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Task 21 FY 90 Final Work Product CRITICAL NATURAL AREAS, EkEMPLARY WETLANDS, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITATS IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA 77 Ar -Sz (Old growth cypress - tupelo swamp) Department of Conservation and Recreation QH 1 of Natural Heritage 76.5 v8 Heritage Technical Report 92-14 R393 18, 1992' 1993 ADMINISTRATION NATURAL HERITAGE PLANNING AND RECREATION RESOURCES SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION STATE PARKS COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION DIVISION OF NATURAL HERITAGE Main Street Station. 1500 East Main Street - Suite 312 TDID (804) 796-2121 Richmond. Virginia 23219 (804) 786-7951 FAX: (804) 371-2674 March 27, 1992 Ms. Laura Lower Received by: Coastal Resources Management Program Council on the Environment Virginia Council on the Environment 202 North 9th Street Richmond, VA 23219 MAR 30 1992 Dear Laura: On behalf of the Department of Conservation and RecreafIbh-,'-"'I'--am pleXsed to provide you with the final report, Critical Natural Areas, Exemplary Wetlands, and Endangered Species Habitats in Southeastern Virginia, in fulfillment of NOAA grant number NA90AA-H-CZ796. During the 1992 field season, we will continue our inventory of natural areas in this region under a grant from the Albemarle- Pamlico Estuarine Study, and will provide you with a copy of that final report, due in the fall of 1992. The Department looks forward to future involvement in the protection and management of natural areas identified through this study. Sincerely, Thomas L. Smith Acting Division Director CC. J. Robert Hicks, Jr. Randall G. Waite CRITICAL NATURAL AREAS, EXEMPLARY WETLANDS, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITATS IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA: RESULTS OF THE 1991 INVENTORY ENCOMPASSING PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, SURRY COUNTY, ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, CHESAPEAKE CITY, SUFFOLK CITY, AND VIRGINIA BEACH CITY FINAL REPORT Property of CSC Library Submitted to: Virginia Coastal Resources Management Program Council on the Environment 903 Ninth Street Office Building Richmond, VA 23219 U , S . DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NOAA COASTAL SERVICES CENTER 2234 SOUTH HOBSON AVENUE Prepared by: CHARLESTON , SC 29405-2413 Thomas J. Rawinski and J. Christopher Ludwig Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Division of Natural Heritage 1500 East Main Street, Suite 312 Richmond, VA 23219 March, 1992 This report should be cited as follows: Rawinski, T. J. and J. C. Ludwig. 1992. Critical natural areas, exemplary wetlands, 010 and endangered species habitats in southeastern Virginia: Results of the 1991 > inventory encompassing Prince George County, Surry County, Isle of Wight County, Chesapeake City, Suffolk City, and Virginia Beach City. Natural Heritage Tech. 4--@ Cz Rep. 92-14, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heratage, Richmond. 87 pp. _Q @ This report was funded, in part, by the Virginia Council on the Environment's Coastal Resources Management Program through grant number NA90AA-H-CZ796 of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................................. 1 Virginia's Division of Natural Heritage .................................... 1 Elements of Natural Diversity. . - * .... **** ... **,***,,*,*,**,,*,,*;*,,,,** ...I METHODS ............................................................ ........... 4 RESULTS ........................................................................ 7 SITE REPORTS Disputanta (Prince George Co.) ............................................... 10 Blackwater River - Below Route 603 (Surry and Sussex Cos.) ................... 13 Blackwater River - Above Route 620 (Isle of Wight Co.) ....................... 15 Zuni Macrosite South Zuni Sandhills (Isle of Wight Co.) .................................... 17 Antioch Swamp Barrens (Isle of Wight Co.) ...... ......... 20 Blackwater Ecologic Preserve (Isle of Wight Co.) ............................ 23 Horse Swamp Barrens (Isle of Wight Co.) .................................... 27 Cat Ponds (Isle of Wight Co.) ................................................ 30 Muddy Cross Ponds (Isle of Wight Co.) ........................................ 33 Northwest River Macrosite Upper Section (Chesapeake City) ............................................ 36 Northwest River Park (Chesapeake City) ..................................... 39 Southwestern Marshes (Chesapeake City) ..................................... 42 Smith Creek (Chesapeake City) ............................................... 45 Dismal Swamp Macrosite Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (Chesapeake & Suffolk Cities)..48 Northwest Section (Chesapeake & Suffolk Cities) ............................. 53 Smith Ridge (Chesapeake City) .............................................. 56 Seashore State Park and Natural Area (Virginia Beach City).. *''****** ........ 59 False Cape State Park (Virginia Beach City) .................................. 63 North Landing River Macrosite Southern Marshes (Virginia Beach City) ..................................... 68 North Landing River Natural Area Preserve (Virginia Beach City) ............ 71 North Pocosin (Virginia Beach City) ........................................ 74 West Neck Creek (Virginia Beach City) ...................................... 77 North Pocaty (Chesapeake City) ............................................. 80 Gum Swamp (Chesapeake & Virginia Beach Cities). ............................. 83 RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................ .................. 86 INTRODUCTION In May 1991, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, through its Division of Natural Heritage, was contracted by the Virginia Council on the Environment's Coastal Zone Resources Management Program to conduct a natural heritage inventory in the southeastern Virginia counties of Prince George, Surry, and Isle of Wight, and the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach. Southeastern Virginia contains an extraordinary concentration of the Commonwealth's natural heritage resources; approximately one third of Virginia's rare plant species occur within the Chowan River watershed, an area encompassing only 8% of Virginia's land mass. The goal of this inventory was to identify important rare plant and animal sites and exemplary natural communities, with a particular emphasis on wetland habitats. This work addresses the issue of natural area preservation and conservation, as currently being drafted in the Albemarle-Pamlico Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan. . This report describes the findings of the 1991 natural heritage inventory. The information presented here will become part of a more comprehensive natural area report being prepared for the entire Virginia portion of the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Region (Figure 1). Virginia's Division of Natural Heritage The Virginia Natural Area Preserves Act of 1989 (SlO.1-209 et seg. of the Code of Virginia) directs the Department of Conservation and Recreation to "preserve the natural diversity of biologicalresources of the Commonwealth." The Act further establishes the Virginia Natural Heritage Program (now called the Division of Natural Heritage) and requires the Department to develop a natural heritage plan, produce an inventory of the Commonwealth's natural heritage resources, maintain a natural heritage data bank of inventory data, and provide for the protection and stewardship of natural areas. The Division of Natural Heritage fulfills this mandate as the Commonwealth's principal collector and manager of data on natural heritage resources: "the habitat of rare, threatened, or endangered plant and animal species, rare or state significant natural communities or geologic sites, and similar features of scientific.interest" (SlO.1-209 of the Code of Virginia). The Division of Natural Heritage is part of a network of 84 natural heritage data centers established throughout much of the Western Hemisphere. Natural Heritage.Resources Each natural heritage resource is assigned a rank that indicates its relative rarity or status (Table 1). The primary criterion for ranking natural heritage resources is the number of extant occurrences, i.e. the number of known distinct localities or populations. Other important ranking criteria are the number of individuals at each locality, the total number of individuals state-wide, the condition of the occurrences, the number of protected occurrences, and threats. These "S-ranks" apply specifically to Virginia; global ranks, or "G-ranks", reflect species status on a global, or range-wide scale. 1 Mow= V. N . ....... I . @_t i SCALE IN MII,ES VIRGINIA W001 \4 MIMI "42ST A I-l"t Ral"D C. I'lls mo 70' 'wt" corsr(WIfte .04.011 It% WIRLI CANIKU M P, AISI, NOW ssitt 0 Ime MIMI .4 4114, E N N E S S C KIMUI N 0 R T H C A R 0 L I N A matt go 'P4, ROA" . ........ _9'ker Crz Ston I CFCA C11 0 CHOWAN RIVER Sys Figure 1. Map of the entire Albemarle-Pamlico planning region in Virginia, showing the Coastal Resources Management Program region investigated in 1991 (shaded area). Table 1. Definition of Natural Heritage state rarity ranks (S-ranks). Global ranks (G-ranks) are similar, but are based on range-wide status. Ranks for most community types have not been generated due to on- going community classification efforts. The S and G ranks should not be interpreted as legal designations. Sl Extremely rare; usually 5 or fewer occurrences in the state,! or may have few remaining individuals; often especially vulnerable to extirpation. S2 Very rare; usually between 5 and 20 occurrences; or with many individuals in fewer occurrences; often susceptible to becoming endangered. S3 Rare to uncommon; usually between 20 and 100 occurrences; may have fewer occurrences, but with a large number of individuals in some populations; may be susceptible to large-scale disturbances. S4 common; usually >100 occurrences, but may be fewer with many large populations; may be restricted to'only a portion of the state-, usually not susceptible to immediate threats. S5 Very common; demonstrably secure under present conditions. SA Accidental in the state. SH Historically known from the state, but not verified for an extended period, usually >15 years; this rank is used primarily when inventory has been attempted recently. SN Regularly occurring migrants or transients species which are non- breeding, seasonal residents, (Note that congregation and staging areas are monitored separately). SU Status uncertain, often because of low search.effort or cryptic nature of the element. Sx Apparently extirpated from the state. NOTE: Sometimes ranks are combined (e.g. SlS2) to indicate intermediate or somewhat unclear status. Elements with uncertain taxonomic validity are denoted by the letter, after the global rank. 3 Subspecies and varieties are assigned 'IT-ranks", in addition to their G- rank. Taken together, these ranks give an instant picture of the rarity of the natural heritage resource. Rarity ranks used by the Division of Natural Heritage are not legal designations, and they are continuously updated to reflect new information. The landscape unit that supports a particular natural heritage resource is called an element occurrence. The Division of Natural Heritage!has mapped over 5500 element occurrences in the Commonwealth. Information on the location and quality of these element occurrences is computerized within the Division's Biological and Conservation Databases (BCD), and additional information is recorded on maps and in manual files. Each element occurrence is ranked to differentiate large, outstanding occurrences from the small, vulnerable ones. Species occurrences are ranked in terms of quality, condition, viability, and defensibility. Community occurrences are ranked by their overall natural condition and size. Element ranks' and element occurrence ranks form the basis for ranking the significance of entire sites. Site biodiversity ranks (B-ranks) are used to prioritize protection efforts among the sites; each B-rank is defined below: Bl Outstanding Significancq: only site known for an element, an excellent occurrence of a Gl species, or the world's best example of a community type. B2 Very High Significance: one of the best examples of a community type, good occurrence of a Gl species, or excellent occurrence of a G2 or G3 species. B3 High Significance: excellent example of any community type, good occurrence of a_G3 species. B4 'Moderate Significange: good example of a community type, excellent or good occurrence of state-rare species. B5 General Biodiversity Significance: good or marginal occurrence of a community type, or state-rare species. Note: Sites supporting rare subspecies or varieties are considered slightly less significant than sites supporting similarly ranked species. METHODS Division of Natural Heritage staff approach natural heritage inventories in a systematic manner. In general, the most threatened geographical areas, habitats, and species receive inventory priority. The inventory is conducted in six stages: 4 1) Review of aerial photographs and maps. Aerial photographs of the entire survey area are reviewed in detail to identify potential natural areas (PNAs) to be studied in the following stages. Where possible, both the oldest available photographs and the most recent ones are studied. Comparing these two sets of photographs helps determine how.long forests and other vegetation types have been in their current condition. To aid in their interpretation, the photographs are compared with topographic, wetlands, and soils maps. 2) Gathering existing informatio . Museum collections are visited by Natural Heritage staff and specimen label information is recorded for rare species. Published and unpublished information on natural areas in the inventory area is collected and assimilated in conjunction with the review of aerial photographs. Maps of public lands (federal, state and local) within the survey area are gathered, and the distribution of natural heritage resources is examined (Figure 2). Local naturalists, soil conservationists, foresters, and college faculty are consulted for additional information. During this stage, some PNAs are eliminated from further consideration while others are added. 3) Aerial reconnaissance. Selected PNAs are studied in more detail by aerial reconnaissance using small aircraft. Typically, this is done in the early spring or late fall when the ground is visible through the trees. Flights are especially useful in the rapidly changing landscape of southeastern Virginia. Flying allows the quick review of many tracts that would take days to visit by car and on foot. The primary goal of this stage is to eliminate from consideration the sites that have been recently destroyed, and to begin prioritizing the remaining PNAs for on-. the-ground survey. 4) Initial ground survey. During the initial ground survey, ownership information is verified, conspicuous element occurrences are documented, land use activities are described, and if necessary, follow-up visits are planned. 5) orough inventory of the PNA. During this stage, detailed information is collected on the rare species or exemplary natural community present at a site. Portions of a site not visited on foot are evaluated on the basis of aerial photographs and other information. The area of land needed to protect the special biological features features is determined. Threats and past or-present disturbances are also noted. Element occurrence data are transcribed onto Division maps, and entered into the BCD databases. 