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21 . Management and preservation recommendation 



The aspects of the Scuppernong River System that should be pre- 

 served are the river itself as an example of a lower coastal plain 

 river, and the accompanying swamp forest as a representative example of 

 swamp forest and as good wildlife habitat. Water quality of the Scup- 

 pernong should be controlled as much as possible by regulating volumes 

 of water pumped off local fields via canals into the river. Also new 

 sewage treatment facilities should be discouraged. Careful control 

 should be exercised over agricultural fertilizer applications in mar- 

 ginal fields if possible. The swamp forest should be left unmodified 

 and succession allowed to proceed. 



Periodic local timbering may occur until this area is acquired or 

 registered. There are many owners who may wish to realize short-term 

 profits from their holdings. Due to the great number of owners, a 

 voluntary registration program may be the best approach to preserving 

 the area. Alternately, several of the larger parcels might be bought. 



22. Rating (County perspective): 



1) X high priority 



2) medium priority 



3) low priority 



State Natural Heritage rating: local significance. 



23. Prose statement of site significance 



The Scuppernong River is a small and scenic river with an accom- 

 panying corridor of swamp forest of varying age stands. The river is 

 extremely scenic and of a good size and configuration for a canoe trail. 

 The river is wide enough to be open, yet not so wide as to preclude 

 vegetative or wildlife observation on either side. It would be an 

 excellent Sunday afternoon outing for any naturalist. 



Currently the ares is significant as a wildlife corridor, as the 

 best example of riverine swamp forest in the county, and as an area of 

 low intensity recreation. As conversion of flatland swamp forest areas 

 to farmland continues in Tyrrell County, these latter three values may 

 become increasingly important. 



More knowledge of flooding patterns and water quality intrusions in 

 the Scuppernong River will have great bearing on the ultimate decision 

 concerning acquisition or registration. The river and floodplain may be 

 of local historical significance of which we, as investigators, are 

 unaware. 



