecker use of Pinus serotina for cavity trees, ana these
are generally undesirable timber trees.
The management of the tract by the Forest Service for longleaf
pine saw timber is generally consistent with maintenance of the tract
in its present high-quality state. The important things are to protect
/
- 62 _
red-cockaded woodpecker cavity trees, maintain some mat^ore timber (the
required amoiont could be a debatable point), and prescribed burns should
be continued on regular, fairly frequent basis. Burning of the pocosin
areas within the tract, which we believe would be very beneficial,
would probably be generally opposed by the Forest Service because this
would be more difficult to carry out. However, it is notable that
inter-ridge locations of much of the pocosin within this tract present
a relatively practical opportunity to burn pocosin since these areas are
"surrounded" by Pinus palustris/Aristida stricta.
Belaud (19T1) reported that the Forest Service was considering the
creation of special "red-cockaded woodpecker management areas", where
all management activities would be geared to improvement of habitat for the
species. Such areas would be located so that they would be readily
accessible to the public for the purpose of public education. This tract
would certainly be an excellent "red-cockaded woodpecker management
area" or better yet, a "savannah management area". Many persons visit
this tract yearly in search of "savannah species". Most of these
persons are visitors from other areas, so the tract has some economic
value to the co\anty.
22. Rating: High priority.
23- Statement of site significance: (See Table 3).
The tract is highly significant primarily because it includes 200+
acres (generally continuous) of exemplary Pinus palustris/Aristida stricta
community. This community is exemplary because of its relatively large
size, very open aspect due to recent frequent fire, presence of many
fairly mature trees, and the presence of a large number of typical
savannah species. The tract has a large number of rare savannah species
also: at least 3 endangered (one federally endangered) and h threatened
species.
The tract is of some geological significance because it lies on a
prominent Pleistocene relict beach ridge system. Such beach ridges
are common in the county, but are rapidly being destroyed or altered
by human disturbance. The tract is also of historical significance,
being an "environment" that was prevalent during the early history of
our county.
The tract is of scientific interest and has been used in research.
It is very accessible, and is a site many persons visit to see "savannah
species".
With the moister "pocosin areas" within the tract "surrounded" by
Pinus palustris/Aristida stricta areas, there is a situation in which
it would be relatively easy to regularly burn these moister areas.
This would increase the total area available to mesophytic herbs and
increase the populations of the rarer savannah herbs.
63
24. A. Natural Characteristics Summary
a. Vegetation-Biotic Conmunity Summary
Community Type: Pinus palustris/Aristida stricta
Community Cover Type: Pinus palustris
General Habitat Feature: Savannah
Average tree height: Ca. 70'
Estimated age of canopy trees: 50+ years
Estimated size of association: 200+ acres
Successional stage: Transient, fire-climax
Sere type: Psammosere
Common canopy species in community type (but not dominant): None
Common subcanopy-shrub stratum species in community type (but not
dominant): Myrica cerifera var. numila, Lyonia mar i an a. Ilex
glabra, Vaccini'iim tenellum
Common herb stratum species in community type (but not dominant):
Andropogon scoparius, RhynchcsDora spp. , Liatris gramini folia,
Eupatorium spp. , Aster spp.
b. Soil Surmnary
Soil series: Leon sand
Soil order: Spodcsol
pH class: Extremely acid to strongly acid (3.0-5.5)
Moisture class: vet to droughty, cemented pan, excessively drair:e;
c. Hydrology S'ommary
Drainage basin: IJevpcrt River
Hydrologic system: Terrestrial
Kydrologic subsystem: Dry rr.asic to dry xeric
V/ater chemistry: Fresh
Water regime: Intermittently saturated to permanently ei-rposed
64
d. Siimmary-Topography and Physiography
Topographic site type characteristics
Land form: Ridge crest and slopes
Shelter: Open
Aspect: Ridge-swale pattern runs in NE direction; thus, slopes
face SE 4 ITW
Slope angle: Nearly level 0-2° to gently sloping 2-6°
Profile: Generally constant
Surface patterns: Mostly smooth
Position: Entire ridge cross-section
Physiographic site type of natural area: Millis Road Savannah
Physiographic site type of community type: Relict dune ridges
within Millis Road Savannah
Geologic Formation: Planner Beach Formation
Geologic Formation age: Pleistocene
24. B. Natural Characteristics Summary
a. Vegetation-Biotic Community Summary
Community type: Pinus serotina/ mixed broadleaf evergreen shrubs/
Sphagnum spp. /Smilax Laurifolia. Smllax is more abundant after
fire.
Community cover type: Pinus serotina
General habitat feature: Pocosin vegetation in shallow, narrow
inter-ridge swales
Average tree height: UO'
Estimated age of csinopy trees: 50+ (2 red-cockaded woodpecker
cavity trees seen)
Estimated size of association: 50 acres
Successional stage: Transient, fire climax
Sere type: Fsammosere
Common canopy species in community type: }Jone
Common subcanopy-shrub species in community type: Ilex glabra,
65
Lyon i a luciia, ilex coriacea, 'A-jrica. hetercpr.ylla, Zenobia
pulverulent a
Common herb species in corjn'unity type: Carex valteriana,
Woodvardia virgin lea
Soil Summary/'
Soil series: Murville sand
Soil order: Spodosol
pH class: Extremely acid to strongly acid '3-C-5-5)
Moisture class: Wet, floods, cemented pan, poorly drained
Hy irclogj' S-jmir.ary
Drainage basin: ^le'-^ort River
Hydrologic system: Palustrine
Hydrologic subsystem: Interaqueous
Water chemistry: Fresh
Water regime: Semi-permanently flooded tc saturated
S'ummary-Topograpny and Physiography
Topographic site type characteristics
^an c ^^ r-r^, ; ~vr-^^-n_v- d^e sva''es
Sh.elter; Open
Ast'ect : '<C't '- 1 r '' i '*aD~' "
Slor;e a.nrle: iiearl'.' level I-l"""
cacie
,uriace tatterns: ..one
;icn. ::.ntire 3va_e cross-section
■'""■'■/ S "^ ^ -^ "^ "^ C Ti "^ '"* ~ ~ • ^ " T^ 1^ ~^ ** V-,.-— --.-v*^^ ^"^^3,; Z. Lj.£ r'. 02.1 z ^V3.Iir* 3.r,
vitnin Millis rvcai Savannah
"■eolOKic Formation: Flanner reach Formation
}eolo-ic Formation a.-e: -leistocene
J
^ 66 _
24. C. Natural Characteristics Sunmary
a. Vegetation-Biotic Community Summary
Community Type: Pinus serotina/Ilex glabra-Zenobia pulverulenta/
Sphaajium sp. Most pines were killed after the fire.
Community cover type : Pinus serotina before fire , Ilex ^labm-
Zenobia pulverulenta after fire
General habitat feature: Low pocosin
Average tree height: 6-8'
Estimated age of canopy trees: Not applicable
Estimated size of association: Less thaji 50 acres
Successional stage: Transient, fire climax
Sere type: Psajnmosere
Common canopy species in community type: None
Common subcanopy-shrub species in community type: None
Common herb species in community type: Carex walteriana, Woodwardia
virginica (herbs and shrubs are at sajne level)
b. Soil Summary
Soil series: Murvllle sand
Soil order: Spodosol
pH class: Extremely acid to strongly acid (3-6-5.5)
Moisture class: Wet, floods, cemented pan, poorly drained
c. Hydrology Summary
Drainage basin: Newport River
Hydrologic system: Palustrine
Kydrologic subsystem: Interaqueous
Water chemistry: Fresh
Water regime: Semi-permanently flooded to saturated
d. Summary-Topography and Physiography
Topographic site type characteristics
Land form: Low oocosin
SSSiissn;
•Z^nHS3itn:.-iVA-1?OC^KsavpsravysKri:'^<vc!t.i'itirtm'sij,r-
_ 67 _
Shelter: Open
Aspect: Not applicable
Slope angle: Nearly level 0-2°
Profile: Hot applicable
Surface patterns: H'omnocky (huarniocks of gphagrjjia )
Position: Not applicable
Physiographic site tyx^e of natural area: Millis Road Savannah
Physiographic site t^-pe of community zype: 53 acres of plain
within Millis Road Savannah
Geologic Formation: Flanner Beach rorr.ation
Geologic Formation age: Pleistocene
.'\eierences
Mixon, R.B. i C.H. Pilkey. 19T6. Reconnaissance Geology of "he
Submerged and Emerged Coastal Plain Province, Cape Lcokcut
Area. U.S. Geol. Survey. Prof. Paper 559. U.S. C-ovt Printing
Office. Washington, D.C.
Morth Carolina Dept . of Cons er-./-at ion i Uevelopr-^ent . l?5c. I-eclogic
Map of North Carolina. Division of Mineral Resources.
Soil Conservation Service. ''5DA. 1?"?. Soil Survey cf Carterei
County, J." . C . , Interim report''.
Snyder, Jaj.es. 19"'-. .-^^.alysis of Coastal "lain Vegetation, Crcatar.
i.'ational Forest, ".orth Carolina. ''.asters Chesis. UUC, Chapel
Kill.
e. ^'omir.ary - .ijtiangerei an:: -:ireateneo species - .-.Lants
Na-^e of Species: .-■.^alinis virrata . Branched gerardia
Species legal status: Bndangered peripheral
N-umber of populations en site: Ine seen
Nur.ber of individuals per population; 5 seen
Size or T.aturity of individuals: Flowering and fruit:
Disturbance or threats to population: Freq.uent fire ;
needed
63
Habitat characteristics:
Vegetation association: Ecotone of savannah and pocosin
Topography: Flat or slight slope
Soil series : Leon sand
Microclimate: Sunny, moist
Drainage basin: Newport River
Other plant and animal species present : Pinus palustris ,
Aristida stricta, Lyonia lucida. Ilex glabra
Name of Species: Asclepias pedicellata
Species legal status: Endangered peripheral
Number of populations on site: Unknown
Number of individuals per population: Unknown
Size or maturity of individuals: Flowering
Disturbance or threats to population: Frequent ground fires
probably needed
Habitat characteristics:
Vegetation association: Pinus palustris /Aristida stricta
Topography: Gently sloping
Soil series: Leon sand
Microclimate: Suny to semi-shaded, dry
Drainage basin: Newport River
Name of Species: Calamovilfa brevipilis (Riverbank sandreed)
Species legal status: Threatened throughout
Niimber of populations on site: Unknown: reported by Snyder, 1973
N-omber of individuals per population: Unknown
Size or maturity of individuals: Unknown
Disturbance or threats to population: May need frequent fire
69
Habitat chai ^cteri'.tics:
Vegetation association: Probably savannah-pocosin ecotone
and low pocosin.
Topography: Flat to .-ently sloping
Soil series: Leon sand
Microclimate: Sunny, moist to dry?
Drainage basin: Ilevrpor' River
Narr.e oi" Species: Dionaea musciDula (Venus fly rrap)
Species legal status: Threatened endemic, e>7clcited
N-a.T.ber of pop'olations on site: 5 to 10
Ivjmber of individuals per population: 5 to 200+
Size or maturity of individuals: Flowering and fruiting
Disturbance or threats to population: Frequent fire is needed.
Some plants were iug near Millis Road
Habitat characteristics:
Vegetation association: Savannah-pocosin ecctcne
Topography: Slight, slope
Soil series: Murville sand, Leon sand
Microclimate: 2-dnr.y , moist
Drainage basin: Newport River
Otner riant or animal soecies oresent : rinus serotina,
Lyonia lucida, ^arracenia flava, Sarracenia turijurea
liame of Species: Sarracenia rubra (Sweet iDit::her riant j
Species legal status: Threatened throughout, exploited
li'umber of populations or. site: T--/o seen .one marginal to sit;
"'um/cer of individuals per population: About 10
Size or mafority of individuals: Had not flowered this year
Disturbance or tnreats to population: V.'o'-ild probably benefit
'"^■^^^^uent '"*" ^^
_ 70 _
Habitat characteristics:
Vegetation association: Low pocosin, and ecotonal between
savannah and Millis Swamp
Topography: Plants were on a hummock of Sphagnum
Soil series: Leon and Murville sand
Microclimate: Sunny, moist
Drainage basin: Newport River
Other plant and animal species present: Sphagnum
Other rare species that might occur on tract:
Lysimachia asperulaefolia (Endangered endemic). Found by Snyder, 1977, in
the general area and possibly within this tract.
Solidaa:o pulchra (Endangered endemic). Tract is within range of species.
Fothergilla gardenii (Threatened peripheral). Occurs less than a mile from
this tract.
Notable species on the tract, although ont endangered or threatened:
Pinguicula pumila. Found on tract in 1977 (Snyder, 1978, and personal
communication with Wilson, 1977). This is northernmost locality at
which this species has been foimd.
e. 3i:mmary - Endangered and Threatened Species - .Animals
Name of Species: Red-cockaded woodpecker
Species legal status: Endangered (Federal)
Number of populations on site: 2 or 3
Number of individuals per population: Approx. 3
Size or maturity of individuals: Breeding (at least one nest)
for the last few years
General vigor of population: Population appears stable
■'SKWE^MS^aSiSa^i'SrafJiHiKwmasMlv'iim.a-.itniii.K-,-
71
DisturbeLnce or threats uo population: ?otential cf loss of
mature tinber on site
Habitat characteristics:
Vegetation association: prir.arily Finus talus tr is /Aristiia
Drainage basin: liewt'Ort River
Other plants and animals species present : I^epenient en maturt
pines for cavity trees
riame of "pecies: Red-shouldered hawk
Species legal status: Threatened
Ilximber of populations on site: Dne
liumber of individuals per population: Approx. 3
Tract is a feeding area for individuals that apparently nest in
Peak Svarcp
IJace of Species: Bachman's sparrow
Species legal status: Threatened
li'uTiber of individuals on site: 10 to 2C in 19'^9, fewer in 1?50
Size or mat^^ity cf individuals: Breeding, yo'ung seen in l?iG
Disturbance or threats to population: Jire needea tc suppress subcanop;.
and shruc xayers and rrovidf t;-ich .rrass cover
Habitat characteristics:
Vegetation association: Pinus ralustris /'Aristida stricta
Drainare basin: I'.'ewrort River
r.ther tlants and aniiials srecies tresent; thick Aristiia cover
jther rare srecies tr.at might recur on tract:
.L-^j-. t~^r di ar '^nuc-^C'^' vo-^~~^|rr^^..-;s _^^ ^anc*^^~ C • 'Ve ^mcv r: z no
Infinite reccris for tnis tract, but tnere are reccrcs fcr t;:e
general area. Russell fcjjid a dead individual on Millis Road
1
-r a — . .- ii V
I
_72 _
liotable species on the tract, although not endangered or threatened:
Henslow' s sparrow. Winter resident on tract. Considered to be of special
concern status for North Carolina. Species is decreasing appreciably
throughout the United States.
Reference :
Cooper, John et_ al_. 19'^5- Endangered and Threatened Plants and .-xiimals
of North Caroli.na. i'l.C. Museum of Natural History S"^/^,pcsi-um.
l»^fSSKWSf£W«'!?.K5asi«K3a!S«e2Bsis«ii;
rTJT^AV ft F Vj?»>
1
r "'" ,
> /
^1 ' ■\ /:
\ .
.3*'/
Ie-^ 0 A^Kt^
"V-.:" /
u ^1 ' \
ns
12 610 000 FEET
57'30" =21
322 (SALTER PATH)\
5653 III NW
SCALE 1,24 000
a::
MAP 9: MILLIS ROAD LONGLEAF PINE SAVANNAH NATURAL AREA
(from Masontown Quadrangle)
I
MASTER SPECIES LIST
. 74 _
FLOKA
Acoraceae
Apiaceae
Aqu ifoiiaceac
Asc le p iadaceae
Aster ft coae
Blechnaceae
Burmanniaceae
Clethraceae
Convolvu laceae
Cy per ace ae
Acer rubrum
C.?ntella asiatica
Eryngiura integrifolium
OxypoIiB ternata
Ilex case ine var
Ilex coriacea
Ilex glabra
myr t ifol i a
Asclepias pediceliata
Aster 1 inar i 1 f ol ius
Aster paludosus
Aster tortifoliufl
Balduina uniflora
Carphephorua bellidifolitjs
Carphephorua tomentosuo
Coreopsio angustifoiia
Eupatorium iv=;ucolepiE
Eiipatoriura recurvans
Er ige r on ve rnu s
Helianf. hiis angustifoiius
HeLeiotheca nervoda
Liatris graminifolia
Liatris apicata vai. reainma
Marshallia gr atnini f o 1 ia
Pterocaulon py cnos t achyum
Solidago fistuloaa
So i idago s tr ic t a
Trillsa odor a C is a i ma
Triliea panic u lata
Woodward ia virginica
Burmannia biflora
Clethra alnifolia
Cuscuta compacta
Carcx walteriana
Eriophorum virginicum
Fitnbr is ty 1 is autumnalis
Fuirena squarrosa
Rhynchospora cephalanthus
Rhynchospora cha 1 a r oc e pha 1 a
Rhynchospora chapmanii
Rhynchospora ciliaris
Rhynchospora fascicularis
Rhynchospora pallida
RhynchoKpora plumosa
Scleriaspp.
l5F^?55'(^NaKHWr^'ffQ3lKrsfiaffjrt>:y/=M)i»™:m'.To
75
D i apens iaceae
D ionaeacr ae
Droser aceae
Lr iocau Iaceae
Ericaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Fabac e 3'
Fagaceae
Gen t ianaceae
Haemodoraceae
Hyper ic aceae
Ir idaceae
Jun c ace ae
Lamiaceae
Lauraceae
Linaccae
Lentibulariaceae
Liliaceae
Pyxid nLl.eia barbulata
Dionaea muscipula
Drosera capillarie
^rosera intermedia
Eriocaulon decangulare
Lachnocaulon minus
Lyonia ligustrina
Lyonia lucid i
Lyonia mariana
Vaccinium atrococcum
Vaccinium coryiubosum
Vaccinium craesifolium
Vaccinium tenellum
Zenobia pulverulenta
Cnidoscolus stimulosue
Desmodium tenuifolium
Galactia regularis
Quer cu 8 inc ana
Quercu s lae v is
Bartonia verna
Bartonia virginica
Sabatia difformis
Lachnanth^s caroliniana
Hypericum reductum
Hypericum stans
Iris verna
Juncua biflorus
J uncus dichotorauB
Juncus scirpoides
Pycnanthemum flexuoeum
Per sea borbonia
Sassafras albidum
L inum striatum
Pinguicula pumila
Utricularia subulata
Aletris farinosa
Lil ium catesbae i
Smilax bona-nox
Smilax laurifolia
I
- 76 -
Logan iaccac
Lycopodiaccae
Magno 1 lace ae
Melastotnataceae
Myricaceae
Orchidaceae
Osmund aceae
P i n a c e a e
Poace ae
Po lyga laceae
Pr imu laceae
P ter idaceae
Rosaceae
Sarraceniaceae
Tofieldia glabra
Tofieldia racemoea
Zigadenus dcnsus
Zigadenue j>laberrimu8
Ccleeinium flemporvirfina
Lycopodiutn a 1 opecu r o ide s
Magnolia virginiana
Rhexia alifanus
Rhexia lutea
Rhexia mariana
Rhexia petiolata
Myr ica cerifera
Myrica cerifera var. pumila
Myrica heterophylla
Calopogon pallidus
Calopogon pulchellus
Cleistes divaricata
Habenaria blephariglottis
Ilabenaria ciliaria
Habenaria cristata
Osmunda cinnaroomea
Pinus palustris
P inus ser o t ina
Andropogon scopariue
Andropogon virginicus
Aristida strict. a
Arundinaria gigantea
Ctenium aromaticuTn
Panicum portoricense
Panicum virgaturo
Panicum spp.
Tridena flevua
Polygala cruciate
Polygala hookeri
Polygala lutea
Lysimichia loorosii
Pteridium aquilinum
Sorbufl arbutifolia
Sarracenia flava
Sarracenia purpurea
Sarracenia rubra
iSSS^iS'fSKaWiri-JSnS'ajm'iWTssimRKiiitmim
I^JIWlPKViKWIt?!?*:^^!?
- 77 -
Scrophulariaceae
Sphagnace ae
Theaceae
Xyridaceae
Agalinis linifolia
Agalini.8 obtusifolia
Agalinis setacea
Agalinis virgata
Gratiola piloaa
Seyraeria caasioidee
Sphagnum spp.
Gordonia lasianthus
Xyrifl caroliniana
Xyr is ap .
In this '"fall" list, we include species we remember seeing
on previous occasions.
J
_ 78 _
MAfi'i'i.i^ nrEciE:' i,l:;t
i''/\'':i/^
Ainpriibian:
Oak toad
Do ut hern toad
DoijLhorri cricket fro{3
'Irec-'i troefroc
1 im womU:; Lrt;. ' I'rt), '
Dqui rj'.?l treijf ro;';
Gray tree fr or;
[ntt.le r-v:t-::- fv^-
riOiit rvrri
'pnv
n./
(There is a srriall borrow ]-'Ond at the vestern c-d,-.o
tbiO ainpiiibiauL-. art: f.:;iaul.;
j i:i.' I,' ri: ii.'itt 'Wii!' Ill' ii I I I'll,' ■
1 or" t]\>' tract whe^e mont of
Re}X)tilea
Eant.eni rr.u 1 turr.le
Fa.':ti,'rii box turtle
Carolina anole
; .i X- 1 i ncd racerunnt r
Ear.;t*jru (;<la::i3 lir.ard
Bla'-;k ru'-'.-r
Eastern kinc; siis.!;--;
l^C'lbeiiy water snake
Rouf;;h green nnr^ke
Timer rnttlesii.xk/:
(Tv L",kin of a Dltunondback rattlesnake ir hanj-^in,"; in tli-' Korest :
Lji,atLon that was ki II di alon,.^ Mil.lir, Road. i)thor;; wiy ]>■• in t,l
This snake is endanf;iM-ed. )
^orvii.
li:; -it
(' rai'.i'ier
Birds
P = permanent resident
3 = summer resid.' nt
Tu!'<ey valturo t
Black vulture F
Charp-shinnsd liawk \1
lu.'d- tailed hawk I
Red- shouldered hawk f
Ainerican k-:.'Sti'el Vj
Bobwiiite P
i-'ourninr dove P
Screeeii owl P
Ore;it norned owl P
BarTcd <jw1 i'
Chuek--w ; 11 ' s-widow fi
Cornnion nir.hthawk S
(bred i,. 1980)
CoiiL'iion flicker i"'
Pileated woodpeci^er P
Rii-d-be.llied wocjapeck/jr E
Red-headed woodpecker P
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
liadry woodpecker P
I.Mwny woodpeckei" P
Hed-cockadod woodp^ ''.^k'.'r
Eastern kintrbird o
Griat crested flycatcher
Eastern phoebe W
W = winter resident
T = irr-^(;;ular viritant
■Tasterii wood [;ic-ewet: .)
.Blue ,iay l'
ComKiOii crow P
("arolin;.. chi.ck-i I .'c P
Tufted titmousi/ P
Red-breasted nutdiancii T
I'.rown-heade'i nutn.;i,t,ch P
E.rown creeper V.'
iiou;-t; wren '.-.'
Winter './ren v,'
Cai'olirjii wren
Mliort-bi lied iriar-:,h wr- ii
Gray cattir i P
lirown tnrashei' V
f\r'i';r'\vt\ I'obin W
iler.ni'^, t)irur.h W
ilastern Vi i uebi rd P
Golden-crowned :iinr,let \
Ruby-criJWiie.i Ki'.i'let W
Cedar v:ixwi '1"; '.I
V.lii i,-' -rjf \ vi r'-j P.
Ye 1 lov;- vii:f;p,..J w,:.i'bl( r W
Yel low- Lhroiited w-irbler
PiiVi warbier C.
Prairie v;arbler :)
;'tW©?i*fj5C?aS!a?»8;5IS«iS',«S5HI(K!IHBBlB-I.-
Birds (cont.)
-79-
Pa Im warbler W
Common yellowthront P
astern meadowlark P
Redwinged blackbird P?
Cardinal P
Blue giu6 beak S
Indigo bunting S
Purple f inch I
Pine siskin I
American goldfinch W
Rirous-aided towhee P
Savannah sparrow W
Henslow's sparrow W
Bachman's sparrow P
Dark-eyed junco W
Chippinp sparrow W
Field sparrow W
Wh i te -throated sparrow
Swamp sparrow W
Song sparrow W
W
Mamma 1 s
Opos sum
Race oon
Eastern cottontail
Wh itetail deer
(These are the only speciea
occur ) .
we recorded; several others undoubti
Re f erence P
beland, J. 1971. Timber management practices for red-cockcded
woodpeckers on federal lands. _l£: Thompson, R. 1971. The ecolex^y
and management of the red-cockaded woodpecker. Proceedings of a
symposium at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Folkston, Geor la,
May 26-27, 1971.- U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Sport Fi leries
and Wildlife .
Mixon, R.B. & 0,H. Pilkey. 1976. Reconnaissance geology o
submerged and emerged coastal plain province. Cape Lookout Area
N.C. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper BIQ. U.S. Govt. Printing Office.
Wa sh ing ton , D . C .
the
Snyder, James.. 1978. Analysis of coastal plain vegetation.
Croatan National Forest, North Carolina. Veroff, Geobot. Inst. :TH
Stiftung R'ibel, Zurick 69. Heft (1980) 40-113. (Based on Master.s Thesis,
UNC Chapel Hill.)
J
Patsy Pond Natural Area
Name of Area: Patsy Pond* ^
Location: Carteret County, North Carolina; 0.5 miles due N of NC 24,
12 mi. SE Swansboro 34°43'35" N, 76°57'44" W; Salter Path, N.C.
7h\ 1949; Atlantic Coastal Plain; Outer Coastal Plain. See
Maps 10-1 1 .
Elevation: 20'; 6.1 m
Size: ca. 70 Acres
Ownership: Croatan National Forest
Administration: Croatan National Forest
Land Use: Hunting, recreation, timber
Dangers to Integrity: Damage done to area by vehicles
Significance and Protection Priority: Appears to be highly significant;
Site is in some jeopardy
Reasons for Priority Rating: Area offers excellent examples of plant
communities and zonation. Many rare and endangered or threatened
plants of North Carolina (Hardin et al) are found here: Eleocharis
robbinsii, Litsea aestivalis , Ludwigia linifolia , Myriophyllum
laxum, Ploygonella articulata. Polygonum hirsutum, Rhynchospora
inundata, and Utricular ia olivacea. Moreover, a plant new to
the State of North Carolina occurs here Sagittaria isoetiformis.
The area is also unique geologically.
Management Recommendations: Natural Area should be managed for
endangered and threatened species preservation, for unique
community preservation, for scientific research, and as an
education resource. Some periodic control burning should be
done. Vehicular traffic (including motorcycles) should be stopped.
Data Sources: None. ^^
General Scientific References: None. See bibliography after discussion.
General Documentation and Authentication: Area analyzed in the Fall of
1976. Specimens deposited in the NCU Herbarium by R. David Whetstone
and Deborah Otte in 1977. Complete documentation available from
authors.
*Contributed by Deborah K. Strady Otte and R. David Whetstone,
Department of Botany, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
(1979).
-80-
.?iS!^Mf^lK;.Sf»,®Sffi'jm^\OT^Ii*?»•CB«Mi3!r^TM^m^lml»>re,■K^ll^r-
NATURAL AREA DIVERSITY SUMI'lARY
Climate: A. Mesothermal; AA. Warm Temperate. B. Cool, Moist;
BB , Moderately hot & Moderately warm, Moderately wet & Moderately
dry. C. Very long; CC . Similar to regional. Extremely dry to
Extremely wet.
Soils: A. Entisol; AA. Psamment. B. Quartzipsamment ; BB . Typic
quartz ipsamment , BB . Aquic quartzipsamment. C. Thermic, uncoated
typic quartzipsamment, C. Thermic, uncoated aquic quartzipsamment;
CC. Leon. A. Histosol; AA. Fibrist, AA. Saprist. B. Medi-
fibrist, B. Sphagnof ibrist , B, Medisaprist; BB . Typic medi-
fibrist, BB. Limnic sphagnof ibrist , BB. Lemnic medisaprist.
C. Thermic typic medifibrist, C. Sandy, coprogenous , euic,
thermic limnic sphagnof ibrist , C. Coprogenous, euic, thermic
limnic medisaprist; CC . Peat, CC. Muck.
Geology: A. Pleistocene, Sedimentary; AA. Deposit, B. Planner
Beach Formation; BB . Siliceous. C. Highly acid; CC . Quartz
sand .
Hydrology: A. Emergent wetland, A. Vascular aquatic, A. Floating-
leaved aquatic; AA. Seasonally to permanently flooded. B. Fresh;
BB . Acid. C. Unconsolidated sediments, C. Organic bottom;
CC . Siliceous, CC . Carbonaceous.
Hydrography: A. Broad Creek &, Sanders Creek which drain into Bogue
Sound, Palustrine; AA. Natural impoundment ponds. B. Patsy Pond
and associated ponds, Interaqueous depths and substrates.
C. Smooth, C. Hummocks; CC . Open, variously exposed, nearly
level to gently sloping slopes.
Topography: A. Ridge; AA. Old beach ridge system. B. Patsy Pond
Area; BB. Sand ridges, BB . Constant slopes, BB . Flats, BB .
Seepage zone. C. Gently undulating, C. Smooth; CC . Open,
variously exposed, nearly level to gently sloping slopes.
DISCUSSION
The Patsy Pond Natural Area is a series of naturally impounded
ponds on the Outer Coastal Plain of North Carolina. These ponds
occur in an area which is an old beach ridge system of Pleistocene
age (Newport sand member of the Planner Beach Formation). The
Newport sands consist primarily of well-sorted sands believed to
constitute barrier deposits emplaced on the downdrift side of an
ancestral Neuse River (Mixon and Pilkey, 1975). Near the study
area, this member has been shown to overlie a layer of bluish-gray
clayey sand and abundant molluscan and ostracod fauna (indicative of
Pleistocene age). The study site seems to be on an erosional slope
of a broad sand ridge. Wind, sheet and stream erosion has produced
very gently sloping sand ridges and sand flats. The stream.s flow
into either the West Prong of Broad Creek or the East Prong of
Sanders Creek. The ponds appear to be products of natural impound-
ing of old stream.s.
J
- 82 -
The vegetation of the area provides excellent examples of community
types and their zonation. Definite relationships exist between these
cornmunity types, their substrates, and their moisture. These relation-
ships are depicted in Table 4.
A noteworthy feature is the occurrence of the Mixed Herb Community
Type, a unique zone varying from mesic sand to wet-hydric peat. The
sandy areas are associated with openings in the Scrub-Shrub System
border. We believe that fire has opened up these sandy areas by burn-
ing the Scrub-Shrub and the accumulated peat off the soil surface.
A broad overlap of species occurs from mesic to wet-hydric, and from
sand to peat. Other species appear to be restricted to micro-edaphic
features. The wetter areas, which are more resistant to burning,
conceivably are seed reserviors for herbs associated with this
Community Type. Several noteworthy species that occur here are
listed under Marsh Herb System in Table 5.
In addition, the area harbors a complex of plants referrahle to
Ilex cassine. Intraspecif ic taxa (Radford et at., 1968) have been
recognized as species by some authors (e.g., I]ex myrtifolia Walter).
Both varieties (sensu Radford et al., 1968) occurring here are
distinctive, however, many intermediates exist, hence, providing
a good taxonomic study site.
The conservation of Patsy Pond Natural Area is quite justifiable.