6) COMRilation of results and Rreparation of final report. As fieldwork is completed, Division biologists review the information gathered. Based on a review of all natural heritage resources present, the staff prioritizes the sites in terms of their significance and the threats facing them, develops and maps preliminary conservation planning boundaries, and drafts protection and management recommendations. This information is then combined into a final report. 5 m mow so m m NATURAL HERITAGE RESOUR SOUTHEASTERN VIRGIN 1, E G E' ND ELEMENT TYPE EXTANT HISTORIC AN I W1 CO KDAUN I TV & OTHER A PLANI A @v A b :TNKNT CONE ERVATIGM & RECREATION 1E I OF NATURAL HER I WAGE 1." 1992 mu z- 'r Figure 2. Map showing the distribution of natural heritage resourc southeastern Virginia. RESULTS Results of the natural heritage inventory are presented by way of 24 detailed site reports. The site reports are arranged by larger landscape units (rdacrosites) and municipality. Each site is described using the following standard reporting format: SITE NAME: Most site names reflect a geographical locality or the prevalent type of vegetation. SIZE: The approximate acreage included within the conservation planning boundary for the natural area. BIODIVERSITY RANK: The overall significance of the natural area in terms of the rarity of the natural heritage resources and the quality of their occurrences. As discussed earlier, these ranks range from Bl (outstanding significance) to B5 (general biodiversity significance). LOCALITY: The city or county. QUADRANGLE AND QUADRANGLE CODE: The name of the USGS 7.5' quadrangle(s) on which the natural area occurs. The quadrangle code contains information on latitude and longitude, and identifies the location of the quadrangle. LOCATION: Specific information on site location and directions to the site. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCE SUMMARY TABLE: A synopsis of the rare species and significant natural communities that occur on the site. SITE 6ESCRIPTION: A brief narrative describing the site, its significant elements, vegetation, habitat, and current land use. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The preliminary conservation planning boundary delineated in this report includes all known occurrences of natural heritage resources and the adjacent lands required for their immediate protection. This information field explains the basis for particular boundaries. THREATS: Potential and actual threats to the site and its elements. 14ANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: A summary of the major issues and factors that should be considered in management of the site for its natural heritage values. CURRENT STATUS: A summary of ownership and the degree of protection currently afforded the site. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: The desired level of protection actions needed. REFERENCES: Pertinent literature. 7 SITE MAP: The site map shows the conservation planning boundary which contains all known element occurrences and the land determined to be important for the long-term maintenance of these elements. The following factors are considered when drawing these boundaries: 0 the extent of current and potential habitat for rare species and exemplary natural communities, 0 species movement and migration corridors, 0 maintenance of surface water quality within the site and the surrounding watershed, 0 maintenance of the hydrologic integrity of the groundwater, e.g. by protecting recharge zones, 9 land intended to mitigate off-site impacts, 0 land or activities necessary to preclude or minimize invasive exotic species, and 0 land necessary for management activities, such as prescribed burning. The boundaries are intended for conservation planning purposes, and at the very least should prevent the inadvertent destruction of the natural areas. Many rare species are sensitive to disturbance, or may be sought out by collectors. Precise element locations within site boundaries are therefore not given in this report. Virginia law includes Natural Heritage Resources under a limited exemption to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act. The individual site reports focus on the most significant natural areas in the region, and consequently the less significant sites (such as those supporting roadside populations of globally-secure, state-rare species) are intentionally excluded. Due to the limitations imposed by an eight-month inventory, not all of the potential natural areas in the region were field checked. Future discoveries of significant natural areas in the study region are expected, particularly in western Suffolk. 8 I I I I I SITE REPORTS I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 9 1 DISPUTANTA SIZE: ca. 50 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B2 LOCALITY: Prince George County QUADRANGLE: Disputanta North QUADRANGLE CODE: 3707622! LOCATION: The site is located at the headwaters of Otterdam Swamp along Hines Road (Rt. 625) approximately 1 mile southwest of Lebanon Church. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURRENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMM ON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK plants: RUDBECKIA HELIOPSIDIS SUN-FACING CONEFLOWER G2 Sl C2 B SITE DESCRIPTION: The cleared right-of-way along this stretch of Hines Road provides habitat for Virginia's only known population of the globally-rare sun-facing coneflower (Rudbeckia heliopsidia), a species unknown north of this site. The habitat is seasonally inundated, and organic soils exist over a clay-rich substratum. The herbaceous vegetation at the site is very diverse with 72 species noted by Wright (1989). Cut-over pine-oak flatwoods and pine plantations surround the site. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary includes the rare plant population, its habitat, and surrounding buffer which may provide additional habitat for the coneflower. The forested land within the boundary was delineated using NHAP color-infrared photography, #509-52 taken on 4/2/84. THREATS: Roadside mowing by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) periodically reduces the amount of woody vegetation present at the site, and this activity appears to be somewhat beneficial to the coneflower.. Succession to woody vegetation is therefore a threat, as are ditching, herbicide spraying, and collection. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Monitor roadside management activities to ensure the health of the coneflower population. Investigate the use of prescribed burning as a management technique. CURRENT STATUS: The site is privately owned, but the roadside is managed by VDOT* PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: Frequent contact with VDOT personnel and the landowner is needed to ensure that right-of-way management or other activities do not harm the rare coneflower population. Strong levels of protection are recommended for this site. 10 REFERENCE'S: Wright, R.A.S. 1989. Field survey for the sun-loving coneflower, Rudbeckia heliopsidis Torrey and Gray in Virginia. unpublished rep. submitted to The Nature Conservancy through the Virginia Natural Heritage Prog., Richmond. v 120) ------ ----- C. 130 BM 12 '20-/ 110- 30 120 120 STTE NAME: DISPUTANTA QLMMA@: DISPUTANTA NORTH SCALE 1:24000 + 0 i MILE 1000 0 i 000 2000- 2000 4000 5000 6000 000 FEE- - .. "@ -1 VIRGINIAm! KILOMETER UAC=Vl('.LE L-^cArioN 12 BLACKWATER RIVER - BELOW ROUTE 603 SIZE: ca. 620 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B2 LOCALITY: Surry County and Sussex County QUADRANGLE: Dendron QUADRANGLE CODE: 370761& LOCATION: The site is located along the Blackwater River between the Route 603 bridge and the Route 31 bridge. The Surry - Sussex County line follows the course of the Blackwater River through the middle of the site. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: EUTROPHIC SEMIPERMANENTLY FLOODED PALUSTRINE FOREST S3? A SITE DESCRIPTION: According Gary Williamson,, recognized authority on wetland forest vegetation, this site has more pristine bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) - water tupelo (Nyssa aguatica) vegetation than any other area encountered in Virginia. It is in fact one of the very best old growth cypress swamps in the United States. Canopy trees are consistently over 100 feet tall for a distance of two miles along the Blackwater River. Larger ypress trees are 180 to 200 cm diameter at breast height, and"such trees are estimated to be at least 600 years old. The swamp shows only occasional signs Cof disturbance from logging, and much of it could be characterized as virgin forest. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary contains the extraordinary old growth forest plus a modest amount of upland buffer land necessary to mitigate negative impacts to the forest from adjacent land uses. THREATS: Logging, ditching, and disruptions of the natural flow regime of the Blackwater Riv er constitute threats to this site, MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: No active management is needed,, but the general health and vitality of the forest should be monitored to permit early detection of perturbations. CURRENT STATUS: The site is in private ownership. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: The site supports one of the Nation's best cypress-tupelo swamps, and as such represents an irreplaceable and awe- inspiring natural treasure, Permanent protection is needed, 13 '7@ < J, .7 v Xci rr Jr St us T 13 ..... ... '907 rinr Hill S= NAHE: BLACKWATER RIVER BELOW ROUTE 603 QUACPANME: DENDRON SCALE 1:24000 o 1 MILE 1000 0 1000 2ozD7=` 3000 4000 swo 6m 7000 FEET VIRGINIA 1 11,0METER OUADRAIIGLE LOCATION 14 BLACKWATER RIVER - ABOVE ROUTE 620 SIZE: ca. 1000 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B2 LOCALITY: Isle of Wight County and.Southampton County QUADRANGLE: Raynor QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607687 LOCATION: The site inludes the Blackwater River and its associated wetlands upstream from the Route 620 bridge. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: EUTROPHIC SEMIPERMANENTLY FLOODED PALUSTRINE FOREST S3? A SITE DESCRIPTION: The site encompasses a five-mile riparian corridor along the Blackwater River. It supports a large expanse of old growth bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) - water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) bottomland forest (see cover illustration). Four state-champion trees are here, including Virginia's largest cypress. The site is comparable to the Blackwater River site located below Route 603 (described previously in this report). Both areas are highly significant because they contain some of the very best old growth cypress swamp vegetation remaining in the United States. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary contains the extraordinary old growth forest plus a modest amount of upland buffer land necessary to mitigate negative impacts to the site. THREATS: Some of the adjacent uplands were logged recently. Continued logging here would compromise the defensibility of the old growth swamp forest by increasing the frequency of blow-down, altering light regimes,.encouraging the spread of exotic plants, and increasing sediment load to the wetland system. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: No active management of this site is needed, but the general health and vitality ofthe forest should be monitored. CURRENT STATUS: The site is in private ownership. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: This site is comparable to the old growth cypress swamp located below Route 603. As such, it deserves immediate conservation attention. 15 Ir 0 so 10 -V N N6 .38 16 10- Vil, ift 'A ap, N -50 A. r4ick Corner (X-; I 611 to aPM4 4 .78 75 3& NAM: BLACKWATER RIVER ABOVE ROUTE 620 QUAMUW=: RAYNOR SCALE L24000 a I Mill low a low 2000 20M sm -5(= 000 FEWa 'A t I AILOME'TER 16 ZUNI MACROSITE - SOUTH ZUNI SANDHILLS SIZE: ca. 250 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B4 * adjacent to a B2 site- LOCALITY: Isle of Wight County QUADRANGLE: Zuni QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607677 LOCATION: The site is located south of Zuni, north of Antioch Swamp, west of Route 614, and east of the Blackwater River. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: OLIGOTROPHIC WOODLAND Sl - - C plants: ASIMINA PARVIFLORA DWARF PAW-PAW G5 S2 - - CD DESMODIUM STRICTUM PINELAND TICK-TREFOIL G2G4 S2 - - BC QUERCUS INCANA BLUE-JACK OAK G5 S2 - - BC QUERCUS LAEVIS TURKEY OAK G5 S2 - - AB QUERCUS MARGARETTAE SAND POST OAK G5 S2 - - AB SITE DESCRIPTION: This site was once a large expanse of xeric sandhill vegetation. Now it is fragmented by dirt roads, houses, agricultural fields, a power line, and cut-over forests. Turkey Oak (Quercus laevis) is abundant throughout the remaining undisturbed tracts, where it is a component of a rare type of Oligotrophic Woodland. A 20 by 20 meter sample plot of this vegetation had an impressive total of six oak species, three of which are rare. Attractive wildflowers such as eastern prickly-pear (Opunti humifusa)., sundial lupine (Lupinus perennis), and grass-leaved golden-aster (Chrysopsis. graminifolia) adorn the sandy roadsides. This area will likely support several rare animals, particularly moths, butterflies, and tiger beetles. Immediately south of this site lies Antioch Swamp Barrens, a B2 site. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary includes the known tracts of Oligotrophic Woodland plus some additional surrounding lands that provide necessary buffer. The boundary was drawn from aerial photograph interpretation and limited field surveys. Some houses, fields, yards, and roads exist within the boundary - these should be excluded during conservation planning at this site. THREATS: The primary threat is continued development of undisturbed tracts for housing. Also, clear-cutting will significantly degrade the natural . character of the forest and woodland vegetation, especially if followed by 17 herbicide treatment and pine plantations. The rare plants and significant community have been maintained in the past by fire - without continued fire the characteristic species and the community will undoubtedly be supplanted by less desireable, more common species. A small area is grazed by livestock. Increased land clearing for pasture will be detrimental to the rare species. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Management agreements and stronger levels of protection are needed for the best remaining tracts. One landowner has expressed an interest in managing natural heritage resources through the Forest Stewardship Program. Prescribed burning should be used to enhance rare species populations. Landowners might favor prescribed burning as a way of clearing undergrowth and creating greater opportunities for passive recreation in the woodlands, e.g. horseback riding. CURRENT STATUS: The site is in private ownership. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: Management agreements and stronger levels of protection are needed for the best remaining woodland tracts. Landowners should be informed about the site's significance. 