Site ecoloi^ical significance: 



The ecolocically significant features of the Blue I'ond coT.plex are 

 summarized for each of the three sites individually: 



Blue Pond — 



1) The site constitutes one of the few remaining doline ^onds — or sinks — 

 in the aroa v;hich exists in such a relatively pristine condition. 



2) Vegetational zonation in the rim area surrounding the jcnd is pro- 

 nounced, v/ith little indication of hunan disturbance. 



3) The existence of a very large, healthy, reproducing population of 

 the endangered peripheral shrub, pondspice ( Litsea aestivalis ) 

 surrounding the i ond. 



-:-) The occurrence of a stand of large and very old — probably never tim- 

 bered — pond cypress (Taxodiun ascenders ) fringing the pond. 



5) The use of Blue lond as a nest site by osprey ( Fandion hali-etus ) , 

 a bird specie3 of special concern. 



Little Blue Pond-- 



1) This site constitutes another doline pond site of excellent duality 

 relative to others in the area, with pronounced zonation of the vege- 

 tation surrounding the pools. 



2) The vegetational differences between the two closely adjacent pools 

 that make up this pond are fairly striking, with no readily observable 

 explanation for the differences, and stand as a good example of the 

 high degree of species and community diversity that often occurs between 

 closely adjacent doline ponds, 



3) The occurrence of pondspice ( Litsea aestivalis ) around the rims of 

 both pools. 



h) The existence of an old growth stand of pond cypress ( Taxodiu- 

 ascendens ) (average dbh of the trees was approxir.ately -t5.7 c- 

 (1d in. ) , but one individual tree measured 127 cm (5C in.) dbh; 

 annual rings from a cut stump measuring some 40.6 cm (l6 in.) dbh , 

 numbered in excess of 115. 



Black Pond — 



1) The primary ecological significance of Black Pond would seem to lie 

 in its stark vegetational contrast, from both a species and community 



^ point of viev/, to Blue Pond and Little Blue Pond, both of to which 

 Black Pond is very similar in terms of location, topography, and 

 relations to surrounding plant communities. 



2) The existence of an old grov;th -t-"^d of pond cypress, which is rapidly 

 disappearing from, the area in mature stand. 



Management recommendations: 



The following recommendations are viewed as very important in main- 

 taining the Blue Pond com.plex sites in their present state of excellent quality; 



1) Exclusion of all vehicular and limitation of foot traffic in the rim 

 areas of all three of the ponds, in order to preserve the vegetational 

 zonation and species assemblages in the fragile rim ecosystem. 



2) The use cf Blue Fond should be further limited during the nesting 

 season of the osprey ( Pandion haliaetus ) , as proves to be necessary. 



3) Protection of a buffer zone of appropriate v/idth encircling each 



of the ponds should be undertaken in order to assure their relative 

 isolation from future human activities or other variously caused 

 environmental perturbations in the uplands surrounding the ponds. 



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