The general reasons are:
1) the presence of several endangered and threatened species
(Table 5);
2) the presence of a unique assemblage of plants (i.e.. Mixed
Herb Community Type);
3) the presence of a unique geological features (i.e., natural
ponds on the Outer Coastal Plain of North Carolina which
are not Carolina Bays);
4) the historical significance of the area as perhaps being a
Neuse River Paleochannel (Mixon and Pilkey, 1976);
5) and the added feature of the natural area as an "outdoor
classroom: for taxonomic, ecological, geological, and
pedological studies.
Certainly Patsy Pond Natural Area constitutes a valuable natural
heritage which deserves recognition and conservation for both
ourselves and our posterity.
■■'^TWttI3yS^lSPSSSaSVTaslS«S1Wf!«^>KWWWnw?M^«JA«MiMnk^
- 83 -
REFERENCES
Fernald, M.L. 1950. Gray's Manual of Botany. 8th ed. American Book Co.
New York.
Hardin, J. W. , et al. North Carolina Rare. Endangered and Threatened Plant
Speclea List. North Carolina Museum of Natural History Bulletin (in preparation),
Mixon, R. B. and 0. H. Pllkey. 1976. Reconnaissance geology of the submerged and
emerged coastal plain province. Cape Lookout Area, North Carolina. Geological
Survey Professional Paper 859. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
Radford, A. E.,et al. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carollnas.
The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.
Small, J.K. 1972. Manual of the Southeastern Flora. 2 Vol. (facsimile reprint
of the 1933 edition). Uafner Pub. Co., New York.
U.S.G.S. 1970. The National Atlas of the United States of America. U.S. Depart-
ment of Interior, Washington, D.C.
MAP 10: PATSY POND NATURAL AREA
(taken form USGS Topographic Map, Salter Path Quadrangle, Th' , 1949, 1 :24,000)
or:
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_ 85
Table 5. Endangered and threatened species.
SPECIES
E & T STATUS*
VEGETATION SYSTEM
Burmannla biflora
Infrequent
Throughout
MARSH HERB
Eleocharls robblnsll
Endangered
Disjunct
MARSH HERB
EragrosCls ellloctli
Infrequent
Peripheral
WOODLAND
Lltsea aestivalis
Endangered Peripheral
SCRUB-SHRUB
Ludwigia linlfolia
Endangered Disjunct
MARSH HERB
MyriophylluD laxum
Threatened
Throughout
VASCULAR AQUATIC
Nymphoides cor data
Infrequent
Peripheral
VASCULAR AQUATIC
Panicum spretum
Infrequent
Peripheral
MARSH HERB
Polygonella artlculata
Endangered
Disjunct
WOODLAND
Polygonum hirsutum
Endangered
Throughout
MARSH HERB
Rhynchospora inundata
Infrequent
Throughout
VASCULAR AQUATIC
Sagittaria isoetiformia
Threatened
Peripheral
VASCULAR AQUATIC
Utricularia olivacea
Threatened
Throughout
VASCULAR AQUATIC
See Table 1 on page 26 for a complete list of E & T categories
- 86 -
COMMUNITY DIVERSITY SUMMARY
PATSY POND
Woodland System
Large, excurreot, evergreen trees,
large, deliquescent, deciduous eubcanopy &
typical dwarf to tall dwarf, rhizomatous,
deciduous shrubs
Plne/oak/heath ridges, slopes,
and flats
Conifer ales /Fagales/Erlcales
PINUS PALUSTRIS/QUERCUS LAEVIS/GAYLUSSACIA FRONDGSA-G. DUMOSA
Pinus palustrls/Quercua laevis/Gaylussacia frondosa-G. dumosa
SOILS: A. Entlsol; AA. Psamment. B. Quartzlpsanment ; BB. Typlc quartzipsamment.
C. Thermic, uncoated typlc quartzipsamment; CC. Leon.
Topsoll: 0-86 cm, light gray, fine to medium sand, pH 4.0.
Subsoil: 86 cm +, dark reddish brown, fine to medium sand, pH 4.0 (hardpan)
GEOLOGY: A. Pleistocene, Sedimentary; AA. Deposit. B. Planner Beach Formation;
BB. Siliceoua. C. Highly acid; CC. Quartz sand.
TOPOGRAPHY: A. Ridge; AA. Old beach ridge system. B. Patsy Pond Area; BB. Sc.nd
ridges, BB. Constant slopes, BB. Flats. C. Gently undulating, C. Smooth;
CC. Open, variously exposed, nearly level to gently sloping slopes.
CANOPY: Height, DBH, and age not determined.
DOMINAIiTS: Large, excurrent, evergreen trees.
CANOPY ANALYSIS
Species
I.V.
Rel. Den.
Rel. Dom.
Rel. Freq.
Pinus palustrla
Quercus laevis
Q. vlrglniana
Q. laurlfolla
189.98
63.96
23.98
22.82
73.4AX
20.31
3.13
3.13
77.73Z
19. 8A
1.80
0.64
38.81Z
23.81
19.05
19.05
(^ of Points
CANOPY SPECIES
Ilex opaca
Q. falcata
16 d
PRESENT, BUT NOT
, Liquldambar sty
, Q. margaretta.
19.02 ft
IN ANALYSIS:
raciflua, Pinus taeda,
and Sassafras albidum.
H of individuals/
Quercus X blufft
acre 120.41
onensis.
SUBCANOPY: Height, DBH, tod age not determined.
DOMINANTS: Large, deliquescent, deciduous trees.
SUBCANOPY ANALYSIS: Included in quarterpolnts for the canopy.
See table above.
SHRUB LAYER DOMINANTS: Typical dwarf to tall dwarf, rhizomatous, deciduous shrubs.
SHRUB ANALYSIS: See Table 6.
SHRUB SPECIES PRESENT, BUT NOT IN ANALYSIS:
TYPICAL DWARF SHRUBS-Hyperlcum reductum, NORMAL SHRUBS-Lyonia luclda, Myrlca
heterophylla. TALL SHRUBS-Castanea pumila var. ashel, Crataegus sp., GIANT
SHRUBS- Vaccinium arboreum.
HERB LAYER DOMINANTS: None present.
HERB ANALYSIS: See Table 6.
HERB SPECIES PRESENT, BUT NOT IN ANALYSIS:
MEDIUM FORBS-Lachnocaulon minus. Monotropa 'Unlflora. Stipullclda setacea. TALL
FORBS-Clrsium repandum. Cnidoscolus stlmulosus. Eupatorlum recurvans, Gnaphallum
obtualfollym. Llatris secunda. MEDIUM GRASS ES-Panicum portorlcense. TALL GRASSES-
Andropogon scoparius , A_. virginicus , Eragrostis elliottii , Sporobolus poirettii,
Tridens flavus , TALL FERN Pteridium aquilinuin.
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- 88 -
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION:
VeRetatlonally— -Conlf eralean-Fagalean-Ericalean Gyumosperm Woodland System with
a canopy of large, excurrent, evergreen trees, a subcanopy of large, deliquescent,
deciduous trees, and a ehrub. layer of typical dwarf to tall dwarf, rhizomatous,
deciduous shrubs. Climatically — Warm, temperate mesothennal climate: Cool, moist yearly,
moderately hot and moderately wet in the summer (July) , moderately warm and moderately
dry In the winter (January) and with a very long Frost Free season. Pedologically —
Leon, thermic, uncoated typic quartzipsamment soil. Geologically — Highly acid,
siliceous, Flanner Beach, unconsolidated, quartz sand deposit. Topographically — Open,
variously exposed, nearly level to gently sloping, constant slopes with a gently
undulating surface and open, variously exposed, nearly level flats with a smooth
surface on an old beach ridge system. Temporally and spatially — Pyroclimax stage of
a psammosere in the Sea Island Section of the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
COMMUNITY REFERENCES: All community analyses in this study have no specific references.
See bibliography after discussion. Throughout the remainder of the paper this
section will be omitted from the summary.
COMMUNI'nr DOCUMENTATION: Same as General Documentation throughout the study.
COMMUNITY DIVERSITY SUMMARY
PATSY POND
Scrub-Shrub System Shrub zone
Normal to tall, rhizomatous, deciduous and Ericales OR Magnoliales/Ericales
evergreen shrubs ;
OR
CYRILLA RACEMIFLORA/LYONIA LUCIDA/VACCINIUM ATROCOCCUX
Cyrllla racemiflora
LITSEA AESTIVALIS /LYONIA LUCIDA
Litsea aestivalis
SOILS: A. Entisol; AA. Psamment, B. Quartzipsamment; BB. Typic quartzipsamment.
C. Thermic, uncoated typic quartzipsamment; CC. Leon.
Topsoil: 0-70 cm, light gray, fine to medium sand, pH 3.9.
Subsoil: 70 cm +, dark reddish brown, fine to medium sand, pH 3.9 (hardpan).
GEOLOGY: A. Pleistocene, Sedimentary; AA. Deposit. B. Flanner Beach Formation;
BB. Siliceous. C. Highly acid; CC. Ouartz sand.
TOPOGRAPHY: A. Ridge; AA. Old beach ridge system. B. Patsy Pond Area; BB. Seepage
zone. C. Gently undulating; CC. Open, variously exposed, nearly level slopes.
CANOPY: None present.
SUBCANOPY: None present.
SHRUB LAYER DOMINANTS: Normal to tall, rhizomatous, deciduous and evergreen shrubs.
SHRUB ANALYSIS: See Table 7.
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION:
Vegetationally — Erlcalean or Magnolialean-Erlcalean Scrub-Shrub System with tall
to normal, rhizomatous, deciduous or evergreen shrubs. Climatically — Warm, temperate
mesothermal climate: Cool, moist yearly, moderately hot and moderately wet in the „
summer (July), moderately warm and moderately dry in the winter (January) and with a '
very long Frost Free season. Pedologically — Leon, thermic, uncoated typic quartz ipsammer
soil. Geologically — Highly acid, siliceous, Flanner Beach, unconsolidated quartz
sand deposit. Topographically — Open, variously exposed, nearly level seepage zones
with a gently undulating surface on an old beach ridge system. Temporally and
spatially — Pyroclimax stage of a psammosere in the Sea Island Section of the Atlantic
Coastal Plain.
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- 90 -
COMMUNITY DIVERSITY SUMMARY
PATSY POND
Grass System
Tall, cespltose, deciduous grasses
Grass zone
Foaceae
ANDROPOGON SCOPARIUS
Andropogon acoparius
SOILS: A. Entlsol; AA. Psananent. B. Quartzipsanment; BB. Typic quartzipsatnment.
C. Thermic, uncoated typlc quartzlpsamment; CC. Leon.
Topsoil: 0-70 cm, light gray, fine to medium sand, pH 3.9.
Subsoil: 70 cm +» dark reddish brown, fine to medium sand, pH 3.9 (hardpan).
GEOLOGY: A. Pleistocene, Sedimentary; AA. Deposit. B. Planner Beach Formation;
BB. Siliceous. C. Highly acid; CC. Quartz sand.
TOPOGRAPHY: A. Ridge; AA. Old beach ridge system. B. Patsy Pond Area; BB. Grass zone.
C. Smooth; CC. Open, variously exposed, nearly slopes.
CANOPY: None present.
SUBCANOPY: None present.
SHRUBS: None present.
HERB LAYER DOMINANTS: Tall, cespitose, deciduous grasses.
HERB ANALYSIS:
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
Species
C.S
C.S
C.S
C.S
C.S
C.S
C.S
C.S
VERY SMALL HERBS
Centella asiatica
3.5
2.5
1.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
4.5
SMALL HERBS
Drosera capillaris
+.1
+.1
+.1
+.1
+.1
-.-
^ • ^
~ • ^
D. intermedia
^ • *■
+.1
+.1
+.1
1.1
-,-
~ •^
^« ^
MEDIUM HERBS
Polygala lutea
^ • •■
^ • ■■
■■ • ^
~ • ^
■" • ■"
-,-
1.1
^ • ^
TALL HERBS
Rhexla mariana
^ • ^
^ • ^
^ • *"
^ • ^
+.1
-.-
"* • ^
^ • ^
Xyris caroliniana
+.1
+.1
+.1
^ • "*
+.1
-,-
^ • ^
*■ • ^
MEDIUM GRASSES
Eleocharis sp.
3.2
1.2
^ • ^
1.2
2.2
-.-
^ • ■"
^ • ^
TALL GRASSES
Andropogon scoparius
4.2
5.2
5.2
4.2
3.2
5.2
5.2
5.2
A. virginicus
^ • *
^ • ^
^« ""
^ • ^
* • "
-.-
^ • ^
+.3
Panlcum spretum
^ • ^
^ • ^
-.-
^ • ^
•■ » ••
-.-
^ ♦ ^
1.3
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^ • ^
^ • "'
*■ • "
^ • ""
~ • ■"
1.2
1.2
1.2
HERB SPECIES PRESENT, BUT NOT IN ANALYSIS: TALL^ HERBS, Eupatorlum recurvans.
il of Releves 8 Releve Size 1 m X Im
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION:
Vegetationally — Poaceous Grass System with tall, cespitose, deciduous grasses.
Climatically — Warm, temperate mesothermal climate: Cool, moist yearly, moderately hot
and moderately wet in the summer (July), moderately warm and moderately dry in the
winter (January) and with a very long Frost Free season. Pedologically — Leon, thermic,
uncoaced typlc quartzlpsamment soil. Geologically — Highly acid, siliceous. Planner
Beach, unconsolidated quartz sand deposit. ToTJOgraphically — Open, variously exposed,
nearly level zones with a smooth surface on an old beach ridge system. Temporally
and spatially— Pyroclimax stage of a psammosere in the Sea Island Section of the
Atlantic Coastal Plain.
T'MBaS^VW3?BH'5BM<9fWS;f!lty5'?!ilCTti>T0.irij^n-,-
-9 1
COMMUNITY DIVERSITY SUMJIARY
PATSY POND
Marsh Herb System
Tall, rhlzomaCoua, deciduous herbs
Mixed herb zone
Mixed herbs
MIXED HERBS
Mixed herbs
SOILS: A. Entiaol; AA.
C. Thermic, uncoa
Topsoil: 0-40 cm,
Subsoil: AG cm +,
Topsoil: 0-16 cm,
Subsoil: 16 cm +,
HYDROLOGY: A. Emergent
C. Unconsolidated
HYDROGRAPHY: A. Broad
AA, Natural impoun
zones; EB. Zone.
Psamment. B. Quartzipsamment; BB. Aquic quartzipsamment.
ted aquic quartzipsamment; CO. Undetermined.
light gray, fine to medium sand, pH 3.9.
dark reddish brown, fine to medium sand, pH 3.9 (hardpan) .
black, peat, pH 4.0.
light gray, fine to medium sand, pH undetermined.
wetland; AA. Seasonally flooded. B. Fresh; B3. Acid.
sediments, C. Organic bottom; CC. Siliceous, CC. Carbonaceous.
Creek & Sanders Creek which drain into Bogue Sound, Palustrine;
dment ponds. B. Patsy Pond and associated ponds, Interaqueous
C. Smooth; CC. Open, variously exposed, nearly level slopes.
CANOPY: None present.
SUBCANOPY: None present.
SHRUBS: None present.
HERB LAYER DOMINANTS: Tall, rhizomatous, deciduous herbs.
HERB ANALYSIS: See Table S.
HERB SPECIES PRESENT, BUT NOT IN ANALYSIS:
MEDIUM HERBS-Bartonia paniculata Polvgala lutea, TALL HERBS-Agalinis purpurea.
Erip.eron vemus, Eriocaulon compressum, PoRonia ophioglossoides, PolvBonum
hirsutum, Solldago fistulosa, S_. tenuifolia, VERY TALL HFRBS-Eupatorium
caplllifolium var. capillifolium. TALL GRASS ES-Panicum verrucosum. MEDIUM FERN
ALLIES-Lycopodium carolinianum, SMALL HOSSES-Sphagnum sp.
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION:
Vegetationally — Mixed Marsh Herb System with tall, rhizomatous, deciduous herbs.
Climatically — Warm, teniperate meeothenaal climate: Cool, moist yearly, moderately hot
and moderately wet in the summer (July) , moderately warm and moderately dry in the
winter (January) and with a very long Frost Free season. Pedologically — Thermic,
uncoated aquic quartzipsamment soil or Peat, euic, thermic typic medlfibrist soil.
HydroloRJcallv — An emergent wetland with a bottom of siliceous unconsolidated sediments
or carbonaceous organic material wnich is seasonally flooded by fresh, acidic water.
Hvdro graphically— A series of natural impoundment ponds of the palustrine syatea with
open, variously exposed, nearly level slopes wich a smooth surface and with a drainage
system consisting of Broad Creek and Sanders Creek which flow into Bogue Sound.
Temporally and spatially — Pioneer stage of a hydropsammosere or a hydrohistosere
in the Sea Island Section of the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
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- 93 -
COMKUNITY DI\T:RSITY SUMMARY
PATSY POND
Marsh Grass System Panic grass marsh
Tall, stoloniferous, deciduous grasses Poaceae
PANICUM HEMITOMON
Panicum hemitomon
SOILS: A. Histosol; AA. Fibriet. B. Sphagnofibrist; BB. Limnic sphagnof Ibrlst.
C. Sandy, coprogenous, euic, thermic limnic sphagnofibrist; CC. Peat.
Topsoil: 2.8 m, black, peat, pH 5.5.
Subsoil: light gray, fine to medium sand, pH undetermined.
HYDROLOGY: A. Emergent wetland; AA. Seasonally flooded. B^. Fresh; BB. Acid.
C. Organic bottom; CC. Carbonaceous.
HYDROGRAPHY: A. Broad Creek & Sanders Creek which drain into Bogue Sound, Palustrlne;
AA. Natural impoundment ponds. B. Patsy Pond and associated ponds, Interaqueoua
zones; BB. Flat. C. Smooth, C. Hummocks; CC. Open, variously exposed, nearly
level slopes.
CANOPY: None present.
SUBCANOPY: None present. One transgressive of Pinus serotina present.
SHRUBS: None present.
HERB LAYER DOMINANTS: Tall, stoloniferous, deciduous grasses.
HERB ANALYSIS: Observation only. Cover is almost 1002 Panicum hemitomon.
HERB SPECIES ALSO PRESENT:
TALL HERES-Pogonia ophioglossoides, EMERGENT STOLONIFEROUS AQUATIC S-Utricularia sp.
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION:
Vegetationally — Poaceoua Marsh Grass System with tall, stoloniferous, deciduous
grasses. Climatically — Warm, temperate mesothermal climate: Cool, moist yearly,
moderately hot and moderately wet in the summer (July) , moderately warm and moderately
dry in the winter (January) and with a very long Frost Free season. Pedologlcally —
Peat, sandy, coprogenous, ieuic, thermic limnic sphagnofibrist soil. Hydrolog:icallv —
An emergent wetland with a bottom of carbonaceous organic material which is seasonally
flooded by fresh, acidic water. Hydro graphically — A series of natural impoundment
ponds of the palustrine system with open, variously exposed, nearly level flats with
a smooth surface or with huimnocka and with a drainage system consisting of Broad
Creek and Sanders Creek which flow into Bogue Sound. Temporally and spatially — Pioneer
stage of a hydrohistosere in the Sea Island Section of the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
- q4 -
COMMUNITY DIVERSITY SUMMARY
PATSY POhTO
Vascular Aquatic System Panic grass bed
Tall, emergent atolonlferous grasses Poaceae
PANICUM HEMITOMON
Panlcum hemltomon
SOILS: A. Hlstosol; AA. Flbrlst. B. Medlflbrlst, B. Sphagnoflbrlst; BB. Typlc
medlflbrlst, BB. Llmnlc sphagnoflbrlst. C. Eulc, thermic typlc medlflbrlst,
C. Sandy, coprogenous, eulc, thermic llmnlc sphagnoflbrlst; CC. Peat.
Topsoll: 0-3 m, black, peat, pH 5.5.
Subsoil: Sand.
HYDROLOGY: A. Emergent wetland; AA. Permanently flooded. B. Fresh; BB. Acid.
C. Organic bottom; CC. Carbonaceous.
HYDROGRAPHY: A. Broad Creek and Sanders Creek which drain into Bogue Sound, Palustrlne;
AA. Natural Impoundment ponds. B. Patsy Pond and associated ponds. Aqueous zones;
BB. Zone. C. Smooth; CC. Open, variously exposed, nearly level slopes.
CANOPY: None present.
SUBCANOPY: None present.
SHRUBS: None present.
HERB LAYER DOMINANTS: Tall, emergent atolonlferous grasses.
HERB ANALYSIS: See Table 9.
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION:
Vegetatlonally — Poaceous Vascular Aquatic System with tall, emergent atolonlferous
grasses. Cllmatlcally°-Warm. temperate mesothermal climate: Cool, moist yearly,
moderately hot and moderately wet in the summer (July), moderately warm and iwderately
dry In the winter (January) and with a very long Frost Free season. Pedologlcally —
Peat, eulc, thermic typlc medlflbrlst or sandy, coprogenous, eulc, thermic llmnlc
sphagnoflbrlst soil. Hydrologlcally-— An emergent wetland with a bottom of carbonaceous
organic material which la permanently flooded by fresh, acidic water. Hvdrographlcally —
A series of natural Impoundment ponds of the palustrlne system with open, variously
exposed, nearly level slopes with a smooth surface and with a drainage system consisting
of Broad Creek and Sanders Creek which flow into Bogue Sound. Temporally and
spatially — Pioneer stage of a hydrohistosere in the Sea Island Section of the Atlantic
Coastal Plain.
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-94 a -
COMMlTiUrY DIVERSITY SUMMARY
PATSY POND
Vascular Aquatic System
Tall, emergent stolonlferous aedges OR
Tai.1, emergent rhizomatoua sedges
ELEOCHARIS EQUISETOIDES/NIJPHAR LUTEUM
Eleocharls equisetoides/Nuphar luteum
OR
Spikerush or beakrush bed
Cyperaceae/Hyicphaeales
RHYNCHOSPORA INUNDATA/NTJPHAR LUTEUM
Rhynchospora Inundata/Nuphar luteum
SOILS: A. HlBtosol; AA. Saprlst. B. Medlaaprist; BB. Limnic medlsaprist.
C. Coprogenous, euic, thermic limnic medlsaprist; CC. Muck.
Topsoil: Muck, pH 5.5.
Subsoil: Sand, pH undetermined.
HYDROLOGY: A. Emergent wetland; AA. Permanently flooded. B. Freeh; BB. Acid.
C. Organic bottom; CC. Carbonaceous.
HYDROGRAPHY: A. Broad Creek and Sanders Creek which drain into Bogue Sound, Palustrine;
AA. Natural impoundment ponds. B. Patsy Pond and associated ponds, Aqueous
zones; BB. Zone. C. Smooth; CC. Open, variously exposed, nearly level slopes.
CANOPY: None present.
SUBCANOPY: None present.
SHRUBS: None present.
ill I
HERB LAYER DOMINANTS: Tall, emergent stolonlferous sedges or tall, emergent
rhizomatoua sedges.
HERB ANALYSIS: See Table ^.
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION;
Vegetationally — Cyperaceous-Nymphaealean Vascular Aquatic System with tall,
emergent stolonlferous sedges or call, emergent rhizomatous sedges. Climatically—
Warm, temperate loasothermal climate: Cool, moist yearly, moderately hot and moderately
wet in the summer (July), moderately warm and moderately dry in the winter (January)
and with a very long Frost Free season. Pedolosicallv — Muck, coprogenous, euic,
thermic limnic medlsaprist soil. Hydrologically— An emergent wetland with a bottom
of carbonaceous organic material which is permanently flooded by fresh, acidic water.
Hydro graphically — A series of natural impoundment ponds of the palustrine system
with open, variously exposed, nearly level slopes with a smooth surface and with a
drainage system consisting of Broad Creek and Sanders Creek which flow into Bogue
Sound. Temporally and spatially — Pioneer stage of a hydrosere in the Sea Island
Section of the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
95 _
COMMUNITY DIVERSITY SUMMARY
P/^TSY POND
Vascular Aquatic System Bladderwort mat OR Watermllfoll bed OR
Nyrapholdes bed OR Spatter-dock bed OR
Water-lily bed*
Free floating aquatics Scrophulariales
Submergent rhizomatous aquatics OR Haloragales
Rooted-floating leaf aquatics OR Gentlanales
Emergent rhizomatous aquatics OR Nymphaeales
Rooted-floating leaf aquatics Nyrnphaeales
UTRICULARIA OLIVACEA MYRIOPHYLLUM LAXUM NYKPHOIDES CORJATA
Utricularla olivacea Myrlophyllum laxum Nymphoides cordata
NUPHAR LUTEUM NYKPHAEA ODORATA
Nuphar luteum Nymphaea odorata
SOILS: A. Histoaol; AA. Saprist. B. Mediaaprist; BB. Limnic madisaprist.
C. Coprogenous, euic, thermic limnic medlsaprist; CC. Muck.
Topsoil: Not determined.
Subsoil: Not determined.
HYDROLOGY: A. Vascular aquatic, A. Floating-leaved aquatic, A. Emergent wetland;
AA. Permanently flooded. B. Fresh; BB. Acid. C. Organic bottom; CC. Carbonaceous.
HYDROGRAPHY: A. Broad Creek and Sanders Creek which drain into Bogue Sound, Palustrlne;
AA. Natural impoundment ponds. B. Patsy Pond and associated ponds, Aqueous zones;
BB. Constant slope, BB. Pond zones of varying water depths and substrates.
C. Smooth; CC. Open, variously exposed, nearly level slopes.
CANOPY: None present.
SUBCANOPY: None present.
SHRUBS: None present.
HERB LAYER DOtQNANTS : Free floating aquatics, submergent rhizomatous aquatics, rooted-
floating leaf aquatics, or emergent rhizomatous aquatics.
HERB ANALYSIS: See Table 9.
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION:
Vegetationally — Scrophularlalean, Haloragalean, Gentianalean, or N>-mphaealean
Vascular Aquatic System with free floating aquatics, submergent rhizomatous aquatics,
rooted-floating leaf aquatics, or emergent rhizomatous aquatics. Climatically — Warm,
temperate tnesothermal climate: Cool, moist yearly, moderately hot and moderately
wet in the suamer (July) , moderately warm and moderately dry in the winter (January)
and with a very long Frost Free season. Pedologlcally — Muck, coprogenous, euic,
thermic limnic medlsaprist soil. Hydrologlcally — An emergent wetland, vascular aquatic
zone, or floating-leaved aquatic zone with a bottom of carbonaceous organic tuaterial
which is permanently flooded by fresh, acidic water. Hydro graphically — A series of
natural impoundment ponds of the palustrlne system with open, variously exposed,
nearly level slopes and pond zones with a smooth surface and with a drainage system
coDBisting of Broad Creek and Sanders Creek which flow into Bogue Sound. Temporally
and spatially — Pioneer stage of a hydrosere in the Sea Island Section of the Atlantic
Coastal Plain.
Combinations of these ""Iso occur.
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A = LOCATION OF 2 ACTIVE RED-COCKADED
WOODPECKER CAVITY TREES
B = LOCATION OF RIVER OTTER SIGHTING
I j PROPOSED ADDITION TO NATURAL AREA
AREA PROPOSED BY OTTE AND -rT -I^
WHETSTONE 1979 rl ^ •
3 °
MAP 11: PATSY POND NATURAL AREA
■i^ VAJr^<-.H lelanH
98 -
Addendum to Natural Heritage Program Report on Patsy Pond Natural
Area - by Otte and ^^^^etsto^e 1979. by John Fussell and Jeannie
Wilson 1 December 1980.
As part of our survey of natural areas of Carteret County during
1980 (contract work to Natural Heritage Program for the Office of
Coastal Management), we surveyed the area of freshwater ponds and
shallow marshes lying W and NW of the ponds studied previously by
Otte and IJhetstone. We wished to find out if these additional ponds
were also of significant natural value and if the rarer species of
plants found by Otte and Whetstone were also present in the more NW
ponds .
We surveyed the area 11 and 14 October and beiefly on 13 November.
We found none of the rarer plant species, but, in the case of the
aquatics, this could have been due to the extremely dry summer and
early fall. However, we were impressed with many features of these
ponds and marshes. Some of these areas are obviously naturally
impounded sections of former drainage systems; however, there are
also depressions that exhibit "sinkhole" form. Some of these are
less than 50' across with no water or wetland vegetation; larger
ones have open water and/or marsh. Also this area has 2 or more
marsh areas that are associated with Carolina bays. The ponds and
marshes have a rather wide range of vegetation, which is generally
different from the ponds to the SE . There are several zonation
patterns associated with the ponds and marshes (many different from
the ponds to the SE); one interesting situation was a dense band of
Cassandra calyculata in one of the Carolina bay marshes. For these
geological and botanical reasons, we recommend the addition of this
area to the Patsy Pond Natural Area.
Also within this additional area, we found 2 active red-cockaded
woodpecker cavity trees (See Map I'j.
An addition to the rare fauna of the Patsy Pond Natural Area
is the crawfish frog (Rana areolata) (species of special concern).
Dr. Julian Harrison, College of Charleston, Charleston, S.C. collected
this species in the 1950's (pers, com. to Fussell Sept. 1980).
Collection was either at Patsy Pond or one of the immediately
adjacent ponds. Also, we saw a river otter at site B (see Map 11)
13 November.
The Patsy Pond Natural Area is much in need of more frequent
fire management. Especially needed is the determination of the
effects of fire on the shrub vegetation on the slopes of the ponds
and marshes in a natural situation; currently these areas are pro-
tected from fire by the presence of fire lines between them and the
more flammable Pinus palustris/Quercus laevis/Aristida striata
community.
Unfortunately, human abuse of the natural area continues.
^''i^^^^^S^^J.^^!C^'^:S^^^lS3^^pfiHf^^'a^l9SmsamstiV3:'mS'ifiKi:9iri->^
99
Shacklef ord Bank
Name of Area: Shackle ford Bank
Location: Carteret County, North Carolina; Beaufort and Marker's Island
7.5 min. USGS topographic quad map; separated from Cape Lookout at
the eastern end of the island by Barden Inlet and from Bogue Banks
at the western end by Beaufort Inlet and is bounded by Back Sound
and the Atlantic Ocean (see map 12).
Ownership and Administration: Presently Shackleford Bank is in divided
private ownership. The entire island is to be acquired by the
National Park Service (NFS) as part of the Cape Lookout National
Seashore .
Size: 2280 acres (923 ha).
Land Use: Shackleford Bank has retained a degree of rem.oteness and
wildness since public transportation to the island has been
lacking and private boats provide the only means of access.
The proposed raanagem.ent plan by the NPS provides ferry service
to Shackleford for a limited number of visitors in addition to
the existing private boat access. Presently, a few private
vehicles such as cars, dune buggies and motorcycles exist on the
Bank, but Park plans prohibit vehicular use and provide no on-
island transportation once land acquisition is completed.
The island is virtually free of development except for private
"fish camps" which dot the sound-side landscape. Pending the
time when leases and life estates terminate, these cottages will
be removed, and this land, like the undeveloped portion, will
be classified as- wilderness . The primary land use is beach
recreation on both the ocean and sound sides, fishing, camping,
hiking and nature study. Authorizing legislation for the Park
also permits hunting and shell-fishing in designated areas.
Furthermore, the island is used extensively as an outdoor
laboratory and education grounds by many universities and
research facilities throughout the East for the study of barrier
island ecology.