18 q ta 4, tsx Zun Tucker S Ch !3m 79 na ?I-rl -7@ Cem, 0 J, -;gn 41, VI x.3 lop J@ 4 It S= NAmE: ZUNI MACROSITE SOUTH ZUNI SANDHILLS QUACPANGLE: ZUNI SCALE 1:24000 1 MILE 0 N 1000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 FEET - - - VIRGINI;@,7 1 3 0 1 KI@LO@f@47CTER --,@@p Z, j.UA0PA?I6LE LocAnoN 19 ZUNI 14ACROSITE - ANTIOCH SWAMP BARRENS SIZE: ca. 320 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B2 LOCALITY: Isle of Wight County QUADRANGLE: Zuni QUADRANGLE CODE: 360767-7-, LOCATION: The site lies east of the Blackwater River, north of the Blackwater Ecologic Preserve, west of Route 614, and south of Antioch Swamp. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURENCE SCI ENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: OLIGOTROPHIC FOREST Sl - A plants: QUERCUS INCANA BLUE-JACK OAK G5 S2 - D QUERCUS LAEVIS TURKEY OAK G5 S2 - B QUERCUS MARGARETTAE SAND POST OAK G5 S2 - B SITE DESCRIPTION: This site contains one of Virginia's best examples of a mature loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) - turkey oak Quercus laevis) forest. The pines are impressive in stature, especially considering that they inhabit dry sandhill soils. As seen from Route 614, the pines rise high above the lower hardwoods. As viewed from the adjacent Blackwater Ecologic Preserve, three rare oak species are evident, A detailed inventory of the site has not been performed. The site has a great potential for additional rarities, especially if managed by prescribed burning. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The extent of the mature pine stand.was readily determined from aerial photographs. Antioch Swamp is a convenient boundary separating this site from the South Zuni Sandhills Site which lies to the north, The southern boundary coincides with the northern boundary of the Blackwater Ecologic Preserve. The western border coincides with the lowland along the Blackwater River, which would serve as an effective fire break during prescribed burning. THREATS: Logging (especially if followed by herbicide treatment and conversion to pine plantation), lack of fire, and land development constitute threats to this important site. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: A thorough biological inventory is recommended, to be followed by management recommendations. Because the rare oaks at the site depend on fire for their continued survival, a prescribed burning program 20 in the future would be highly desireable. Many additional rare plants will likely appear at the site as a result of prescribed burning management. CURRENT STATUS: The site is in private ownership. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: The site warrants the highest possible protection, not only for the mature forest.and rare plants present, but because it is adjacent to the Blackwater Ecologic Preserve. Together these two sites would form a larger, more diverse, and more defensible core natural area preserve. 21 xal xi I 0 Ir u y\j 635 xis IN, % .9.m A@ i 1@r '14 41 41 14 > at XJ7 8436 6111 t SITE NAME: ZUNI MACROSITE ANTIOCH SWAMP BARRENS QUAMIANCIE: ZUNI SCALE 1:24000 0 1 MILE 1000 0 1000 2000 3000 4OW Y(= 6000 7000 FEET I KILOME TER VIRGINIA @7 5 0 22 ZUNI MACROSITE - BLACKWATER ECOLOGIC PRESERVE SIZE: 319 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B2 LOCALITY: Isle of Wight County QUADRANGLE: Zuni QUADRANGLE CODE: 360767 LOCATION: The site lies north of Route 614 and west of Horse Swamp. The northwestern tip of the site abuts the Blackwater River, but most of the western boundary lies approximately 0.5 to 0.7 mile east of this river. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: OLIGOTROPHIC WOODLAND - - Sl - - AB plants: AIMINA PARVIFLORA DWARF PAW-PAW G5 S2 - - C CALYCANTHUS FLORIDUS SWEET SHRUB G5T4TS S2 - - C CAPHEPHORUS BELLIDIFOLIUS SANDY-WOODS CHAFFHEAD G4 S1 - - B CARPHEPHORUS TOMENTOSUS WOOLY CHAFFHEAD G4 S1 - - C HABENARIA BLEPHARIGLOTTIS WHITE FRINGED ORCHIS G4 S2 - - D HETEROTHECA GOSSYPINA COTTONY GOLDEN-ASTER G5 S1 - - D JUNCUS ABORTIVUS PINE BARREN RUSH G4G5 S1 - - D KALMIA ANGUSTIFOLI SHEEP-LAURL G5 S2S3 - - A POLYGONELLA POLYGAMA OCTOBER-FLOWER G3G5 S1 - - A PINUS PALUSTRIS LONG-LEAF PINE G4G5 S2 - - B PYXIDANTHERA BARBULATA FLOWERING PIXIE-MOSS G4 S - - A QUERCUS LAEVIS TURKEY OAK G5 S2 - - A QUERCUS MARGARETTAE SAND POST OAK G5 S2 - - BC SABATIA CALYCINA COAST ROSE-GNETIAN G4 S1S2 - - U SARRAGENIA PURPUREA NORTHERN PITCHER PLANT G5 S2 - - C SEYMERIA CASSIOIDES SEYMERIA G5 S2 - - B SISYRINCHIUM ALBIDUM WHITE BLUE-EYED GRASS G7 S1 - - U VACCINUM CRASSIFOLIUM CREEPING BLUEBERRY G4G5 S1 - - CD XYRIS CAROLINIANA CAROLINA YELLOW-EYED-GRASS G4G5 S1 - - A animals: AMBYSTOMA MABEET MABEE'S SALAMANDER G4 S2 - - C CHOLOGASTER CORNUTA SWAMPFISH G5 S3 - - A LAMPSILIS RADIATA EASTERN LAMPMUSSEL G5 S2 LEPTODEA OCHRACHEA TIDEWATER MUSKET G4 S3 - - D LIGUMIA NASUTA EASTERN PONDMUSSEL G4 S3 - - U TANTILLA CORONATA SOUTHEASTERN CROWNED SNAKE G5 S2? - - A 23 Note: Several other rare species have' been reported from this site. These have yet to be reverified. SITE DESCRIPTION: The site contains the only protected occurrence of extremely rare long-leaf pine (Pinus Ralustris) - turkey oak (Quercus laevis) woodland in Virginia. The area is managed as an ecological preserve, and a large number of rare species are present, many of which have respanded favorably to recent prescribed burning. Frost and Musselman (1987) provide a detailed description of this site and its vegetation. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary coincides with the Old Dominion University property boundary. This is somewhat unusual, but in this case, the additional lands most important for the long term viability and defensibility of the Preserve have been identified in the descriptions of the two adjacent sites, Horse Swamp Barrens and Antioch Swamp Barrens. THREATS: The primary threat to the site is insufficient fire and successional conversion to less desireable vegetation. Another serious threat-Iis development of surrounding lands. Off-site sand mining and ditching could directly affect the natural hydrology of the preserve. If houses are built adjacent to the preserve, prescribed burning might be viewed as a hazard to public safety, and the burning activity halted. At the very least, adjacent homes would necessitate that large fire breaks be created on the preserve, and that lands near the edge of the preserve not be burned. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: When first decribed by M.L. Fernald in 1936 (Fernald 1937), the site supported a phenomenal assemblage of rare plants, apparently because the area was burned frequently. Only recently has prescribed burning been reintroduced to the site, and the beneficial consequences have been dramatic. Many rare species populations have increased. However, prescribed burning needs to be continued at frequent intervals because, 1) some fire-dependent plant species noted by Fernald have yet to reappear (these may be present in the soil seed bank), 2) some rare plants at the site remain more or less restricted to sandy roadside habitats, apparently because conditions are not yet suitable in the woodland vegetation away from the roads, and 3) natural reproduction of long-leaf pine remains very spotty. CURRENT STATUS: The site is owned by Old Dominion University, and is managed as a natural area. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: Highly significant natural areas lie immediately to the north (Antioch Swamp Barrens) and to the south (Horse Swamp Barrens) of the Blackwater Ecologic Preserve. Every effort should be made to protect these adjacent areas to mitigate future negative impacts to the Blackwater Ecological Preserve. By d oing so, a truly viable and defensible natural area preserve will be formed. 24 REFERENCES: ernald, M.L. 1937. Local plants of the inner Coastal Plain of southeastern Virginia. Rhodora 39:321-366. F Frost, C.C. and L.J. Musselman.. 1987. History and vegetation of the Blackwater Ecologic Preserve. Castanea 52:16-46. 25 X82 LIA 0 Ise L 4F 7 L V am 6 @ ri j 10 N --7 no- 3, 44- 9*36 fin SITE NAME: ZUNI MACROSITE BLACKWATER ECOLOGIC PRESERVE QUAMUW=: ZUNI SCALE 1:24000 T a I MILE low 0 low 20M 30W 4M 5000 6000 7000 FEET - - GINIA 0 1 AILOMErER QUAORANGLE LOCATION 26 ZUNI MACROSITE - HORSE SWAMP BARRENS SIZE: ca. 150 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B2 LOCALITY: Isle of Wight.Count y QUADRANGLE: Zuni QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607677! LOCATION: The Site includes the downstream section of Horse Swamp and surrounding uplands in the area south and east of Route 614, and north of Route 603. To the north lies the Blackwater Ecologic Preserve. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USEVS LEGAL OCCURENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: OLIGOTROPHIC FOREST Sl - - BC plants: CARPHEPHORUS BELLIDIFOLIUS SANDY-WOODS CHAFFHEAD G4 Sl - - D RALMIA ANGUSTIFOLIA SHEEP-LAUREL G5 S2S3 - - A PINUS PALUSTRIS LONG-LEAF PINE G4G5 S2 - - CD PYXIDANTHERA BARBULATA FLOWERING PIXIE-MOSS G4 Sl - - C QUERCUS LAEVIS TURKEY OAK G5 S2 - - AB .QUERCUS MARGTARETTAE SAND POST OAK G5 S2 - - AB VACCINIUM CRASSIFOLIUM CREEPING BLUEBERRY G4G5 Sl - - D ZORNIA BRACTEATA VIPERINA G5? Sl - - BC SITE DESCRIPTION: The site contains an extremely rate type of Oligotrophic Forest characterized by long-leaf pine (Pinus palustris) and turkey oak (Quercus laevis). Long-leaf pine' and understory plants such as creeping blueberry (Vaccinium crassifolium), flowering pixie-moss,(Py2iidanthera barbulata), and sheep-laurel (Kalmia angustifolia) indicate a fire-maintained vegetation type sometimes called "pine barren". This example, at the northern range limit of long-leaf pine and lacking a number of southern plant species, should be regarded as a globally endangered community type., Fire has played a major role in creating and maintaining the distinctive vegetation. Unfortunately, the area has not burned for many years, and therefore the rare plants lack vigor and are reproducing poorly. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) presently dominates the forest. Recent selective logging has created canopy openings, giving the vegetation a woodland structure. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary for this site encompasses the full extent of rare pine barren vegetation, plus surrounding lands which must be protected to ensure the long term viability and 27 defensibility of the site. The northern boundary coincides with Horse Swamp, just south of Route 614. The Blackwater Ecological Preserve and a recent clear-cut lie to the north of the site. The boundary was drawn from aerial photograph interpretation and limited field surveys. THREATS: Future logging will likely destroy this natural community and its rare plant populations. Another threat to the entire natural community is lack of fire; this is preventing long-leaf pine regeneration. Ditching and residential or industrial development are also serious threats. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Several prescribed burns are needed to enhance the rare species populations. As fires create open soil habitats, the number of rare plant species here will likely increase dramatically. Virtually all of the rare plant species found at the Blackwater Ecologic Preserve (literally across the road) should be expected to colonize the Horse Swamp Barrens site following prescribed burning. Lowland areas within the pine barren currently support sphagnous thickets of pond pine (Pinus serotina), laurel-leaf .virginiana greenbrier (Smilax laurifolia), and sweetbay magnolia (Majznolia With fire, these wet areas would be converted to open, bog-like environments and exceptional rare plant habitat. Managers of the Blackwater Ecologic Preserve possess the technical and scientific expertise needed to manage pine barrens. If protected, the Horse Swamp Barrens could be efficiently managed in conjunction with the Blackwater Ecologic Preserve. CURRENT STATUS: 'The site is in private ownership. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: The site is among the highest protection priorities in southeastern Virginia. Because it is immediately adjacent to the Blackwater Ecologic Preserve, this area could contribute to forming a larger, more diverse, and more defensible natural area preserve. 28 A V % -17 I:j6 n @71 X37 IJ 76 Y<!@ n. lot X74 Q J ON S= NAME: ZUNI MACROSITE HORSE SWAMP BARRENS QUACRANGLE: ZUNI SCALE 1:2 4000 - 0 7000 @EET 1 MILE ,10 0 2000 1000 4= 5000 6000 - @==L- I, --,@ 'IIRGINIA.,,Y 0 AILOMETER IlUADPANGLE LocArION 29 CAT PONDS SIZE: ca. 95 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B4 LOCALITY: Isle of Wight County QUADRANGLE: Benns Church QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607685 LOCATION: The site is clearly named, Cat Ponds, on the topographic map. It lies approximately I mile northwest of Wills Corner in the area north of Route 600, east of Route 602, and west of Route 10. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: MID-HEIGHT HERBACEOUS PALUSTRINE WETIAND G3? sl - C plants: ELEOCHARIS MEIANOCARPA BLACK-FRUITED SPIKERUSH G4 S2 - - BC ELEOCHARIS TRICOSTATA THREE-ANGLE SPIKERUSH G3G4 Sl - - D LUDWIGIA BREVIPES LONG BEACH SEEDBOX G4G5 S2 - - D PANICUM HEMITOMON MAIDENCANE G5? Sl - - A animals: AMBYSTOMA MABEEI MABEE'S SALAMANDER G4 Sl - LT C AMBYSTOMA TIGRINUM TIGER SALAMANDER G5 Sl - LE C ATLIDES HALESUS GREAT PURPLE HAIRSTREAK G5 S3 - C SIREN INTERMEDIA LESSER SIREN C5 SU - B SITE DESCRIPTION: When discovered by botanist M.L. Fernald 54 years ago, the seasonal ponds at this site were apparently pristine and supported a great variety of rare plants (Fernald, 1938). Recently, adjacent land uses have seriously degraded the ponds. With every heavy rain, the largest and most significant pond is being filled by sediment from a ditch draining the roads and driveways of a new housing development. This pond was also deepened in the past, (perhaps to create permanent water for a fishery or for livestock), and a small dike constructed at its outlet. If this small fragile dike of sand is damaged, the entire pond would drain into an adjacent sand pit. The next largest pond is situated next to agricultural land and is partially within a power line right-of-way. Nutrient enrichment is a serious threat here. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary encloses the two largest and best remaining seasonal ponds, plus minimal upland buffer. 30 THREATS: Threats are drainage (if a small dike breaks), dredging for fishery enhancement, nutrient enrichment from agricultural lands, housing development, sand mining, power line construction and-right-of-way maintenance, and sedimentation. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: The many threats here have synergistically coalesced to cast a menacing shadow of doom over the entire area.. If this site continues to be degraded, management will become a moot issue. Buffer strips of natural vegetation need to be established around each pond, and the condition of the small dike monitored or improved. CURRENT STATUS: The site is in private ownership. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: The long term viability of this site is in doubt. Recent logging and planned development have already doomed the ponds to the north. Protection efforts should be focused on the ditch leading into the largest pond. Buffer zones of natural vegetation should be established. REFERENCES: Fernald, M.L. 1938. Noteworthy plants of southeastern Virginia. Rhodora 40:364-491. (pp. 370-371) 31 - N V 7 42, -nit Longview 73 Cj 0- c: S= NAME: CAT PONDS QMMMANGLE: BENNS CHURCH SCALE 1:24000 0 1000 0 000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 FEET ARGINIA 5 0 I KILOMETER WADRAl"GLE LOCATION Pali, 32 MUDDY CROSS PONDS SIZE: ca. 115 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B4 or B3 LOCALITY: Isle of Wight County QUADRANGLE: Benns Church QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607685 LOCATION: The site lies north of Route 644, beginning ca. 1 mile northwest of Muddy Cross. It includes several seasonal ponds which lie east of the pipeline right-of- way. