an experimental basis was begun by First Colony Farms, a major land 

 development corporation. Peat Methanol Associates has leased rights 

 to First Colony Farms peat, and proposes to mine an area about the 

 size of Lake Phelps, and immediately adjacent to that lake, over 

 a 30-year period. Methanol from the peat will be exported to urban 

 centers to the north. 



This ditching and road construction has altered what once was 

 an excellent example of tall pond pine pocosin (high pocosin) and 

 has degraded the natural integrity of the site. Present ditching 

 and road construction activities in Van Swamp threaten to damage 

 that area's significant natural features. 



The sixth and seventh Soil Associations , Dragston-Conetoe- 

 Altavista and Conetoe-Wickham-Tarboro , occupy only a minor pro- 

 portion of the county, totalling 6% of the land area. No natural 

 areas were found on either Association, due to their limited extent 

 and generally high agricultural productivity. Original vegetation 

 probably consisted of mesic to somewhat xeric hardwoods, with lob- 

 lolly pine and possibly some longleaf pine. Some of the more steeply 

 sloping mesic sites supported herb assemblages more characteristic 

 of Piedmont slopes. A few such sites were sampled during this sur- 

 vey. Species such as bloodroot, indian cucumber root, mayapple, 

 wild ginger, bellwort and others were present. 



OTHER VEGETATION COMMUNITIES 



In addition to the natural vegetation types just discussed, 

 there are several other minor communities which exist in the county. 



Along the south shore of Lake Phelps is a narrow zone of fresh- 

 water marsh. This marsh is described in the Pettigrew State Park 

 natural areas site report. Small areas of freshwater marsh also 

 occur at the mouth of Deep Creek along Albemarle Sound. 



Floating aquatic communities of cow-lily and water lily occur 

 along the shallow water margins of Conaby Creek and the Roanoke River. 



The rest of the county is currently dominated by various agri- 

 cultural and silvicultural lands. 