Dangers to Integrity: Under the classification of natural (wilder-
ness) zone, Shackleford will be relieved in part from some of the
presently existing pressures of uncontrollerd land use such as
off-road vehicles. Nevertheless, other threats to the natural
integrity have been cited: The Army Corps of Engineers have
proposed dredge spoil sites on Shackleford from their activities
in Beaufort Inlet. Feral animals (cows, sheep, goats and horses)
Compiled from information in the N.C. Natural Heritage Program
files. Additional information is available from the Heritage Program,
DNRCD, Division of Parks and Recreation, Raleigh, N.C. (1980).
- 100 -
roam the island and are considered to impart destructive impacts
to dune and maritime forest vegetation thereby accelerating the
encroachment of sand upon the forest. Further studies are planned
before final decisions to remove the livestock are announced.
Solid wastes litter the island and in some cases are hazardous
to visitors.
Protection Status: Under NFS administration, all of Shackleford is
proposed as a "natural zone" and will be recommended and protected
as a wilderness with minimal visitor facilities.
Reasons for Significance: Shackleford Bank is a remote island in the
Outer Banks chain which, unlike other barrier islands, has been
relatively undisturbed by people during the last 7 years. The
Bank is approximately 9 miles long varying in width up to one
half mile. Its east-west orientation situates it perpendicular
to the prevailing winds thereby resulting in unique physiographic
characteristics which provide an interesting contrast to the
other barrier islands of the Outer Banks.
The eastern two thirds of the island resembles the barrier islands
to the north: low dunes near the ocean, grasslands, low shrub
trees and an extensive salt marsh. Scattered throughout this
portion of the Bank, occasional "ghost trees" and stumps mark
the former existence of a once extensive maritime forest. The
area is now an over-wash formed during severe storms and now
claimed by sea oats and other salt tolerant dune grasses. In
contrast, the western end of Shackleford features dunes 30-40
feet high formed by prevailing on-shore winds. The high dunes
provide an effective barrier from wind and salt spray for the
sound side vegetation. As a result, an extensive and well developed
maritime forest still remains. This beautifully formed, remnant
forest is one of the last undisturbed examples of this type of
ecosystem. It is composed primarily of Eastern red cedar, live
oak, American holly, and Loblolly pine. Another notable feature
is the presence of permanent, fresh water ponds such as Mullet
Pond which supports the unique Marsh killifish (Fundulus
conf luentus) . "Marshes are distributed between thickets or on
the sound side of the forest. Also, wherever the ground surface
approaches the water table inside the forest, wet thickets or
or fresh marsh is formed. As a result, maritime forest,
thickets and marshes compose an intricate vegetation pattern,"
(Au, 1974). Associated with the marshes are vast, lush grasslands
which extend into the sound in some places. Here ungulates,
mostly feral horses, can be seen grazing; the Shackleford horses
compose one of the last free ranging herd of any consequent size
in the East. Furthermore, Shackleford serves as a nesting ground
for the Atlantic Loggerhead Sea Turtle, an endangered species.
It also supports many plants of special status such as Drummond's
Prickly Peat (see Table 10), which can be found between the
dunes. In short, Shackleford exhibits a much greater plant and
animal diversity than any other of the Cape Lookout National
Seashore islands due to the physiographic features of land-
wind orientation and the presence of the 85 maritime forest.
- 101 -
Moreover, it contains more rare and endangered plants and
animals than the other islands of the Outer Banks without a
complete overlap in species composition. Shackleford Bank
warrants recognition as a natural area for its wilderness,
biotic diversity and unique ecosystems and its significance
for the scientific study of barrier islands.
Preserve Recommendation: Because of the geological, biological
and phyaographical diversity, Shackleford should remain and
be protected as a natural area with efforts to promote it as a
recognized wilderness. It is recommended that the island
serve as an ideal study ground for barrier island ecology and
that such studies be encouraged in order to accrue further
knowledge for the management of such systems.
Data Sources :
Preston D. Riddle, Supervisor and staff. Cape Lookout National
Seashore, Beaufort, N. C.
Paul J. Godfrey, National Park Service Cooperative Research
Unit, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass.
John 0, Fussell, Morehead City, N. C.
Jeannie Wilson, Hampton Mariners Museum, Beaufort, N. C.
National Park Service, General Management Plan and Environ-
mental Impact Statement,
Scientific References:
Au, S. (1974) Vegetation and ecological processes on Shackleford
Banks, North Carolina. National Park Service Scientific
Monograph Series No. 6. 86 p.
Engles, W. L. (1952) Vertebrate fauna of North Carolina coastal
islands. II. Shackleford Banks, Am. Midlt. Nat. 47:
702-742.
Godfrey, P. J. and Godfrey, M. M. (1976) Barrier island ecology
of the Cape Lookout National Seashore and vicinity, North
Carolina. National Park Service Scientific Monograph
Series. No. 9 160 p.
Lewis, I. F. (1917) The vegetation of Shackleford Bank. N. C.
Geol. Econ. Surv. Eco. Pap. 46. 32 p.
Documentation and Authentication: Voucher specimens and docum.entations
are all on file at the Cape Lookout National Seashore headquarters
in Beaufort, North Carolina. See Management Report: Preliminary
Resource Inventory of the Vertebrates and Vascular Plants of
the Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina, Management
Report No. 22. Herbaria, etc. for voucher specimens are listed
for described species.
- 102-
Table la. Special Animals on Shakleford Banks
Special Name Conmon Name
2 No. N^
Status Sites Habitat
Caretta caretta
caretta
Natrix sipedon
williamengelsi
Atlantic Loggerhead
Sea Turtle E
Caroline Salt Marsh SC
Snake
Open seas, warm waters,
20 nests on beaches
4 Seaside and estuarine
conditions on Outer
Banks
Fundulus confluentus Marsh killlfish
SC
Coastal freshwater
marsh ponds
Taken from Cooper, J. E. , S. S. Robinson, and J. B. Funderberg (Eds.).
1977. Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals of North Carolina. N. C,
Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, N. C. 444 pages + i-xvi.
Number of recorded occurrences of species in state kno^-m by the
Natural Heritage Program as of July 1979.
Explanation of Status Categories
Animals
E - Endangered
T - Threatened
SC - Special Concern
UD - Undetermined
■a?fl'^S5?BSB«*S!RS('MffiB!!Hi!1B5*'iBW{S(,™:RiOMW!>-
- 103 -
Table 10 . Special Plants on Shakleford Banks
Scientific Name Common Name
Status
2 *
Habitat
ARalinis maritime
Saltmarsh gerardia
Seaside foxglove
EP
Salt marshes
Corallorhlza
Spring coral root
TP
Swamp forests,
wisteriana
rich ravines
Opuntia drumraondii
Drunmond's prickly
pear
TP
Sand dune:^ and
sandy pine woods
Parletarla floridana
Florida pellitory
EP
Maritime forests
LudwiRia repens
Creeping marsh-
purslane
EP
Ditches, ephemeral
pools
Rhynchospora odorata
Fragrant beakrush
TP
Swamp forests and
low disturbed areas
Ludwigia microcarpa
Tiny fruited seedbox
EP
Ditches and marshes
Ludwlgia alata
Winged seedbox
EP
Marshes
* These plants are no longer listed as endangered or threatened by the
N.C. Department of Agriculture's Plant Protection Program.
Taken from Cooper, J. E. , S. S. Robinson, and J. B, Funderberg (Eds.).
1977. Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals of North Carolina. N. C,
Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, N. C, 444 pages + i-xvi.
Explanation of Status Categories
Plants
EE - Endangered Endemic
ED - Endangered Disjunct
EP - Endangered Peripheral
ET - Endangered Throughout
TE - Threatened Endemic
TD - Threatened Disjunct
TP - Threatened Peripheral
TT - Threatened Throughout
EAST SHACKLEFORD BANKS
FERRYBOAT DOCK
ORIENTATION SIGN
CAPE LOOKOUT POINT AREA
FERRYBOAT AND NPS DOCKS
WATER AND COMFORT STATIONS
VISITOR CONTACT STATION
SELF - GUIDED INTERPRETIVE TOUR
RANGER AND MAINTENANCE FACILITIES
V7
CAPE LOOKOUT
CAPE LOOKOUT LIGHTHOUSE
HISTORIC ZONE
MAP 12: SHACKLEFORD BANKS
EAST MARKERS IS j
VISITOR CONTACT
ADMINISTRATIVE
FERRY TERMINAL
STAFF HOUSING
VISITOR AND STA
PICNIC AREA
INTERPRETIVE TF
I
Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area
Name of Area: Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area and adjacent undis-
turbed areas.
County: Carteret
Location Description: This area consists of the largely undeveloped
tract of approximately 450 acres that is bounded by Bogue Sound
to the north. Pine Knoll Boulevard in Pine Knoll Shores to the
northeast. Iron Steamer Pier to the southeast, the Atlantic
Ocean to the south, and Ramada Inn property to the west. The
"nucleus" of this tract is the Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area
(255 acres), which is administered by the Division of State
Parks & Recreation, Department of Natural Resources and Com-
munity Development. See Map 13.
Topographic Quadrangle Map: Mansfield
Ownership: See Map 14.
Report Prepared by: John 0. Fussell, III
1412 Shepard Street
Morehead City, N. C, 28557
Jeannie Wilson
Hampton Mariners Museum
Beaufort, N. C. 28516
Date: 1979
Other Persons Knowledgeable about Site:
Dr. Vincent Bellis
Department of Biology
East Carolina University
Greenville, N. C. 27834
Mr. David M. DuMond
Biology Department
University of North Caroina at Wilmington
Wilmington, N. C. 28401
Mr. Mark Joyner
North Carolina Marine Resources Center
Route 1
Morehead City, N. C. 28557
105-
TRACOASTAL
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MAP 13: ROOSEVELT NATURAL AREA
- 107 -
Current Use and Protection Status:
The area covered by this report consists primarily of four tracts:
1) the Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area which consists of 265 acres.
This area was set aside to remain in its natural state; it is admin-
istered by the Division of State Parks.
2) the North Carolina Marine Resources Center tract which lies within
the Theodore Roosevelt Natiu'al Area. This tract, which is administered
by the Department of Administration, consists of approximately 25 acres.
Approximately five acres have been developed for the Resources Center
building, parking lots, etc. At this time, there are no plana to develop
or alter the other 20 acres.
3) approximately llU acres between the Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area
and Pine Knoll Boulevard in Pine Knoll Shores. Most of this area is
still undeveloped and in its natural state. The Pine Knoll Shores
town hall is at 'the edge of this tract, and there la an electric sub-
station, a water tower, and a' power line right-of-way within it. All
this tract is zoned for commercial development. As much of the tract
is swamp forest, its use as a commercial area would of course require
the destruction of the tract as a natural area. Some of this tract
that is adjacent to Bogue Sound is marshland and is thus designated as
an area of environmental concern.
I4.) approximately I4.7 acrfts between the Salter Path Road arid the ocean.
This tract is largely in its natural state; there are a few footpaths
through it and several surveyors' transects. It is zoned commercial/
residential, i.e. motels, condominiums, etc. The seaward strip that
is within 75 feet of the mean high water mark is designated as an area
of environmental concern.
Vegetation and Plant Conanunities:
The presence of a relict beach ridge system with its alternating
dime ridges and swales (trovighs) is an important determinant of the
vegetation of the area. This topography has resxilted in many levels
of moisture and salinity within the area, which has contributed to
several habitats and a large nvmiber of plant species. Within the area,
plant composition is also related to distance from the ocean, i,ei^ to
salt spray intensity.
The appendixed Natural Areas of (Theodore) Roosevelt Natural Area
(prepared in 19714- for the Division of State Parks) discusses the natviral
commimities of the Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area, which is largely
representative of the total area covered by this report. However, the
area south of the Salter Path Road (and not within the Theodore Roose-
velt Natural Area) borders the ocean and includes beach and a narrow
dune zone. Also, thB forest south of the highway is "more maritime"
than the forest north of the highway- - - i.e. it is more sheared by
salt spray and more strongly dominated by live oak fQ\;ercu3 virginiana).
red cedar ( J\jnlperus virglniana ) , wild olive (Osmanthus americana),
red bay (Persea borbonia j. Uarolina cherrylaurel jFrunus carollnl'ana), etc,
- 108 -
Physical Featiu'es;
This area's physiognamy is determined largely by the presence of
a prominent relict beach ridge system. The ridges range from approx-
imately two to 20 feet above sea level, .'Elevations of the interlying
swales range from sea level to two feet. Seaward, the dime ridges
essentially parallel the present shoreline. Soundward, many cxirve
tovzard the northwest. This curvature Is of geological interest,^
Fisher (1967) thought that his curvature was not due to a migrating
inlet. The ridge system has been largely stable for a very long
period, Fisher (196?) suggested that the sound-side ridges are at
least approximately 1200 years old. This stability, as compared to
the relative instability of most sections of North Carolina's barrier
islands is also of geological interest.
Rare Plants and AnimeuLs:
Plants- .
Species Status in North Carolina
Halodule beaudettel
Pari et aria floridana
Opuntia drumroondii
Apialinis raaritima
Animals-
American alligator
( Alligator mississi-ppiensis )
Atlantic loggerhead
tCaretta caretta caretta)
Brown pelican
Great blue heron
Great egret
Snowy egret
Little blue heron
Louisiana heron
Yellow-crowned night heron
Black-crowned night heron
White ibis
Black duck
Red-shouldered hawk
Osprey
Comments
S5^S?f^.ViS^!3Mcai5k^WRKfi!UXlSTBffi^R»RW3^^
'TWCTVWWVJWSf^
Threatened
Occurs in
adjacent soxmd
Endangered p
eripheral
< ,
Threatened p
eripheral
Endangered p
eripheral
- 1
- 1
Endsmgered
s
1
Resident- sometimej
nests in area
Endangered
May rarely nest,
or attempt to, on
ocean beach
Endangered
Adjacent ocean and
sound j
Special
concern
1
Special
concern
Special
concern
Special
concern
Special
concern
Special
concern
Special
concern
Special
concern
Special
concern
Threatened
Nests in area I
Special
concern
Nests in area |
Merlin
Peregrine falcon
King rail
Gxill-billed tern
Laiighing gull
Least tern
Common tern
Royal tern
Sandwich tern
Black skimmer
Purple martin
(Wayne ' s ) Black- throated
green warbler
Swains on 's warbler
Prothonotary warbler
- 109 -
Threatened
Endangered
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Migrant in area
Migrant in area
Adjacent ocean and
so\and
Adjacent ocean and
Bownd
Adjacent ocean and
sound
Adjacent ocean and
sound
Adjacent ocean and
sound
Nests in area
Nests in area some
years
Nests in area
Publications and Scientific References;
Fisher, J.J. 1967* Development pattern of relict beach ridges.
Outer Banks barrier chain. North Carolina, Doctoral dissertation.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill, N.C.
Flora Species List;
See appendixed Vascxilar Plants of (Theodore) Rocsevlet Natural Area
(prepared in 19714- for the Division of State Parks). This includes
almost £l11 plant species that ocour.;in the area covered by this report.
Fauna Species List;
See appendixed Fiah, Amphibians. Reptiles and Mammals of (Theodore)
Roosevelt Natural Are'a and Summer Birds of (Theodore jRoosevelt Natural
Area (both prepared in I97I4. for the North Carolina Division of State
Parks ),
To the bird list, the following species should be added:
VThite Ibis- visitant all year
Black Duck- winter visitant
Merlin- uncommon fall transient
Peregrine Falcon- rare fall transient
Sandwich Tern- transient
- 1 10 -
Evaluation of the Site's Ecoloprjcal Significance;
1) This area is neolonically sif^nificant bocauso the v;cll -defined
system of ancient relict beach ridges is virtually undisturbed. The
fact that the ridges have been stable for so long is of interest, as
is the fact that those next to Bogue Sound curve northvzestward. It
is also interesting that several large shoala in adjacent Bofeue Sound
have the same northwest-southeast alignment as the northward ends of
the relict beach ridges on the island, /
2) The stabilized relict beach ridge system has contributed to a
large number of habitats in a relatively small area. Wetland habitats
are salt marsh, brackish marsh, fresh marsh, temporary ponds (both
fresh and saline), shrub swamp, swamp forest, and pond holes. Plant
communities of the ridges are maritime forest and maritime shrub '.-i
thicket.
The most slf^nlf leant of the above are the maritime forest and
swamp forest. In North Carolina, maritime forests are. rapidly being
destroyed by man. This area i's now the least htiraanly disturbed
example of the type of maritime forests in the state south of Cape
Hatteras, those that are dominated by red cedar and broadleaf ever-
green species such as live oak, laurel oak (Quercus laxirifolia),
red bay, wild olive, and Carolina che r r yl aur el , "This is also the
only area in the state where there still remains a complete cross-
section-- ocean to sound-.- of maritime forest. The tract o^ forest
south of the Salter Path Road is especially unique. No where else
in North Carolina does forest occur so close to the ocean — as close
as 200 feet to mean high water, (Adjacent similar areas have been
or are now being altered by h\iman development.) It should be noted
that this is the "natural" situation here — old charts show the same
forest to ocean proximity in the mid to late iSOO's. This seaside
tract of forest is dominated by live oak. It is probably the only
tract of live oak-dominated forest in the state that is on a site
that has apparently been stable for several hundred years.
The 3v;amp forest of the area is also unique. This is the only
tract of swamp forest on the barrier islands of North Carolina,
It is interesting that bald cypress (Taxodium dlstichum) is absent
here. Also interesting is the relative abundance of ash (Fraxinus
tomentosa)*
3) This area is important to a large niaraber of rare species:
a) There are two endangered plant species and two threatened
plant species in the area.
b) The endangered American alligator is resident and, at least
occasionally, nests within the area; the loggerhead tiortle may
occasionally nest on the ocean beachj the endangered brown pelican
feeds in the adjacent ocean and sound; the endangered peregrine
falcon sometimes uses the area during the fall migration,
c) The threatened red-shovildered hawk nests in the area every
year, and the threatened merlin uses the area during the fall
migration,
d) Also, 22 bird species of special concern occur in the area;
at least four of these nest within the area.
Ein
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M037-1
|«- Iron Steamer Pier
Ramada Inn Property
M037-1-1
3.77 acres
M037-1-3
1 1 acres
M037-1-4
12 acres
M037-1-5
10 acres
M037-1-6
1 0 acres
M038-1-1
60 acres (approx
M038-1-2
24.2 acres
M038-1-3
2 acres
M038-1-4
27 acres
M038-1-5
1 acre
First Citizen's Banl< and Trust Co.
Frances Webb Roosevelt, Box 736, Pine Knoll Shores,
Morehead City, NC 28557
Theodore Roosevelt III (address as above)
Grace Roosevelt McMillan (address as above)
Cornelius van Schaak Roosevelt (address as above)
T.R. Roosevelt III, et a]. Box 736, Pine Knoll Shores
Morehead City, NC 28557
T.R. Roosevelt III, eta], (address as above)
Carteret-Craven Electric Membership Corporation
Morehead City, NC 28557
Town of Pine Knoll Shores
Carolina Water Corporation, Pine Knoll Shores
MAP 14: OWNERSHIP OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT TRACT
- 1 i 1 -
e) Two species, although not listed as rare, are still of
special interest. An orchid (Triphora trianthophora) is
primarily a mountain species — its relative abundance in the
maritime forest of this area is very interesting. A fresh-
water clam (Sphaerium sp.) occurs in the swamp forest. There
is some possibility that this could be an endemic race or species.
f) The area also has a large number of species that, although
not rare, are of interest because they are near their northern
limit. It also harbors several species that are generally
rare or absent elsewhere on North Carolina's barrier islands.
4) This area is used regularly for scientific research. Geological,
botanical, and zoological research have been done here. At least two
theses are based partly on research done in this area.
5) This are has educational value. Educational groups — especially
school groups — use the area, including both beach and forest areas,
for field trips and field projects.
6) There is at least one historically notable point about the area.
Toward the west end of the tract, there is an old sound to ocean path
that dates back to the 1800 's. This was one of many samll footpaths
that once crossed the island. The community of Salter Path was named
for such a path .
Management Recommendations:
(Note: this area is listed in the Register of National Natural Land-
marks and State Registry of Natural Heritage Areas)
Clearly, this area, with its prominent relict beach ridge system,
many different plant communities, excellent examples of maritime
forest (especially, the area where forest occurs so close to the ocean),
the unique presence of swamp forest, the large number of rare and
endangered and other notable species, and scientific and educational
value, is deserving of area of environmental concern status.
Furthermore, we can envision no development in the area that
would be consistent with the continuation of the values of this natural
area. Between Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area and Pine Knoll Boulevard,
any development would require the filling in of the swamp forest and
thus the destruction of the area as a natural area. Development
south of the Salter Path Road might be done tastefully, but the most
tasteful development in adjacent maritime forest areas still effectively
destroyed the forest, since virtually all the canopy is removed.
If, of the total land included in this report, only the Theodore
Roosevelt Natural Area rem.ains in its natural state, then it is very
likely that at least two or three of the rare and endangered species
now in the area will be exterminated from it.
_ 112 _
Regional Significance
Atlantic Natural Area
Natural Area Name: Atlantic Natural Area
County: Carteret
Location: This tract of land lies northwest of the community of
Atlantic. Specifically, it lies along both sides of the section
of N.C. 12 between U.S. 70 and Co. Rd . 1387. It includes the
tract extending about 1.75 miles nw. of N.C. 12 and 1.25 miles
to the southeast of N.C. 12. The center lies 34°54 ' N. ,
76°23'30" W. See Maps 1 and 15.
Topographic Quadrangle: Atlantic and Long Bay, N.C.
Size: ca. 3000 acres
Elevation: 3 to 16' above sea level
Access: Easily accessible from N.C. 12 with many sand roads going
into the area along the sand ridges
Names of investigators: John 0. Fussell, III and Jeannie Wilson
Date(s) of investigation: Study from November 1979 through May 1980
Individual dates of visits: November 23, 1979
February 24, 1980
March 31, 1980
April 13, 1980
May 24, 1980
Also, Fussell made many brief visits looking for birds and
listening for frogs from 1970 to the present.
Legal status and use: Ownership type by percent area — Private 100%
Number of owners: two
Names of owners or custodians: Duke University, Durham, N.C.
Sailors Snug Harbor, Atlantic, N.C. 28557
-1 13-
MAP 15: ATLANTIC NATURAL AREA
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\
NCedar Island National
Wildlife Refuge
\s. Boundary
scale
MAP 16: ATLANTIC NATURAL AREA. SIGNIFICANT SUMMARY
- 117 -
Use of Natural Area: The primary low intensity use of this area is
hunting. Although the area has not been systematically logged
recently, the cumulative effect of many private individuals
cutting longleaf pines on the ridges is noticeable. The m.ain
intrusion of the area is its use of a dumping area, but dump
sites are mainly restricted to one sand road.
Use of surrounding land: a. Wildland 95% b. Agricultural land 5%
Management Problem Description Impact Effort
Control of human overuse and abuse- affects natural 2, possibly 1
control of dumping land if closing roads
to dumping is
done effectively
Vegetation and animal management. significant 2
Area would benefit from a fire features
management program.
Presence of jeep trails natural land 2, pissibly 1
if roads can be
cloaed to vehicles,
Preservation status: Private land, not protected by owner.
Regulatory protections in force: There are no regulatory protections
that we know of. None of the land is an AEC , which includes
intertidal areas. The land to the north of the study area is
part of the Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge. The same
kinds of habitats exist within part of the refuge (longleaf
pine ridges, pocosins, and Carolina Bays), but the total area
of these habitats is small.
Attitude of owner or custodian toward preservation: unknown
Threats:
Threat Category *SF
logging pines 2- threat of destruc- *
tion known, but not
immediate
dumping 2
jeep trails 2
development (probably 3 or 4- no known threat *
confined to dry areas) & a possibility that a
threat will develop
within 5 years
peat raining 4- no known threat & no *
likelihood that a threat
will develop within 5 years
- 118
Management and Preservation Recommendation: Considering the sorts of
natural values of this tract, it is difficult to delimit features
that are more worthy of preservation than other features. One
value of the tract is its size, and any diminishment in size
increases the liklihood of species within being extirpated.
This is true of species such as the Red-cockaded Woodpecker
that are restricted to an already small "island" of suitable
habitat and species that require large "wilderness" tracts,
such as Bald Eagle and Black Bear.
There is a possibility that Duke University may sell the
tract northwest of N.C. 12. Since the land has virtually no
commercial value, it is probably not threatened by any sudden
extreme alteration. If it were sold, the m.ost likely future
alteration might be the building of homes along the highway.
This would have little immediate direct impact on the rest of
the area, but would detract from the near-wilderness character
and could also lead to a decrease in the incidence of wildfires
that are important in maintaining certain plant communities.
Considering the fact that the Cedar Island National Wild-
life Refuge abuts the northwest portion of this tract and that
particular portion includes all the endangered and threatened
species we found, it might be appropriate for the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to acquire most or all of that area. The Fish
and Wildlife Service is certainly an appropriate agency to
administer a fire management program which the area badly needs.
If the Fish and Wildlife Service were to acquire the land
northwest of N.C. 12, and if Sailors Snug Harbor, which probably
is not considering selling the land, could be made to realize
the natural significance of their land through the Natural
Heritage Program, then the entire study area would be reasonably
well preserved. However, a fire m.anagement program for the area
southeast of N.C. 12 would still be lacking.
- 119 -
2k . Natural Characteristics Surrjr.ary
a. Vegetation-Biotic Community Summary
Community Type: 1. Pinus palustris/Myrica cerif era/Gaylussacia
frondosa/Aristida s^ric^a i.weso of ;;.C. iZ,
or 1. Pinus palustris/Myrica cerif era/ Leiopnyllur.
buxif olium/Aristida s'ricta ^eas:. of '.'..Z. 12}
2. rinus serotina/mixed r.ectns/Sphasnur. spp, '
Smilax laurifolia.
Community Cover Type: 1. Pinus palustris
2. Pinus sero^ina
General Habitat Feature: 1. Relict interior dune, savannan
2. Carolina 3ay, Fccosin in cune sv;ales.
Average tree height: 1. 30' 2. 25'
Estimated Age of canopy trees: 20 to 3C years old judging by size
Trees vjere not cored .
Estimated size of association: 1. 1200 acres 2. 1300 acres ^approx,
Successional Stage: Transient and climax present. It varies
throughout because of regular fires.
Sere type: 1. Psanmosere 2. Hydrcsere or psarrjr.csere
Common canopy species in ccmr;unity cover type or co.-rjnunity type
(but not dominant;: 1. Quercus laevis , C. virginiana, Pinus taeca,
Fersea borbonia
2. Fersea bcroonia, -.cer rucrur. , l^yssa sylvatica
Common subcancpy-shrub stratum species in community cover type or
community type ..but not dominant;:
heterophylla.
Common herb stratum species in community type .n:t dominant^
1. Aster linariif olius , Heterotheca nervosa.
^^ —-'-^"-n-- - -• • — •-■-—, ...^.: i-wd, _^^_. ;3^^^ _
Fanicum portoricense , Fteri^ium acui_inum.
2. Jarracenia flava, rvgalinis obtusiiolia, Xyris
car-liniana, Fhyncnostora stt., V."oodv."ardia virgin^ca.
- 120 -
Soil Summary
Source of information:
Soil Conservation Service, USDA. 1979. Soil Survey of
Carteret County, N.C. (interim report).
Gina Boccetti , Soil Conservation Service, Beaufort, N.C.
Series: Leon Sand
Order: Aerie Haplaquod, fine loamy, silicious, thermic (Spodosol)
pH Class: extremely acid to strongly acid (3.6-5.5)
Moisture class: wet to droughty, cemented pan.
Community: Pinus palustris, ridges.
Series: Mandarin Sand
Order: Typic Haplohumod, sandy silicious, thermic (Spodosol)
pH Class: Extremely acid to medium acid (3.6-6.0)
Moisture Class: wet to droughty.
Community: Pinus palustris, rims of Carolina bays.
Series: Murville Sand
Order :Typic Haplaquod, sandy silicious, thermic (Spodosol)
pH Class: Extremely acid to strongly acid (3.6-5.5)
Moisture Class: V/et, floods, cemented pan.
Community: Pinus serotina, Carolina Bays, and pocosin.
Series: Ponzer Muck
Order: Terric Medisaprist, loamy, mixed, dysic, thermic (Histosol)
pH Class: Extremely acid to very strongly acid (3.6-A.5)
Moisture class: ponding, floods, percolates slowly.
Community: Pinus serotina, Carolina Bays.
c. Hydrology Summary
Drainage basin: Core Sound, Thorofare Bay, Long Bay
Hydrologic System: 1. Terrestrial 2. Palustrine
Hydrologic Subsystem: 1. Dry xeric t.o very dry xeric
2. interaquecus
Water Chemistry: fresh, very strongly acidic to acidic
V/ater regime: 1. Terrestrial- permanently exposed
2. Non-tidal- semipermanently flooded ^o saturated,
d. Summary-Topography and Physiography
Topographic site type characteristics: Irregular coastal plain
with slight relief
Land form: Carolina bays, relict dunes and swales.
Shelter: open
- 121 -
Aspect.: Relict cunes and Carolina :;ays generally run in a
northwest direction. In the southeast section of :;he
area, the dunes run in a northeast direction.
Slope angle: Nearly level 0-2 "o gently sloping 2-6 .
Profile: Dune ridges are convex, Carolina bays are ccncave.
Surface patterns: Swell and swale
Position: Mot applicable
Physiographic site type of natural area: A:lanric ;uter
coastal plain. Pleistocene estuarine barrier.
Physiographic site type of con-unity cover type or connuniry Tyre:
Relict beach ridges and swales.
Geologic formation: Relict beach ridges ana sv.'ales, Carolina Bays.
Geologic formation age: Pleistocene. Recent narine quartz
sands of a pleistocene barrier "Atlantic Barrier".
References: R.B. Mixon & O.H. Pilkey. 197c. Reconnaissance
Geology of the Submerged and Emerged Coastal Plain Province ,
Cape Lookout Area, N.C. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper S59.
U.S. Govt Printing Office. V/ashington, D.C.
"Atlantic Sand (Pleistocene). Quartz sand, well-sorted; in
northeast and central parts of ouucrop area, forr.s norz.nwesT-
trending beach ridges, average surface elevation is IC to 15
feet, ranging upv;ard to 20 feet. Soutnwest part of ou'crcp
area is characterized by lower relief and arcua-e, northeas:-
trending sand ridges; arcs are convex northv.'esf.<-ard. Slii:hiiy
to strortgly elliptical northwest-oriented depressions, sor.e
with well-developed sand rims and organic fill, trunca:e beam
and dune-ridge topography" (Mixon i Pilkey, 1975, plate 1 .
- 122 -
e. Summary - Endangered and ::hreatened species (see Figure 1)
*Name of species: Fothergilla gardenii
Species legal status: Threatened peripheral
■'lumber of populations on site: only one observed, probably r^cre exist,
.'lumber of individuals per population: only 1 plant, observed.
Size or maturity of individuals: Reproductive stage-flowers abundant
Disturbance or threats to populaticn: no knoi^m threat
Habitat characteristics:
Vegetation association: vjide ecotonal area between longleaf pine
ridge and pond pine shrub {pocosin,
Q
Topography: slight slope to 2 } between relict beach ridge and
swale or Carolina cay.
Soil Series: Murville sand
Drainage basin: Thorofare Bay (via small creeks)
Other plant and animal species present: Pinus palustris,
Gaylussacia frondosa, Zenobia pulverulenta, Pinus serotina.