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: MESOTROPHIC SEMIPERMANENTLY FLOODED PALUSTRINE FOREST Sl BC plants: ELEOCHARIS TRICOSTATA THREE-ANGLE SPIKERUSH G3 G4 Sl C SITE DESCRIPTION: The site contains five seasonal ponds which support unusual bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) vegetation. Cypress typically occurs along river bottoms, but here this species thrives in seasonal pond habitats. Evidently, the hydroperiod is similar to that found on river bottoms. The ponds are in relatively good condition, though the surrounding upland forest is young, One pond abuts Route 644. The wetland community is difficult to evaluate because of its unusual characteristics. The task of classifying community types, distinguishing one type from another, assessing occurrence quality, and determining overall state status is formidable in cases such as this. One rare plant, three-angle spikerush (Eleocharis tricostata), occurs at the site. A zoological inventory has not been conducted, but we strongly suspect that the wetlands will contain rare salaman ders, dragonflies, or damselflies. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary encompasses the cluster of seasonal ponds, plus the upslope land which drains into them. Additional upland buffer is included to mitigate future negative impacts to the site. THREATS: Drainage, filling, siltation and water quality degradation represent the greatest threats to these wetlands. Road maintenance or expansion activities along Route 644 would impact one of the wetlands. 33 MANAGEMENT RECOIMIIDATIO119: No active management is needed* Management in this case means protecting the site from extrinsic threat factors. CURRENT STATUS: The site is in private ownership. PROTECTION RECOM14ENDATIONS: This site should not be overlooked in the protection planning process. Zoological inventories will likely yield rarities, thereby increasing the significance of the site. A voluntary protection agreement with the landowner should be secured to safeguard the site's biological significance over the short term. Long-term protection options should also be explored. 34 --ilt ,A cn COL Of Ot IN OL4 IN It TrT" NORTHWEST RIVER MACROSITE - UPPER SECTION SIZE: ca. 1285 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B4 LOCALITY: City of Chesapeake QUADRANGLE: Moyock QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607652 LOCATION: The site includes the wetland adjacent to the Northwest River, upstream of Rt. 168 and downstream of Walnut Road, directly northwest of the community of Northwest. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURRENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: MID-HEIGHT HERBACEOUS PALUSTRINE WETIAND - BC SUBMESOTROPHIC FOREST - U plants: BOLTONIA ASTEROIDES ASTER-LIKE BOLTONIA G5 S2 - D STEWARTIA MALACHODENDRON SILKY CAMELLIA G4 S2 - B SITE DESCRIPTION: Here, the Northwest.River is bordered by forested wetlands dominated by bald cypress (Taxodi distichum), water tupelo (Nyssa aguatica),, black gum (Nyssa biflora), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), sweet gum (Liguidambar styraciflua), and red maple (Acer rubrum). The site is extensive and serene, providing an enjoyable canoe trip. Within the bottomland, upland forests occur on slightly-elevated "islands". One island, approximately three acres in size, was visited and two natural heritage resources were found; silky camellia (Stewartia malachodendron), and a noteworthy Submesotrophic Forest containing an impressive total of 21 woody plant species. Evidently, these islands were never cleared for agriculture, and the forests they support probably represent, or approximate, presettlement conditions (logging has taken place, but recovery of the vegetation seems complete). Significant herbaceous wetlands occur along the unnamed northern branch of the river. Here, among the stands of twigrush (Cladium mariscoides), grows the rarity, aster-like boltonia (Boltonia asteroides). Woody plants such as red maple and waxmyrtle (Myric cerifera) seem to be increasing in these marshes, possibly as a result of fire suppression (Cecil Frost, personal communication). BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary includes all element occurrences, their habitat, and a buffer of adjacent land necessary to 36 mitigate impacts from off-site land use activities. Much of the site was delineated using NHAP color-infrared photograph #325-172 taken on 4/24/82. THREATS: Common reed (Phragmites australis), a potentially invasive grass, occurs in some of the marshes, but there is no cause for concern because here the much maligned plant appears to be a natural component of the vegetation. Common reed fails to form dense stands in this region of the Northwest River, and to the appreciative eye, the plant adds striking beauty to the marsh vegetation. If common reed does increase in these marshes, the increase will likely be the result of hydrologic perturbations or similar disturbance. Logging is a threat to the Submesotrophic Forest and the silky camellia. Woody species may be increasing in the marsh, and this is cause for concern. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Monitor the rate of woody species encroachment and possible spread of Phragmites to determine whether the rare species and marshes are threatened. Investigate the use of prescribed burning as a management technique. CURRENT STATUS: The site is in private ownership. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: The site is part of an integrated Northwest River ecosystem, and therefore protection efforts here will contribute to the protection of this larger, more significant landscape unit. 37 o z r 6 7-- L 7- @-7 -7 7 rthwe thwest Gem I 7@\Nor SME NAME: NORTHWEST RIVER MACROSITIE - UPPER SECTION QUADRANGLE: MOYOCK SCALE 1:24000 @000 007 i0oo 2000 4= 9000 5000 ow FEET - 1IRGINIA UMUER 38 NORTHWEST RIVER MACROSITE - NORTHWEST RIVER PARK SIZE: ca. 790 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B4 LOCALITY: City of Chesapeake QUADRANGLE: Moyock QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607652 LOCATION: The site includes Northwest River Park and adjacent forested tracts along the northeast side of the Northwest River, upstream from Smith Creek and downstream of Rt. 168; about 3 miles northeast of the community of Northwest. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURRENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK plants: CAREX DECOMPOSITA EPIPHYTIC SEDGE G3G4 Sl 3C BC STEWARTIA MALACHODENDRON SILKY CAMELIA G4 S2 B animals: CROTALUS HORRIDUS ATRICAUDATUS CANEBRAKE RATTLESNAKE G5TUQ Sl C EUPHYES DUKESI SCARCE SWAMP SKIPPER G3G4 S2 U SITE DESCRIPTION: This site includes a large forested tract in and adjacent to Northwest River Park. The upland forests are a mix of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), oaks (Quercus spp.), and American beech (Fagus grandifolia). The rare shrub, silky camelia (Stewartia malachodendron), is found throughout portions of the forest which have not been logged in the last 60 to 100 years. Forested wetlands bordering Indian Creek, Smith Creek, and the Northwest River adjoin the uplands. These swamps are dominated by a mixture of bald cypress (Taxodi distichum), water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), black gum (Nyssa biflora), sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), red maple (Acer rubr ), and loblolly pine, A rare plant, epiphytic sedge (Carex decomposita), grows in the swamp bordering the Northwest River. This species is known from only one other Virginia watershed, and is somewhat rare globally. Canebrake rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus atricaudatus) are also present. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary includes the forested habitat for the rare species in and directly adjacent to Northwest River Park. Because the Park's activities are integral to the viability of the rare species populations, park facilities are included in the boundary for this site. Forested tracts adjacent to the park were delineated with NHAP color-Infrared photograph #325-172 taken on 4/24/82. 39 THREATS: Threats are minimal to the site and its rare species. Outdoor recreationists sometimes kill rattlesnakes; numerous "rattles" are displayed at a nearby store. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Maintain current land use. CURRENT STATUS: Northwest River Park is managed by the City of Chesapeake as a park for nature study and low-impact recreational use. A campground and small lake are also within the park. The remainder of this site is privately owned. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: The site is part of the Northwest River wetland ecosystem, and therefore protection efforts here will contribute to the protection of a larger, more significant landscape unit. 40 re ?4n4ooChC V/, M wel SrrE NAME: NORTHWEST RIVER MACROSITE - NORTHWEST RIVER PARK qUADP-AN=: MOYOCK SCALE 1:24000 MILE 1000 1 :000 2000 Moo 1= i0oo 15(m OW - 1IRGINIA AILOM ETSR 'UAC=V1GL-E -.,,cAriON 41 NORTHWEST RIVER MACROSITE - SOUTHWESTERN MARSHES SIZE: ca. 1065 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B3 LOCALITY: City of Chesapeake QUADRANGLE: Moyock QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607652 LOCATION: The site includes the wetland on the west side of the Northwest.River, upstream of the North Carolina line and downstream of Rt. 168; about 2 miles east of the community of Northwest. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURRENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: LOW HERBACEOUS PALUSTRINE WETLAND C MID-HEIGHT HERBACEOUS PALUSTRINE WETLAND C plants: CAREX DECOMPOSITA EPIPHYTIC SEDGE G3G4 S1 3C BC CLADIUM JAMACIENSIS SAWGRASS G5 S1 - - BC ELEOCHARIS ROSTELIATA BEAKED SPIKERUSH G5 S1 - - B ERIOCAULONDECANGULARE TEN-ANGLE PIPEWORT G5 S1 - - BC LOBELIA ELONGATA ELONGATED LOBELIA G3G5 S1 - - A LUDWIGIA ALATA WINGED SEEDBOX G3G4 S1 - - B PHYSOSTEGIA LEPTOPHYLLA SLENDER-LEAVED DRAGON- HEAD G4G5 S2 C2 - A UTRICULARIA PURPUREA PURPLE BLADDERWORT G4 S2 - A UTRICULARIA VULGARIS GREATER BLADDERWORT G5 S2 - B SITE DESCRIPTION: This site is quite similar to the Smith Creek site across the river, but has a different suite of rare species. Along this stretch of the Northwest River, wind tides cause regular water level fluctuations and the water is fresh to very-slightly brackish. Plant species richness is high, and a mosaic of different vegetation types exists. Robust emergent marsh covers much of the area, but certain low marshes support an interesting mix of plants including beaked spikerush (Eleocharis rostellata), ten-angle pipewort (Eriocaulon decangulare), winged seedbox (Ludwigia alata), elongated lobelia (Lobelia elongata), and twigrush (Cladium mariscoides). These low marshes represent two broad community types, Low Herbaceous Palustrine Wetland and Mid-height Herbaceous Palustrine Wetland. Woody species such as red maple (Acer rubrum), swamp rose (Rosa Ralustris), and waxmyrtle (ftrica cerifera) seem to be increasing in some of 42 the marshes. Less frequent fire in the marshes is probably contributing to the woody plant invasion problem (Cecil Frost, personal communication). The forested wetland at the site supports the rare plant, epiphytic sedge (Carex decomposita), a species known from only one other Virginia watershed. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary includes the wetland communities, rare species, and forested upland buffer. Forested tracts adjacent to the areas surveyed in the field were delineated with NHAP color-infrared photograph #325-172 taken on 4/24/82. TRREATS: Without regular fire, woody species may supplant some of the rare herbaceous species. Common reed (Phragmites australis), a potentially aggressive marsh grass, occurs in many of the marshes. In some parts of the Northwest River, this grass does not appear to be increasing, while in other sections it is forming large dense clones. This species should be closely monitored, and disturbances to the wetland vegetation - which favor common reed - avoided. Logging does not seem to be an immediate threat due to the marginal condition of the wetland timber resource. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Introduceregular prescribed burning management. Monitor the woody species and common reed in the marsh. CURRENT STATUS: The site is in private ownership. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: The site is part of the Northwest River wetland ecosystem, and therefore protection efforts here will contribute to the protection of a larger, more significant landscape unit. 43 4nd- "c. /it 7 ':X, II IL v 4J - 7-- VIRGINIA FH- ZjITO-Ljj@@L- 7 SITE NAME: NORTHWEST RIVER MACROSITE - SOUTHWESTERN MARSHES QUMXZAN=: MOYOCK SCALE 1:24000 .000 -1000 !000 4000 i0oo 6ow FEET /IRGINIA UAC=:,'lGL-z -^.WioN 44 NORTHWEST RIVER MACROSITE - SMITH CREEK SIZE ca. 640 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B3 LOCALITY: City of Chesapeake QUADRANGLE: Moyock QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607652 LOCATION: The site includes the wetland on the east side of the Northwest River, upstream of North Carolina line and downstream of Smith Creek; about 3 miles east of the community of Northwest. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURRENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: LOW HERBACEOUS PALUSTRINE WETLAND - C MID-HEIGHT HERBACEOUS PALUSTRINE WETLAND - C plants: CAREX DECOMPOSITA EPIPHYTIC SEDGE G3G4 Sl 3C - BC CLADIUM JARACIENSIS SAWGRASS G5 Sl - BC ERIOCAULON DECANGULARE TEN-ANGLE PIPEWORT C5 Sl BC LOBELIA ELONGATA ELONGATED LOBELIA G3G5 Sl A PHYSOSTEGIA LEPTOPHYLLA SLENDER-LEAVED DRAGON- HEAD G4G5 S2 C2 A UTRICULARIA VULGARIS GREATER BLADDERWORT G5 S2 B animals: LIMNAOEDUS OCULARIS LITTLE GRASS FROG G5 S3 B RANA VIRGATIPES CARPENTER FROG C5 S3 AB SITE DESCRIPTION: This site is quite similar to the Southwestern Marshes site but has a different mix of rare species. Along this stretch of the Northwest River, wind tides cause regular water level fluctuations and the water is fresh to very-slightly brackish water. Plant species richness is high within a mosaic of different wetland vegetation types. Tall robust emergents such as big cordgrass (Spartina cynosuroidtS), common reed (Phragmites australis), broad-leaf cattail (TyRha latifolia), narrow-leaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), and black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus) dominate most of the marshes. Areas of "low marsh" vegetation, occur away from creek channels. Here one finds the rare ten-angle pipewort (Eriocaulon decangulare) and elongated lobelia (Lobelia elongata). Many of the marshes are being invaded by woody species such as red maple (Acer rubrum), swamp rose (Rosa Ralustris), and waxmyrtle (tyrica cerifera). 45 Cecil Frost (personal communication) believes that the suppression or cessation of fire in the marshes is a major cause for the woody plant increase. The forested wetlands at the site support bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), water tupelo (Nyssa aguatica), black gum (Nyssa biflora), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), sweet gum (Liguidambar styraciflua), and red maple. The rare plant, epiphytic sedge (Carex decomposita) occurs on the border of the swamp forest. Two rare amphibians, little grass frog (Limnaoedus ocularis) and carpenter frog (Rana virgatipes) occur throughout the wetland. