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SCUPPERNONG RIVER SWAMP FOREST 



NATURAL AREA INVENTORY 

 Basic Information Sununary Sheet : 



1. Natural Area Name 

 Scuppernong River Swamp Forest 



2. County 

 Tyrrell 



3. Location - Along both sides of the Scuppernong River from the river's 

 intersection with the western county boundary north-eastward to 

 Columbia. See figures 1 and 11. 



4. Topographic guadrangle 



Creswell South East, 7.5 min. ; Columbia East, 7.5 min. ; Coliunbia West, 

 7.5 min. 



5. Size 

 7,570 acres 



1 



6. Elevation 

 1-4 feet 



7. Access 



By several Federal, State and County roads. Principally, U.S. 64, N.C. 

 94, and county roads 1105, 1108, 1110, 1111. Also by boat from Columbia 

 or Creswell. See figures 12. 



8. Names of investigators 



Charles B. McDonald, East Carolina University 

 Andrew N. Ash, East Carolina University 



9. Date(s) of investigation 

 5/29-31/80 



9/13/80 



9A. Prose description of site 



The Scuppernong River is a lower coastal plain river with adjacent swamp 

 forest. It is an excellent example of its kind. The river and drainage basin are 

 relatively short but extremely rich in natural values. The river meanders to 

 and fro within the swamp forested flood plain. Each bend provides a point 

 with a stand of white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides ) in its crook. The river 

 is placid and narrow enough that wildlife and vegetation on either side can be 

 readily observed from a canoe in the middle. Wildlife seems abundant in the river 

 as well as within the swamp forest corridor on either side. 



The swamp forest canopy (see attached quarter points sheet) is dominated 

 by gum (Nyssa sylvatica) with a shrub layer chiefly composed of titi 

 (Cyrilla racemif lora ) and Virginia willow (Itea virginica) . The herb layer 

 is dominated by royal fern (Osmunda regalis) and lizzard's tail (Saururus 

 cernuus) . 