Mote: Plant species of special concern:
^eiophyllum buxifolium: This species is not recognized as threatened
in North Carolina, but its presence on the sand ridges southeast of
i.'.C. 12 is very interesting. The nearest counties where it occurs are
Brunswick, Bladen and Robeson counties. It appears to be in the sar.e
niche as Gaylussacia frondosa en the ridges nort.n'w'est of \'.C. 12.
*Xyris f labellif orr.is : This species is net threatened, out is listei
as rare in moist savannahs anc vjet ditches in Brunswick, Carteret
and Onslow Counties (Radford et al , 1?6S. Manual of the Vascular rj
of the Carolinas, UNC press). It was found in a ditch along the sar
road going into the area northwest of ;,'.C, 12.
--. d
_ 123 -
*!ianie of species: Rec-Shouldered Hawk
Species legal status: Threatened
IJumber of populations on site: one
Number of individuals per population: 2 or 5
Size or maturit.'/ of individuals: presumed zo be adult nesting is H.-iely;
General vigor of population: unknown
listurbance or threats to population: no specific threats
Habitat characteristics
Vegetation association: ecotonal area between swa-p on northwest
boundary of study area and poccsm.
Topography: level to slight slope, 0 - 2 .
Soil Series: Murville sand (flys over other types;
Drainage basin: Thorofare Bay
* Hane of Species: Bald Eagle
Species legal status: Endangered
We did not observe this species, but there are a few recent records
for the stucy area or inmediately adjacent lands. An adult v;as observed
perched in a tree just southwest cf the stuay area in Tece.T.cer lr~r
(Kevin Hmtsa, pers . co;t.). The study area, co-cined wi"h adjacent
extensive uninhabited areas, are potential eagle nesting hatita": .
^'iaite cf Soecies: ''Ountain lien ccur"ar
Species
;;either cf us is qualii'ied to evaluate sign: records ci t:
species. There is a recent sight record cf a r:ountain lien in
this area cy a hunter. Identification r^ay or ~ay :.iz have bee:
correct, i^evertheless , any occurrence of this species in the
future will be related to the future alteration of presently
"wild" land to the \vest.
- 124 -
*Name of species: Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Species legal status: Endangered
Number of populations on site: Possibly one
Number of individuals per population: possibly 2 or 3 ;the species
was sighted three times, 2- Feb. 24, 2- Mar. 31, and 1 - May 24.)
These records may represent only tvjo individuals.
Size or maturity of individuals: probably adult. Cavity trees may
be within the area bounded by the three sightings .
General vigor of population: Extremely small number of individuals,
possibility of extirpation in the near future.
Threats to population: Lack of fire management produces a lack of
suitable habitat. They probably nest in pond pines.
Habitat characteristics:
Vegetation association: Longleaf pine/shrub, pond pine/shrub
Topography: level to slight slope, relict beach ridges, swales
and Carolina Bays .
Soil series: Leon sand, Mandarin sand, Murville sand, Ponzer muck.
Drainage basin: Core Sound, Thorofare Bay, Long Bay
*Name of species: Swallow tailed kite
Species legal status: Undetermined
We did not observe this species bui: zhere are two published
records - one vjithin the study area in 1975 (Cnai. 42:62 and Carol
Reigle, pers. com.) and one either within the study area or within
land adjacent to the study area in 1965 , Chat 32:5C,.
*!';ajne of Species : Osprey
Species legal status: Of special concern only
There is at least one nest of this species in the study are=
(see map) . '
_ 125 _
*Narie of species: Black-throated Green Warbler
Species legal status: of special concern only
Two singing individuals were seen on i-Iay 2^ . Fussell alsc
has previous record in the area: May 23, 1970 and April 15, 15''6.
*lj"ame of Species: Swainson's V/arbler
Species legal status: of special concern only
Three singing birds were see:: on May 2^ .
*Naine of species: Prothonotary V.'arbler
Species legal status: Of special concern only
Several territorial individuals were scattered throughout tne
area on May 24 .
*Narne of Species : Bachjnans Sparrow
Species legal status: Threatened
V;e did not find this species in 1930. However, Hewlett found
tv70 singing birds here in 1972 (Chat 37:33;. Perhaps there was
more suitable habitat in 19'i'2 because of a previous forest fire.
*I»'ame of Species: Black Bear
Species legal status: of special concern only
V/e saw no signs of bear, but hunters retorted it in the area
recently.
r- - T ■
*Ma.'ne of species: Arithibians- Fine oarren Treefrogs ana Car
Gopher Frogs .
During our entire study period, there was net a single heavy
rainfall. Thus, we aid not have good conditions for finding these
amohibians .
- 126 -
Map legend and other details: (Refer to Map 16 on page 116.)
A: Fothergilla gardenii ^site is approximate;
B: Red-shouldered hawk sighting locations
C: Osprey nest location
D: Red-cockaded woodpecker sighting locations
E: Black-throated green warbler sightings location
F: Swainson's warbler sighting location
Leiophyllum buxifoliurri is abundant on longleaf pine ridges on the
southeast side of [.'.C. 12.
Solid heavy line denotes highway
Light solid line denotes najor jeep trail
Dashed line denotes boundary of study area.
Dotted line denotes general orientation pattern of
longleaf pine ridges within different sections of
study area; they do not represent individual ridges, but
they do show where ridges are most prominent.
Solid area denotes natural pond in Carolina Bay. Borrov;
pits along jeep trails are not shown on map.
Cross-hatched ellipses denote riinimu::. area of Carolina
bays, those highly visible in aerial photographs.
We used the ter- pocosin to refer to all evergreen shrut
bog vegetation other than that which occurs m well-defmec bays.
Thus the evergreen shrub bog vegetation in flat featureless areas
and that in the inter-ridge swales are pocosin.
All of the study area northwest of .\'.C. 12 ';19C0 + acres
is part of a larger tract owned by Duke University. All of the
study area southeast of U.C. 12 (1000 + acres! is part of a large:
tract owned by Sailors Snug Harbor.
Master Species List
Longleaf pine ridge
Carolina Bays, Poscsin
Hardwood Swamp (nw boundary)
Ponds, Borrow pits
V/eeds (usually associated with
Trees
Aceraceae
Fagaceae
Lauraceae
Magnoliaceae
I\'yssaceae
Pinaceae
Rosaceae
Salicaceae
Theaceae
Shrubs
Anacaraiaceae
Aquifoliaceae
Asteraceae
Clethraceae
Cvrillaceae
- 127 .
FLORA
L
P
S
po
trash) v;
Acer rubrun.
Querc'js laevis
Q. nigra
Q. virgir.iana
fersea borbor.ia
Sassai''ra3 albic-:..
Magnolia virgir.iar.a
IJyssa sylvatica
var. biflora
Pinus palustris
P. serotina
P. taeda
Malus puTiila
Prunus seroT^ir.a
Salix carol in iar.a
Gordonia lasiar.rr.us
nous co;aj.iina
Ilex coriacea
I. glacra
1 , oirac a
I. vo~,i". oria
Baccharis haii-iiT : lia
Cle'hra alnii'clia
Cyrilla racer.iflora
L , r , :
L
L,S
L
L,r
L
L,F
L,F,.
L
P
L
L
L
L,S
P
L,r
- 128 -
Shrubs
Ericaceae
Hamamelidaceae
Hypericaceae
Myricaceae
Rosaceae
Vines
Convolvulaceae
Ericaceae
Fabaceae
Liliaceae
Loganiaceae
Rosaceae
Herbs
Apiaceae
Araceae
Cassandra calyculata
Gaylussacia dumosa
G. frondosa
Kalraia angustifolia
var. caroliniana
Leiophyllum buxifolium
Lyonia lucida
L. mariana
Rhododendron atlanticun
Vacciniur. atrococcum
V. tenellum
Zenobia pulverulenta
Fothergilla gardenii
Kypericurr. cistifoliun
H.reauctuin
H. stans
Myrica cerifera
K. cerifera var. pumila
M. heterophylla
Rosa multiflora
Sorbus arbutifolia
Calystegia sepiura
Vaccinium crassifolium
Galactia regularis?
V;isi.eria sinensis
Sr:;ilax bona-nox
o . glauca
S. laurifclia
Gelsemium ser.pervirens
Rubus trivialis
Hydrocotyle verticillata po
Feltandra virginica do
F
L
L
L,P, L/?
L
P
L
?, L/P
L,r
P
P,L/r
L
LPS
L
L,W
L,r
L, L/P
L,v;
Herbs
- 129 -
Asteraceae
Campanulaceae
Chenopodiaceae
Cistaceae
Droseraceae
Ericaceae
Eriocaulaceae
Euphorbiaceae •
Gentianaceae
Haemodoraceae
Haloragaceae
Iridaceae
Lamiaceae
Lentibulariaceae
Aster linariifolius L
A. paludosus L
Carphephorus tomentosus L
Chondrophora nudata L
Eupatorium capillifolium V/
E. leucolepis L
' E . recurvans L , P
Helianthus angustifolius L
Heterotheca gossypina L
H. nervosa L
Liatris spicata L
var. resinosa
Fyrrhopappus carolinianus VJ
Solidago fistulosa L,P
S. teniiifolia L
S . stricta L ■
Trilisa odora::i3sima L
T. paniculata L
Lobelia nuttallii L
Chenopodium ar-.brosioides V>
Lechea leggettii L
Drosera capillaris P,po
Monotropa uniflora L
Eriocaulon decangulare P,FO
Lachnocaulcn ninus L
Cnidosccius s::i;-ulo3U£ L
Barconia verr.a L, L/i
Gentiar.a au": jmalis L
Lachnan^hes carolir.iana ?
rroserpinaca pectina-a P,p3
Iris verr^a L
Scutellaria ir.teErif olia L
Finguicula casrulea
r ,L/F
Utricularia inflata
po
var . minor
U. juncea
?
U. subulata
L
Liliaceae
Zi^adenus densus
- 130 -
Herbs
Melastoraataceae
Nymph ae ace ae
Onagraceae
Orchidaceae
Polygalaceae
Primulaceae
Sarraceniaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Typhaceae
Violaceae
Xyridaceae
Broininoids
Cyperaceae
Juncaceae
Poaceae
Rhexia lutea
R. mariana
R. petiolata
Nymphaea odorata
L
L.P
L,P
po
Ludwigia alterniflora
P
L. maritima
P, po
Calopogon pallidus
L.P
Cleistes divaricata
L
Spiranthes vernalis
P
Polygala lutea
P,L/P
Lysimachia looms ii
P
Sarracenia flava
P,po
S purpurea
P
Agalinis obtusifolia
P.L/P
A. purpurea
P
A. setacea
L
Seymeria cassioides
L
Typha angustifolia
po
T. latifolia
po
Viola primulifolia L
Xyris caroliniana L,P
X. flabelliformis P, L/P
Carex walteriana P.po
Eleocharis tuberculosa P
Rhynchospora fascicularis L,P
Rhynchospora spp. L,P
Juncus dif fusissimus P»po
J. effusus P»po
J. scirpoides L.P
Andropogon scoparius L
A. virginicus L.P
Aristida stricta L
Arundinaria gigantea L.P
Eragrostis refracta L
Panicum hemitomom P.po
P. portoricense L
P. spp. L.P
Sporobolus poiretii L
- 131 -
Ferns, Fern allies, Mosses
Blechnaceae
Lycopodiaceae
Osnundaceae
Pteridaceae
Sphagnaceae
Woodwardia virginica L,P
Lycopodium appressum r
Osmunda cinnaraomea P
Pteridiun aquilinur; L
Sphagnuni spp. P,po
- 132 -
Master Species List
triJ...H
Amphibians (list may omit a fev; species)
Southern toad
Oak toad
Southern cricket frog
Green treefrog
Fine woods treefrog
Squirrel treefrog
Little grass frog
Eastern narrow-rr.outhed toa:
Bullfrog
Carpenter frog
Southern leooara fro^
Reptiles (list probably omits several species)
Snapping turtle
Eastern mud turtle
Eastern box turtle
Green anole
Skink- Eumeces so.
Eastern glass lizard
Northern clack racer
Rough green snake
Southern copperhead
Birds (list probably omits several species j
Great blue heron
Green heron*
Swallow-tailed kite
Red-shouldered hawk*
Bald eagle
Marsh hawk
Osprey*
Bobwhite*
Mourning dove*
Yellow-billed cuckoo*
Barred owl*
Chuck-wills -widow*
Common nighthawk*
Chim;ney swift
Corjnon flicker*
Pileated woodpecker*
Red-bellied woodpecker*^
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
nai!"-y v.'oodpecker
Downy woodpecker
Red-cockaded woodpecker*
Eastern kingbird*
Great crested clycatcher*
Eastern phoebe
Acadian flycatcher*
Eastern wood pewee*
Purple martin
Blue jay*
risn crow
Carolina chickadee*
Tufted titmouse*
Brown-headed nuthatch*
House v;ren
Carolina x-rren*
Gray catbird*
American robin
Wood thrush*'£
Eastern Dluebird*
Blue-gray gnatcatcher*
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Cedar waxwing
'.vhite-eyed virec*
Prothonotary v;arbler*
Swainsons warbler*
Korthern parula*-
Yellow rumped warbler
Black-throated green war:
Yellow-throated warbler*
Pine v;arbler*
Prairie warbler*
ComjT.on yellowthrcat*
Yellow-breasted chat*
Hooded warbler*
Eastern meadowlar'-:*
Orchard oriole*
Common grackle*
>-*
Birds
- 133 -
Brown-headed cowbird*
Cardinal*
Indigo bunting*
RuaO'is-sided townee*
Savannah sparrov
Dark-eyed junco
Field sparrow
Swamp saprrcv;
Matnrr.als 'list .Tiay omit several species.
Opossum
Black Dear vsee previous section;
Raccoon
? Mountain lion isee previous section
Eastern cottontail
White tail deer
Browns Island
Name of Area: Browns Island
Location Description: Browns Island is located within Straits (the
estuary between Barkers Island and the towns of Gloucester and
Marshallberg) . By water, it lies about h mile east of the
bridge to Barkers Island. See Map 17.
Topographic Quadrangle: Markers Island, N.C.
Ownership: Brown family
Report Prepared by: Jeannie Wilson and John 0. Fussell, III
Date: May, 1979
Other Persons Knowledgable about Site:
JoAnne Powell, Hampton Mariners Museum, Beaufort, N.C. 28516
Allyn Powell, National Marine Fisheries, Beaufort, N.C. 28516
Current Use and Protection Status: Currently, Browns Island is in a
relatively natural state, although there is at least one homesite
on the northeast section of the island. There are evidences
of several old homesites on the dune ridges. Cattle, horses and
pigs graze on the island now.
The major threat to the area is the plan for development
(possibly into a community similar to Hilton Head, SC.) Lots
are for sale at the present time. Because the "high" ground is
less than 10' in elevation and consists of narrow relict dunes
separated by marshes and development would require the filling-
in of marshes. The soil is also very low for septic tanks.
Charred tree trunks and stumps indicate the occurrence of
fire on the island. The scarcity of Red Cedar (Juniperus vir-
giniana) appears to be due to selective cutting. Otherwise,
this species is very common in the area.
Vegetation and Plant Communities: The distinct plant communities of
Browns Island are related to slight changes in topography. The
south side of the island and the swales between the relict beach
ridges consist of salt marshes, dominated by Black needle rush
(Juncus roemerianus) and Salt marsh cord grass (Spartina alter-
niflora ) . Within the expanse of marsh on the south side is a
live oak hammock. Tree stumps are present in the surrounding
tidal creeks indicating that the land was probably higher
forested ground in the past. The hamjnock appears to be what is
left of a maritime forest. Live oak (Quercus virginiana) is
the only tree species present with a number of herbs not found
elsewhere in the marsh.
-134-
.Sam 2
Shell Point
<?
MAP 17: BROWN'S ISLAND
A Oaybeacon
, Light
&
- 136 -
The southermost dune ridge which reaches up to 10' in ele-
vation supports the unique combination of longleaf pine (Pinus
palustris) , live oak and wiregrass (Aristida stricta). The
community has elements of both a longleaf pine sandhills com-
munity and a maritime forest. This community probably evolved
as such due to the changing nature of the island in relation
to salt spray and rising water levels. Evidence of fire is also
present here typical of a sandhills community. The northern
ridge is similar to the southern ridge except that longleaf
pine is not as important as loblolly pine and wiregrass is not
very common. More laurel oaks (Quercus laurifolia) are present
than live oaks.
In the swale area to the southeast of the northern ridge
is a low woodland with elements of a maritime forest and a
pocosin. Indicative species are loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus),
sweet bay (Magnolia virginiana) , american holly (ilex opaca) ,
wild olive (Osmanthus americana) , red bay (Persea borbonia) ,
titi (Cyrilla racemiflora) , fetterbush (Lyonia lucida) , gallberry
(Ilex glabra) and wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) .
Saline swale ponds are also present in low areas on the
island. The dominant aquatic herb here is Widgeon grass (Ruppia
maritima) . The north shore of the island exhibits characteristics
of an eroding shoreline. In some areas, the vegetation is being
undercut by the water. The presence of a swale pond adjacent
to the shoreline indicates that it was between two dune ridges
at one time. Also, there is a small island to the northeast
which was probably connected to Brown's Island in the past.
There is one old homesite in the maritime forest on the
northwestern portion of the island. Florida pellitory (Parietaria
f loridana) is growing on the old brick chimney bases, and
daffodils are scattered throughout the area.
Physical features: (See Map 18.) The island consists of a series of
relict beach ridges separated by marshes (formerly swale areas).
The marshes extend to Markers Island indicating that perhaps
the islands were connected in the past.
The presence of live oaks and stumps in the southern ex-
panse of marsh appears to be a remnant of an earlier maritime
forest. The island itself appears to be in a state of change.
The forested areas are becoming marsh, leaving only narrow
stretches of forest. The dynamic nature of the area is not
restricted to the present. During the Pleistocene, Barkers
Island (including Browns Island), Beaufort and Morehead City
were probably barrier islands (Steve Snyder, Geology graduate
student, UNC , Institute of Marine Sciences). Many prominant
landforms on inland coastal North Carolina (including scarps)
are Pleistocene barriers (Mixon and Pilkey, 1976). It is
possible that Browns Island will be a salt marsh in the future
with the forces of a rising sea level and erosion that is active
on the North Carolina coast.
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- 138 -
Rare Plants and Animals
Salt Marsh Gerardia
Creeping Marsh purs-
lane
Florida pellitory
Brown Pelican
Agaliais Maritina
Ludwigia Repens
Parietaria floridana
Pelecanus occidentalis
Double-crested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
f loridanus
Great egret
Snowy egret
Louisiana heron
Glossy ibis
Black duck
Osprey
Gull-billed tern
Least tern
Laughing gull
Royal tern
Black skimmer
Casmaeodius albus
Endangered periph-
eral
Endangered periph-
eral
rare, endemic
endangered
threatened
special concern
Egretta (Leucophoyx) thula special concern
Hydranassa tricolor
Plegadis falcinellus
Anas rubripes
Pandion haliaetus
Gelochelidon nilotica
Sterna albifrons
Larus atricilia
Thalasseus maximus
Rhynchops niger
Yellow-bellied sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
Black throated green warbler Dendroica virens
Prothonotary warbler Protonotaria citrea
special concern
special concern
special concern
special concern
special concern
special concern
special concern
special concern
special concern
undetermined
special concern
special concern
Carolina salt marsh snake Natrix sipedon williamengelsi endemic,
undetermined
Outer Banks Kingsnake Lampropeltis getulus stricticeps endemic,
special concern
- 139 -
Publications and Scientific references:
Brown, E.E. 1929. A list of mid-summer birds of the Beaufort region
observed from June 12 to August 12, 1929. unpublished manuscript,
in National Marine Fisheries library.
Cooper, J.E., S.S. Robinson, J.D. Funderberg (eds). Endangered and
Threatened Plants and An ima 1 s of North Carolina" N.C. Museum
of Natural History, Raleigh .
Harper, Francis 1913. A list of birds observed in Carteret County,
North Carolina from June 20 to September 16, 1913. Cornell
Univ. Ithaca, N.Y. unpublished manuscript, in National Marine
Fisheries library.
Mixon, R.B. and O.H. Pilkey. 1976. Reconnaissance geology of the
submerged and emerged coastal plain province. Cape Lookout
area. North Carolina. Geological Survey Professional Paper
859, Govt. Printing Off. Washington, D.C.
Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles & C.R. Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular
Flora of the Carolinas. UNC press. Chapel Hill, N.C.
- 140 -
FLORA SPECIES LIST
Salt Marsh
shrubs :
herbs :
Live Oak Hammock
Trees:
Herbs :
Vines
Baccharis halimifolia
Borrichia frutescens
Iva frutescens
Distichlis spicata
Fimbristylis spadicea
Juncus roemerianus
Limonium carolinianum
Salicornia virginica
Spartina alterniflora
Agalinis Maritima
Quercus virginiana
Allium bivalve
Centella asiatica
Cerastium glomeratum
Elephantopus nudatus
Geranium carolinianum
Gnaphalium sp.
Hydrocotyle umbellata
Hypoxis micrantha
Juncus bufonias
Krigia virginica
Limonium carolinianum
Panicum spp.
Plantago heterophylla
P. virginica
Rumex hastatulus
Samolus parviflorus
Spartina alterniflora
Spergularia marina
Stellaria media
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Rhus radicans
Rubus trivialis
Maritime forest-shrub thicket:
Trees
Acer rubrum
Cornus florida
Gordonia lasianthus
Ilex opaca
Liquidambar styraciflua
Magnolia virginiana
Nyssa sylvatica
Osmanthus americana
Persea borbonia
Pinus taeda
Prunus serotina
Quercus nigra
groundsel-tree, silverlin
sea ox-eye
marsh elder
salt grass
fimbristylis
black needle rush
sea lavendar
glasswort, saltwort
salt marsh cordgrass
salt marsh gerardia
live oak
false garlic
centella
mouse-ear chickweed
elephant ' s foot
cranesbill
cudweed, rabbit tobacco
marsh pennywort
yellow stargrass
rush
dwarf dandelion
sea lavendar
panic grass
plantain
plantain
sheep sorrel
water pimpernel
salt marsh cordgrass
sand spurrey
chickweed
Virginia creeper
poison ivy
dewberry
red maple
flowering dogwood
loblolly bay
American holly
sweetgum
sweet bay
black gum
wild olive
red bay
loblolly pine
wild cherry
water oak
- 14 1 -
1
Shrubs
Herbs
Vines
Amelanchier canadensis
Cyrilla racefiflora
Gaylussacia frondosa
Ilex glabra
Lyonia lucida
Myrica cerifera
Vaccinium atrococcum
V. tenellum
Yucca aloifolia
Andropogon virginicus
Arundinaria gigantea
Juncus roemerianus
Mitchella repens
Panicum spp.
Pteridium aquilinum
Samolus parviflorus
Gelseraium sempervirens
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Rhus radicans
Smilax laurifolia
Smilax walteri
Longleaf Pine-Live Oak Woodland
Trees :
Shrubs
Herbs
Vines
Diospyros virginiana
Ilex opaca
Magnolia virginiana
Osmanthus americanus
Pinus palustris
P. taeda
Persea borbonia
Quercus laurifolia
Q. virginiana
Gaylussacia frondosa
Ilex glabra
I. vomitoria
Vaccinium tenellum
Andropogon scoparius
Aristida stricta
Cerastium glomeratum
Elephantopus nudatus
Heterotheca nervosa
Poa annua
Polypodium polypodioides
Pteridium aquilinum
Xyris caroliniana
Vitis rotundifolia
Epiphytes: Tillandsia usneoides
juneberry, serviceberry
titi
huckleberry
inkberry, bitter gallberry
fetterbush
wax myrtle
black highbush blueberry
lowbush blueberry
Spanish bayonet
broomsedge
cane
black needle rush
partridge berry
panic grass
bracken fern
water pimpernel
yellow jessamine
Virginia creeper
poison ivy
bamboo vine
greenbriar, catbriar
persimmon
American holly
sweet bay
wild olive
longleaf pine
loblolly pine
red bay
laurel oak
live oak
huckleberry
inkberry
yaupon
lowbush blueberry
little bluestem
wiregrass
mouse-ear chickweed
elephant's foot
camphor weed
blue grass
ressurection fern
bracken fern
yellow-eyed grass
muscadine grape vine
Spanish moss
- 142 -
Swale Pond:
Herbs
Andropogon virginicus
Distichlis spicata
Galium obtusum
Juncus roemerianus
Ludwigia repens
Ruppia maritima
North Shore: swale pond and marsh
Shrubs: Baccharis halimifolia
Iva frutescens
Herbs: Atriplex arenaria
Cerastium glomeratum
Hydrocotyle umbellata
Juncus roemerianus
Rumex hastatulus
Ruppia maritima
Typha domengensis ?
Vines: Ipomoea purpurea
Strophostyles helvola
Old Homesite Area:
Trees: Pinus taeda
Quercus laurifolia
Q. virginiana
Shrubs: Asimina parviflora
Hypericum hypericoides
Herbs: Carduus horridulum
Desmodium sp.
Narcissus pseudo-narcissus
Oxalis sp.
Parietaria floridana
Phytolacca americana
Sanicula sp.
Viola papilionacea
Vines: Bignonia capreolata
Parthenocissus qumquefolia
Rhus radicans
Smilax auriculata
S . bona-nox
Epiphytes: Tillandsia usneoides
broomsedge
saltgrass
bedstraw
black needle rush
ludwigia
widgeon grass
grounds el- tree
marsh elder
seabeach orach
mouse-ear chickweed
marsh pennywort
black needle rush
sheep sorrel
widgeon grass
cat-tail
common morning glory
beach pea
loblolly pine
laurel oak
live oak
dwarf paw-paw
St. John's sort
Thistle
beggar's lice
daffodil
sourgrass
florida pellitory
poke
snakeroot
purple violet
trumpet vine
Virginia creeper
poison ivy
greenbriar, catbriar
greenbriar, catbriar
Spanish moss
- 143 -
" probably breeds
+ possibly breeds
FAUNA OBSERVED 14 APRIL, 1979
Amphibians :
Southern leopard frog
Birds:
Double-crested cormorant
Great egret
Snowy egret
Louisiana heron
Glossy ibis
Black duck
Red-breasted merganser
Osprey
American oys tercatcher
Black-bellied plover
Whimbrel
Willet
Greater yellowlegs
Lesser yellowlegs
Pectoral sandpiper
Least sandpiper
Dunlin
Short-billed dowitcher
Laughing gull
Great black-backed gull
Herring gull
Ring-billed gull
Forster ' s tern
Least tern
Royal tern
Black skimmer
Mourning dove
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
Hairy woodpecker
Eastern phoebe
Common crow
Fish crow
Carolina chickadee
Carolina wren
Hermit thrush
Blue-grey ^natcatcher
Cedar waxwmg
Prothonotary warbler
Yellow-rumped warbler (myrtle)
Black-throated green warbler
Yellow-throated warbler
Pine warbler
Prairie warbler
Common yellowthroat
Rana sphenocephala permanent resident
trans
perm,
perm,
perm,
summe
+winte
winte
summe
+perm.
trans
trans
" summe
trans
trans
trans
trans
winte
trans
perm.
winte
perm.
winte
+perm.
s umme
summe
perm,
"perm.
winte
+perm.
visit
trans
+perm.
+perm.
"'perm.
"perm.
winte
"' s umme
winte
" summe
winte
" s umme
" s umme
" s umme
" s umme
+perm.
res .
ient, winter resident
resident
resident
resident
r resident
r resident (summer?)
r resident
r resident
resident
ient, winter resident
ient
r resident
ient, winter resident
ient
ient
ient
r resident
ienf. wipt'i^r T-pcj-jfJprit
resident
r resident
resident
r resident
resident
r resident
r resident
resident
resident
r resident
resident ? or
or from mainland
ient
res .
res .
res .
res .
r res .
r res .
r res .
r res .
r res.
r res .
r res .
r res .
r res .
res
only
or winter
?
- 144 -
Eastern meadowlark
Red-winged blackbird
Boat-tailed grackle
Cardinal
Rufous-sided towhee
Savannah sparrow
White-throated sparrow
"perm.
resident
"perm.
res .
"perm.
res .
"perm.
res .
"perm.
res .
winter res
winter res
Undoubtedly, several other species of waterbirds occur on
the island during the course of the year. Clapper rails probably
breed on the island. Also, several other landbird species occur
during the migrations. The above list probably omits a few
summer resident or permanent resident landbird species- Yellow-billed
cuckoo, Chuck-wills-widow, Common flicker. Red-bellied woodpecker.
Downy woodpecker. Crested flycatcher, Gray catbird. White-eyed
virio, Common grackle (one may have been seen 14 April 1979), Seaside
sparrow. Swamp sparrow, Song Sparrow, and probably other species
occur on the island.
In 1913, Francis Harper called Browns Island an important
heronry in the area. He recorded the following birds:
Red-breasted merganser
American egret (Great)
Louisiana heron
Little blue heron
Black-crowned night heron
Whimbrel
Flicker
Fish crow
Red-eyed vireo
Prothonotary warbler
Hooded warbler
Roy Brown claimed nesting
large heronry- Julian
Brown said it was the
first time they nested
150 at heronry
350 (nesting?)
8-10 immatures
7 birds seen
noted as present
200 roosted near heronry
noted as present
noted as present
noted as present
In 1929, E.E. Brown recorded the following birds on Browns Island
(also called Craney Island) :
Snowy egret
Louisiana heron
Little blue heron
Black-crowned night heron
Hudsonian curlew
Mourning dove
Brown thrasher
breeding
abundant
abundant
immature birds
2 birds seen
observed
infrequent
Other amphibians that may occur are Squirrel treefrog (Hyla
uirella) and Eastern Narrow-mouthed toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis)
and Fowlers toad (Bufo woodhousei fowleri) .
sa
o ^-1 - 145 -
Reptiles :
No reptiles were observed during the 14 April 1979 visit,
perhaps because it was a relatively cold day. However, the Carolina
diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin centrata j , Green anole
iNorLnern DiacR racer <,v^uiuuer cuim ltj-c uur cuus uric tor; cercainiy
occur on the island, as well as perhaps other species.
Two rarer rorms that mignt occur on the island are the Carolina
salt marsh snake (Natrix sipedon williamengelsi) which is endemic to
coastal North Carolina, and the Outer Banks kingsnake (Lampropel tis
getulus sticticeps) , endemic to the Outer Banks between Capes
Hatteras and Lookout .
Mamma Is:
Tracks of raccoons (Frocyon locor) were seen on the island.
Eastern Moles (Scalopus aquaticus) , River Otters (Lutra canadensis ) ,
Cottom Mice (Peromyscus gossypinus) , and Rice Rats (Oryzomys palustris)
probably occur on the island.
Opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) , Norway Rats (Rattus norvegicus)
and probably one of the rabbits, Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris)
or Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (Sylvilagus f loridanus) may occur on
the island.
Also, domestic cows, horses and pigs graze on the marsh grasses
and in the woodlands of Browns Island,
Evaluation of the site's ecological significance:
The significant features of Browns Island can be summarized in
the following:
1. The island is undeveloped and in a relatively natural state,
which is surrounded by developed areas .
2. The dynamic process of natural ecological change is easily
illustrated (a former barrier island with relict beach ridges).
3. The unusual plant communities of lon^leaf pine and live oak (I
have personnally never seen the comoination before), and a maritime-
pocosin-like forest.
4. The presence of the rare Florida pellitory endemic to maritime
forests .
5. The presence of 15 bird species which are endangered, threatened
or of special concern.
6. The possible presence of endemic reptiles, the Carolina salt marsh
snake, and the Outer Banks Kingsnake.