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary includes the wetland communities, the rare species, and upland buffer, Forested tracts adjacent to the areas surveyed in the field were delineated with NHAP color- infrared photograph #325-172 taken on 4/24/82. THREATS: Lack of regular burning is an indirect threat to the marsh vegetation. Without fire, woody species may supplant some of the rare herbaceous species. Common reed (Phragmites australis), a potentially aggressive grass, occurs in many of the marshes. In some parts ofthe Northwest River this grass does-not appear to be increasing, while in other sections it is forming large dense clones. This species should be closely monitored, and disturbances to the wetland vegetation - which favor the common reed - avoided. Logging does not seem to be an immediate threat due to the marginal condition of the wetland timber resource. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Introduce regular prescribed burning. Monitor woody species and common reed in the marsh. CURRENT STATUS: The site is in private ownership. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: The site is part of the Northwest River wetland ecosystem. Protection efforts here will contribute to the protection of a larger, more significant landscape unit. 46 k. BA M 'wel - -- ------- ------ -7 r _A@ EAKE ITY TUCK t @i STM NAmE: NORTHWEST RIVER MACROSITE - SMITH CREEK QUAMRA14=: MOYOCK SCALF- 1 ,24000 :000 :0()0 .000 0 2000 1000 5000 6(w 7000 FEET - /IRGINIA 7 1 KILOmFER ,uAczwirLz_ -CCAriON B" 47 DISMAL SWAMP MACROSITE - GREAT DISMAL SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFGE REFUGE SIZE: ca. 75,000 acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B2 LOCALITY: City of Chesapeake and City of Suffolk QUADRANGLE: LAKE DRUMMOND QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607654 CORAPEAKE 3607655 DEEP CREEK 3607663 LAKE DRUMMOND NW 3607664 SUFFOLK 3607665 BOWERS HILL 3607674 CHUCKATUCK 3607675 LOCATION: The site covers a vast area of land between Bowers Hill and Deep Creek to the north, US Rt. 17 to the east, the North Carolina line to the south, US routes 13/58/460 to the northwest, and Suffolk City routes 642 and 604 on the west. NATU RAL HERITAGE RESOURCE SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURRENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: POCOSIN SlS2 - A plants: ILEX CORIACEA BAY-GAIL HOLLY G5 S1 - U VIOLA ESCULENTA SALAD VIOLET G4G5 Sl - U TRILLIUM PUSILLUM DWARF TRILLIUM G3 S2 C2 - U LISTERA AUSTRALIS SOUTHERN TWAYBLADE G4 S2S3 - B animals: AMBYSTOMA MABEEI MABEES SALAMANDER G4 Sl LT x STEREOCHILUS MARGINATUS MANY-LINED SALAMANDER G5 S3 - C SIREN INTERMEDIA LESSER SIREN G5 SU - A LIMNOTHLYPIS SWAINSONII SWAINSON'S WARBLER G4 S2 - B SOREX LONGIROSTRIS DISMAL SWAMP SOUTH- FISHERI EASTERN SHREW G5T2 S2 LT LT A PLECOTUS RAFINESQUII EASTERN BIG-EARED BAT G4 Sl C2 LE C SYNAPTOMYS COOPERI DISMAL SWAMP SOUTHERN HEILALETES BOG LEMMING G5T3 S3 3C - A STYGOBROMUS ARAEUS AMPHIPOD G? S2 C2 - D CHLOROCHROA DISMALIA DISMAL SWAMP STINKBUG Gl Sl C2 - H NEONYMPHA AREOLATUS AREOLATUS DAMSELFLY G5T4 S2S4 - - U CORDULEGASTER OBLIQUUS ARROWHEAD SPIKETAIL G4 S1 - - B CORDULEGASTER FASCIATUS SPIKETAIL G2? Sl - - B EPITHECA COSTALIS DRAGONFLY G3G4 Sl - - B SOMATOCHLORA FILOSA DRAGONFLY G5 Sl - - U 48 S014ATOCHLORA PROVOCANS DRAGONFLY G3G4 Sl U LIBELLULA AURIPENNIS DRAGONFLY G5 Sl U MITOURA HESSELI HESSEL'S HAIRSTREAK G3G4 S2S3 3C A NASIAESCHNA PENTACANTHA CYRANO DARNER G5 Sl A SITE DESCRIPTION: The Great Dismal Swamp is by far the largest contiguous tract of forest in the coastal plain of Virginia. Most of the site is forested wetland occurring on organic soils overlying nearly impermeable sands and clays of the Yorktown Formation (Oaks and Whitehead, 1979). Just north of the middle of the swamp is a 3100 acre natural lake, Lake Drummond. The surrounding land is densely vegetated in various mesophytic and wetland plant communities. Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) once dominated much of the swamp, but today, due to various human perturbations, the dominant trees are redmaple (Acer rubr ) and black gum (Nyssa biflora). Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) was also more common historically, but now it is abundant only along the lake shore and open waterways. Other significant habitats of the Dismal Swamp include upland "islands", largely composed of American beech (Fagus grandifolia), tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), swamp white oak Quercus michauxii), and American holly (Ilex opaca). A few tracts of rare pocosin vegetation, dominated by pond pine (Pinus serotina), inkberry (Ilex glabra), and tall ericaceous shrubs, occur here, as do small, remnant areas of canebrake. Canebrakes historically covered much of the Dismal Swamp, reflecting a history of frequent fire. Many rare and noteworthy species inhabit the Dismal Swamp. The Dismal Swamp southeastern shrew (Sorex longirostris fisheri) is a federally threatened subspecies restricted to the Dismal Swamp area. Other local endemics include the southern bog lemming (Synaptomys cooperi haletes) and the Dismal Swamp short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda telmalestes). The Swamp provides a large amount of habitat for migrating birds, such as the declining neotropical-migrant species. The rare Swainson's warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii) is one of 84 bird species which breed here (Meanley, 1973). Black bears (Ursus americanus) are thriving in the Swamp. A population of the canebrake rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus atricaudatus), a state endangered subspecies, also occurs here. In spite of its rather prominent place in zoological discussions, information on invertebrate life remains scanty. The Dismal Swamp green stink bug (Chlorochroa dismalia) was described from a single specimen collected in 1938 and has not been seen since. Hessell's hairstreak (Mitoura hesselli), a rare moth that feeds on Atlantic white cedar, occurs here. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The boundary for this site includes all element occurrences and coincides with the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, to the North Carolina border. Adjacent private lands, not delineated, may need to be protected to mitigate impacts from off-site land use activities, 49 THREATS: Most of the remaining portion of Dismal Swamp is protected within the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. However, threats continue in the forms of altered hydrology, altered water quality, and disruption of a natural fire regime. Groundwater extraction is a potential threat of undetermined consequences. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Much has been written about management prescriptions for the Great Dismal Swamp (Oland, 1987). To the extent possible, the natural hydrologic regime should be restored. Also, regular prescribed burning would be very beneficial to a number of rare species, and to the fire-maintained plant communities such as pocosin and Atlantic white cedar swamp. CURRENT STATUS: Much of the area is protected within the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. A 43,200 acre tract within the refuge (encompassing Lake Drummond) was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1972. Significant privately owned tracts exist along the periphery and -north of the Feeder Canal. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: Protection efforts for privately owned tracts should continue, particularly along the Suffolk Escarpment. A full array of protection tools should be applied. REFERENCES: Frost, C.C., H.E. LeGrand, Jr., R.S. Schneider. 1990. Regional inventory for critical natural areas, wetland ecosystems, and endangered species habitats of the Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine region: Phase 1. A report to the Environmental Protection Agency. A/P Study Project No. 90-01. 462 pp. Levy, G.F. 1991. The vegetation of the Great Dismal Swamp: a review and an overview. Virginia J. Sci. 42:411-417. Meanley, B. 1973. Additional notes on Dismal Swamp birds. Raven 44:3-4. Meanley, B. 1979. An analysis of.the birdlife of the Dismal Swamp. Pages 261- 276 in P.W. Kirk, Jr., editor. The Great Dismal Swamp. University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville. Mitchell, J.C., and D. Schwab. 1991. Canebrake Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus- atricaudatus Latreille). Pages 462-464 in J.N. McDonald and T. Skware, editors. Virginia's Endangered Species: Proceedings of a Symposium / Coordinated by Karen Terwilliger. The McDonald and Woodward Publishing Co., Blacksburg, VA. Oaks, R.Q., Jr., and D.R. Whitehead. 1979. Geologic setting and origin of the Dismal Swamp, southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Pages 1- 24 in P.W. Kirk, Jr., editor. The Great Dismal Swamp. University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville. Oland, J.P. 1987. Forest management plan. unpublished report on file with the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Suffolk, VA. 129 pp. 50 Pague, C.A., and J.C. Mitchell. 1991 *Mabee's salamander (Ambystoma mabeei Bishop). Pages 427-429 in J.N. McDonald and T. Skware, editors. Virginia's Endangered Species: Proceedings of a Symposium / Coordinated by Karen Terwilliger. The McDonald and Woodward Publishing Co., Blacksburg, VA. Whitehead, D,R, and R.Q. Oaks, Jr. 1979. Developmental history of the Dismal Swamp. Pages 25-43 in P.W. Kirk, Jr., editor. The Great Dismal Swamp. University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville. 51 PORTSMOUTH GREAT DISMAL SWAMP National Wildlife Refuge 17 4t-4 04 @4 ffol sho" S Doch 9 Ditch Netv Ditchh Eptch 3, Lwch 104' Legend d li ROuge I leadquarter Sutfolk m X: 11oardwalk Fra i i Ditch Muniapall A,rpoff Rezuge L`.',tranc@ j%liddk DitcH 1, - A rea Ditch fikin.t: llikmg Im i I B-it Accv@, Area 0 4 M Miles (One-Way) Unpaved K,wd To Lake . P, N_ --' ' RefuTe mr 1) - 17 Mlk 3 Hea quarters m p'.,, Railrmd 17 k fnteryor Ditch Persimmts Ditch 1bd Smth Ditch syca@ ch E14-h ch, Virginia -.rt ja-r-0 I i n, a ----------- A Location Map DitC: 7- C@nzpwk, -4 Kim 4- P;0, Mai Z; 0 1 2 3 Miles Cm55 C"'A L N 2L 32 - - - South Mills Sunbury 17 ij I k 12, 52 DISMAL SWAMP MACROSITE - NORTHWEST SECTION SIZE: ca. 3,500 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B3 LOCALITY: City of Chesapeak e and City of Suffolk QUADRANGLE: Bowers Hill QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607674 Chuckatuck 3607675 LOCATION: The site includes the forested wetland and adjacent habitats bounded by US Routes 58/13/460 on the south, the Hampton Roads Airport and Willow Lakes development on the east, the Norfolk and Southern Railroad tracks on the north, and Virginia Route 337 on the west. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCE SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS- LEGAL OCCURRENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK animals: SOREX LONGIROSTRIS DISMAL SWAMP SOUTH- . FISHERI EASTERN SHREW G5T2 S2 LT LT A SYNAPTOMYS COOPERI DISMAL SWAMP SOUTHERN HEIALETES BOG LEMMING G5T3 S3 3C - A CROTALUS HORRIDUS ATRICAUDATUS CANEBRAKE RATTLESNAKE G5T5Q Sl LE B SITE DESCRIPTION: The site is an extension of the Great Dismal Swamp. Upland habitats support mixed pine-hardwood forest, Extensive wetland areas are dominated by black gum (Nyssa biflora), bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), and red maple (Acer rubr ). Three rare animal species occur here. The Dismal Swamp southeastern shrew (Sorex longirostris fisheri) population is one of only three known outside of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Densities of the shrew have been shown to be high in the early successional forests surrounding the airport (Padgett, 1991). The endemic southern bog lemming (SyLiaRtoLnys cooperi haletes) occupies graminoid habitats such as powerline rights-of-way, while the state-endangered canebrake rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus articaudatus) occurs throughout. Hunters who use the area reported several of these rattlesnakes during the 1980's (D. Schwab, pers. comm.), and therefore a viable population likely exists. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary includes all element-occurrences and a buffer of adjacent habitat which is needed to protect the ecological system. The forested areas included in the protection boundaries were delineated with NHAP color-infrared photographs taken in 1982- 1984* 53 THREATS: Threats are drainage and intensive timber management. This tract was ditched in the past, but a significant amount of wetland habitat remains relatively intact today. The canebrake rattlesnake continues to be threatened by deliberate killing. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Maintaining and enhancing the forest vegetation for the benefit of the rare species is a central management consideration. Large clear-cuts, fragmentation, and single-species plantations should be discouraged. Furthermore, the natural hydrology should be restored, to the extent possible. Fire was a natural disturbance at this site, and regular prescribed burning should be used to simulate, or approximate, original forest conditions. CURRENT STATUS: The tract is in private ownership. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: This site should be protected and managed to ensure the continued existence of the rare mammals. REFERENCES: Mitchell, J. C., and D. Schwab. 1991. Canebrake Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus atricaudatus Latreille). Pages 462-464 in J.N. McDonald and T. Skware, editors. Virginia's Endangered Species: Proceedings of a Symposium / Coordinated by Karen Terwilliger. The McDonald and Woodward Publishing Co., Blacksburg, VA. Padgett, T.M. 1991. The identification, distribution, and status of the threatened Dismal Swamp shrew (Sore longirostris fisheri). M.S. Thesis. Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. 59 pp. 54 S= NAME: DISMAL SWAMP MACROSITE - NORTHWEST SECTION QUACPANZZ: BOWERS HILL AND CHUCKATUCK SCALE 1:24000 I MILE. 40nO scoo 6000 7@ IfFl CIE- .......... 2, .1,4RGINIA JUADPANGLE LOCATION % f Ln ;7 o bc f I IS M.A L, Si-A -jo 4, .'rs, DIS14AL SWA14P MACROSITE - SMITH RIDGE SIZE: ca. 2,500 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B4 LOCALITY: City of Chesapeake QUADRANGLE: Lake Drummond, SE QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607653 LOCATION/DIRECTIONS: From U.S. Route 17, take a farm road approximately 2 miles north of the North Carolina/Virginia state line. Drive east across the farm until a north-south ditch is encountered. Drive south until a road across the ditch is reached, The site is bounded to the north by upland vegetation, to the west by the ditch, to the south by another ditch and the state line, and to the east by the U. S. Naval Reservation. