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C/) General description: On the low-lying Coastal Plain extensive river swamps 



CO occur, especially along the Mississippi drainage. Penfound ( 1952) describes ex- 



££ tensive southern cypress-tupelo gum swamps (Taxodium distichum — Nyssa 



2 aquatica) along the flood plains of large rivers. In a forest inventory of southern 



hardwoods (Putnam et al. 1960), the practically pure stands of hardwoods 

 found in the alluvial bottoms, hammocks, and swamps are recognized as one of 

 four major vegetation site types within the state. Coastal white cedar 

 (Chamaecyparis thyoides) represents another swamp type which reaches its most 

 southeastern limit in this region. 



Status of the wetlands: Major threats to those wetlands still extant are logging, 

 channelization, and industrial pollution. 



Sources of data: Data were provided by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wil- 

 dlife and university biologists. 



Recommendations: Of the bottomland hardwood communities reported, the 

 Pascagoula River Swamp is the most extensive wetland complex. Comprising 

 some 50,000 acres, the area is relatively free from encroachments. It should be 

 given high priority as a Natural Landmark. Foster Lake is a large swamp 

 dominated by cypress and hardwoods. Although a self-contained ecological unit 

 of high wildlife value, management by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may 

 encourage major land-use changes in the future. If these plans were held in 

 abeyance, this area might be eligible for national recognition. 



Juniper Swamp represents a unique wetland type, where Chamaecyparis 

 thyoides reaches its southern limit. It appears to be an excellent candidate for 

 landmark status. Steens Swamp in northern Mississippi is dominated by a com- 

 plex of beaver ponds and a cypress hardwoods forest. Under private ownership 

 this tract is considered one of the few sizeable undisturbed areas in the state. 



Literature cited 



Penfound, W. T. 1952. Southern swamps and marshes. Bot. Review 18: 413- 



446. 

 Putnam, J. A., G. M. Furnival, and J. S. McKnight. 1 960. Management and 



inventory of southern hardwoods. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, U.S. Forest 



Service Agriculture Handbook No. 181. 