Management Recommendations:
Browns Island does not appear to be very suitable for development
because of limited "high" ground. It would seem more suitable as a
recreation area or open space rather than residential or commercial
sites .
Straits is an important commercial fishing area for the people
of Carteret County and is fairly free of pollutants. Heavy development
on Browns Island would definitely have an impact.
The grazing by domestic animals has probably had a great impact on
the vegetation of the island. The southern Spartina marsh is heavily
frrazed, but provides better shorebird habitat. The woodlands have
been grazed decreasing the amount of undergrowth and diversity of species
- 146 -
Browns Island
Management Recommendations:
In regards to remnant, endangered or threatened species,
Browns Island is not particularly notable. The only plant species
of concern is the rare endemic, Parietaria f loridana, which
occurs only in the man-made habitat ot old chimney bricks.
Of the birds of special concern, only 4 do or may nest on
the island: Black Duck, Osprey, Black-throated Green Warbler,
and Prothonotary Warbler. Although the endemic reptiles, the
Carolina Salt Marsh SnaRe and Outer Banks Kingsnake , could
occur on the island, their presence has not been documented.
Browns Island's strong points are as a complex natural
area and as a unique coastal geologic formation. There are
undoubtedly complex biological relationships in a variety of
habitats from salt marshes, to forested sand ridges, iov/ woodlands
and swale ponds. Although there are no unusual plant species
for the area, the plant communities are unique. Elements of
inland coastal plant communities appear to be combined with
maritime communities. The south ridge is a combination of a
longleaf pine-wiregrass community and a live oak maritime forest.
The north ridge (or collection of ridges) also has a vegetation
type that is neither typical of the mainland nor of maritime
communities. Species such as loblolly bay, titi, fetterbush
and gallberry are typical of pocosins whereas many of the species
are more typical of maritime forests. Also the rarity of red
cedar and wild olive, which are common in the Roosevelt Natural
Area and Emerald Isle woods on Bogue Banks is notable, even
though both areas are similar mesic sites.
The unusual plant communities is a result of a unique
coastal geologic formation. The relict beach ridges could be
remnants of pleistocene barrier islands or scarps farther inland.
Most pleistocene relict beach ridge areas have been altered
considerably by man, especially the areas that now comprise
islands, such as Roanoke Island and Markers Island. The dynamic
nature of the island suggests a history of rapid geological
change. The recent change is towards salt marshes encroaching
the forested areas leaving live oak hammocks separated by
marsh. Fresh water swale ponds are being encroached by salt
water allowing the invasion of species such as Juncus roemerianus .
The unusual plant communities and dynamic geological nature
may provide clues to the geologic past of North Carolina.
147 -
Professional comments:
Dr. Albert E. Raaford: Botany Dept. UNC , Chapel Hill,N.C. 27514
The unique vegetation type at Browns Island (Longleaf Pine-
wiregrass-Live oak) in a geologically dynamic area , possibly
a relict pleistocene scarp, may have statewide significance.
He has not seen a community such as this in good condition
in North Carolina(although he has not yet visited this site).
JoAnne Powell: Chairman of Environmental Resources Commission
Hampton Mariners Museum, Beaufort, N.C. 28516
On a local scale, rapid development in the county has been
detrimental to the commercial fishing industry, since many of
the marshlands have been distroyed. Leaving a few areas in a
natural state is of prime importance to much of the livelihood
of county residents. Most of the Brown family wants to sell
the land, and would probably not agree to a conservation
easement. It may be best to purchase the land by a conservati
organization .
on
Dr. Gene Huntsman: Member of Coastal Resources Commission
NOAA, National Marine Fisheries, Beaufort, N.C. 28516
Generically, part of Browns Island is already an "Area
of Environmental Concern". The marshes are classified as
an AEC, plus a zone of 75' landward from the mean high water
level, which places stricter restrictions on development.
Proposed land uses cannot significantly harm estuarine resources.
Since a majority of Browns Island is already classified as
an AEC, restrictions may be imposed on the rest of the island.
The only way to include the rest of the island as an AEC is
to nominate it based on its being a unique coastal natural area,
including rare species or outstanding geological or archeological
features .
- 148
Recommendat ions :
The island appears to be significant on the local level and
possibly the state level. Since a large portion of Browns Island is
already classified as an AEC , development should be controlled for
the rest of the island.
If development occurs, the only area of the island that would
be suitable is the north ridge, which could accept low density
development (few septic tanks). The south ridge (Longleaf pine-Live
oak) is not really suitable for development because it is very narrow
and surrounded by marsh. Of course, the marshes are not suitable
for development, and under no circumstances should they be filled in.
The marshes are vital to the commercial fishing industry.
Development would also jeopardize many nesting bird species,
including four of special concern. In addition to general dis-
turbance, development could produce a change in habitat conditions,
such as filling in of marshes, ponds and low forested areas.
We recommend that all or most of the island be maintained
as open space either by local government regulations or by acquisi-
tion for a natural area.
- 149 -
Jeann ie W i 1 s on
Sept. 19, 1979
Species additions to Browns Island, Carteret County, N.C.
Marsh :
Agalinis maritima
Bacopa monnieri
Pluchea purpurascens
Live Oak Hammock :
Shrub s :
Ilexglabra
Myrica cerifera
Herbs:
Aristida stricta
Lechea leggettii
Lobelia nuttallii
Polygala lutea
Mar i t ime Forest : Shrub thicket
Trees :
Pinus serotina (1 tree seen on the ecotone between the Longleaf
Pine-Live Oak woodland and the shrub thicket)
Vines :
Smi lax glauca
Herbs :
Rhexia mariana
Long leaf Pine -Live Oak Wood land :
Shrub s :
Myrica cerifera var . puraila
Vacciniura staraineum
Xanthoxylum c lava-her cu 1 is
Vines :
Vaccinium crassifolium
Swale Pond (edge):
Cyperus sp. (specimen immature to identify)
Rhynchospora fascicularis
Birds :
White-eyed vireo
Red start
Emerald Isle Woods
Name of Area: Emerald Isle, west end of Bogue Banks, N.C.
Location Description: Approximately k mile west of the B. Cameron
Langston Bridge on the north and south sides of "Coast Guard
Road". The site is immediately west of the electrical sub-
station. See Map 19
Topographic Quadrangle Map Reference: Swansboro
Ownership Information: (See map 20)
Richard M. White Emerald Isle Developer
. Lewis R. Holding Emerald Isle Developer
James A. Singleton Singleton Realty Emerald Isle
Report Prepared by: Jeannie Wilson and John 0. Fussell, III
Other Persons Knowledgeable about Site:
Nora Murdock, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Asheville, N.C.
Dave Rackley, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Raleigh, N.C.
Kathryn Henderson, The Nature Conservancy, Chapel Hill, NC
Current Use and Protection Status: Currently, the forest is in an
undisturbed and relatively pristine state on the north side of
the road. The only signs of human activity here are foot paths
that meander through it, some trash and signs of raccoon hunting.
The major and most obvious threat to the area is plans for
residential development. Land is now for sale near the electric
substation and roadways have been cut through the forest to the
ocean on the south side of the road-
- 150 -
nnett ' '
Pt _ .^l
311
SCALE 1:24000
- 152
If it becomes inevitable that development will proceed over
the entire area, plans should be made to protect as much of the
natural features as possible. These natural features include
large 50' relict dunes, swale ponds, large trees, and large pri-
mary and secondary dunes. Many of the swale ponds are already
being filled in on the south side of the road.
Developers are considering leaving some of the forest on the
north side of the road as a greenway area.
Vegetation and Plant Communities: This tract of land is essentially a
transect of a barrier island. Large sand dunes (to 35' in ele-
vation) including shifting dunes and stabilized dunes are present
near the ocean. The stabilized primary dunes are dominated by
Sea oats (Uniola paniculata) ♦ The shifting dunes do not have any
vegetation cover. The swale between the primary and secondary
dune contains a shrub thicket of predominantly wax myrtle (Myrica
cerifera) , cottonbush (Baccharis halimifolia) and yaupon (Ilex
vomitoria ) . The vegetation cover of the secondary dune is a
shrub thicket with dwarf live oak (Quercus virginiana) and many
herbaceous species. The live oaks only reach 3' in height due
to high winds and salt spray pruning.
There is an abrupt transition into maritime forest behind
these high dunes. This maritime forest is unique because of its
undisturbed state, the unusually high dune ridges (to 50') and
high species diversity relative to its proximity to the ocean.
The dominant tree species are laurel oak, red maple, american
holly, red cedar, loblolly pine, red bay and ironwood. Many
species of shrubs, vines and herbs are also present. Species
diversity of plants and animals is high at Emerald Isle because
of the forest size and stability.
Large swale ponds occur between the dune ridges. These are
freshwater ponds containing many aquatic species such as duckweed
(Spirodela and Wolf f iella) , frog's bit (Limnobium spongia) ,
hornwort rCeratophyllum demersura) , bur-reed (Sparganium americanum)
and cat-tail (Typha latifolia) . The ponds serve as gathering areas
for many animal species as well.
On the north side of the island along Bogue Sound is a thin
margin of salt marsh, dominated by Spartina alterniflora and
Juncus roemerianus . An extensive patchy salt marsh is present
throughout this portion of Bogue Sound.
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_ 154 _
Physical Features:
This section of the barrier island of Bogue Banks is about
3/4 mile wide and is oriented in an east-west direction.
Consequently, southwest winds have contributed to the formation
of dunes oriented in an east-west to southwest-northeast
direction. The dunes range from 10 'to 50' in elevation. Between
a number of the larger dunes are swale ponds.
The island is somewhat protected from the strong north
winds of winter due to the presence of land north of the island.
In contrast, Core Banks (Cape Lookout National Seashore) has
small unstable dunes due to its north-south orientation and
exposure to both northerly and southerly winds. Protection
from wind is significant in the formation of large stable
dunes and a maritime forest. Therefore, only a few barrier
islands in North Carolina have extensive maritime forests.
Rare Plants and Animals:
Plants : none
Reptiles :
Atlantic loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta caretta
Endangered occasionally nests on the beach
American alligator Alligator mississippiensis
Endangered possibly occurs here (present in Roosevelt
Natural Area)
Birds :
Red-shouldered hawk Buteo lineatus
Threatened probably nests within area
Merlin Falco columbarius
Threatened fall transient
Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus
Endangered fall transient
- 155
Current use and protection status:
Currently, the forest is in an undisturbed and relatively
pristine state on the north side of the road. The only signs of
human activity here arefoot paths that meander through it, some
trash and signs of raccoon hunting. A steel trap was seen as
well £S the use of a crab pot with a can of sardines as bait.
The crab pot had a dead opossum in it! (Human creativity never
ceases to amaze us!). Several hollow trees had been cut (Laurel
oaks) indicating that a hunted raccoon had been there. Apparently,
raccoon skins are bringing good prices, according to a Fish and
Wildlife game warden who was trying to catch a hunter in ithe
Roosevelt Natural Area. ft
The major and most obvious threat to the area is plans for
residential development. Land is now for sale near the electric
substation and roadways have been cut through the forest to the
ocean on the south side of the road (see photo).
If it becomes inevitable that development will proceed
over the entire area, plans should be made to protect as much of
the natural features as possible. These natural features include
large 50' relict dunes, swale ponds, large trees jand large primary
and secondary dunes. Many of the swale ponds are already being
filled in on tlie south side of the road.
Developers are considering leaving some of the forest on the
north side of the road as a greenway area.
- 156 -
Publications and Scientific References:
Au, Shun-Fun. 1974. Vegetation and Ecological Processes on
Shackleford Banks, N.C. National Park Service Scientific
Monograph Series No. 6.
Cooper, John E., S.S. Robinson, J.E. Funderburg. (Eds) . 1977.
Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals of North
Carolina. N.C. Museum of Natural History, Raleigh.
Fussell, John 0. III. 1974. Vascular Plants of Roosevelt Natural
Area. Unpublished report for the Division of State Parks
and Recreation. N.C. Dept of Natural Resources & Community
Development.
Fussell, John 0. III. 1978. Bogue Banks Study, Bogue Banks, N.C:
A Description of Vegetative Communities and Annotated lists
of Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Endangered and Threatened
Species. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Raleigh.
Godfrey, P.J. and M.M. Godfrey. 1976. Barrier Island Ecology
, of Cape Lookout National Seashore and Vicinity, N.C.
' National Park Service Scientific Monograph Series No. 9.
' Pilkey, O.H.Jr., O.K. Pilkey, Sr, and R. Turner. 1975. How to
live with an island, A handbook to Bogue Banks, N.C. N.C.
Dept. of Natural Resources and Community Development, Raleigh
Pilkey, O.H. Jr., W.J. Neal and O.H. Pilkey Sr. 1978. From
Currituck to Calabash, Living with North Carolina's Barrier
Islands. N.C. Scientific and Technical Res. Center. Research
Triangle Park, Raleigh, N.C.
Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles and C.R. Bell. 1968. Manual of the
Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC press, Chapel Hill.
^'
A
_ 157 _
Evaluation of Ecological Significance:
Bogue Banks is one of the few barrier islands in North
Carolina with extensive maritime forests. It is also one of
the more stable barrier islands in terms of shifting patterns
and vegetation, thus lending itself to more development. Because
of heavy development on the island, the forest has become a
sanctuary for animals at the west end of the island.
An unusual significant feature of the area are the 50'
relict dunes which are forested with a mature maritime forest.
The large dunes form a protective barrier which allows for
the colonization of many plant species which results in a more
stablized barrier island. Due to this protection, the forest
provides a habitat for plants and animals that normally cannot
survive in such close proximity to the ocean.
Several rare and endangered animals occur in this area that
are worthy of mention. The Atlantic loggerhead turtle lays eggs
on the beaches from June through August. The brown pelican
and the peregrine falcon are transient through the area. The
red-shouldered hawk probably nests in the area. The american
alligator may possibly occur in the area, as they have been seen
in the Roosevelt Natural Area.
A question necessary to consider is whether this area is
unique or different from other maritime forests in the area,
such as Bear Island (Hammocks Beach State Park), Shackleford
Banks (part of Cape Lookout National Seashore) and
the Roosevelt Natural Area. The dunes are much higher at
Emerald Isle than they are in the other forests. The forest seems
to be more stable on Emerald Isle, meaning that it is a larger
forested area, unstable dunes are not rapidly encroaching on the
forest, and the sound is not rapidly eroding the north shoreline.
Shackleford forest is being eroded at an alarming rate on the north
side. Also, grazing by feral animals has reduced the undergrowth
to nearly nothing. The Bear Island forest is rapidly being
covered by a very large moving dune • The forest in the Roosevelt
Natural Area is very similar to Emerald Isle, although the dunes
do not reach that elevation.
In our opinion. Emerald Isle is a significant area, not only
for Carteret County, but for the state of North Carolina.
15B
Management Recommendations:
We feel that the Emerald Isle Woods and the adjacent sea
oats dunes - together comprising a complete ocean to sound
transect of approximately 500 acres - is worthy of preservation.
The total extent of maritime forest on the North Carolina coast
(and especially Bogue Banks) is rapidly decreasing due to human
development and the Emerald Isle Woods is an excellent example
of maritime forest. It has a very high plant and animal species
diversity and possibly the largest trees and greatest structural
diversity of any maritime forest in North Carolina. It certainly
has a great deal of esthetic appeal, especially in the areas where
relict beach ridges 40 feet and higher alternate with swale ponds.
This area also supports several species that are endangered,
threatened, or of special concern.
Any degree of human development is inconsistent with the
ecological values of the Emerald Isle Woods area. Development
would result in the canopy being brokenj and thus the forest is
no longer a forest. Wide roadways running perpendicular to the
beach would channel in salt spray and drying winds. Development
would require the fillingin of the swale, ponds and development
would involve some degree of bulldozing of the forested relict
dunes. H abitat for many species would be lost, and this would
be especially true for the rarer species.
Of course 5 development pressure on this area is high,
especially on the area south of the road. However, development
pressure would be less on ^proximately 200 acres that are
north of the road. This area is fttrther from the ocean, has
the highest relict ridges, has the most swale ponds, and it abuts
marshes rather than deep water. Thus development might not proceed
here for 3 or 4 years .
The preservation of the 200 acres north of the road would not
be as desirable as the preservation of the entire 500 acres, but
it would save the best-developed area of forest, a large number of
species, and the most prominent area of relict beach ridges and
swales.
If the entire 500 acres were acquired for preservation, then
steps v7ouldhave to be taken to protect the dune areas, as from
- 159 -
Management Recommendations:
We feel that the Emerald Isle Woods and the adjacent sea
oats dunes - together comprising a complete ocean to sound
transect of approximately 500 acres - is worthy of preservation.
The total extent of maritime forest on the North Carolina coast
(and especially Bogue Banks) is rapidly decreasing due to human
development and the Emerald Isle Woods is an excellent example
of maritime forest. It has a very high plant and animal species
diversity and possibly the largest trees and greatest structural
diversity of any maritime forest in North Carolina. It certainly
has a great deal of esthetic appeal, especially in the areas where
relict beach ridges 40 feet and higher alternate with swale ponds.
This area also supports several species that are endangered,
threatened, or of special concern.
Any degree of human development is inconsistent with the
ecological values of the Emerald Isle Woods area. Development
would result in the canopy being broken, and thus the forest is
no longer a forest. Wide roadways running perpendicular to the
beach would channel in salt spray and drying winds. Development
would require the filling in of the swale ponds and development
would involve some degree of bulldozing of the forested relict
dunes. H abitat for many species would be lost, and this would
be especially true for the rarer species.
Of course, development pressure on this area is high,
especially on the area south of the road. However, development
pressure would be less on the approximately 200 acres that are
north of the road. This area is further from the ocean, has
the highest relict ridges, has the most swale ponds, and it abuts
marshes rather than deep water. Tlius development might not proceed
here for 3 or 4 years.
The preservation of the 200 acres north of the road would not
be as desirable as the preservation of the entire 500 acres, but
it would save the best-developed area of forest, a large number of
species, and the most prominent area of relict beach ridges and
swales.
If the entire 500 acres were acquired for preservation, then
steps v/ould have to be taken to protect the dune areas, as from
_ 160
Off Road Vehicles, etc. However, forest areas would probably
require very little protection from human disturbance, especially
if residents of adjacent areas are relatively affluent or
retirees .
_ 161
Flora Spt-^cics List:
Beach and Dunes
Trees
Juniperus virginiana
Prunus caroliniana
Quercus virginiana
Xanthoxylum c la va-herculis
Shrubs
Baccharis lialimifolia
Croton punctatus
Ilex voniitoria
Myrica cerifera
Vines :
Ampelopsis arborea
Parthenocissus qu i. nquefolia
Pass i flora lutrea
Khus rndicans
Hubus trivial J 3
Smilax laurifolia
S trophostyles helvola
Vitis rotund i folia
Herbs :
Aniaranthus punii lus
Cakile edentula
ChenopodiuiTi' ainbrosioides
Erigeron canadensis
Euphorbia polygonif ol ia
Gaillardia pulchella
He tc ro tlie c a subn x i 1 1 a r i s
Hydrocotyle bonariensis
Lepidium virginicum
TAppia nodifiora
Oenothera liumifusa
Physalis viscosa ssp.
Solidago sempervirens
Red Cedar
Laurel cherry
Live oak
Hercules club, Tot)tliaclie in
Groundsel
Croton
Yaupon
Wax my r til
Popporvine
Virginia creeper
Passion flowtrr
Poison ivy
Dewberry
Bamboo vine
Wi Id bean
^k^scadine grape
tree, Cottonbush
Seabeach amaranth
Sea rocket
Mexican tea
Daisy fleabane
Seaside spurge
Gai Hard ! a
Caniphorweed
Pennywort
Poor Man's Pepper
Capeweed
Evening primrose
maritima Ground cherry
Seaside goldenrod
(Jraminoids
Andropogon scoparius
Panicum spp.
Spartina patens
Uniola raniculata
Little biue stem
Panic grass
Saltnieadow hay
Sea oats
162
Swale Ponds
Tre(?s :
Cornus stricta (edge)
Salix caroliniana
Shrubs :
Cephalanthus occidentalis
V i nes :
Cviscuta sp,
Rhus radicans
Herbs:
Swamp dogwood
Carolina v;inow
Bui" tonbush
Dodder
Poison ivy
Amaranthus cannabinus
Cera tophy Hum deruersum
Decodou vcr t ic il latus
Ga 1 i urn hisp iduluni
Hydrocotyle vert icillata
Limnobiain spongia
Ludwigia palustris
Polygonum hy drop ipero ides
var. opelousanura
Rumex vertic illatus
Spirodela polyrrhiza
Wolffiella floridana
Water hemp
Hornwort
Water wallow, VJ.-;r.er loosestrife
Beds traw
Pennywort
Frog's bit
Ludvjigid
Knotwe^-'d
Swamp dock
Spirodela, Dm.-kweed
Duckweed
Graiiij loids :
Carex comosa
'Eleocharis baldwinii
Sparganium americanum
Typha latifolia
Feriis
Carex
Spike rusli
Bu] -reed
Cat-tail
TlieJyptcris palustris
Mar; )i fern
- 163 -
Maritinif^ Forest
Trfi's
Acer riibrum
Carpimis carol iniaiuis
Carya glabra
Corniis Florida
C. strLcLa
Ilt^x opaca
Junipcrus virginiana
Licjuidaiubar sLyracifliu
Magnolia virginiana
Nyssa sylvatica
Osr.iantlius atnericana
Persea borbonia
Finus Laeda
Quorcus lauri folia
'). virginiana
Salix carol in iana
Sassafras albidum
Red maple
Ironwood
Pignut hickory
1' 1 o w 0 r i n g do g w o o d
Swamp dogwood
Aiiier Lcan ho 1 ly
Rod cedar
Sweet gum
Sweet bay
Black gum
Wild olive (large lo 10" diam)
Red bay
Loblolly pine
Laurel oak
Live oak
Carolina v^7illov^,'
Sassafras (large to 10" diam)
Shrubs :
Aralia spLnosa
Euonymus americanus
llamam{?l is virginiana
ilvper icuiti hypiT icoide.s
Hex glabra
I . vomi tor in
Lyon i a luc ida
Myr ica cer i fera
Prunus carol iniana
Rlius copal lina
Vaccinium arborcum
V. atrocossum
V. tenoilum
Yucca gloriosa
Hercules cliib
Strawberry busli
Wi tch hazel
S L . John ' s wol t
Inkberry, bifter gall berry
Yaupon
Fe I tt:rbush
Wax myrtle
Carolina ch-rry
Winged sumac
Spar k'l eberry
Black highbusii blueuerry
Blueberry
Y'ucca
Vines
Ampelopsis arborea
Borchemia scandens
Gelsemium sempervirens
Parthenocissus quinque folia
l^ius radicans
Rubus Lrivialis
Smilax auriculata
S . bona-nox
S. glauca
S. iaurifolia
S. rotundi folia
Vitis rotundirolia
Peppervine
Rattan vine
Yellow jessamine
Virginia creeper
Poison i\y
Dewberry
Creenbr i ar ,
Creenbr iar ,
Cre'Mibr iar ,
Bamboo vine
Creenbr iar ,
Muscadine g
Ca tbr iar
Catbr iar
('a tbr i ar
Catbriar
ape
- 164 _
Epiphytes :
Phoradendron serotinum
Til lands ia usneoides
llorbs
Mis Lletoe
Spanish moss
Arisaenia triphylluni
Aureolaria virginica
Conopholis aiuericaiia
Docodon ver Lie Lllatus
Galium hispiduium
Hydrocotyle vcrti cillatus
Lcmna perpusilla
Litnnobiiin spongia
Mitchella rcpens
Monotropa uni flora
Spii'anthes vernal is
Tipularia discolor
Gram i no ids
Carex comosa
C. lupulina
Cyjorns spp.
Panicum coiimuitatus
Panicum spp.
Scirpus cypi^rinus
S. validiis
Uniola laxa
Jack-in-the-pulpi t
False foxglove
Squaw rooC
W a 1 1 ' r loo s e s L r i f o
Bt^d:; Lr aW
Pennyujrt
Duclaveed
Frog's bit
Partridge berry
Indian pipe
Spring ladies tresses
Crane fly orchid
uarex
Carex
Cvperus
Panic grass
Panic grasses
St: ii'pus
Sc irpns
Uniola
Ferns
Aspleniuin platyneuron
Botrychium dissectum
Osmunda regal is var. spectal
Polypodium polypodioides
P t e r i d i uia aqu i 1 i num
Woodward i a a re o lata
;ait Marsh
Shrubs :
E b on y s p 1 e e n wo r c
C oinmo n g r a {) e f e r n
ilis Royal fern
Resurrection fern
Bracken fern
Netted Chain tern
Baccharis halimifolia
Borrichia trutesccns
Groundsel tree
Sea oxeve
Cottonbush
Herbs
Aster subulaLus
Limonium carol in ianum
Solidago sonipervirens
Marsh aster
Sea lavendar
S e a side u olden r o d
165 _
Giaminoi ds
Elyiiius virj^iuicus
Finibr is tyl IS ;5padicea
Junciis roomer i anus
I'an i ciiti! vi ri',a t;um
SparLina a I liernif iora
S. pi tens
Rye j;i:ir.s
Fimbris tyl is
Ri.ack nec-d 1 r-rush
I'aii ic- gras;
SaJ. t mar.'-.h cord gras:
Salt nicaJow !iav
Fauna Species List
Anipiiibians :
•Eastern spade foot toad
Southern toad
Green tree frog
Squirrel treefrog
Eastern narrow-mouthed toad
South e r n L e' o tj a r d f
rog
R.-p tiles
Sco|)hiopus t.olbr loki ho lb rook i
Eu"f"o terrcstrin
llyia cinotea
ily la squire I la
G :; s t r o ph r yn e c a r o 1 i , i ^c n s i s
R..na utricularia
'h
'•i\'iw: r i c a. n alii ga t o r
•Snoppiug turtle
Eastern mud turtle
'■'Eastern box turtle
Northern diamondback terrapir
'•'Y • 1 i ow-be 1 1 ie d turtle
'■'Atlantic loggerhead turtle
Grci'n anole
S ix- lined racorunrie. r
'-'Ground skink
'• S . E . F i V e - 1 ^ n e' d s k i n k
Eastern gla.,s lizard
Banded v;ater snake
'-'Eastern ribbon snake
Eastern hiognose snake
'•'Fine woods snake
Ncrtl^ern black racer
'-' E a s t e r ti c o a c h: wl\ i p s n a k e^
'■■Rough, green snalve
GreH'Miish rat snake
'-' i'ri-bably (^ccUi.":;
'•'•' ■'■-' P (J s s i b J V occurs
Al ] i ga tor- mi
Glielydra sr-r
Kinos ternon
Terrapene ca
Malaclemys t
Chrysemys sc
Caretta care
(occasional J
Anolis carol
Cnemidoplioru
he i ol opisma
Eumece-s ' nc!X
Oj)hisaurus v
Nat: rix tasci
'I'hamuophis s
heterodon pi
Rhadinaea Tl
Coluber cons
Ma.', t: i cophiis
Oplieodrys ac
inter^rade i)
quadr i vi t ta t
ss r ss i p[.' Sens j ;:
pen t ma serpen t i na
suiirubruni subrubrutr.
rolina carol ma
errapin centrata
ripta scrip ta
tta carctta
V niests on tilt- beach)
i ncns is carol iner.s is
■; 'icxlineatus si.!xline.'i Lu
la te rale
pec ta tus
entra ] i :
ata fasciata
aur itus s.'u.r i tus
a tyrli ino^.
a \' i. 1 a c a
trie lor cc ns tr i c lor
ilagelluii; fla_,e]lu!,!
s t ivus
("■tweo'^n Elaphe ob so let a
a. X E. n'-.soleta obsoleta
166
Reptiles:
■""Northern scar Lett snake
Southcrvi copperliead
Eastern cottonmouth
Canebrake rattlesnake
Mammal s
Opossum
Raccoon
•River otter
Gray fox
East(;rn grey
'Cotton r:OiK;e
■'Rice rat
Marsli rabbit
Whitotnil de-.
sqtiirrel
Cemophora coccinea copei
Agkisirodon cc-ntortri^ contortrix
Agkistrodon piscivorous piscivoroua
Crotalus horridus atricauda tus
Dideiphis marsupial is
Procyon lotor
Lutra canadensis
Urocyon cinercoargenteus
Sciurus carol inens is
Peromvscus gossypinus
Oryzomy s pains tr i h
Sylvilagus palnstris
Odocoileus vj r;j,inianuo
Probably occurs
•■ Possi-blv occurs
-167 _
Birds
Spec ios
Prim.iry Stat lis
Primary Habitat
Common loon
winter resident
ocean
Red-throated loon
winter resident
ocean
Horned grebe
winter resident
ocean
Pied-billcd grebe
winter resident
marshes
Brown pelican
permanent reside
nt
oct^an
Grmnet
winter resident
ocean
iJc ublo-cres ted cormorant
winter resident
ocean
Great blue heron
permanent reside
nt
marslics
Green heron
summer resident-
■nests
marsli^s, ponds
Little blue he ion
permanent resident
marshes
Great egret
permanent res id.
Tit
ma •■ shos
Snowy c.^ret
permanent residc
nt
iiiarshes
Louisiana heron
permanent residr
nt
marshes
lilack-crowned niglit heron permanent rrsident
marshes
Ye 1 low- crowned night heron summer resident
marsiies
Least bittern
summer resident-
-nests
Tiiarsiies
White ibis
permanent residt
mt
marshes
Black duck
winter resident
marsiies
Wood duck
winter resident
ponds
Buf ll oiiead
winter resident
SOlU' i
Surf scoter
winter resident
ocean
Black scoter
winter resident
ocean
Hooded merganser
winter resident
ponds , marshes
Red-breasted merganser
winter resident
ocean
Sharp-shinned hawk
fall transient,
winter res. forest
Ked--shouldered hawk
perm. res. probably n
ists forest
^k^rsll hawk
winter resident
marshe:".
Ospj-cy
summer resident-
-may n
:st sound
P(;re^rine Falcon
fall transient
flying over
Me r 1 1 n
fail transient
Hying ov'r
American kestrel
winter resident
dunes
Clapper rail
perm. res. -nests
marshes
Common gallinule
transient
ponds
American oys tercatchor
perm. res.
marshes
Soi lipalraated plover
trans lent
marshes, heacli
Piping plover
transient
beach
Black-b'^llied plover
trans icTit , wint
re s .
boaches
Ruddy turns tone
transient
beacli
American woodcock
wint. res. or ptirm. r
may nest some yt_ars
js. forest
VJliimbrel
transient
beach
Willet
perm, res.
beaches
Greater yellowlegs
transient
mars ties
Red knot
transient
beach
Least sandpiper
transient
beach
Dunlin
wint. res.
beach, marshes
168
Spec ies
Short-billed dowitcher
Scrnipa l.ma ted sandpiper
Western sandpiper
Sander ling
Great black-backed gul
Herring gnll
Ring-billed gull
Lau;:hing gull
Bc-napar te ' s gul L
Gull-billed tern
Forster's tern
Goiumon tern
Least tern
Royal tern
Sandwich tern
Casj>ian tern
Bla'.k tern
Blat k skimmer
Mourning dove
Yellow-billed cuckoo
Screech owl
Chuck-will's widow
Ivliip-poor-will
Coimnou nighthawk
Rub y- 1 h r o a t e d h u^iim i n gb
Belted kingfisher
Common flicker
Redr-bellied woodpecker
Yellow-bellied sapsuck
Downy woodpecker
Eastern kingbird
Great crested flycatch
Eastern phoebo
Troe swallow
Bank swallow
Rough-winged swallow
Barn swallow
Purple martin
Blue jay
Gom.nion crow
Fish crow
Carolina chickadee
Red-ijreas ted nutliatch
House wren
Winter wren
Carolina wren
Primary S t a t u s
transient, wmt. res
trans i en t
trans . , wint . res .
wint . res .