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCE SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS- LEGAL OCCURRENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK plants: ILEX CORIACEA BAY-GAIL HOLLY G5 Sl - U CHAMAECYPARIS THYOIDES ATLANTIC WHITE CEDAR G5 S2 - B animals: SOREX LONGIROSTRIS DISMAL SWAMP SOUTH- FISHERI EASTERN SHREW G5T2 S2 LT LT B CROTALUS HORRIDUS ATRICAUDATUS CANEBRAKE RATTLESNAKE G5T5Q Sl LE B SITE DESCRIPTION: The presettlement vegetation at this site was probably a mosaic of Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) swamp and canebrake. Some small areas of pond pine (Pinus serotina) - Atlantic white cedar pocosin and remanant stands of cane (Arundinaria gigantea) remain today amid deciduous swamp vegetation dominated by sweet gum (LiguidambaK styraciflua) and red maple (Acer rubrum). Logging took place at the turn of the century, and again about 55 years ago. Large ditches were dug around the periphery, but several square miles in the center of the natural habitat remain unditched. In addition to the significant communities, the area supports one of only four known populations of the Dismal Swamp southeastern shrew (Sore longirostris fisheri). Canebrake rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus atricaudatus) occur throughout the forest and are reported to be fairly common by hunters and workers on the adjacent naval reservation. 'BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The boundary includes all element occurrences, p lus buffer to mitigate impacts from off-site land uses. NHAP color-infrared photographs taken in 1982 were used to delineate the site boundary. 56 THREATS: A large tract on the western border the site was converted to farmland during the 1980's. The same farm is currently proposed as a site for a regional landfill. Intensive timber management and increased drainage threaten the forest communities and the rare species. The distinctive pocosin vegetation is dependent on fire, so fire suppression constitutes a threat. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Maintenance or restoration of a natural hydrological regime and the reintroduction of fire are.necessary to maintain the existing element occurrenes. Senseless killing of canebrake rattlesnakes by outdoor recreationists should be strongly discouraged. CURRENT STATUS.: A small portion of this site is in public ownership. Most of the site is in private ownership. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: Any of several protection tools should be used to protect the natural heritage resources. The status of the proposed regional landfill should be closely monitored. REFERENCES: Frost, C.C. 1989. History and status of remnant pocosin, canebrake and white cedar wetlands in Virginia. Unpublished rep. on file with the Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Richmond. 130 pp. Mitchell, J. C., and D. Schwab. 1991. Canebrake Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus atricaudatus Latreille). Pages 462-464 in J.N. McDonald and T. Skware, editors. Virginia's Endangered Species: Proceedings of a Symposium / Coordinated by Karen Terwilliger. The McDonald and Woodward Publishing Co., Blacksburg, VA. Rose, R. K, T. Padgett, and C. A. Pague. 1988. Status survey of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals of Naval Security Group Activity Northwest, Chesapeake, Virginia. Unpublished rep. on file with the Atlantic Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Norfolk, VA. 66 pp. 57 ------------ ----------- ------------- "N -Z -7 .7 ------------ 7_- z aid- S= HAM: DISMAL SQAMP MACROSITE - SMITH RIDGE QUAMRANCU: LAKE DRUMMOND, SE SCALE ':_2d000 i0oo .1 :000 :3w .000 iow '100 _EE_. 58 SEASHORE STATE PARK AND NATURAL AREA SIZE: 2220 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B2 LOCALITY: City of Virginia Beach QUADRANGLE: Cape Henry QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607681 LOCATION: The site encompasses Seashore State Park and Natural Area at Cape Henry. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: OLIGOTROPHIC FOREST - - S4 - - A OLIGOTROPHIC WOODLAND - - S2? - BC OLIGOTROPHIC SCRUB - - S2? - - B DWARF SCRUB - - Sl? - - BC MID-HEIGHT HERBACEOUS UPLAND VEGETATION - S3 - - B OLIGOTROPHIC SEMIPERMANENTLY FLOODED PALUSTRINE FOREST S3? - - A OLIGOTROPHIC SEMIPERMANENTLY FLOODED PALUSTRINE SCRUB S3? - - B OLIGOTROPHIC SATURATED PALUSTRINE FOREST S2? - - BC plants: CAREX WALTERIANA WALTER'S SEDGE G4 SlS2 - - B CHAMAECYPARIS THYOIDES ATLANTIC WHITE CEDAR G4 S2 - - C DESMODIUM STRICTUM PINELAND TICK-TREFOIL G2G4 S2 - - D EUPHORBIA AMMANOIDES A SPURGE G3G4 S2 - - U GALIUM HISPIDULUM COAST BEDSTRAW G5 SlS2 - - U HYDROCOTYLE BONARIENSIS A PENNYWORT G5 S1 - - C IVA IMBRICATA SEA-COAST MARSH-ELDER G5? S1S2 - - OSMANTHUS AMERICANUS WILD OLIVE G5 Sl - - AB PHYSALIS VISCOSA STICKY GROUND-CHERRY G4G5 S2 - - C PSILOCARYA SCIRPOIDES LONG-BEAKED BALDRUSH G4 Sl - - U QUERCUS HEMISPHAERICA DARLINGTON'S OAK G5 S2 - - U QUERCUS INCANA BLUE-JACK OAK G5 S2 - - A QUERCUS MARGARETTAE SAND POST OAK G5 S2 - - BC STIPULICIDA SETACEA PINELAND SCALY-PINK G4G5 S1 - - BC TILLANDSIA USNEOIDES SPANISH MOSS G5 S2S3 - - A UTICULARIA GEMINISCAPA HIDDEN-FRUITED BLADDERWORT G4G5 S2 - - U UTRICULARIA PURPUREA PURPLE BLADDERWORT G5 S2 - - U animals: BRACHYMESIA GRAVIDA FOUR-SPOTTED PENNANT G5 Sl - - DEIROCHEYS RETICULARIA EASTERN CHICKEN TURTLE G5T5 Sl - LE A EPITHECA COSTALIS A BASKETTAIL G3G4 Sl - RANA VIRGATIPES CARPENTER FROG G5 S3 - - A SATYRIUM KINGI KING'S HAIRSTREAK G3G4 S2S3 - - B 59 Note: Additional rare species have been reported, but these have not been reverified SITE DESCRIPTION: This site contains a superlative natural area with many exemplary plant communities and rare species. Sandy beaches, dune grasslands, live oak (Quercus virginiana) scrub, mature upland forest, bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) swamps, evergreen bay swamps, and interdunal ponds provide a variety of habitats for rare and unusual species, most of which are at or near their northern range limits here. Campsites, beaches, a nature center, and an extensive trail system afford many and varied recreational opportunities. The flora, fauna, and natural vegetation have been very well documented as a result of recent biological inventories. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary coincides with the State Park boundary. This is justified because the state park is surrounded by developed or intensively utilized land. THREATS-: Expansion of recreational facilities would likely degrade the remaining coastal dune grassland and live oak thicket. Another threat is dune stabilization. In its original state, Cape Henry was an integrated landscape unit that was shaped by continuous dune formation. Presently, seaside roads and buildings, particularly at Fort Story Military Reservation, have all but halted the natural growth and spread of dunes, resulting in the rapid succession to woody vegetation. Species demanding open sandy habitats are therefore at risk because these habitats are not being replenished. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Successful management of the natural heritage resources here will rely upon careful monitoring of species population status and studies of habitat utilization. The on-going study of the eastern chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia) is exemplary in this regard. The study showed that this rare turtle depends upon a variety of habitats at Seashore State Park. The feeding, nesting, and over-wintering habitats must each be protected. Monitoring programs for some of the more sensitive plants should be initiated. For instance, pennywort (Hydrocotylg bonariensis), may or may not be vulnerable to camp ground disturbance. Is the plant there because of the disturbance, or in spite of the disturbance? What should be done to enhance this population? CURRENT STATUS: The site is in public ownership; most of the area is managed as a natural area within a registered National Natural Landmark. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: The current balance between recreational use and natural area protection should be maintained. General management/protection recommendations from Clampitt et al. (1992) include; 1) protect groundwater quality and hydrology, 2) direct and control human access and use to minimize environmental disruption, 3) control exotic species, 4) monitor and manage natural heritage resources, and 5) continue research efforts. 60 REFERENCES: Clampitt, C.A. 1-991. The upland plant communities of Seashore State Park, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Virginia J. Sci. 42:419-435. Clampitt, G.A., K.A. Buhlmann, J.C. Ludwig, C.A. Caljouw, C.A. Pague, and M.L. Lipford. 1992. An inventory of the natural communities, and rare, threatened and endangered species of Seashore State Park and Natural Area, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Natural Heritage Tech. Rep. # 92-17. Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, Div. of Natural Heritage, Richmond. Egler, F.E. 1942. Checklist of the ferns and flowering plants of the Seashore State Park, Cape Henry, Virginia. New York State College of Forestry, Syracuse, NY. 60 pp. Fernald, M.L. 1935. Midsummer vascular plants of southeastern Virginia. Rhodora 37:278-413, 423-454. Fernald, M.L. and L. Griscom. 1935. Three days of botanizing in southeastern Virginia. Rhodora 37:128-157, 167-189. Wright,, J.B., L.J. Musselman, G.F. Levy, and J.L. Kernell. 1990. The vascular flora of Seashore State Park, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Rhodora 92:90-102. 61 k T A. PCI @T4 OF Xf I t ly,f W. -Y I I %f 4m." It I I' If, I I,,` I V f f 1, it 1 1'0, iv:, It iQ1 I I@l #If If If I If I, WIT '7* 11 ilIIJ ;14 1 IN IV t A ",J j VV! 4qN., Wr T 4t 14 FALSE CAPE STATE PARK SIZE: ca. 1750 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B2 LOCALITY: City of Virginia Beach QUADRANGLE: Knotts Island QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607558 North Bay 3607568 LOCATION: The site includes all of False Cape State Park which is located north of the North Carolina state line and south of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURRENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: LOW HERBACEOUS PALUSTRINE WETLAND - - - - A MID-HEIGHT HERBACEOUSUPLAND VEGETATION - - - - A OLIGOTROPHIC FOREST - - - - A OLIGOTROPHIC SCRUB - - - - U plants: ASTER ELLIOTTII ELLIOTT'S ASTER G3G4 Sl - - B CAREX RENIFORMIS RENIFORM SEDGE G4? Sl - - H DICHROMENA COLORATA WHITE-TOPPED SEDGE G4G5 Sl - - AB ELEOCHARIS HALOPHILA SALT-MARSH SPIKERUSH G4 Sl - - C ELEOCHARIS RADICANS ROOTED SPIKERUSH G5 Sl - - H ELEOCHARIS ROSTELLATA BEAKED SPIKERUSH G5 Sl - - C ERIGERON VERNUS WHITE TOP FLEABANE G5 Sl - - AB EUPHORBIA AMMANNOIDES A SPURGE G3G4 Sl - - B FIMBRISTYLIS CAROLINIANA CAROLINA FIMBRY G4 Sl - - C GALIUM HISPIDULUM COAST BEDSTRAW G5 S2 - - H HETEROTHECA GOSSIPYNA COTTONY GOLDEN ASTER G5 Sl - - A IRESINE RHIZAMATOSA EASTERN BLOODLEAF G5 S1S2 - - H IVA IMBRICATA SEA-COAST MARSH-ELDER G5? SlS2 - - A JUNCUS ELLIOTTII BOG RUSH G4G5 SlS2 - - C JUNCUS MEGACEPHALUS BIG-HEAD RUSH G4G5 S2 - - A LILAEOPSIS CAROLINENSIS CAROLINA LILAEOPSIS G3 Sl - - A LIMOSELLA SUBULATA MUDWORT G4 Sl - - H LIPPIA NODIFLORA NODDING FROG-FRUIT G5 Sl - - C LOBELIA ELONGATA ELONGATED LOBELIA G3G5 Sl - - B LUDWIGIA ALATA WINCED SEEDBOX G3G4 Sl - - D LUDWIGIA BREVIPES LONG BEACH SEEDBOX G4G5 S2 - - A PASPALUM DISTICHUM JOINT PASPALUM G5 Sl - - C PHALARIS CAROLINIANA MAY GRASS G5? Sl - - H PHYSALIS VISCOSA STICKY GROUND-CHERRY G4G5 S2 - - B QUERCUS HEMISPHAERICA DARLINGTON'S OAK G5 S2 - - A 63 RHYNCHOSPORA FASCICULARIS FASCICULATE BEAKRUSH G5 S2 A SPIRANTHES ODORATA SWEETSCENT IADIES'- TRESSES G5 S2 C TILIANDSIA USNEOIDES SPANISH MOSS G5 S2 B VACCINIUM MACROPCARPON LARGE CRANBERRY G4 S2S1 C animals: ARDEA HERODIAS GREAT BLUE HERON G5 S3 U CARETTA CARRETA LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE G3 SlS2 LT LT U IXOBRYCHUS EXILIS LEAST BITTERN G5 S2 U OPHISAURUS VENTRALIS EASTERN GLASS LIZARD G5 Sl U PEROMYSCUS LEUCOPUS EASTI PUNGO MOUSE G5Tl Sl C2 U SITE DESCRIPTION: False Cape State Park is managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's Division of State Parks. The Park is without question an ecological treasure, and represents one of the most significant undisturbed barrier beach systems along the Atlantic coast. The northern portion of the Park is somewhat disturbed, however, as a result of intensive wildlife management practices. The vegetation forms complex patterns of interdigitating zones. Beyond the unvegetated sandy beach lies a primary dune dominated by sea oats (Uniola paniculata). The next zone is dominated by beach grass (Ammophila breviligulata), beach panic grass (Panic amarum), seabeach evening primrose (Oenother humifusa), and spurge (Eul)horbia polygonifolia). Toward the center, a dune and swale topography creates alternating upland and wetland habitats. Active dunes here are sparsely vegetated with beach heather (Hudsonia tomentosa) and other species tolerant of the very dry, shifting sand environment. Seasonally-inundated pools, known as interdunal swales, contain a very rich assemblage of plant life. Prevalent species in these wetlands are narrow-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia-tenuifolia), Carolina willow (Salix caroliniana), beak-rushes (Rhynchospora spp.), and the carnivorous plant, spatulate-leaved sundew (Drosera intermedia). Tyndall and Levy (1978) provide an excellent description of the swale vegetation. Dune scrub thickets with live oak Quercus virginiana), waxmyrtle (Llyrica cerifera), and bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) are common between thehigh dunes and low swales. A large and somewhat interrupted maritime forest dominated by loblolly pine (Pintis taeda) and live oak is interspersed with dune thicket vegetation. The maritime forest is one of the region's finest. Swamp forests with diverse woody vegetation grade into the marshes of Back Bay. The marsh vegetation indicates somewhat brackish conditions, and a variety of dominance types exist. Prevalent marsh species include big cordgrass (Spartina cyLlosuroides), narrow-leaved cattail (TYRha angustifolia), Olney's bulrush (Scirpus olneyi), common reed (Phragmites australis), and black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus). The botanical significance of False Cape was first noted by M.L. Fernald (1935; 1936; 1940; 1947) Presently, the large number of rare plant species recorded from the Park confirms Fernald's assessment; very few areas of similar size in Virginia can boast such a richness of rare plants (29 species 64 in all). Furthermore, most of the rare plant populations at False Cape are thriving, as indicated by the numerous occurrence ranks of A and B in the natural heritage resources summary table, shown above. Rare animals include Virginia's only breeding site for the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), one of four sites in the world for the Pungo mouse (PeroMyscus leucopus easti), and the only known Virginia population of eastern glass lizards (ORhisaurus ventralis). BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary for this site includes all of False Cape State Park. THREATS: Common reed may pose a threat to some of the the rare marsh plants. This grass quickly invades disturbed wetlands and has formed dense, scattered stands throughout the Park's marshes. Rare plants of the interdunal swales might be threatened by rooting activities of feral hogs, and grazing by deer and horses. These impacts are currently being assessed. A long-term threat to the herbaceous vegetation and its rare plants is succession to scrub and forest vegetation. Observations suggest that sand movement and dune migration are critical processes which maintain the open, herbaceous vegetation. Any activities which interfere with these natural processes (such as berm construction) therefore constitute serious threats. A final threat may be generally referred to as land use. False Cape State Park has tremendous recreational development potential, but intensified human use would likely place the natural heritage resources at greater risk. Fortunately, the current level of recreational use does not appear to threaten the long-term maintenance of natural heritage resources at the site. