lib. Prose Description of Site Significance: 



The Conaby Creek-Roanoke River natural area is the 

 largest tract of roadless wilderness existing in Washing- 

 ton County. Both black bear and river otter, considered 

 rare throughout the coastal plain, occur respectively, 

 within the extensive swamp forest and along the water- 

 ways. 



The swamp forest contains extensive stands of second- 

 growth loblolly pine, Atlantic white cedar, baldcypress, 

 and swamp blackgum. Although not pristine, these forest 

 stands are significant in their acreage and their inacces- 

 sibility. The swamp forest serves as an important wildlife 

 refugium. When combined with adjacent riverbottom wetlands 

 of Bertie County upstream, the natural area encompasses the 

 largest continuous, relatively undisturbed alluvial wetland 

 ecosystem in northeastern North Carolina. 



101 