1 wint . res .
wint. res.
wint. res.
trims., SLimmer res.
wint. r 0 s .
s umme r r e s .
wint. res.
summer res .
summer resident
perm, rL:S .
trans i ent
fall transient
trans ient
perm , res .
p e rm . r e s . -n e s t s
sum. res.-prob, Tiest
perm . res . -nes ts
prob . sum . res . -nes t
fall transient
summer resident
ird sura, res.-prob. nes
wint. res.
fall trans, v/int. re
perm, ros.? way rest
perm. res. -n est s
er wint. res.
prob. perm. res.
may nest
Summer res. may nest
or summer res. -nests
fall trans, wine, re
primarily fall, tran
fa] I. transient
summer res . .a^.,
3 umme r res.
suiimier res .
pe ri.i . res. -ne s t s
prob. perm. res. may
pe rm . res. -may no s t
perm. res. -nests
prob. wint. visitant
fall trans., wint. r
prob. V'/int. res.
perm . re s . -ne s t s
Primary Habitat
. marshes
beach
raa r s 1 1 e s , b <^ a c h
beacii
ocean
ocean
ocean
ocean
u c e a n
beach , dune s
ocean
ocean
sound
ocean
ocean
marshes
ocean
sound
ducics J shrub-Tores t e
s iore:-;t
forest
s forest
i o r e c t
flys over
ts forest
sound
s . forest edge
forest
forest
forest . .
forest
forest
s . ? forest edge
s . —
(
fores t
nest beach, dunes, fores
beach, dunes, forest
forest
forest
es . sarub thicket, forest
edge
forvist
forest
- 169 -
Species
Long-billed marsh wren
Nockingb ird
Gray catbird
Brown thrasher
American robin
Hermit thrush
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
Golden-crowned k i ngiet
Kuby-crowned kinglet
Water pipet
Cedar waxwing
White-eyed vireo
Solitary viieo
Red-eyed vireo
Black and wliite warbler
Prothonotary warbler
Orange-crowned warbler
Northern parul;i warbler
Yc;i low-rumped warbler
Black-throated green wa
Yellow-throated warbler
Blackpoll warbler
Pine v;arbler
Prairie warbler
Palm warbl er
Common yollowthroat
Anu.'rican redstart
Red-winged blackbird
Orchard Oriole
BoaL-tailed grackle
Goiai.ion grackle
Brown-headed cowbird
Suni'.uer
Cardin
Indigo
Paiiite
Air 'ric
Rufous
Savanii
bharp-
Seasid
Dark-e
Whi te-
Fox sp
Swamp
Song s
tanager
al
bunt ing
d bunting
an goldfinch
-sided tov>/heo
ah sparrow
tailed sparrow
e sparrow
yed junco
throated sparrow
arrow
sparrow
parrow
Primary Status
Prim.-.ry Habitat
fall trans.
marshes
perm. res.-n<'3ts
shn^b thicket
primarily wint. res.
forest edge
primarily wint. res.
forest edge
wint. visitant
lores t
wint. res.
forest
summer res.-prob. nes
t forest
wint , visi taut
fores t
wint. res.
fores t
winter visitant
sO'ind bi'ach
\^7inter res.
forest
s umriK ! r res. -ne s t s
forest
wint . res .
forest
summer res. -nests
fores t.
transient
[ore's t
s umme r r e s . -ne s t s
forest
winter res.
fores t
summer res . -nes ts
fores L
winter res.
fores t
bier poss. sum. re ^ .
fores t
may nest
summer res-nests
forest
transient
forest
s umme r res. or p e r m .
forest
res.- may nest
summer res, -nests
shruh thicket
trans . , wint . res .
shrub thicket
trans . , wint . res .
shrub thickeL
fall transient
forest
perm. res. -nests
shrub-thicket
summer res. -nests
forest edge
pena. res .
inarshL's
s umme r res.-; u • s L s
fores L
early sum. res .
roadsides
breeds, doesn't nest
:uiuimer res. -nests
forest
perm. res. -nests
forest
summer res.-ntsts
forest edge
;; uiiime r re s . -ue s t s
forest edge
v/int. res.
duiics , forest
perm . r e^ s .-nests
shrub thicket
wint. res.
duni-s
wint . res .
marshes
perm . res .
marshes
winter visitant
forest edge--
\>/i nt . rts.
forest edge
wint. visit :i n t
forest edge
v/int. res.
forest edge
wint. res.
Lores t cd'^e
Hadnot Creek on White Oak River
Name of Area: Hadnot Creek on the White Oak River
Location Description: Hadnot Creek is a tributary of the White
Oak River. The creek crosses N. C. 58 about 3 miles south
of Kuhns , near Hadnot Road. See Map 21.
Topographic Quadrangle Map Reference:
Ownership: Croatan National Forest
c/o District Ranger
435 Thurman Road
New Bern, NC 28560
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Warner
Hadnot Creek Farm, N. C. 5i
Swansboro, NC 2 8 584
Maysville 1:62500
(northeast section)
(southwest section and
mouth of creek)
The Mower Lumber Company
not a local company
owns 359 acres of forest, and 41 acres of cleared land.
The creek east of the N. C. 58 bridge is administered by Inland
Fisheries (freshwater) and west of the bridge is administered by
Marine Fisheries.
Report prepared by: Jeannie Wilson and Manley Fuller
Date: July, 1978
Current Use and Protection Status:
Currently, the creek is in a natural state and relatively
undisturbed state, as is the entire White Oak River. Hunting and
fishing are the primary activities along this tributary. Evidence
of disturbance includes a hardwood timber cut on a section of bluff,
as well as secondary forest growth along most of the bank and bluff.
Since most of the land is owned by a lumber company, there is the
potential for extensive logging in the future. Luckily, the Warners,
who own the land at the creek's mouth, are interested in land con-
servation. Because the entire White Oak system of creeks and the
river is relatively undisturbed, it should be preserved as a whole
unit. The gradation from brackish to fresh water is quite striking
in terms of vegetation changes (see Holston Creek report) . The
area has proved to be an excellent area for scientific and educational
endeavors. The presence of the endangered American Alligator also
warrants its protection. The Warners have registered their portion
of Hadnot Creek as a protected North Carolina Natural Heritage Area.
i
170 -
MAP 21: HADNOT CREEK
-172 _
Vegetation and Plant Communities:
Hadnot Creek is a brackish water creek which encompasses
several distinct plant communities. The primary communities
include brackish marshes, a brackish island, cedar hummocks,
and a combination of hardwood-pine stands.
Brackish Marshes: The marshes and the creek exhibit varying
degrees of salinity from the mouth to the head of the creek,
as shown by several species. Spartina alternif lora is
common near the mouth of the creek where the salinity is higher,
and Scirpus americanus , Cladium jamaicense , and Spartina cynosu-
roides become abundant toward the head of the creek, where the
salinity is lower. Common species along the marshes include the
following:
Spartina alterniflora
S. patens
S. cynosuroides
Scirpus americanus
Cladium jamaicense
Juncus roemerianus
Hibiscus moscheutos
Disticlis spicata
Typha latifolia
Typha angustifolia
Oenothera fruticosa
Rumex verticil latus
Pontederia cordata
Myosotis laxa
Solidago sempervirens
Senecio glabellus
Ipomoea pandurata
Small brackish island (Pork Chop Island) along the north shore
of the creek: This island is relatively unique, because of the
presence of an extensive matformer, Lilaeopsis chinensis . Common
species are:
Lilaeopsis chinensis
Ptilimnium capihlaceum
Eleocharis albida
Eleocharis sp.
Baccharis halimifolia
Cedar Hummocks: These are possibly the result by some dredging
that may have occurred to keep the creek open to small boat
traffic. Common species are:
Juniperus virginiana
Sabal minor
Ilex vomitoria
Rhus radicans
Myrica cerifera
Baccharis halimifolia
Rosa palustris
Osmunda regalis var . spectabilis
_ 173 -
Pteridium aquilinum
Polypodium polypodioides
Vitis aestivalis
Usnea sp.
Forest Types: The mixed-hardwood and pine forest is the dominant
type along the creek bank and bluff, although Beech and Bald
Cypress appear infrequently. Beech occurs infrequently on
protected bluffs, and Cypress appears occasionally along the
creek margin, where the salinity has dropped to a low level.
Common forest trees are:
Acer rubrum
Carya pallida
Fagus grandifolia
Juniperus virginiana
Liquidambar styraciflua
Liriodendron tulipifera
Fraxinus caroliniana
Magnolia virginiana
Persea borbonia
Pinus taeda
Stewartia malacodendron
Taxodium distichum
Ilex opaca
Ostrya virginiana
Pinus taeda
Unlike most brackish creeks in the area, Hadnot Creek is relatively
undisturbed, and very few dwellings or buildings are found along
it. In this regard, this creek is unique for Carteret County.
Physical Features: The creek meanders southwest and empties into
the south-flowing White Oak River. Along the margins of the
creek is a 20' bluff over marl (limestone), supporting a
mixed hardwood forest.
Rare Plants and Animals:
Chinese Lilaeopsis
American Alligator
Lilaeopsis chinensis
locally abundant; rare.
Alligator mississippiensis
probably breeds in area;
endangered
References;
Kuenzler, E. J. 1976. unpublished class notes from
Wetlands Ecology Class, UNC Institute of Marine Sciences.
Radford, A. E. et al, 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora
of the Carolinas. UNC Press, Chapel Hill.
- 174 -
Anacarl laceae
n r.nonarieae
A p laceae
hy,i i '"Oi laceae
Ara] \aceae
Arecac^a -»
r I stoloch. laceae
A jc leol-iaceae
As pi en lacf?ae
A K p 1 d 1 a c ea e
A s t e r.i c ea e
r'eLu laceae
Blechnaceae
Blsnonlaceae
Bora^lnaceae
iTi - marsh
h - h'rnT.ock
f - forest
a - aquatic
Recorind Flora
amaranth'!^ cainabinas
Rhus copal llna
R, radios MS
R. toxloolen 1 ron
H. vernlx
Aslralna narvlflora
Gent.t?lla a viatica
LllaeODSii? '^hlnensis
Pt 11 V™n lura ca nil i acpum
Ilex J la bra
I. onaca
I. vomit or la
Aral la splnosa
Sabal 11 In or
Hexastyll3 arlfolla
Asclepia'5 lanr, eolata
/i . tu nero?5a
Asplenium platynf>i"^-rir
A thyr I'lm ;i3r lenloides
Ba 'Char is hal 1ml folia
Borrlchla frutescens
Elephantopur: toraent o-ms
Eu pa tor I UK np,
Seneclo j-la'^ellus
Solldaoro sempervl r^ns
Ostrya vl'-^^inlana
Woodward la ar-'olata
AriLoOStlGhus carreolita
Kyosotls laxa
m
m
h.f
r
m
m
h,f
f
f
n
f
f
h
ra.h
f
ra
m
f
r ■■'•
n
175
flromel laceae
Convolvulaceae
Cornaceae
Cucurbltaceae
Cuprpssaceae
Cyperaceae
Ebenaceae
tiricaceae
Fabaceae
Fatraceae
Kaxap'- 1 Idaceae
H 1 p 0 oc -1 s t a ria o --^ a f'^
.. vperlcaceae
J uncaceae
JufrlaniaceJ^e
Tlllan.1r> la us'^i*?oJie3
Ipomoea paniurata
Conu.s florlia
Meloth-rla nr-niula
Junlperus virgin 1 ana
Cladiam .^aia I'-'-ense
Eleocharls al^lda
Eleocharls' sn.
Sclrpus amerlcanus
3. ro'^ustu'i
Dlospyror5 vl rylniana
Epigaea ripens
Ga,ylus.~ac la fronlosa
Leucothof' ract^raosa
OxyieniruE arboreum
Rhodolpnlron nud If 1 orum
Vacclnlun arboreurn
V. starrilneura
\/a vac i Hans
CI It or la narlana
Lespedeza spo.
Fagus flrrandlf ol la
^uercu^' al-«i
«., nlirra
■i. stellata
Q, vel'Jtlna
Q. vlrslnlana
Hamaaiell'5 v Ir.a-lnl'-^na
Llquliara^ar st vrac 1 '"lua
fiesculus navla
Ca-^tanea puralla
Hypericum hyperlcoldes
Juncus effusus
J. roemerlanus
Carya pallida
C. tomentDsa
Juglans nlsrra
f
m
f
f
f
m
ra
m
m
n
f
f
f
r
f
f
f
r
i
f
f
r
f
f
f
f
r
m
m
r
f
- 176 _
Lauraceae
Llllaceae
Loganlaceae
Magnollaceae
rtalvaceaf»
Moraceae
Kyricace'dp?
Na Jadaceae
Nyss:icpae
Olea", eae
C'^ao;rac«'ae
O.srru'Tlaceaf*
P 1 naceae
Poaceae
Polyeonaceae
Polypoi laceae
Port ^ler lac eae
Ptorliaceae
Ho^acpae
Rupplaceae
Fersea borbonla
Sassafras ^ilblium
Smllax bona-nox
S. laurlfolia
3. rotunllfolla
o . wa 1 1 e r 1
Yucca ''1 lament osa
Gelsemlum se^mperv I rens
Lirloieniron tul 1 :;i '^era
Magnol La vlrglnlana
Hibiscus "noscheutos
Brou.isonetla papyrif»r-i
'■^orus rubra
Myrlca C'-;rirer'i
N'ajas iruKi'lalupens Is
rraxlnus canllnlana
Osmanthus qmpr'cana
Oenothera frutlco-^a
Osmunia clnnarnon-^a
0. ■^eccaM;^ var. .sp'"»c tabl ! 1 9
f
f
f
m
h.f
m
f
f
f
rn.h
■f
f
h.f
a
Nyssa sylvatlca vir. blflor-i f
r
m
r
Pl'ius ta^-ja f
Tsuga canaiens Is-rlant" 1 on l^/a^nl■'r
P r G p ?; r t y
ii ru n j. I na r 1 '-x ^iJ■,l■t.>^ t. ::■ h f
D I s K Ic h ] i 3 s p 1 ca ta m
Panic urn ?;pp. h,f
Phragralt^s communis m
Spartlna alt'->rnlf 1 ora m
dpartlna cynosurolcies ra
S , pa t e n s id
Folvgonum ^p,
Rum°x vert ic Hiatus
Polyoodlum polypollolle'^
rcnteierla cordata
Pterldiuci aqull Inun
Prunus carol Inlana
Rosa paiustrls
Runpla marltlT.a
h
m
">" f
h.f
m
i
- 177 -
Sallcaceas
ScroDhularlaceae
Styracaceae
Symplocaceae
Taxorllaceao
rheaceae
Tychaceae
Verbenac»=ae
Vltacfiae
Usneaceae
Sallx oarollnlana m
Aureolaria vir^lnlca f
Styrax ;?randlfolla f
3ymplo:"o?? tlnctorla f
Taxoilum ilstirhum f
Stewart ia malaco t'='ndron f
Tyoha an^^ust l'"o1 Va m
T. latlfolia m
CalTlcarpa amerlcnria f
Ampelopsls ar'"or»?-i h,^
Parthenofi Iss'is )uinq\;ef ol ia h,f
V 1 1 i s a e .s t \ va 1 1 s h
V. rotunllfolla f
Usnea sp. (lichen) h
:eoor'iei Fauna
Mamraals
Reon 1 ies
Race oon
Bob Cat !»-!«a-rd >^ .- Manl-.v Fuller
S'lmier l-J'"?)
American Allla^tor
Cardinal
Carolina Chickadee
Yellow-billed c;)c'':oo
Cnrc'non ^■'t'r=^t
Black Towned nl.3;ht h^ron
Bob white --ju^^l
Housh wlntT'^d swallow
/^hlte eypd vlrlo
farula w^irbler
Pine warbl=>r
Prairie warbler
Prothonotary warbler
Yellow bellied .iriosucker
Hadnot Creek Ponds and Longleaf Pine Woodlands
Name of Area: Hadnot Creek Ponds and Longleaf Pine Woodland (Upstream)
Location: In vicinity of intersection of U.S. Forest Service Roads
182 and 200. (See Map 22.)
Quadrangle: Maysville
Date: November 20, 1980
Investigator: John Fussell
Physical/Habitat Feature: Freshwater ponds and longleaf pine woodland.
Survey Priority: Medium (see comments)
Site Quality: Some longleaf pine trees are mature; Red-cockadsd wood-
pecker cavity trees are present.
Elevation: Ca. 25-40'
Topography: Nearly level
Soil Series: Area not yet mapped by Soil and Conservation Service.
Size: Ca. 210 acres
C.eolor'ical Formation: May be within or on periphery of Flanner Beach
Formation. (See Mixon, R. and 0. Pilkey. 1976. Reconnaissance
Geology of the Submerged and Emerged Coastal Plain Province,
Cape Lookout Area, North Carolina. U.^. G20I. Survey Prof.
Paper 859.)
Drainage: Hadnot Cres^k to I-Jhite Oak River
E & T Species Present: 5+ Red-cockaded woodpecker cavity trees seen.
At least 2 of these were currently active.
Potential for E & T Species: See comments.
Site Integrity: Some of the longleaf pine woodland has been clearcut
within last 10 years.
Owners: USDA, Forest Service
Other Knowledgeable Persons: U.S. Forest Service
_ 178 _
SCALE 1 62 500
r«M| U S »'m. WI»th.nf(on.
SOQ 0
iOOO 50C C
JOOO lOC-0 iOOOM
CONTOUR INTERVAL ZP FEET
TRANSVERSE MERCATOR PROJECTION
INDEX TO BOUNDMlES INDEi
K
. p
MAP 22: HADNOT CREEK PONDS AND LONGLEAF PINE WOODLAND
- 180 -
Comment s
The primary purpose of this visit was to see the ponds
that arc evident on aerial photographs. Within the tract that
includes the ponds (ca. 210 acres), there is open longleaf pine
woodland, a small area of pocoain, a small area of loblolly pine
forest, and some clearcut areas. Of these, the ponds and the
longleaf pine woodland are of primary interest. .
Some of the ponds appear to be naturally impounded remnants
of former drainage systems. Ot tiers, though, appear to be "sink-
holes". In any event, they represent an unusual concentration of
freshwater ponds in this county.
The ponds are generally small (largest seen ca. 200' across)
and shallow (less than 2 ' deep). They appear to have bet^n dry during
the summer and fall and had little vegetation in them. However,
it soems likely that some rare plant species might occur here.
These ponds are in the corner of the county clos'-st to the known range of
the pine barrens treefrog and it is possible that that species
occurshere.
Most of the longleaf pine woodland has a fairly pure growth _
of longleaf pine. It grows up to 70' tall with a DBH of 12"+.
There is little understoiy. Ilex glabra often dominates thu' ground
cover. Aristida stricta is generally sparse; the are»would bene-
fit from more frequent fire management. Two active red-cockaded
woodpecker cavity trees were seen; the area is marginal habitat
lor lia^hman's sparrows, but none were seen.
This area should be considered at least of medium priority.
The concentration of freshwater ponds (especially when surrounded
by longleaf pine woodland) is unusual. The "sinkhole" appearance
of some adds to their geological significance. The longleaf pine
woodland is one of the better examples of this community in the
county and it harbors at least one endangered species.
Additional geological and botanical work on the ponds might
reveal that the area is of high priority.
_ 181 _
Species lists
PLANTS
Trees
Acer rubrum
Liquidambar styraciflua
Magnolia virginiana
Nyssa sylvatica var . biflora
Persea borbonia
Pinus palustris
Pinus serotina
Pinus taeda
Quercus laevis
Quercus laurifolia
Sassafras albidum
Shrub s
C^rilla racemiflora
Gaylussacia dumosa
Ilex coriacea
Ilexglabra
Lyonia lucida
Lyon i a mar iana
Myrica cerifera var. pumila
Vaccinium atrococcum
Vaccinium crassifolium
Herbs
Carphephorus sp.
Ccntella asiatica
Drosera sp.
Liatris sp.
Polygala cymes a
Proserpinaca pectinata
Solidago sp.
Gr amino ids
Andropogon virginicus
Aristida stricta
Arundinaria gigantea
Juncu s s p .
Panicum hemitomon
Scirpus cyperinus
Vines
Smilax laurifolia
Ferns and allies
Lye opod ium sp .
Pteridium aquilinum
Sphagnum sp .
Woodwardia virginica
jL82 _
ANIMALS
Birds
Wood duck
Sharp-shinned hawk
Mourn ing dove
Common flicker
Pileated woodpecker
Downy woodpecker
Red-cockaded woodpecker
Eastern phoebe
Brown-headed nuthatch
House wren
Eastern bluebird
Go Id en -c r owned kinglet
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Ye 1 low-r umped warbler
Pine warbler
Palm warbler
Song sparrow
Masontown Pocosin
Name of Area: Masontown Pocosin
Location: Tract of pocosin lying NW of conmunity of Masontown which
is about two miles NW of Town of Newport. Pocosin is bounded on
the east by the Atlantic and East Carolina Railroad, and the
west by the Lake Road (SR 1125). See Map 23.
Quadrangle: Masontown
Date: October 28, 1980
Investigator: John Fussell (Report by Fussell and Jeannie Wilson)
Physical/Habitat Feature: Pocosin
Survey Priority: Medium - tract includes a large area of pocosin and
a significantly large area of low pocosin.
Site Quality: Pinus serotina are very small; age is unknown. This is a
relatively large tract of low pocosin (ca. 1200+ acres) and rela-
tively large tract of high and low pocosin combined (ca. 4800 acres)
Elevation: ca. 25-28'
Topography: flat, featureless
Soil Series: Only the southern border of the large pocosin area has
been mapped. Consists of a combination of Croatan Muck, Pantego
fine sandy loam, and Torhunta fine sandy loam. SCS, USDA, 1979.
Carteret County, Soil Survey, Interim Report. (Jeannie Wilson)
Size: total pocosin 4800 acres
low pocosin 1200 acres
All low pocosin is in Carteret County; approximately one third of
total pocosin in Craven.
Geological Formation: Planner Beach Formation, Pleistocene
Mixon, R.B. & O.H. Pilkey. 1976. Reconnaissance Geology of the
Submerged and Emerged Coastal Plain Province, Cape Lookout Area,
U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 859. US Govt. Print. Off.
Drainage: North section of pocosin drains northward into tributaries
of Slocum Creek. South section drains southward into tributaries
of Newport River.
E & T Species Present: none observed
Potential for E & T Species: See additional page.
- 183 -
MAP 23: MASONTOWN POCOSIN
-185 -
Site Integrity: There are no drainage ditches or other human encroachments
within the tract. Tracks from a large ORV (probably Forest Service)
transect the tract.
Owners: USDA, Forest Service, Croatan National Forest
Other Knowledgeable Persons: none known
Other Comments: This tract is notable for having a rather large area
of low pocosin.
DOMINANT VECliTATION: Only the central low pocosin area of the
tract was analyzed. This area is roughly rectangular, ca. 1.75
:<. 1.10 miles, the long axis NW-Si:i . The mass of shrub vegetation
is less than two feet high and ia dominated by Lyon La 1 uc i da and
7. (■ nob i a pulverulonta . P inu s serot ina (ca. 15' tall) arc scattered
very sparsely throughout. Small "clumps" (ca. 20' X 20') of larger
broadleaf ev(?rgreens (to 6-8' high) are scattt;red at 100'-200'
intervals. These are dominated by Gt)rdonia las i a n C h ii s^ , (" y r i 1 1 a
racemif lora , Lyon i a luc i da , M y r i c a heterophyl La , and Sm i Lax
laurifolia . Carex wa Iteriana and Sphagnum sp. are abundant
throughout the area. Cassandri c a 1 y c u 1 a t a is aLso frequent through-
out, and E r i_o j)hor um virginicum is fairLy common whore the mass of
vegetation is less tlian a foot or so.
.oli'NTlAL FOR ENUAN(;i:.RED AND THREATENED SPECIES: Although ; he
p>iiid pines are very small, much of this area appears to be & i rue t ur a L 1 y
suitable for red-cockaded woodpeckers. American alligarors i:criir
in I he pocosin west of tl\e Lake Road, and may occur in this pocosin
occasionally. Black bears, now considered to be of speci.L concern
status, may be considered threatened in the future. They undoubtedly
occur in this pocosin. (They are rather common in tht' pocosin west
of the Lake Road.)
_ 186 _
PLANTS OBSERVED (Species list is for low pocosin species only.)
Trees :
Shrubs
Vines
Herbs
Gordonia lasianthus (primarily in "clumps"), Magnolia
virginiana (few), Persea borbonia (mostly "clumps"),
Pinus serotina (small, very sparse).
Cassandra calyculata (common), Cyrilla racemiflora (common),
Ilex glabra (common), Lyonia lucida (abundant; with
Zenobia, forms bulk of low growth), Myrica heterophylla
(mostly restricted to "clumps"), Sorbus arbutifolia (few),
Zenobia pulverulenta (common).
Smilax laurifolia (common)
Sarracenia flava (few)
Graminoids: Andropogon virginicus (scattered in low growth areas),
Arundinaria gigantea (few; more common toward high pocosin),
Carex waiter iana (abundant), Eriophorum virginicum (fairly
c omraon ) i
F u r n s
Moss :
Woodwardia virginica (fairly common)
Sphagnum sp. (abundant)
ANIMALS OBSERVED
Reptiles: Rough green snake
Birds:
Mammals :
Short-billed marsh wren (one), House wren, Gray
catbird. Yellow-rum ped warbler.
W h i t e t a i 1 d e f ' r
North River Marshes
Name of Area: North River Marshes
County : Carteret
Location Description: In this report, the North River marshes are
considered to be all the marshes on the west side of North
River that lie between the U. S. 70 bridge en the north and
Fulcher Creek on the south. Their extent is approximately 1^
miles by 1/3 mile. See Map 24 .
Topographic Quadrangle Map Reference: Williston, N. C.
CWnership: Seven private owners.
Report Prepared By: Jeannie Wilson and John Fussell, III
Date: July, 1979
Other Knowledgeable Persons:
JoAnne Powell
Hampton Mariners Museum
Beaufort, NC 28516
T. L. Quay
Dept. of Zoology
NCSU
Raleigh, NC 27607
Current Use and Protection Status:
North River marshes are important nursery areas for many of North
Carolina's fish and shellfish as well as an important nesting and feeding
ground for many shorebirds. This portion of the marsh is transected by
three drainage ditches used in mosquito control. One roadway in the marsh
leads to the house cwned by Mr. Van Dooren. The north half of the area is
currently used as a grazing pasture for cattle which primarily feed on
Salt Marsh Cordgrass (Spartina altemiflora) .
- 187 -
Mapped by U S Coast & Geodetic Survey
Edited and published by the Geological Survey
Conlfol by USC&GS (C) and USED (E)
Culture and drainage in part compiled from
aefial photographs taken 1946
Topograptiy bv plane-table rnethods 1947 Field check 1949
Polyconic proieclion 1927 Norlh American datum
10.000 foot grid based on Norlh Carolina coordinate system
Unchecked elevations are shown in brown
AffHEffS ISLANO)^
SCALE 1 24000
1
^
0
1000 0
1000
2000
3000
4000
__5000__
CONTOUR INTERVAL 5 FEET
DATUM IS I^EAN SEA LEVEL
This map COMPurs WITH NiTrONAL MAP ACCURATY <;!Ar;
MAP 24: NORTH RIVER MARSHES for sale by U. S geological survey, WASHINCTOr
A FOLDER DESCRreiNG TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS AND SYMBOLS IS AVAILA'
_ 189 _
The grazing has created a better habitat for shorebirds.
North River has been used for many years for scientific research projects on
fish and shellfish, particularly by National Marine Fisheries in Beaufort.
The marshes are also used for educational purposes. Biology classes from East
Carteret High School conduct field trips and the Hampton Mariners Miseum conducts
bird-watching trips in this area.
Major direct threats to the area include filling -in, ditching, and pollution.
Pollution from the North River community has probably been the cause for the
adjacent estuary being closed to shellfishing.
Vegetation and plant communities:
North River marshes consist of a variety of microhabitats caused by small
topographic changes. This "high" marsh is infrequently inundated by tidal water.
Because of this, the short form of Spartina is present. Much of the Spartina
has been grazed by cattle, but the Spartina is still short in ungrazed areas.
Black needleinish (Juncus roemerianus) occurs along the landward side. Shallow
pools are scattered throughout the marsh. Toward the north is a chain of
pools (to approximately 6") that are surrounded by black needlerush. Salt pans, ur
slightly elevated areas in the marsh, contain glasswort (Salicorria virginica)
an d other herbs.
On the margins of the drainage ditches, where spoil has been placed, are
shrubs such as sea ox-eye (Borrichia fiutescens) , wax myrtle (M;vTica cerifera) ,
cottonbush (Baccharis halimifolj-a) as well as several small loblolly pines
(Pinus taedajl
Physical features:
North River marsh occurs along the west side of Worth River. The marsh is
irregularly inundated by tidal water, pr.'iducing a snort arid sparse population of
cordgrass (Spartina altertii flora) . Small topograpliic differences, such as small
pools and salt pans affect the zonation of vegetation.
Rare Plarits and Animals:
C0I4M0N NAME
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Louisiana Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
Yellow-crovmed Night Heron
Least Bittern
American Bittern
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Ardea herodias
(-asmsrodius albus
Egretta (Leucophoyx) thula
Hydranassa tricolor
Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli
Nyctanassa violacea
Ixobrychus exilis exilis
Botourus lentiginosus
STATUS
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Threatened
Undetermined (as a
breeding species)
Rare Plants and Animals:
GOMIVDN NAME
Glossy Ibis
VJhite Ibis
Black Duck
Gsprey
Marsh Hawk
Black Rail
Laughing Gull
Gull-billed Tern
Common Tern
Least Tern
Black Skimmer
Barn Owl
Purple Martin
American Alligator
* Black-necked Stilt
_ 190 _ .
SGIENTIFIG NAME
Plegadis falcinellus
Guara alba
Anas rubripes
Pandion haliaetus
Circus cyanus hudsonius
STATUS
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Undetermined (as a
breeding species)
Laterallus jamaicerisis pygmaeus Undetermined
Larus atricilla
Gelochelidon nilotica aranea
Sterna hirundo hirundo
Sterna albifrons
Rhynchops niger
Tyto alba pratincola
Progne subis subis
Alligator inississippiensis
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern
Special concern _
Special concern
Special concern
Endangered ' ■
Nob listed as rare
Himantopus mexicanus
or endangered but is generally uncommon in North Carolina, very local. Rarely
nests out of the Etodie Island - Pea Island area.
Historical Significance:
The North River marshes have been imown to ornithologists since the turn of
the century. It was apparently here, in 1898 » that the eminent ornithologist
T. Gilbert Pearson collected the first North Carolina specimen of VJhite Ibis.
White Ibises were rare in the state at that time.
The Van Dooren house was a state oyster experiment station from 1940 to 19A-2,
closed because of World War II. Experimental oyster beds were in the marshes.
Since then, oyster research has been taken over by the UNC Institute of Marine
Sciences, National Marine Fisheries, and N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (Dr. Al
Chestnut, UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, Personal Communication).
pi-iblications and Scientific References:
Cooper, John E. (et. al.) (Eds.) 1977. Endangered and Threatened Plants and
Animals of North Carolina. N.C. Miseum of Natural History, Raleigh.