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: To reduce the threat of common reed expansion, mechanical disturbance to wetland habitats should be kept at a minimum or avoided altogether; such disturbance is favorable to the rapid spread of this invasive plant. Common reed should be closely monitored. Feral hog impacts are not precisely known, but since the hogs (and horses) are not native to the barrier beach ecosystem, their activities may threaten the natural heritage resources. Currently, recreational hunting is being used to keep the hog population in check, and we recommend that this activity be continued. Adjustment to the hunting regulations may be necessary if intensified hog impacts threaten the rare plants at the site. Lastly, the interdunal swales should be monitored to determine if the herbaceous species are threatened by succession.to woody vegetation. CURRENT STATUS: False Cape State Park is managed as a park for nature study and low-impact recreation. A small number of buildings including a contact station, park personnel dwellings, and an environmental education center are located within the park. The northern portion of the site has been somewhat disturbed to enhance waterfowl habitat. The remainder of the site is remarkably pristine, except for a few sand roads, trails, and a powerline right-of-way. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: Maintain current type and intensity of land use. 65 REFERENCES: Fernald, M.L. 1935. Midsummer vascular plants of Southeastern Virginia. Rhodora 37:378-414, 423-454. Fernald, M.L. 1936. Plants from the outer coastal plain of Virginia. Rhodora 38:376-404, 414-452. Fernald, M.L. 1940. A century of additions to the flora of Virginia. Rhodora 42: 355-416, 419-498, 503-521. Fernald, M.L. 1947. Additions to and subtractions from the flora of Virginia. Rhodora 49:85-115, 121-142, 145-159, 175-194. Frost, C.C. 1989. History and status of remnant pocosin, canebrake and white cedar wetlands in Virginia. Unpublished report on file with the Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Richmond. 130 pp. Ludwig, J.C., J.B. Wright, and N.E. Van Alstine. 1990. The rare plants of False Cape State Park, Virginia Beach City, Virginia. Pages 249-256 in H.G. Marshall and M.D. Norman, editors. Proceedings of the Back Bay Ecological Symposium, Virginia Beach, 1990. Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA. Tyndall, R.W., and G.F. Levy. 1978. Plant distribution and succession within interdunal depressions on a Virginia barrier dune system. J.Elisha Mitchell Sci.-Soc. 94:1-15. 66 I?oqge IsIbnd FcSp a IS Cedar C& e Island 3ACK, BAY u Little Cedar TA PC8 Island Sodgb holand F @80 ckle and a Fcs VIR u to STIE NAME: FALSE CAPE STATE PARK QUNXM@: NORTH BAY AND KNOTTS ISLAND KILOMETERS 1 0 1 2 3 4 VIRGINIA MILES 1 0 1 2 OUADRANGLE LOCATION 67 NORTH LANDING RIVER MACROSITE - SOUTHERN MARSHES. SIZE: ca. 3570 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B3 LOCALITY: City of Virginia Beach QUADRANGLE: Creeds QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607651 LOCATION: The site includes the wetland on west side of the North Landing River, mostly east of Blackwater Road; north of the North Carolina border, and south of the Blackwater River. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURRENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: MID-HEIGHT HERBACEOUS PALUSTRINE WETLAND - B plants: CIADIUM JAMACIENSIS SAWGRASS G5 Sl - - B CHAMAECYPARIS THYOIDES ATLANTIC WHITE CEDAR G4 S2 - - D LOBELIA ELONGATA ELONGATED LOBELIA G3G5 Sl - - A LUDWIGIA ALATA WINGED SEEDBOX G3G4 Sl - - B PHYSOSTEGIA LEPTOPHYLLA SLENDER-LEAVED DRAGON- HEAD G4G5 S2 C2 - A SPIRANTHES ODORATA SWEETSCENT LADIES'- TRESSES G5 S2 - B STEWARTIA MAJACHODENDRON SILKY CAMELIA G4 S2 - B SITE DESCRIPTION: The site experiences regular water level fluctuations resulting from wind tides and is part of the large wetland ecosystem along the North Landing River. The water is fresh to very-slightly brackish. Plant species diversity is very high, and wetland vegetation types form a complex mosaic. Marsh vegetation is dominated by robust emergents such as big cordgrass (SRartina cynosuroides), common reed (Phragmites australis), broad-leaf cattail (Typha latifolia), narrow-leaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus), and the rare sawgrass (Cladi Jamaciensia). Areas of low marsh contain a diverse mix of plants, including several rare species. Many of the marshes are being invaded by woody species such as red maple (Acer rubrum), swamp rose (Rosa palustris), and waxmyrtle (ftrica cerifera). Cecil Frost, who studied this wetland system, believes that the lack of frequent fire in the marshes is a major reason for the woody plant increase (personal communication). 68 The swamp forests are characterized by bald cypress (Taxodi distichum), black gum (Nyssa biflora), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), sweet gum (Liguidambax: styraciflua), and red maple. Some upland forest is included in this site, providing habitat for the rare shrub, silky camellia (Stewartia malachodendron). BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary includes the community, rare species, and buffer necessary to mitigate imapcts from off- site land uses. Areas not field-checked were delineated using NHAP color- infrared photograph #313-147 taken on 4/2/82. THREATS: Common reed, which can be invasive, may be threatening the natural vegetation of the marshes. Logging threatens the forest vegetation. Woody species encroachment into the marsh, possibly resulting from less frequent fire, is cause for concern. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Monitor woody species and common reed in the marsh. Prescribed burning should be conducted on a regular basis. CURRENT STATUS: The site is in private ownership. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: This site is part of the significant North Landing River ecosystem, and protection actions here will have direct bearing on the larger landscape unit. 69 na9y Grov At- 'Blackwam A' ,fA f 0 LZ -@A J Zt r Liaht \3 to 7. Bla k..te Ch @7 e- It pilis. jili% pj \.Ught 2 T, nne 40 A Z. kri, .1ml -@ARQVNA@- -T T TVT s NAME: NORTH LANDING RIVER MACROSITE SOUTHERN MARSHES QUAMMi=: CREEDS SCALE 1 24000 low 0 IL-00 2" ow 40OU %W 60W I.Lv IfEl ')UA0Pf?1GLE LOCATION 70 NORTH LANDING RIVER MACROSITE NORTH LANDING RIVER NATURAL AREA PRESERVE SIZE: 1900 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B3 LOCALITY: City of Virginia Beach QUADRANGLE: Creeds QUADRANGLE CODE:3607651. Pleasant Ridge 3607661 LOCATION: The site lies to the north and south of Pungo Ferry Road, west of North Landing River. It is bordered to the north by a large creek channel (locally referred to as Alton's Creek). The western boundary more or less follows the edge of upland vegetation. The southern border is Blackwater Creek, and the eastern borderis the North Landing River. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURRENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: MID-HEIGHT HERBACEOUS PALUSTRINE WETIAND - B OLIGOTROPHIC SATURATED PALUSTRINE WOODLAND - - B plants: ASTER ELLIOTTII ELLIOTT'S ASTER G3G4 Sl - - H CLADIUM JAMACIENSIS SAWGRASS G5 S1 - - B CHAMAECYPARIS THYOIDES ATLANTIC WHITE CEDAR G4 S2 - - B ELEOCHARIS ROSTELLATA BEAKED SPIKERUSH G5 Sl - - H JUNCUS MEGACEPHALUS BIG-HEAD RUSH G4G5 S2 - - H KALMIA ANGUSTIFOLIA SHEEP-LAUREL G5 S2S3 - - AB LOBELIA ELONGATA ELONGATED LOBELIA G3G5 S1 - - A LUDWIGIA AIATA WINGED SEEDBOX G3G4 S1 - H PHYSOSTEGIA LEPTOPHYLLA SLENDER-LEAVED DRAGON- HEAD G4G5 S2 C2 - A SPIRANTHES ODORATA SWEETSCENT LADIES'- TRESSES G5 S2 - B VACCINIUM MACROCARPON LARGE CRANBERRY G4 S2 - H animals: IXOBRYCHUS EXILIS LEAST BITTERN G5 S2 - U SITE DESCRIPTION: Pungo Ferry Road bisects the site and affords a marvelous e pportunity to observe the gradient of wetland vegetation. Dense, nearly impenetrable pocosin gives way to palustrine scrub, and then to robust mergent marsh bordering the North Landing River. The pocosin is one of Virginia's finest examples. It has burned frequently in the past and presently supports a woodland dominated by pond pine (Pinus serotina), tall ericaceous shrubs, and Virginia chain-fern (Anchistea virginica). The marshes 71 are exposed to water level fluctuations resulting from wind tides, and the water is fresh to very-slightly brackish. The upland forest at the site appears to be unusual and is worthy of further study. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary includes the communities and rare species within the Natural Area Preserve. Large units of wetland immediately to the north and south of the site are not included in the site boundary because these areas, North Pocosin and Southern Marshes, respectively, are described as separate sites in this report. THREATS: The lack of fire is the major threat to the rare pocosin vegetation. Also,, road maintenance or expansion constitute threats if accompanied by perturbations to the natural hydrology of the wetland. Common reed (Phragmites australis), an aggressive grass, occurs along Pungo Ferry Road and in a large area south of the road, "where it is going great guns" (Chris Clampitt, personal communication). MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Develop and implement a prescribed burning management plan to maintain the distinctive pocosin vegetation and its rare species . Monitor the rare species populations and the spread of common reed CURRENT STATUS: The site managed as a natural area preserve by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's Division of Natural Heritage. The Preserve is a dedicated natural area, which provides the strongest level of protection to natural heritage resources through formal recognition and stringent legal safeguards against conversion to inappropriate uses. Additional lands are privately owned. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: Protection of the adjacent wetland and upland areas would contribute to forming a larger, more viable and defensible, natural area preserve. Impacts from surrounding agricultural lands can be mitigated by encouraging sound soil and water management practices. REFERENCES: Caljouw, C.A. and S. Hobbs. 1991. Management plan for the North Landing River Preserve System. unpublished rep. on file with the Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, Div. of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 13 pp. Frost, C.C. 1989. History and status of remnant pocosin, canebrake and white cedar wetlands in Virginia. Unpublished report on file with the Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Richmond. 130 pp. 72 It 44 14414 4"'I'l 411 if PL4 lilt 11 4 I 41 cl f E- '1114 4 4 r17 jp Ait,I It 14. - pq f wit 14, it 4. f (f 04144 Hilt 141 4 14, if 414It It 14 4 4t 1,14, T IT 4, 4 4"4 14 14 1 1.14 14 41441, 14 if '111 4 ,4 44 4441 4 V4 4 14 414 4 1114 14 4,141 1 if. if 14 #14 1.4 '41 U 4 4-1,11 4 4 1414144 4-4 if It '4j If 4 14 j 4fillill 114 4 4414 It 4, 441 4 4 4T4 1if 11 10 4 1,. 41414 9 114 4 it 4 4 414 4 44 4t4l4i 4044oilll 4 14 44' 4 1 14 @ 1 1. 4 4114 14 "1 q -I I IF l t4 tilt 4 44 1#414q4 4 4 T414 1 141 41t 4 14 -414 4 t 41 ,, 4 14. 4144 It 0 4 4 4 4 it #If 41 4411 -14 41 4- 4 44 414 14 iv4141 11141, 4 E-1 I f IT 4144 4 1414 1-1 C/) 4444it If4 if 1 14 4 jt, i I 4 1414 4, 0114,4 41 4 1 1 1414 14 #1* 4 4 44#1 14 14 14 41 '44 11414'40`1t14 If 41 4114,q, 4'4 j 14 4 1 4 0 W 14 1Al 14 4 14 4, 14 14 4 It4it 14 14 I ITilt 414 1 41141 tv410 11 1 4 1#4 f If 1444, 4 14 11 44 1440 ii I # 41 .ow 114 1 14 4 14,4 41 11 fl 14" 44 1j" I 4 it > 4 It 4it 4, 0 14 .441 f 4 lo I it# W 0 4 4441,14IT 17 4f 14,44 'r 41# -1441 "1 If I- , k 0 1--l 4.44 Zo 14 4 it CIO 44.f -@j j -...- 4@1@14 1 1.4 cn 0-1 -#451 if 1 4- 14, 7-V 10 Rip @10 NORTH LANDING RIVER MACROSITE - NORTH POCOSIN SIZE: ca. 2700 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B3 LOCALITY: City of Virginia Beach QUADRANGLE: Pleasant Ridge QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607661 LOCATION: The site embraces a large wetland situated west of the North Landing River, south of the Pocaty River, and north of the North Landing River Natural Area Preserve. The western boundary roughly coincides with the edge of the upland vegetation, NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES SUMMARY-TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURRENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: MID-HEIGHT HERBACEOUS PALUSTRINE WETLAND B OLIGOTROPHIC SATURATED PALUSTRINE WOODLAND A plants: CAREX WALTERIANA A SEDGE G4 SlS2 - - B CLADIUM JAMACIENSIS SAWGRASS G5 Sl - - B CLEISTES DIVARICATA SPREADING POGONIA G4 SlS2 - - D CHAMAECYPARIS THYOIDES ATLANTIC WHITE CEDAR G4 S2 - - B KALKIA ANGUSTIFOLIA SHEEP-LAUREL G5 S2S3 - - A LOBELIA ELONGATA ELONGATED LOBELIA G3G5 Sl - - A PHYSOSTEGIA LEPTOPHYLLA SLENDER-LEAVED DRAGON- HEAD G4G5 S2 c2 - A VACCINIUM MACROCARPON LARGE CRANBERRY G4 S2 - H SITE DESCRIPTION: This site is noteworthy for its low pocosin, a peatland community locally referred to as "juniper bog". This community is extremely rare in Virginia. It is characterized by rare orchids and sedges, knee-high heaths, and young Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) trees. Surrounding the low pocosin is an extensive area of forested pocosin dominated by pond pine (Pinus serotina), high-bush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbos ), laurel-leaf greenbrier (Smilax laurifolia), and Virginia chain-fern (Anchistea virginica). Frequent fire has played an important ecological role in maintaining these pocosin communities, and regular prescribed burning will be required in the future. Elsewhere on the site, robust emergent marsh, shrub swamp, and deciduous swamp forest vegetation exist. Much of the area has not been explored on foot due to the extremely thick vegetation. 74 BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary includes all element occurrences and their habitat, and a limited amount of buffer land. Large units of wetland immediately to the north and south of the site are not included in the site boundary because these areas, North Pocaty and North Landing River Natural Area Preserve, respectively, are described as separate sites in this report. Lands not surveyed in the field were delineated using NHAP color-infrared photograph #313-149 taken on 4/2/82. THREATS: Lack of fire is the major threat to the rare pocosin vegetation. Additional threats are any perturbations to the natural hydrology of the wetland, such as ditching. Common reed (Phragmites australis), a potentially aggressive grass, might have a negative impact in the marshes. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Develop and implement a prescribed burning management plan to maintain the distinctive pocosin vegetation and its rare species. Monitor rare species populations and the spread of common reed. CURRENT STATUS: The site is in private ownership. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: Protection of this site would contribute significantly to forming a larger, more viable-and defensible, natural area preserve along the North Landing River. Impacts from surrounding agricultural lands can be mitigated by encouraging sound soil and water management practices. REFERENCES: Frost, C.C. 1989. History and status of remnant pocosin, canebrake and white cedar wetlands in Virginia. Unpublished report on file with the Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Richmond. 