< GA 2. Alcovy River Swamp. Acreage: 200. 



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CC Location: Newton County; Covington Quadrangle; 2 miles SE of Covington; 



O reached via U.S. 278. 



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Description: An alluvial bottomland along the Alcovy River; one of the finest 



examples of mature bottomland hardwood swamp in the Georgia Piedmont. 

 This is a winter-flooding swamp which is flooded on the average 4-5 times a 

 year. At least three types of forest can be recognized: (a) high swamp and 

 swamp edges characterized by large loblolly pine, beech, water oak, ironwood, 

 holly, with some laurel {Kalmia) on the slopes; (b) low swamps dominated by 

 gum, overcup oak, water ash, and red maple, with patches of lizard-tail 

 (Saururus) and occasionally sweet bay (Magnolia virginiana); (c) tupelo swamp 

 in old channels, depressions, and oxbows, with pure stands of tupelo (Nyssa 

 aqualica), representing the most northerly large stands of this tree in the Pied- 

 mont. Dr. C. H. Wharton ( 1970) has documented that the entire 2300-acre wet- 

 land, of which this swamp is a part, has a multiple-use value to the taxpayer of 

 more than $7,000,000 per year. 



References: Wharton, C. H. 1970. The Southern River Swamp — A multiple-use 

 environment. Bureau of Business and Economic Research, School of Business 

 Administration, Georgia State Univ. p. 1-48. 



Encroachments: Owner has reserved the right to cut mature timber. 



Ownership: Don Stephenson, County Ordinary, The Courthouse, Covington, 

 Ga. 30209. 



Data source: Georgia Natural Areas Council, 350 Seven Hunter St. Bldg., At- 

 lanta, Ga. 30334. 