Richer t, Jon E. Sr. 1978. A Guide to North American Bird Clubs. Avian riiblications.
Inc. Elizabethtown , Kentucky (Hampton Mariners fliseum bird trips list
North River marsh as a popular bird watching spot).
in -
Passell, John 0. III. I969 -1971* Systematic bird censuses of North River marsh
(plus additional censuses to 1979) unpublished.
FAUNA SPECIES LIST
Birds that occur regularly in the North River marshes:
1. This list includes birds that occur (feed in or over the marsh) regularly in
the marsh proper. Birds of the adjacent open estuary, adjacent wooded areas, and
rarities not sighted every year are excluded from the list.
2, For bre vity, status listed is a short approximation. Water birds often do
not fit well into a transient-summer resident; winter resident-permatent resident
grouping .
3' List is based primarily on over two years (1969-1971) of systematic censuses
of the marsh conducted at approximately three week intervals at all s.jasons,
plus numerous additional censuses to 1979*
SPECIES-C0^M3N NAME
PRIMARY STATUS
BREEDS
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Little Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snovijy Egret
Louisiana Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Least Bittern
American Bittern
Glossy Ibis
Shite Ibis
ffellard
Black Duck
Green-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Osprey
Marsh Hawk
Clapper Rail
Vir\3inia Rail
Sora
Black Rail
American Oystercatcher
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Black-bellied Plover
Ruddy Turnstone
Common Snipe
ijriimbrel
winter resident
permanent resident
summer resident
permanent resident
permar^ent resident
permanent resident
permanent resident
perriiarient resident
summer resident
summer resident
winter resident
summer resident
summer resident
permanent resident
permanent resident
winter resident
transient
winter resident
winter resident
summer resident
winter resident
permanent resident
winter resident
winter resident
permanent resident
permanent resident
transient
winter resident
transient
transient
transient-winter resident
transient
yes, apparently
yes
yes
yes
_ 192
SPECIES-CO^M)N NAME
PRIMARY STATUS
mEEDS
Spotted Sandpiper
Willet
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Pectoral Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Least Saridpiper
Dunlin
Short-billed dowitcher
Long-billed dowitcher
Stilt Sajidpiper
Western Sandpiper
Black-necked Stilt
Herring Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Laughing Gull
Gull-billed Tern
Forster's Tern
Common Tern
Lcajt Tern
Caspian Tern
black Skimmer
B;ar'n Owl
Common Nighthawk
Relted Kingfisher
Tree Sv;allow
Rough- singed Swallow
Barn Sv;allow
Purple Martin
Fisn Grow
Long-billed Marsh Wren
Short-billed Marsh Wren
YelJ.ow-n.imped Warbler (Myrtle)
Palm Wai'bler
Bobolink
Eastern Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Boat-tailed Grackle
Savannah Sparrow
Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Seaside Sparrow
transient
summer resident yes
transient-winter resident
transient
transient
transient
transient
transient-vjinter resident
transient-winter resident
transient
transient
transient-winter resident
summer resident yes
winter resident
winter resident
transient-summer resident
summer resident
summer resident
summer resident
summerresident
transient
summer resident
winter resident
suiiimer resident
winter resident
transient
summer resident
surumer resident
summer res lent
permanent resident
permanent resident
winter resident
winter resident
transient
transient
permanent resident yes
permanent resident
permanent resident
winter resident
winter resident
summer resident
apparently, some
years
yes
yes
yes
Birds that occur occasionally in the North River mai'shes:
The ducks listed above cire the only species that occur regularly. Gadwall,
Pintail, American Wigeon and Northern Shoveler are occasional. The adjacent
North River sometimes has large numbers of other ducks, such as Kedliead, Scaup,
Ruddy Ducks and Buffleheads. Sharp-siiinnea Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, American
Kestrels, and Great Horned Owls probably feed in the marsh on occasion. Some
notable rarities at North River marshes in the last ten years are Roseate Spoonbill,
Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, American Golden Plover, and Wilson's Phalarope.
- 1'93 -
COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Amphibians;
Reptiles:
Mammals:
**Southern Leopard Frog Rana utricularia
(May occur along the landward side of the marsh)
**American Alligator
■"Snapping Turtle
Carolina Diamondback Terrapin
Alligator mississippienr.is
Chelydra serpentina serpentina
Melaclemys terrapin centrata
Opossum Diadelphis marsupialis
Raccoon Procyon lotor
*River Otter Lutra canadensis
(John Fussell says that he has seen at least one)
Gray Fox Urocyon cineroagenteus'
*Rice Rat Oryzomys palustris
Marsh Rabbit Sylvilagus palustris
** pKJSsibly occurs
* probably occurs
FLORA SPECIES LIST
Trees:
Shrub'j;
Herbs:
Loblolly Pine
Gobtonbush, Groundsel tree
Sea Ox-eye
Wax I>fyrtle
Salt Grass
Black Needlerush
Glasswort
Salt Marsh Cord Grass
Salt Meadow Hay
Arrow Grass
Pinus taeda
Fiaccharis halimifolia
Dorrichia fjrutescens
N^ica cerifera
Distichlis spicata
Juncus roemeri.anus
Salicornia vlrginica
Spartina alterniflora
Spartina patens
Triglochin striata
Ecological Significfuice:
In regards to remiiant, endangered or tl-ireatened species } the North River
marshes are notable as a marsh area regularly attracting shorebirdE that are generally
uncommon or rare in intertidal areas (i.e. Wliite-rujnped sandpipers, llack-necked
stilts, Stilt sandpiper-, Long-billed dowitchers, Pectoral sandpipers, Common
snipes and Lesser yelio./legs). Elsewhere in the county, the first five species are
primarily restricted to manmade sites such as shallow pools on spoiling sites. From
mid-April to mid-May, sliorebirds are most common and there are often hundreds of
birds. The marshes also harbor many herons, egrets and ibises. In the late summer
numbers of these v.'aders are impressive. Glossy :bises, which are common, are a
species that is generally rare in intertidal areas in this county, f-laay of the
Glossy Ibises that nest at Phillips Island near Morehead city probably feed at
these marshes. In fall, winter, and spring, there are u sually a few ducks in
the marsh. Mallards and Black ducks nest here. Black rail s, occur in the marsh
and may nest here. The marshes also occasionally attract some notable rarities
(i.e. Roseate spoonbill. Peregrine falcon, Merlin, American Golden Plover, and
Wilson' s Phal arope).
_ 194, _
Management Reconmendations:
I would rate the North River marshes at least of state\d.de significance
because of its size, relatively undisturbed state, the variety of microhabitats
within the marsh, and its economic significance.
Salt marshes .are classified as areas of envi.ronmental concern, so the
North River marshes are included in this classification. Threats to the area
do not really include immediate development, so it probably is not necessary
to purchase the area. However, a conservation easem.ent would be justified.
Filling and ditching represent more immediate threats to the area. If
ditching is needed for the adjacent land areas and for mosqaito control, the
existing ditches should be used.
Grazing is probably not particularly harmful, although it may have some
negative effect on some of the ground-nesting birds. It appears to be beneficial
to shorebirds in that feeding habitat is improved.
The best management scheme for the North River marshes is to leave them
essentiolly the way they are now.
- 195 _
Addenda to the North River report:
Soil Information:
All of the soil in the North River marshes is an Axis muck. This soil I'j,
regularly flooded vd-th a high salt content. It is not suitable to
develop or for agriculture. Species typical of this soil type are Juncus
roemerianus, Spartina alterni flora, S. patens, S. cynosuroides, and Salicornia
virginica .
Reference:
Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. 1979. Soil Survey
Interim Report. Carteret County, North Carolina, (advance copy, subject
to change.)
Pringle Road Carolina Bays
Name of Area: Pringle Road Carolina Bays
Location: In southern Croatan National Forest. Carolina Bay A: "The
NW tip of the praninent rim of this bay is ca. 400 yards SE of
Millis Road. Its SW rim is ca. 150 yards NE of Pringle Road.
Carolina Bay B: Lies immediately NE of and is parallel to Bay A.
See Map 25 .
Quad: Intersection of Salter Path, Swansboro and Maysville
Date: 10 October 1980
Investigator: John Fussell
Physical/Habitat Feature: Carolina Bays
Survey Priority: Medium: These two Carolina Bays have the following
positive attributes: 1) they are prcminent, well-defined, and large
(for the county) , 2) they are within the National Forest so some degree
of protection is feasible, 3) they have a rather wide range of habitats
(for Carolina Bays in Carteret County) , 4) they are located within a
ccnplex of "natural areas", the pocosin to the north being designated
as wilderness, the Patsy Pond natural area to the SE, and the Millis
Road savannah to the NE.
Doninant Vegetation: Carolina Bay A; Vegetation of ca. 90% of bay (total
acreage ca. 40) is similar to most pocosin and Carolina bay vegetation
in Carteret County, i.e. scattered Pinus serotina to ca. 40' with a
dense broadleaf evergreen shrub growth (up to 10 ' ) dcminated by Cyrilla
racemiflora, Lyonia lucida. Ilex coriacea, Smilax lauri folia, etc.
However, this bay has a small area (ca. two acres) dotiinated by Nyssa
sylvatica var. biflora (ca. 40' high) , near the southeast end of the
bay, and a Cladium jamaicense marsh (ca. one acre) at the southeast
comer of the bay The last two situations are rare in Carolina Bays
in this county.
Carolina Bay B; Like Bay A, this ca. 40 acre bay is dcminated by Pinus
serotina (satie to 50 ' ) and a lew thick growth of broadleaf evergreen
shrubs (ca. 37 acres) . It also contains ca. three acres doninated by
Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora (40+').
Site Quality: Both the Pinus serotina and Nyssa sylvatica trees are
generally small; their age is unknown. The general quality (and
"potential") of both bays is enhanced by their proximity to each other
and their proximity to the large pocosin (proposed as wilderness)
which begins about one mile NW, the Millis Road longleaf pine savannah
(2 miles NE) , and to the Patsy Pond natural area (2 miles SE) .
Elevation: Ca. 35-38'. The rim around the Carolina Bay is about three
feet higher than the bay center.
Soil Series: Not yet mapped in Carteret County Soil Survey, but is
probably Murville Sand (Jeannie Wilson) .
_ 196 _
l^OU6iH sicercH rAKB^i
J^f<OtA USPA' ASCS
A^fZlAL PHcrrV, 1^11 .
OF ^ALT^R. P'ATH ,
S^AJANSBoRO AnO
MAP 25: PRINGLE ROAD CAROLINA BAYS
li'6 _
SIZE: Each bay is ca. 40 acres in extent
GEOLOGICAL FORMATION: Flanner Beach Formation, Pleistocene. This
pair of Carolina Bays lies with a pair of larger less distinct
Carolina Bays. All these bays lie along the NW side of a
well-defined series of relict beach ridges of Pleistocene age,
the "Newport Barrier". Mixon,R.B. & O.H. Pilkey, 1976.
Reconnaissance Geology of the Submerged and Emerged Coast il
Plain Province, Cape Lookout Area.U.S. Geol. Survey Prof.
Paper 859. US Govt. Print. Off,
DRAINAGE: Probably no surface drainage irom bays. Subsurface drainage
probably into Bogue Sound via Gales and Broad Creek.
ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES PRESENT: There are a few Venus
Flytraps (Dionaea muscipula) along the slope of the rim around
Carolina Bay A.
POTENTIAL FOR ENDANGERED L THREATENED SPECIES: Red-cockaded
woodpeckers sometimes nest in pond pines in pocosin and Carolina
Bays, especially after fire. Although no rare species were seen,
the marsh and marsh edge at the southeast end of Carolina Bay A
is a situation where rare species might be expected. In the
future, Carolina Bays themselves may be considered threatened
entities. Fussell found a dead eastern diamondback rattlesnake
(Endangered) on Millis Road, 1-2 miles from here in May 1973,
so that species may occur here.
SITE INTEGRITY: There is no evidence of recent disturb.ince in the
bays themselves. Mature longleaf pine tiTnb.r on the bay rims
was clearcut ten or more years ago, and loblolly pin^is have
been replanted there.
(JV7NER: USDA, Forest Service, Croatan National Forest.
OTHER KNOWLEDEABLE PERSONS: Michael Alford, Jeannie Wilson,
Hampton Mariners Museum, Beaufort, N.C. 2R516.
COMMENTS: Although Carolina bays are not now rare in Carteret
County, they are being increasingly destroyed and altered by
human activities, and relatively unaltered examples will
probably be rare in a few years.
_ 199 _
* PLANTS OBSERVED
Trees: Acer rubrum, Magnolia virginiana, Nyssa sylvatica var
biflora, I'inus serotina.
Shrubs; Clethra alnifolia, Ilex cassine var. myrtifolia, Ilex
c. oriacea, Lyon i a lucida, Myrica cerifera, llyrica
he t e r ophy 1 la , Sorbus arbutifolia.
vines: Smilax laurifolia, Smilax roCundi folia
Ht>rbs: Centella asiatica, Eriocaulon docangulare, Lobelia
glandulosa, Pluchea foetida, Froserpinaca poctinata,
Sabatia difformis, Sarracenia flava, Typha latifolia.
Graminoids: Andropogon virginicus, Cladium jamaicense.
Ferns: Osmunda c innamome a .
Moss: Sphagnum sp.
* A species list was made only for the marsh area in Bay A.
^[^^
Sea Gate Woods
Natural Area Name: Sea Gate Woods
Location: This hardwood forest is bordered on the south by Sea
Gate development, on the east by an abandoned pecan orchard
along the west side of the intracoastal waterway; on the north
by (approx.) the Craven Co. line, and on the west by pocosin.
See Map 26
Topographic Quadrangle: Core Creek
Size: ca. 300 acres (roughly 1 mile x h mile)
Elevation: 8-13'
Access: Easily accessible from the road that runs along the intra-
coastal waterway.
Names of investigators: John 0. Fussell, III and Jeannie Wilson
Date(s) of Investigation: November 2 & 12, 1980
Also, Fussell has visited this area several times in December
and late April-mid May, 1972-1980, in search of birds.
Number of Ovjners: two
Names of Owners: International Paper Co. and Moulton
Use of Natural Area: Hunting (primarily deer)
Use of Surrounding Land: Wildland - 50%; Agricultural land - 40%;
Developed land - 10%.
Management Problem Description: Introduction of drainage canals
on adjacent International Paper Co. land presents a threat to
integrity.
Threats: We assume the 244 acres owned by an individual is not
threatened directly in the forseeable future. However, ca. 50
acres owned by International Paper Co. is adjacent to what
appears to be the beginnings of clearcutting/tree farm opera-
tions, and it might be clearcut also. Drainage canals are being
installed and these could alter areas that are not cut.
_ 200 _
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY
5653 I NW
<MERRIMON> M6
_ 202 _
DESCRIPTION OF SITE
This hardwood tract covers ca. 300
rectangular, ca. one mile x \ mile, the
The forest has many species characteris
similarly "wet" areas in this county, b
floodplain and it never or rarely has s
usually "fairly moist but rarely wet" s
due to the fact that the area sits on a
decline. The western edge of the area
13' ; at the eastern edge, the elevation
excavation of the intracoastal waterway
eastern edge of the area probably also
situation. However, it should be noted
trees in the tract outdate the waterway
Species composition varies with' the
Liqu idambar styraciflua is the major tr
it is dominant; at others, it is co-dom
and Fr ax inus sp. ( t omen t o s a ? ) . In one
edge of the tract, ca. 30% of the canop
Pinus taeda-- 100' high with a DBH of 2
there are several F_£^u _s grand i f o 1 ia , b u
DBH less than 18".
Average DBH of all ca
points, it is 24". Larges
DBH -4 ' ; Quercus laur if oli
80 ' , but is locally lOO'''.
Over most of the area
fairly open and is compris
Ilex £££££ • The shrub lay
most of the area, there is
patches of Leucothoe axill
m_i n ££ often forms a defini
are impressive, with frond
the c oun t y .
Ground cover also varies from s
most of the area, the cover is spars
and other species alternating with n
northeast , Polys t i c hum a c r ££ t_ i cho ide
Woody vines are common but do n
Decumaria barbara is probably most c
was not noted. If present, it is sp
At the northeast corner of the
that deserves special mention. Here
where the edge of spoil material fro
is an abundance of ferns, primarily
Dryopter is ce l_s a . We do not know of
found in the county before. The soi
(probably locally higher), compared
the spoil material. The T helypteris
of this situation; the Dryopteris
acres, and is roughly
long axis north-south.
tic of floodplains and
ut the area is not a
tanding water. This
ituation is probably largely
broad slight elevational
has an elevation of ca.
isca. 8'. Themajor
only 200 yards from the
contributes to the moisture
that many of the canopy
tract, but, in general,
ee. At some points,
inant with Quercus mi chaux j^j^
small area along the west
y trees are notably large
' . In another limited area,
t these are mostly small--
nopy trees is ca. 20' , but at some
t trees seen were L ir i odend r on tulipifera
a, DBH- 3.5'. Canopy height is mostly
, the understory is similar. It is
ed primarily of Carpinus carol iniana and
er vegetation is more variable. Over
generally no shrub stratum, except for
aris_. Toward the north and east, ££_baj^
te shrub layer. At one point, the palmettos
s over 6' , the largest we have seen in
outhwest to northeast. Over
e, patches of Woodward ia a r e o lata
early bare ground. To the
s often forms moderate cover.
ot provide significant cover;
ommon . Tillandsia u sne o j^de s
ar se .
tract, there is a small area
, at the edge of the forest,
m the waterway is present, there
The lypteris kunthii and
ma
either
1 pH her
to 6.0 t
is cert
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of these species being
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-205
MANAGEMENT ANi> PRESERVATION RECOMMENDATION
For t
preserved
pr obab ly b
needed for
At th
1) logging
on the Int
cana Is on
be totally
s ince the
rare spec i
drainage c
table appr
The ma
regarding
might cons
easement o
presence o
be altered
his tr a
in its
e ade qu
this h
is t ime
This
erna t io
ad j acen
incomp
present
e s wou 1
ana 1 s i
ec iab ly
jor own
pre serv
ider , f
n the ir
f some
by p la
ct to maintain its biological value, it should be
present state. Preservation by itself would
ate; little future management would probably be
ardwood tract .
, there are two potential threats to the area;
would almost certainly be c lear -cu t t ing , especially
nal Paper Co. land. 2) introduction of drainage
t land. The firest threat, c le ar -cu 1 1 ing , would
atible with the values of the tract, of course,
habitat would be destroyed and most or all of the
d be forced from the area. The introduction of
s difficult to evaluate, but could lower the water
s not contacted and his feelings
to us. International Paper Co.
lie image, granting a conservation
the tract, especially if the
stressed. Their attitude might
f the major owner.
er of the tract wa
ation are unknown
o" the .«akp of pub
small portion of
rarer species were
ns and attitudes o
RATING: Medium+ priority
STATEMENT OF SITE SIGNIFICANCE
This forest, because of its s
the trees, is the most impressive
It is also notable because it is n
most of the larger hardwood areas
those situations. In part of the
structural component (shrub level)
elsewhere in this county. Also, a
generally uncommon in this county,
provides dominant ground cover on
This forest provides habitat
Turkey vulture, black vulture, and
threatened, are resident here. Th
certainly breeds within the tract;
species of special concern are bre
green warbler, Swainson's warbler,
black-throated green warbler is mo
second highest breeding population
status, the worm-eating warbler br
Near the south end of the tract, t
5-10 paris of American redstarts,
bird in the outer coastal plain of
population is one of only three in
Although not natural, a site
a large population of two rare fer
richness of the tract. The site i
tract, at the border of the forest
inland waterway. Shell material f
soil pH , and this appears to be wh
The lypteris kun th i i and Dryopteris
second record of the The lypteris f
site at which the species has been
the first record of the Dryopteris
considered to be threatened in Nor
1 ze an
area o
ot a f
in th i
forest
, to a
n "inl
Polys
part o
for se
red-s
e r ed -
the o
ed ing
and p
s t not
in th
e ed s a
here i
This
Nor th
Carte
at the
n spec
s at t
and o
r om th
y ther
eel 93
or the
found
in th
th Car
d th
f ha
1 ood
s CO
, Sa
deg
and
t ich
f th
vera
hou 1
shou
ther
r e s i
roth
able
e CO
long
s a
spec
Car
ret
edg
ie s
he n
Id s
e s p
e ar
T
s t a
T
e CO
o 1 in
e r e 1 a t
rdwood s
plain o
un t y ar
ba 1 min
r ee we
species
um aero
e tract
1 rare
de r e d h
Ider e d
s may d
dents h
ono t ar y
; this
un t y .
the ed
breed in
ie s is
o 1 ina ;
Coun t y .
e of th
adds to
or the as
po i 1 ma
oils ha
e large
his app
te and
his is
unty ;
a .
1 ve ma
in th
r swam
e 1 imi
or is
have n
" that
s t i c ho
turity of
is county.
p forest;
ted to
a ma j or
o t seen
i s
ides ,
bird
awk ,
hawk
o so
er e ;
war b 1
area m
Of und
ge s of
g popu
rare a
this b
pee le s .
11
Imos t
1 so . Three
lack-throated
er . The
ay have the
etermined
the tract,
lat ion of
s a breeding
reeding
e area harboring
the biological
t edge of the
ter ia 1 from the
s increased the
numbers of
ears to be the
the northernmost
apparently also
this species is
_ 206 -
IJatural Ch aracLui-J s !._ [ c ^ f; u mniary
a. Vocjot lit ion-HnjL I f C'diuiuunity Sunin'aj-y
Most common is Liquidambar styraciflua or Mixed hardwoods/
Coinmanity typi.^: Carpinus caroliniana-Ilex opaca. Notable variation is
Mixed hardwoods/Carpinus caroliniana-Ilex opaca/Sabal
Coirmunity covtM tyiJc-: minor/Folystichum acrostichoides .
Liquidambar styraciflua or Mixed hardwoods
General habitat NMturc: Hardwood forest
Averaqe tree hficjht: qq_^,
Estimated age of canopy trees: ^^ -^qq
Estimated size oL a.'socia t i on (sq, i'ii>tiMS, aci-c/s, etc.):
ca. 300 acres.
Success iunal stacie:
Sere type: near climax - .
Common canopy species in coinmunily cc^ver tvjio or
community typo (bnt not Uoiuimnt): Liriodendron tulipifera, Fraxinus s
& Quercus michauxii-locally co-dominant ;Quercus nigra & Q. laurifolia common.
CoiiUTion subcanopy-.shrvib stratum swedes in coniniiTTiiTy
cover ty[je or corpiniur. i ty tytn^ (but not ciorainant): Acer rubrum,
Cornus florida, Symplocos tinctoria, Lyonia lucida, Ligustrum smense.
ComjTion herb s t r..i tuin spoijies Tn co;aiauni ty LyiTe (but !i6t
dominant) : Woodwardia areolata, Asplenium platyneuron, Boehmeria cylindrica
Carex spp, Saururus cernuus, Mitchella repens
Success ional sLaq.':
Sere tyi)e:
b. Soi 1 Summary •
Source of infoniat 'on: gQg^ USDA. 1979. Soil Survey of Carteret
County, N.C., Interim report.
Soil series: Deloss fine sandy loam, Roanoke loam, Newhan-Carteret (spoil;
Soil order: Deloss and Roanoke- Ultisol, Newhan-Carteret- Entisol
» pH class: Deloss- 4.5-6.5 strongly acidic to acidic, Roanoke-4 .5-5 .5 ,
strongly acidic to acidic, Newhan-6 .6-7 .8 , acidic to circumneutral .
Moisture cla.ss: Deloss-wet, floods, Roanike, clayey, floods,
Newhan, droughty
Associated community covcj- tyi^e or community type:
* pH tested was 6.0 J near Thelypteris and spoil material 6.5
207
Hydrology riununary
Drainajo basin: Neuse and Newport Rivers
Hydrologic sysLi:ni: terrestrial
Ilydrologic subsyrtcm: mesic
Water chemistry: fi^esh
Water regiimi: intermittently exposed
Suminary-Topogra[Jiy and Piiys iogi aphy
Topographic sitr typL- ch.iract ^r i s t i cs :
Land t'orm: portion of a very slightly sloping plain
Shelter: sheltered
Asfiect: N.A.
Slope aiiqle: nearly level 0-2
Profile: N.A.
Surface patterns; : mostly smooth
Position: N.A.
Physiographic s l Lo type of natural area: "Sea Gate Woods"
Physiographic site type of coiamunity cover type or
community type: all of Sea Gate Woods.
Geologic formation: Core Creek Sand
Geologic format if^n age: Pleistocene
References: Mixon.R.B. & OH Pllkey. 1976. Reconnaissance Geology
of the Submerged and Emerged Coastal Plain Province, Cape Lookout Area,
N.C. US Geol Survey Prof. Paper 859. US Govt. Print. Off.
208
G. Summary - r;ndanijerc!d and throat:Gnt.>d spocJos
Name of species: Pryopteris celsa
Species legal statu;?: Threatened peripheral
Number of populations on site: one seen
Number of individuals per population: at least "scores"
Size or maturity of individuals: were fertile
General vigor oi poi>ul ation : apparently good
Distnrbanctj i^r ll.r'Vits t') pO[)U I ati cui : none known
}l.il)itat charact' rijls
Vegetation assc^ciati.on : plants on logs; soil more basic
Topography: ^^^^^ surrounding areas (pH 6.5
Soil series: compared to 6.0) because of shell
Microclimate: material from spoils from the
Drainage basin: inland waterway.
Otlier plants and animal r. spi-cios piesent:
AKAiAL OR DETAri.Lio MAPS WITH roi'UT.AT] i ).,;; cll;ar!.y marki;d.
^. Master species Lists
_209
o. Summary - KntLiiMjiMcil an-l thieat-oncd spocios
Name of sjiccics: Thelypteris kunthii
SpGcios ](jtjal :.;t.iLu:i: Not listed in Cooper et al , 1975, because species
had not been found in state at that time.
Number of populations on site: ^^^
Number of individuals per population: hundreds
Size or maturity of individuals: fertile
General vigor of [copulation: good
Disturbance; or throats to population: none known
Habitat charactcirisLs
Vegetation association: Soil more basic than surrounding
Topcjraphy: area (6.5 compared to 6.0) because
Soil series : of shell material from spoils
Microclimate: from the inland waterway.
Drainage basin:
Other plants and animals spccios present:
AERIAL OR nF-:'l'Af l.KO MAPil WFTil POPUr.ATlO'Jr, CT, EARLY MARKED.
r. Master jpt?cies Mstn
_ 210 _
SPECIES LISTS
PLANTS
Trees :
Acer r ubrum
Carpinus caroliniana
Cornu s florida
Fagus grartdifolia
Fraxinus sp. (tomentosa?)
Ilex opaca
Liquidambar styraciflua
Liriodendron tulipifera
Magnolia virginiana
Morus rubra
Myrica cerifera
Nyssa sylvatica var
Persea borbonia
P inu s t aed a
Quercus laurifolia
Quercus michauxii
Quer cu s nigra
Ulmus americana
b i f 1 or a
Shrubs: Callicarpa americana
Leucothoe axillaris
Ligustrum sinense
Lyonia lucida
Herbs: Boehmeria cylindrica
Geum canadense
Impatiens capensis
Mitchella repens
Vines: Ampelopsis arborea
Anisostichus capreolata
Decumaria barbara
Lonicera japonica
Matelea suberosa
F ar t heno c i s s u s quinquefolia
Epiphytes: Phoradendron serotinum
Graminoids :
Arundinaria gigantea
Carex spp.
Ferns
Asplenium platyneuron
Athyrium asplenioides
Botrychium dissectum
Dryopteris celsa
Osmunda cinnamomea
Osmunda regalis
ANIMALS
Amph i b i an s :
Reptiles: Eastern mud turtle
Eastern box turtle
Carolina anole
Ground skink
Eastern glass lizard
Myrica heterophylla
Saba 1 minor
Symplocos tinctoria
Sanicula canadensis
Saururus cernuus
Tipularia discolor
Rhus radic an s
Smilax bona-nox
Smilax laurifolia
Smi lax sma 1 1 i i
Vitis rotundifolia
Cyperus spp.
Panicumi spp.
Polystichum ac r o s t i cho i de s
Thelypteris kunthii
Thelypteris palustris
Woodwardia areolata
Woodwardia virginica
Southern leopard frog
Black racer
Rat snake
Rough green snake
Copperhead
211
Birds
Great
Turke
Black
Sharp
Red-8
Yello
Scree
Great
Bar re
Chuck
Ruby-
Commo
Pilea
Red-b
Yello
Hairy
Downy
Great
Easte
Ac ad i
Blue
Commo
Fish
Carol
Tuf te
Red-b
Brown
Br own
Wint e
Carol
Gray
Brown
Amer i
Wood
Hermi
Blue-
Golde
blue h
y vu 1 tu
vu 1 tur
-sh inne
hou Ide r
w-b i 1 le
ch owl
horned
d owl
-will 's
thr oate
n flick
ted woo
e 1 1 ied
w-be 1 1 i
woodpe
woodpe
ere s te
rn phoe
an f lye
jay
n crow
crow
ina ch i
d t i tmo
reas ted
-headed
cr eepe
r wren
ina wre
catbird
thrash
can rob
thrush
t thrus
gray, gn
n-cr own
er on
re
e
d hawk
ed hawk
d cuckoo
owl
-widow
d hummingbird
er
dpe cker
woodpecker
ed sapsucker
cker
cker
d flycatcher
be
a t cher
c kadee
use
nu thatch
nuthatch
r
er
in
atcatcher
ed kinglet
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Cedar waxwin g
White-eyed vireo
Solitary vireo
Red-eyed vireo
Black-and-white warbler
Prothonotary warbler
Swainson's warbler
Worm-eating warbler
Northern parula
Black-throated blue warbler
Ye 1 low-r umped warbler
Black-throated green warbler
Pine war b ler
Ovenb ird
Kentucky warbler
Common yellowthroat
Hooded war b ler
American redstart
Red winged blackbird
Rusty blackbird
Common grackle
Brown-headed cowbird
Summer tanager
Cardinal
Indigo bunting
Evening grosbeak
Pur p le finch
Pine siskin
American goldfinch
Rufous-seded towhee
Dark-eyed junco
Wh i te -thr oa t ed sparrow
Fox sparrow
Swamp sparrow
Song s par row
Mamma 1 s
Opos sum
Eastern mo le
Raccoon
Eastern gray squirrel
Wh itetail deer
Reference cited: Cooper J. et al (Eds). 1977. Endangered and
Threatened Plants and Animals of North Carolina. N.C. State
Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, N.C.
Union Point Pocosin
Name of Area: Union Point Pocosin
County: Carteret and Craven
Location: Pocosin centered ca. 2 miles N of Union Point community,
which is ca. 1.5 miles NE of Newport, N.C. See Map 27.
Quadrangle: Newport
Date: November 3, 1980
Investigator: John Fussell (Report by Fussell and Jeannie Wilson)
Physical/Habitat Feature: pocosin
Survey Priority: medium - due primarily to it being a large extent
of "wild land". This is the second largest contiguous tract of
pocosin in the county, 6000+ acres.
Dominant Vegetation: See comments.
Site Quality: Age of Pond Pine is unknown; however, there is no
evidence of recent fire. Total pocosin acreage, 6000+ , is large.
Elevation: ca. 24'
Topography: Essentially flat, featureless, edges dissected by small
streams .
Soil Series: Information unavailable from incomplete soil survey
of Carteret County.