110 pp* 75 1.4 0 1 It 41 44 4 It 4 4 4 4 4 1 4 4 44 4 4 4 4 4 1 4 4 vOi I A 4 f 4 1 4, af 4 ikivt NORTH LANDING RIVER MACROSITE - WEST NECK CREEK SIZE: ca. 4500 Acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B3 LOCALITY: City of Virginia Beach QUADRANGLE: Pleasant Ridge QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607661 Creeds 3607651 LOCATION: The site includes the wetland and adjacent forested upland on the east side of the North Landing River and both sides of West Neck Creek, west of Princess Anne Road, north of the Pungo Ferry Road, and south of Indian River Road. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES.-SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURRENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: MID-HEIGHT HERBACEOUS PALUSTRINE WETLAND - B OLIGOTROPHIC SATURATED PALUSTRINE FOREST - B plants: CAREX DECOMPOSITA EPIPHYTIC SEDGE G3G4 Sl 3C - C CIADIUM JAMACIENSIS SAWGRASS G5 Sl - - B CHAMAECYPARIS THYOIDES ATLANTIC WHITE CEDAR G4 S2 - - B LILAEOPSIS CAROLINENSIS CAROLINA LILAEOPSIS G3 Sl - - D LOBELIA ELONGATA ELONGATED LOBELIA G3G5 Sl - - A PASPALUM DISTICHUM JOINT PASPALUM G5 Sl - - C PHYSOSTEGIA LEPTOPHYLLA SLENDER-LEAVED DRAGON- HEAD G4G5 S2 C2 - A STEWARTIA MALACHODENDRON SILKY CAMELIA G4 S2 - B SITE DESCRIPTION: This site, like others along the North Landing River, experiences water level fluctuations resulting from wind tides. The water is fresh to very-slightly brackish. Plant species richness is quite high, and several vegetation types exist; marsh, shrub swamp, deciduous swamp forest, and Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) swamp. The cedar swamp is particularly significant because it represents a regionally rare vegetation type much reduced from its former extent. A population of the globally-rare epiphytic sedge (Carex decomposita) occurs in the swamps along West Neck Creek. Some upland forest habitat, occurring as islands amid the vast swamp, supports the rare shrub, silky camellia (Stewartia malachodendron). BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary includes the communities, rare species, and a limited amount of upland buffer. This site represents a critical unit of land within this large North Landing River wetland ecosystem. 77 THREATS: The lack of fire is a major threat to the rare marsh and Atlantic white cedar vegetation. Additional threats are salt water intrusion and any perturbations to the natural hydrology of the wetland, such as ditching. Common reed (Phragmites australis), a potentially aggressive grass species, might have a negative impact. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: The marshes and cedar swamp communities require periodic fire for their long-term maintenance. Develop and implement a prescribed burning management plan. Monitor rare species populations and the spread of common reed. CURRENT STATUS: The site is in private ownership. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: Protection of this site would help form a larger, more viable and defensible natural area preserve along the North Landing River. Impacts from surrounding agricultural lands should be mitigated by encouraging sound.soil and water management practices. REFERENCES: Frost, C.C. 1989. History and status of remnant pocosin, canebrake and white. cedar wetlands in Virginia. Unpublished report on file with the Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Richmond. 130 pp., 78 ('41WIL11 Udy YtjUjJ ,if, ungo tit -ell Aw- --ft -,a, NORTH 40. IZZ t4c-@ ALBOM 9,0 j cz Ol ni A AI.V ld e AR wley -4 orners @T UAI AUGlf, th La ng_Bivee- 4@_ s RD Bac WNEY REE 134LIk Ebay ROMI RD mose point Drum Point L uA,.J_. 7_ RI ER 4i@ -Ab. - calnpl LL adir ct A _OlAfft@a S= NAM: NORTH LANDING RIVER MACROSITE WEST NECK CREEK QUACRAN=: CREEDS AND PLEASANT RIDGE KILOMETERS 1 2 3 5 (1 4 MILES I C, 3 QUADRAtIGLE LOCATION 79 NORTH LANDING RIVER MACROSITE - NORTH POCATY SIZE: ca. 3,000 acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B4 LOCALITY: City of Chesapeake QUADRANGLE: Pleasant Ridge QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607661 LOCATION: The site encompasses a large wetland area situated west of the North Landing River and north of the Pocaty River. The western boundary coincides with the wetland bordering Route 165 and extends southward along the edge of the upland vegetation. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCE SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS -LEGAL OCCURRENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK communities: POCOSIN SlS2 - C plants: LOBELIA ELONGATA ELONGATED LOBELIA G3G5 Sl - D CHAMAECYPARIS THYOIDES ATLANTIC WHITE CEDAR G5 S2 - U SITE DESCRIPTION: The southern portion of this site includes a forested pocosin, while the northern portion is predominantly deciduous swamp forest. Field work at this site was more or less restricted to the marshes bordering creek channels, where the rare plant, elongated lobelia (Lobelia elonzata), was discovered. Much of the thickly vegetated swamp interior remains unexplored, but several reconnaissance flights over the area showed the vegetation to be in excellent condition. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary includes the community, rare plants, and a limited amount of upland buffer. Like other sites along the North Landing River, this site is integral to the protection of the entire wetland ecosystem. THREATS: Fire is a natural and necessary process within the marsh and pocosin. Without fire, the pocosin would become very thickly vegetated and Atlantic white cedar would decrease. The canebrake rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus atricaudatus) has been reported from the general area, and if present, this species would be threatened by collection/killing. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Develop and implement a prescribed burning management plan to maintain the distinctive pocosin vegetation and rare plants such as Atlantic white cedar. 80 CURRENT STATUS: Two tracts within this site are owned by The Nature Conservancy. A small area near North Landing Road is managed by the U.S. Navy as part of the Fentress Landing area. The remainder of the area, including all of the upland buffer is privately owned. The North Landing River (and associated bottomlands) from the North Landing Road, downstream, is designated as a state scenic river. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: Protection of this site would help form a larger, more viable and defensible natural area preserve along the North Landing River. Impacts from surrounding agricultural lands and residential development should be mitigated by encouraging sound soil and water management practices. REFERENCES: Mitchell, J. C., and D. Schwab. 1991. Cane brake Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus atricaudatus Latreille). Pages 462-464 in J.N.' McDonald and T. Skware, editors. Virginia's Endangered Species: Proceedings of a Symposium /- Coordinated by Karen Terwilliger. The McDonald and Woodward Publishing Co., Blacksburg, VA. 81 -7 --.VV 77- -'14..7 Z. 7@z S= NAME: NORTH LANDING RIVER MACROSITE NORTH POCATY PLEASANT RIDGE SCALE t:2dOOO !000 ARGUM 'U42artrLE xAnom 82 NORTH LANDING RIVER MACROSITE - GUM SWAMP SIZE: ca. 4330 acres BIODIVERSITY RANK: B3 LOCALITY: City of Chesapeake and City of Virginia Beach QUADRANGLE: Pleasant Ridge QUADRANGLE CODE: 3607661 Fentress 3607662 Princess Anne 3607671 Kempsville 3607672 LOCATION: The Cum Swamp site covers a large area of land along the North Landing River, north of the Intracoastal Waterway, and includes Stumpy Lake (see map). The conservation planning boundary established for this site is provisional due to the large amount of land involved and the limited on-the-ground field survey conducted. Future refinements to this map will be needed. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCE SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL STATE VA ELEMENT RARITY RARITY USFWS LEGAL OCCURRENCE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS RANK plants: TILLANDSIA USNEOIDES SPANISH MOSS G5 S2 - H TRILLIUM PUSILLUM DWARF TRILLIUM G3 S2 C2 - U animals: ARDEA HORDIAS GREAT BLUE HERON G5 S3 - A CASMERODIUS ALBUS GREAT EGRET G5 S2 - A WADING BIRD NESTING COLONY MIXED COLONY S3 - A SOREX LONGIROSTRIS DISMAL SWAMP SOUTH- FISHERI EASTERN SHREW G5T2 S2 LT LT C SYNAPTOMYS COOPERI DISMAL SWA14P SOUTHERN HALETES BOG LEMMING G5T3 S3 3C B NASIAESCHNA PENTECANTHA CYRANO DARNER G5 S1 H SITE DESCRIPTION: The site contains an extensive swamp encompassing Stumpy Lake and the portion of Gum Swamp above Indian River Road. The swamp is dominated by bald cypress (Taxodium distich ), black gum (Nyssa biflora), black willow (Salix nigra), and red maple (Acer rubr ). Nesting colonies of great blue herons (Ardea herodia) and great egrets (Casmerodius albus) occur here. Stumpy Lake, a Norfolk City reservoir, is bordered by bald cypress. The forest along the wetland - upland ecotone is likely habitat for canebrake rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus atricaudatus), a state endangered species. The Dismal Swamp southeastern shrew (Sorex longirostris fisheri) and the Dismal Swamp southern bog lemming (SynaRtopys cooperi haletes) have been collected in this area. 83 The canal dug for the Intracoastal Waterway is a prominent disturbance feature at the site. BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The conservation planning boundary includes the natural heritage resources and a limited upland buffer. Adjustments to the site boundary will likely be made in the future, pending additional field inventory. THREATS: The threats are somewhat difficult to assess because impacts from the many adjacent land use activities have not yet been thoroughly characterized. Nevertheless, any hydrologic disruption would constitute a threat, as would increasing development of surrounding upland habitat. The nesting colonies of herons and egrets and the rattlesnakes would most certainly suffer from increased human contact. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: The forested portions of this site should remain in their natural state. Such conditions would benefit most rare,species currently known from the area. Baseline information on all of the rare species is needed. CURRENT STATUS: Most of the site is in private ownership. Cum Swamp is a major drainage of the North Landing River, a State Scenic River. Stumpy Lake is owned and operated by the City of Norfolk as a water reservoir. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: The site is part of the significant North Landing River wetland ecosystem and should receive a strong level of protection. REFERENCES: Rose, R.K. and T,M. Padgett. 1991. Southeastern shrew (Sorex longirostris fisheri Merriam). Pages 562-564 in J.N. McDonald and T. Skware, editors. Virginia's Endangered Species: Proceedings of a Symposium / Coordinated by Karen Terwilliger. The McDonald and Woodward Publishing Co., Blacksburg, VA. 84 350 qe@/ *ns @iv m2l ndlow 410 R 'Y;LaAU -tar La BE m N E 0- Cbt ULM vck Princess rincess I e -k G NORTH l8ow RO 0 N d@- 165 Fit Pie @1'@ 12 v 4@ Ar Q AM ING jfti@l I sant ea Q id e iubm A r AIJGN,, q: th La ng.B ive C IVE '0 Flo Back E S= NAME: NORTH LANDING RIVER MACROSITE GUM SWAMP QUADPAN = PLEASANT RIDGE, FENTRESS, PRINCESS ANNE, KEMPSVILLE KILOMETERS 1 2 6 1 8 9 11 Y4 Il'-- 6 MILES 2 3 1 ARGINIA :UAC@--':rL-r -ccAnGN 85 RECOMONDATIONS 1. Participate fully in the development of local protection tools. Most of the 24 natural areas described in this report are unprotected. The Division of Natural Heritage and the Council on the Environment will continue to seek the advice and utilize the expertise of local officials in evaluating practical and effective protection options. Also, continued field work is necessary to refine site conservation planning boundaries and to identify new sites. In the-fall of 1992, the Division will work in partnership with the City of Virginia Beach to refine the conservation planning boundaries, develop a geographic information system data layer, and initiate a land owner contact program. Proposals have been developed to expand this protection planning work to include Northwest River wetlands and the entire Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Study Region in Virginia. Finally, the Division hopes to develop site management plans for Department of Conservation and Recreation lands and Nature Conservancy lands within the North Landing River and Northwest River wetland systems. These plans will address topics such as prescribed burning, exotic species control, and rare species monitoring. 2. Include the Division of Natural Heritage in the review of projects in or near natural areas. The site boundaries contained in this report are provided for planning purposes only, and are not regulatory in nature. As proposed development projects come before the localities, project maps should be compared with the site maps in this report. The Natural Heritage staff offers its knowledge and expertise in reviewing project proposals that may affect a natural area. Since the early stages of the planning process typically offer the greatest flexibility, it is important to contact the Natural Heritage staff as soon as possible. 3. Expand public awareness of the need for protecting natural areas. The rapid rate of human population growth and intensified land use activities throughout southeastern Virginia have placed natural lands in jeopardy. Natural areas not only provide biological diversity values, but they also provide recreational opportunities for the public, and, in general, add to the quality of life in the region. Increasingly, the public has acknowledged the importance of natural areas within Seashore State Park and False Cape State Park. Through a variety of educational programs and materials, these Parks are bringing needed attention to natural area values. The North Landing River Natural Area Preserve represents a breakthrough in natural area protection and awareness; this area was established specifically for its outstanding natural history values. A recent public opinion survey of 300 adult citizens in Virginia indicated that 82% were in favor of land conservation. The many unprotected natural areas throughout southeastern Virginia can only benefit from the increased awareness of natural area values - citizens are realizing that inappropriate land use activities are steadily destroying their natural heritage. 86 4. Increase cooperation among pertinent organizations. Among the many groups and individuals that should be involved are those that own, manage, or have the authority to acquire natural areas. One goal should be to develop stronger ties among federal, state, local and private interests involved in the protection or management of natural lands. 5. Properly manage natural areas in southeastern Virginia. The first step is to develop management programs for public and private conservation lands. The Department of Conservation and Recreation can assist local agencies in developing management plans. The Department's Division of Natural Heritage is interested in working with other,agencies and organizations to conduct research and develop techniques for maintaining or restoring natural areas. 87 OA7E DUE GAYLORDINo. 2333 PIUNTED IN U.S.A. m 3 6668 41 l 07 6465