Size: All pocosin - 6000+ acres
Geological Formation: Planner Beach Formation, Pleistocene
Mixon & Pilkey, 1976. Reconnaissance Geology of the Submerged
and Emerged Coastal Plain Province, Cape Lookout Area, N.C.
US Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 859. US Govt. Printing Off.
Drainage: N to Neuse River, S to Newport River
E & T Species Present: none known
Potential for E & T Species: Some of area is marginal habitat for
Red-cockaded woodpeckers. Black bears, now considered of special
concern status, but which may be considered threatened in the
future, occur here.
-212 _
47-30" -
.214 -
Site Integrity: There are no significant human encroachments within
this tract.
Owners: USDA, Forest Service, Croatan National Forest.
Other Knowledgeable Persons: Dr. Gene Huntsman, NOAA, National Marine
Fisheries, Beaufort, N.C. 28516
Other Comments: This is the second largest contiguous tract of pocosin
left in Carteret County. The area of Pinus serotina/Arundinaria
gigantea may be the largest in this county, but this would be
difficult to ascertain.
_ 215 _
DOMINANT VEGETATION: Most of the area is high pocosin dominated
b y P i n u 3 s e rot ina , Gordon i a las ian thus , Cyr i 1 1 a racemiflora , Lyon i a
1 u c i (i a , Ilex cor iacea , etc. Thf purpose of this trip was to visit
two areas which apparently (based on aerial photographs) had relatively
low vegetation. The first (ca. 2000' X 1500') lies ca. one mile
tJW of the Main Prong; the second (ca. 4000' X 3000') lies one mile
;;W of the first. On this visit, only the SE site covild be reached;
I he second site is probably similar to the first site. Charncteriiiation
of the vo_t;etation at the SE site is: P i n u .^ s e r o t ina (sparse )/Ly on ia
1 u c i d a -C y r i 11a r a c e m i f 1 o r a / S p h a g n u m spZ/Smi Lax 1 a u r i f o 1 i a . The pines
are ca. 15-20', the lar>;est have a DRH of 14". The mass of Lyon i a
a n d C y r i 1 1 a is ca. 4' high.
One quarter mile N W of the area described above, an area of
1 ' i n u s '^ e r (j t ina / A r u n J i n aria g i gan tea was f o > j n d . The pines averaged
/ 5 ' with an rt" DlUl; the cane was 8'. This community caniiot be safely
(! i f I e r e n t i a 1 I ' d c> n aerial photographs. T t appears to have an extent
>)f ca. 2000' X 400'; w<> do not know of any similarly -sized tracts of
lli.lL" '"^ ril^ o t i n a / A r u n d__i n .i r i a ); i g a n t i ■ a in the coe.nty. The pocosin grades
into bay forests at some points and borders sylvicultural lands
elsewhere.
I'LA'M'S OBSERVE [1 (List is restricted Lo immediate sites mentioned
above ) :
r (M' s :
Acer rubrvim (none ''rei' sizc'), Cordonia lasianthus,
Mag.nolia virginiana (none tree size), Nyssa sylvatica
var. biflcira (noni' tree size), Per sea borbonia, Pious
serot ina .
Shrubs
Cyrilla racemiflora. Ilex glabra, Kalmia angustifolia
var. c a r o 1 i n i a n a , L y o n i a 1 u c i d a , tl y r i c a h >.: t :■ r o p h y 1 1 a ,
Sorbui arbutifolia, Vaccinium atrococcum, Zenobia
pulveru lenta .
Vines :
Herbs :
G ! a m i V. o i d s
Smilax laurifolia
Xy r i s s p .
Arundinaria gigantea, Caie;-: walteriana, Kriophorum
virginicum.
F e r r s
Woodwardia virginica
Sphagnum sp.
_216 _
ANIMALS OBSERVED
Birds :
Mamina 1 9 :
Turk''y vulture, Black vulture, Carolina chickadee,
House wren, Winter v r e n , Carolina wren. Ruby -crowned
kinglet, Ye 1 1 ow -r umpe 1 wnrbler, Rufoua-sided towhee.
U'hitetail deer (Black bears occur also)
Walker's Mill Pond
Natural Area Name: Walker's Mill Pond
Location: Tract includes Walker's Mill Pond and associated swamp
forests and floodplains. This area is ca. 3 miles E of the
Town of Newport. See Map 1.
Topographic Quadrangle: Newport
Size: Ca. 500 acres
Elevation: 3-20'
Access: SR 1154 passes through area. Logging roads provide access
to other parts of area.
Names of Investigators: John 0. Fussell, III and Jeannie Wilson
Date(s) of Investigation: 1980: July 5; Sept. 13, 16, 23; Nov. 3
(Also, Fussell has made many trips to this area, 1965-1980,
mostly winter and spring, primarily in search of birds. He
made systematic censuses of breeding birds in part of the
area in 1970.)
Protection Status: The pond and swamp forest is apparently being
preserved by a hunting and fishing club.
_ 217-
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^-,,- -,^^ MAP 28: WALKERS MILL POND NATURAL
-^•. /' . ' i\ (from Newport Quadrangle)
-^ ^ ■ A, '' /^' ))
AREA
_ 221
DESCRIPTION OF SITE (See map 28.)
Pond
The focal point of this natural area is Walker's Mill Pond
(now usually called "The Mill Pond"). This reservoir was repor-
tedly constructed shortly after 1900; it occupies a former flood'
plain and is long and narrow, running generally N-S . The extent
of open water is about 125 acres; the pond is probably mostly
less than 5' in depth. The pond itself is relatively "sterile";
its associated swamp forests and floodplain forests are much
more biologically productive.
Swamp_ forest
At the mouths of the four streams running into the pond,
where the water is ca. 1-4 feet deep, there are swamp forests
made up almost exclusively of Taxod ium d i s t i c hum ; these trees
have a thick covering of Till and s ia usneoides . Trees are about
70' high with an average DBH of ca. 20'. The water is mostly
covered with Nymphaea odor at a . This is the most impressive ex-
ample of this type community in Carteret County; of course it is
artificial though. Common here are yellowbelly sliders and cot-
tonmouths. Wood ducks are common in winter and prothonotary
warblers and northern parulas in summer.
F_l££d^£_l_a j^n f^£r^e s t
ond are
Newpor t
in fores
a in , the
ia 1 ly wi
s_ sp . ( t_
£ 9 t yr ac
s mos t c
e the ve
average
pec le s
four floodplains, and another
River. Together these make
t in rather close proximity.
Main Prong, is most notable
dth (500+ feet across). Ma-
omen t o s a ? ) , Nj^^^^. sylvatica
iflua ; Ny s s a is most common
ommon upstream.
getation was analyzed, the
DBH is ca. 20". The under-
The shrub layer is generally
re Saururus cernuus and a
so common in these areas. Common perma-
woodpeckers, Carolina chickadees and
r, red-eyed vireos, prothonotary war-
las are common
222
Mesic hardwood forest
cult
This
1 irai
der s
slop
s enc
er a 1
ly ze
Quer
Be tween
ur a 1 land
varies i
ted to th
the f loo
es . This
e within
rare spe
Spec ie s
d next to
cus n igj a
at a
The
ther
d_e_s_;
Z2.IL
is t
year
se le
this
war b
ac te
thoe
Swa L
no ther .
under s t or
e is th ic
at the s
ia lucida
he no tab 1
old long
c t ive cut
Rare spe
c ommun i t
ler . Oft
r i zed by
a X i 1 1 ££ i
ns on ' s wa
the flo
s , ther
n width
e s 1 igh
dp la ins
c ommun
the na t
c ie s .
c ompo s i
the Ma
at one
The ave
y is do
k gr oun
ec on si
At a
e s i tua
leaf an
ting ab
c ie s in
y are b
en , a lo
a thick
s_ J and
r b le r s .
odplain forests and the surrounding sylvi-
e is often a narrow strip of mesic forest.
from nothing to ca. 200' . This community is
t (ca, 5') and narrow slope that usually bor-
and to a narrow strip of upland along the
ity type is rare in the county and its pre-
ural area contributes to the presence of sev-
t ion
in P
sit
rage
mina
d CO
te ,
no th
t ion
d lo
out
the
lack
ng t
gro
s e ve
app
rong
e an
DBH
ted
ver
ther
er s
of
blol
1900
na t
-and
he s
wth
r a 1
ears to va
, c o-dorain
d Carya g 1
is 22 ' an
by Cornus
dominated
e is a th i
i t e , also
a mixture
ly pines,
ural area
-white war
lope, ther
of Sa'^a 1 ^
ferns . Th
ry considerably. Where ana-
ants are Carya glabra and
abra and Quercus michauxii
d the canopy height is 80 .
florida. At the first site,
b y Po ly s t ichum a c rostichoi -
ck shrub cover dominated by
along the Main Prong, there
of mature hardwoods and 80
apparently the result of
that are largely limited to
bier, ovenbird, and Kentucky
e is an ecotonal area char-
in"r , 1^2.— L— 1 u c i d a , Leu c_o -
is is excellent habitat for
223
Management and preservation recommendation:
We can think of no management that is needed for the
area at this time. This area is, fortunately, probably
not threatened for at least 20 years (the approximate
time of the first "harvest" of adjacent sy Ivicu 1 tur a 1
lands). The pond and the swamp forests are protected as
part of a hunting and fishing preserve. The floodplain
forests and mesic hardwood forest areas are probably not
threatened until the next harvest of adjacent sy 1 vicu 1 tur a 1
lands, probably about 2000. Major threat then might be
that the paper companies will be even more efficient in
removing the mesic hardwood strip for conversion to sylvi-
cu 1 ture .
_ 224 _
Rating
Medium"*' priority
Statement of site significance
The major significance of this "natural area", which
is actually to a large extent a man-made natural area, is that
it includes a complex of habitats that support many rare
species. We know of at least 17: endangered — American
alligator; threatened — Habernar ia f lava , anhinga, turkey
vulture; black vulture, red -shou Idered hawk; of special
concern — great blue heron, red-tailed hawk, osprey, black-
throated green warbler, Swainson's warbler, prothonotary
warbler, black bear; undetermined — worm-eating warbler,
black-and-white warbler; locally rare-- ovenbird, Kentucky
war b ler .
The baldcypress swamp forest is, although not natural,
the best example of this type community in the county.
The floodplain forests are slightly significant for
natural values, making up one of the better examples of
this community in the county. The mesic hardwood area is
also slightly significant. This is a rare community in
this county. The major negative feature of this mesic
hardwood forest is its limited (especially narrow) size.
- 225 -
A . natural Charactcri.' ; t_ i ca riumm.Try
a. Vofjetation-HioL i c Comiimnity Su.iiPMry
Community typ<.; : Taxod ium distichum/Nymphaea odor a ta/ /
_ . . . Till and s ia
Community covor type: r-:
■' -• ' usneoides
Taxodium distichura
Genoral— fTTimTTiT r<>aruru!
Swamp forest
Averaqe tree hui jlit: so'
Estimated ncju of cinopy treos: loo?
Estimated si'/o ot a.-:'.ocia t iru (sq. I'l't.crs, acres, .^t.c):
100 acres
Succossiuiai :;i.v|c>:
Sere type: Trees probably predate pond.
Coitimon canopy spocies in CDiniiuini I y .-(jvoi- typ'"? or
community typo (tint not dominant) : NA
Coi.unon subcunopy-biirub sLratani r.fvcii's iii coiii'mi'ii t y
covor type or co'nmiin i ty type (l)iiL !iot Joninnnt) : nA
Common herb stiaLirn specie;; in co; iiniini ty tyiu' (Init not
dominant) : NA
Success ional sL.i'ie:
Sere Lype:
226
b. Hydro looy numriarY ■•-■.... .;...,.
Drainaje basjii: Newport River ' ;,:^ ■ ;
HydrologLc systcn: Palustrine " " ^ ^•
ilydrolO';}] c ::ulir,ys t.>ni: Aqueous
Wai.er cli<:ni r.t i y : Fresh, acidic (pH unknown)
t^.)Lcr ff'-cjimo: Permanently (artificially) flooded
c. fJunuM.iry -'ropo'jriii-liy aiul Pliy:; icqiMpliy ■' ■■
Toporjrriplii c s i t.c lypi- cha rncl t-r i s t ic^ : ' '
Larifl form: Submerged floodplain
SholLt;r: Some sections are relatively exposed to southerly
winds .
Aspect: NA
Slope angle: NA ' • . .■
Profile: NA
riurface pattoriis: NA
Position; NA
Physioc/raphic ::i i I o tyi't; of nitural aiivi: Walker's Mill Pond
Natural Area
Pliysioqt aphic site type of co.imun i t.y ci>vor tyt)'^ or
community type: Swamp forest within Walker's Mill Pond
Natural Area
Geologic ff)rr«at ion: Planner Beach Formation (Mixon and Pilkey
Geoloqic formation aq.-: „,_-^ 1976)
Pleistocene
Kef ore nee s :
_ 227 _
Natural CharacLcri;: t ic:; f.umniary
a. Vecjetation-HioLic f'nimnun i t y Summary
Cominunity typo: Fr ax inus s p . -Ny s sa sylvatica var . biflora-
Taxod ium d i s t ichum/ Acer rub rum
Community cover type:
Fr ax inu s s p . - N y s s a sylvatica var. biflora-Taxodium dist ichum
General habitat feature:
. , Floodplain forest
Average tree hoicjlit:
80'
Estimated ago of canopy trces:100+
Estimated size of association {s^^. wtors, acrc^s, etc.):
250 acres
Succcssional ataqe: Near climax?
Sere type: Psammope loser e
Common canopy specie-s in communily eover Lvpe or
community, type .(but not d(Miiinan.t) : Lirj,odendr on t u^ ^£ if er a ,
Que re u s micnauxi i , Q u £.£_ciis_ laurifolia
Common subcano['y-shrub stratum species in ccjiviumity
cover type or community type (but not dominant): £a.l£iElii
c a r o 1 i n i a n a , Ilex opac a , Per sea borbonia , Sabal minor
"Common herb ji I ratum s[)ecie.s in coi'imuniTY' tY^"i^ [hTTT TTOt
dominant) : C a r e x spp. , Rhynchospor a mj^l iacea , Saururu s cernuu s
Successional i.Laqi':
Sere type:
b. Soil Suirmary
Source of information: USDA-SCS. 1979. Soil Survey of
Carteret County, NC . Interim report.
Soil series: Johnston and Muckalee
Soil order: Johnston — Inceptisol; Muckalee — Entisol
pH class: strongly acid to c ir cumneu tr a 1 (5.1-7.3)
Moisture class: wet to wet-mesic
Associated community oovi^^r type or community type:
228 _
c. Hydrology Suuunary
Drainajo basin: Newport River
Hydrologic system: Palustrine
Hydrologic subsystem: Interaqueous
Water chemistry: Fresh, acidic (pH unknown)
Water regime: Intermittently flooded
d. Summary-Topography and Physiography
Topographic site type characteristics:
Land form: Floodplain
Shelter: Sheltered
Aspect: na
Slope angle: Nearly level
Profile: NA
Surface patterns: Flats and pans
Position: Entire cross section of floodplain
Physiographic site type of natural
Walker s Mill Pond Natural Area
area;
Physiographic site type of coiumunity cover type or
community type: Floodplain forest within Walker's Mill
Pond Natural Area
Geologic formation: Planner Beach Formation (Mixon and Pilkey
Geologic formation ago: pleistocene ^^^^^
References :
229
Natural Characboristics Summary
a. Vegetation-Biotic Community Summary
Community typo: Varies. Examples are Carya g labr a-Quer cu s
nigra/Cornus florida/Polystichum acrostichoides and C . g labr a-Q .
Community cover typo: michauxii /Corpus f lor ida/Lyon ia luc Ida
Varies. Carya glabra-Quercus nigra and C . glabra-Q .michauxii are
General habitat feature: frequent.
Mesic hardwood forest
Average tree height: ,
• [estimated age of canopy trees: 100 + ?
Estimated tiize ot association (sq, m(^tcrs, acres, etc.):
Less than 25 acres
Successional .stage: Mostly near climax. Mixed transient
and climax at some sites due to selective cutting about 1900.
Sore typo: Psamraosere
Common canopy apecies in community cover type or
comnunity typo (but not dominant): Quercus alba , Quercus
falcata , P inus t aeda (locally), P inus palustris (locally)
Coi.unon subcanopy-bhrub stratum species in community
cover type or community tY[)e (but not dominant) : Ijex o£a£a ,
Leu cot hoe axillaris , Symp toe os t inc t or ia , S tewar t ia ma lacodendron
CoirjTTon herb stratum species in community type (but not
dominant) : Panicum sp. , Mi tche 11a repens
Successional stage:
Sere typo:
Soil Summary
Source of information: USDA-SCS . 1979. Soil Survey of
Carteret County, NC . Interim report.
.J _^ . Onslow loamy sand and Lynchburg fine sandy loam
Soil order: both Ultisol
pH class: extremely acid to acid (3.6-5.5)
Moisture cla.ss: mesic
Associated community cover type or community typo:
- ^?o -
c . Hydroioqy .'Uii.i, .t .
nraina'-ie 1j:i i;i: Newport River
Hydro locj i c: :;, ; t • i: Mesic
llydrologic Pib.y !'.i:i: Mesic to dry-mesic
Water clicm i s t ry : Fresh
W.itnr ruqitr.. : Permanently exposed
d. Suriima ry-Tuj )'.>'[ rcii-'liy ,ii;d P!v/.: i (■,' i ,_i ■!:■,.
Topographic :.i'> '\'\-i'- ci,,! t h ■ • ; i i i,-.;
Laii 1 forr.: Slope and narrow fringe of adjacent upland .
SiKjltor: Sheltered
A.succt' Most slope a'-ea" fare easterly or westerly,
Slofji- a.-iqJ' : Nearly level (0-2) to gently sloping (2-6);
rarely sloping (6-10)
l^rofiio: Convex, concave, and constant
L^arfaco [..iM' ii; ; Mostly smooth
PosiLion: Entire slope and fringe of adjacent upland
Physiogr a[)ii i c .,ii'; • yp'^ <"ir U'lui.n .H' .i:
Walker's Mill Pond Natural Area
Physiographic slLu l.yijc ol ..■( ...liuim i i \- cnvM" ; ■ ■ or
community type-: Slopes and adjacent upland fringes within
Walker's Mill Pond Natural Area
(ieoloyic format ion: Planner Beach Formation (Mixon and Pilkey
Geologic formation agu: pleistocene ^'^''^^
Roferences: Mixon, R. and 0. Pilkey. 1976. Reconnaissance Geo-
logy of the Submerged and Emerged Coastal Plain Province, Cape
Lookout Area, North Carolina. US Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 859
US Govt. Print. Office, Washington.
_ 231 -
e. Summary- Endangered and threatened species
Name of species: Habernar ia f lava
Species legal status: Threatened peripheral
Number of populations on site: Several
Number of individuals per population: "Scores"
Size and maturity of individuals: Flowering and fruiting
General vigor of population: Apparently good
Disturbance or threats to population: None
Habitat characteristics
Vegetation association: Fr ax inu s s p . -Ny s s a sylvatica
var . biflora- Taxod ium d i s t ichum/
Acer r ubrum
Name of species: American alligator
Species legal status: Endangered (Federal list)
Number of populations on site: Unknown
Number of individuals per population: Unknown
Size or maturity of individuals: Unknown
Comments: Individuals have been released at the mill pond
during the last decade, but the species was pro-
bably present before, as it occurs on the adjacent
Newpor t River .
- 232 -
Name of species: Anhinga
Species legal status: Threatened
Number of populations on site: One?
Number of individuals per population: Ca. 6 or more
Size or maturity of individuals: Adults present
General vigor of population: Unknown
Disturbance or threats to population: Probably none
Comments: This species, which is very rare in Carteret Coun-
ty, has been present each spring from 1976 through
1980. Nesting is likely somewhere in the sw^mp
forests or floodplain areas. If the species does
nest here, this may be the nor theas ternmos t nesting
locality in the U.S.
Name of species: Turkey vulture
Species legal status: Threatened
Number of populations on site: Unknown
Number of individuals per population: Unknown
Size or maturity of individuals: Adults present
Comments: This species is permanent resident here. It has
apparently increased in population in the last five
years. It may breed in or adjacent to the natural
area .
i
_ 233 -
Name of species: Black vulture
Species legal status: Special Concern
Number of populations on site: Unknown
Number of individuals per population: Unknown
Size or maturity of individuals: Adults present
Comments: This species is permanent resident here. It has
apparently increased in population in the last five
years. It may breed in or adjacent to the natural
area .
Name of species: Cooper's hawk
Species legal status: Special Concern
Comments: This species is very rare or absent as a breeding
species in Carteret County. An individual was
seen here in late April 1980, raising the possibility
of breeding here.
Name of species: Red -shou Ider ed hawk
Species legal status: Special Concern
Number of populations on site: At least 4-5 (one per floodplain)
Number of individuals: Approx. 3
Size or maturity of individuals: Adults present
General vigor of population: Numbers constant for last 10 years
Disturbance or threats to population: None
Habitat characteristics
Vegetation association: Floodplain forest
_ 234 _
f. Species lists
PLANTS-
Trees :
Acer rubrum
Carpinus caroliniana
Carya glabra
Cornusflorida
Fraxinus sp. (tomentosa?)
Ilexopaca
Liquidambar styraciflua
Liriodendron tulipifera
Magnolia virginiana
Morus rubra
Nyssa sylvatica var . biflora
Nyssa sylvatica var. sylvatica
Osmanthus americana
Persea borbonia
P inus palustris
Pinus taeda
Prunus nigra
Quercus alba
Quer cus f a lea ta
Quercus laurifolia
Quercus michauvii
Quercus nigra
Salix nigra
Taxodium distichum
Ulmus americana
Shrubs :
Alnus serrulata
Araliaspinosa
Callicarpa americana
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Cornus stricta
Cyrilla racemiflora
Euonymus americanus
Gaylussacia frondosa
Hyper icum sp .
Iteavirginica
Leucothoe axillaris
Lyonia lucida
Myrica cerifera
Saba 1 minor
Stewartia ma lacodendr on
Symplocos tinctoria
Vaccinium atrococcum
Viburnum nudum
Herbs
Arisaema triphyllum
Asclepias variegata
Bartonia paniculata
Boehmeria cylindrica
Burmannia biflora
Centella asiatica
Chimaphila maculata
Drosera intermedia
Eriocaulon decangulare
Ga 1 ium sp .
Habernaria flava
Hydrocotyle umbellata
Hydrocotyle verticillata
Iris vir gin ica
Lobelia cardinalis
Ludwigia palustris
Ludwig ia sp .
Mitchella repens
Monotropa uniflora
P luchea f oe t ida
Polygala lutea
Po lygonum s pp .
Pontederia cordata
Proserpinaca palustris
23!
Herbs (continued);
Sabatia calycina
Sagittaria graminea
Saururus cernuus
Sparganium americanum
Utricularia juncea
Viola papilionacea
Xyr is s p .
Aqua t ic s :
Egeria densa
Nymphaea odorata
Nymphoides aquatica
Gr aminoids :
Arundinaria gigantea
Carex spp .
Cyperus spp .
E leochar is sp .
Fuirena pumila
Panicum spp.
Rhynchospora miliacea
Scirpus cyperinus
Ferns :
Asplenium platyneuron
Athyrium asplenioides
Botrychium dissectum
Osmunda regalis
Polystichum acr os t icho ide s
Thelypteris palustris
Woodwardia areolata
Woodwardia virginica
Vine s
Anisostichus capreolata
Campsis radicans
Decumaria barbara
Matelea suberosa
Mikania scandens
Par thenoc issus quinquefolia
Rhu s radicans
Rubus sp .
Smilax bona-nox
Sinilax laurifolia
Vitis aestivalis
Vitis rotundifolia
Epiphytes ;
Phoradendron serotinum
Tillandsia usneoides
- 236 -
ANIMALS-
Amphib ians :
Southern toad
Southern cricket frog
Gray tree frog
Green troef^og
Spring peeper
Pine woods treefrog
Squirrel treefrog
Little grass frog
Bullfrog
Green frog
Southern leopard frog
Carpenter frog
Eastern narrowmouth toad
Rep t i le s :
American alligator
Snapping turtle
Eastern mud turtle
Yellowbelly slider
Eastern box turtle
Carolina anole
Southeastern five-lined skink
Ground skink
Eastern glass lizard
Black racer
Corn snake
Rat snake
Eastern kingsnake
Banded watersnake
Rough green snake
Eastern ribbon snake
Copperhead
Cot t onmou th
Timber rattlesnake
Birds i* = breeds or probably breeds within area)
Common loon
Pied-billed grebe
Anh in ga
Great blue heron
Green heron
Little blue heron
Great egret
Snowy egret
Yellow-crowned night heron
American bittern
Wh i te ibis
Mallard
Pintail
Green-winged teal
Blue-winged teal
American wigeon
Wood duck
Ring-necked duck
Le s
Rud
Hoo
Tur
Bla
Sha
Coo
Red
Red
Mar
Osp
Me r
Ame
Bob
Ame
Spo
Sol
Mou
ser
dy
ded
key
ck
rp-
per
-ta
-sh
sh
rey
lin
r ic
wh i
r ic
tte
ita
rn i
scaup
duck
me r ganser
vu 1 1 ur e
vulture
shinned hawk
' s hawk
i led hawk
ou Ider ed hawk
hawk
an kestrel
te
an wood cock
d sandp iper
ry s andp iper
ng dove
- 237 -
Yellow-billed cuckoo
Black-billed cuckoo
Screech owl
Great horned owl
Barred owl
Chuck-will ' s-widow
Ruby-throated hummingbird
Belted kingfisher
Common flicker
Pileated woodpecker
Red-bellied woodpecker
Red-headed woodpecker
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
Hairy woodpecker
Downy woodpecker
Eastern kingbird
Great crested flycatcher
Eastern phoebe
Acadian flycatcher
Purple mar t in
B lue j ay
Common crow
Fish crow
Carolina chickadee
Tufted titmouse
Red-breasted nuthatch
Brown-headed nuthatch
Brown creeper
House wren
Winter wren
Carolina wren
Gray catbird
Brown thrasher
Amer ican robin
Wood thrush
Hermit thrush
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
Golden-crowned kinglet
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Cedar waxwing
White-eyed vireo
Yellow-throate
Solitary "ir<=o
Red-eyed vireo
Black -and -whit
Prothonotary w
Swa ins on ' s war
Worm-eating wa
Orange -crowned
Nor thern paru 1
Black-throated
Yellow-rumped
Black-throated
Yellow-throate
P ine warb ler
Prairie warb le
Ovenb ird
Nor thern wa ter
Kentucky warbl
Common yellowt
Yellow-breaste
Hooded warbler
Amer ican redst
Redwinged b lac
Rusty blackbir
Common grackle
Brown-headed c
Scarlet t anage
Summer tanager
Cardinal
Blue grosbeak
Indigo bun ting
Even ing grosbe
Purple finch
Pine siskin
Amer ican goldf
Rufous-sided t
Dark-eyed junc
White -throated
Fox s par row
Swamp sparrow
Song sparrow
d vireo
e warbler
arb ler
bier
rb ler
warb ler
a
blue warb ler
warb ler
green warb ler
d warb ler
thrush
er
hr oa t
d cha t
art
kbird
d
owb ird
r
ak
inch
owhee
o
sparrow
Mamma 1 s
Opossum
Eas tern mole
Black bear
Race oon
River otter
Eastern gray squirrel
Eastern cottontail
Whi tetail deer
CROAT A-'"N.
^J9
MAP 29: WILDBERRY WOODS
Wildberry Woods
Name of Natural Area: Wildberry Woods
Location: Carteret County; Salter Path USGS Topographic quad map; on
N.C. Hwy. 24 and Broad Creek southwest of Morehead City, North
Carolina adjoining the Croatan National Forest. See Map 29.-
Ownership and Administration: Dr. Jan Kohlmeyer is the owner.
Size: Approximately 38 acres, excluding residential area.
Land Use: The land has served as a study site for biologists from the
University of North Carolina and other institutions. Some cutting
of pine by the previous owners, occurred around 1962. The Kohl-
meyer residence, a house and some outbuildings, adjoin the natural
area. Since their ownership, the Kohlmeyers maintained this tract
in its natural condition.
Protection Status: The land is protected as a registered N.C. Natural
Heritage Area.
Reasons for Significance: Wildberry Woods is representative of coastal
plain communities. Within its relatively small area, three princi-
pal communities are featured: the estuarine Spartina-Juncus salt-
marsh community; the sandy woodlands, savannas of loblolly and
longleaf pines; and the evergreen shrub bogs complemented by a
freshwater pond and branches. The site offers habitat for several
rare species (see Table 1). Osprey, a bird of special concern,
fish regularly in Broad Creek, the northeast boundary of the
proposed natural area. Moreover, orchids, the Venus Flytrap and
pitcher plants populate portions of the land. Wildberry Woods
exhibits a wide- natural diversity on both the community and species
level. The area serves as an excellent example of coastal plain
communities, and its usefulness for nature interpretation and
scientific observation is evident.
Preserve Recommendation: Wildberry Woods should be protected from develop-
ment because of its value as habitat for the various special plants
and animals, its function as a possible field station for educational
purposes, and its proximity to the Patsy Pond natural area.
Management Recommendation: Management efforts should be directed towards
simple maintenance and up-keep of the property with minimal development,
Compiled by the Natural Heritage Program, DNRCD, Division of Parks and
Recreation, Raleigh, N. C. (1979).
_ 239 _
C R 0 A T A
MAP 29: WILDBERRY WOODS
- 241 -
Data Sources: Dr. Jan Kohlmeyer, Institute of Marine Sciences, Morehead
City, N. C.
Ms. Jeannie Wilson, Hampton Mariners Museum, Beaufort, N.C.
Dr. D. E. Hoss, National Marine Fisheries Service, Beaufort, N.C.
Dr. C. E. Jenner, Dept. of Zoology, University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill, N.C.
Scientific References: Kohlmeyer, J. (1977) New records of angiosperm
and terrestrial fungi from Carteret County, North Carolina. Jour.
Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 92: 27-30.
- 242 -
Table la. Rare and Endangered Animals of Wildberry Woods
„ No. NC
Scientific Name
Pandion haliaetus
Common Name
Osprey
Status Sites Habitat
SC 64 Breeds near open water
commonly in salt
. . and fresh water.
I
Table lb. Rare and Endangered Plants of Wildberry Woods
;iGntiCic Name
Common Name
.-,*No. NC
Status^ Sites Habitat
liiiLLSil:' muscipula
Sarracenia rubra
Venus' flytrap
TE
Sweet pitcher plant TT
90 Wet, sandv ditches,
savannahs and open
bog margins.
52 Shrub bogs and
savannahs.
* These plants are no longer listed as threatened or endangered by the N.C.
Department of Agriculture's Plant Protection Program.
■)
"Taken from Cooper, J. E. , S. S. Robinson, and J. i'. Fuiiderborg (Eds.).
1977. Endangered and Threatened Platns and Animals of North. Carolina. N. C.
Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, N. C. 444 pages +i-v:vi,
f-^xplaiMtion of Status Catc:Rories
Plants
EE - Endangered Endemic
ED - Endangered Disjunct
EP - ETidangered Peripheral
ET - Endangered Throughout
An ima 1 s
TE - Threatened Endemic
TD - Threatened Disjunct
TP - Threatened Peripheral
TT - Threatened Throughout
E - Endangered
T - Threatened
SC - Special Concern
UD ~ Undetermiend
Number of recorded occurrences of species in state known by the
Natural Heritage Program as of July 1979.
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