The plant community (CT 1) described above is represented 

 by mature stands just east of US 264 (see map) . Thes high- 

 quality stands have undergone the least disturbance in terms 

 of past timber cutting. Scattered old stumps and old logging 

 trails are still visible and indicate that at least some of 

 the high-grade timber was removed. The age of the stumps 

 suggests that logging operations were conducted some time 

 ago, probably no more recently than 75 years ago. The high 

 average dbh (20 inches) and the presence of numerous old- 

 growth trees indicates that the cutting was not very intense. 



The surface underlying much of the pine-mixed oaks com- 

 munity is relatively flat. There are numerous slight, localized 

 rises and depressions. Relief is on the order of 1-2 feet be- 

 tween these topographic highs and lows. Some low-lying areas 

 have ponded waters up to several inches deep even during mid- 

 summer. These and other slightly higher areas are probably 

 often inundated during the winter months when water tables 

 are high and evapotranspiration rates are low. Numerous 

 depressions formed by uprooted trees are scattered through- 

 out. These depressions along with the slight undulations 

 mentioned above give the ground surface an uneven appearance. 



The best-formed, mature stands of mixed oaks and loblolly 

 pine occupy an area of about 1720 acres (see map) . 



Other sections included within the natural area have 

 been subjected to recent heavy thinning and clearcutting. 

 One rectangular block (75 acres) located in the northern 

 interior of the natural area has been clearcut and reseeded 

 in dense loblolly pines 10-20 feet tall. Another much larger 

 tract located in the eastern part of the natural area has been 

 heavily thinned within the past 10-15 years. Thinning removed 

 almost all of the high-grade oaks, ash, and pine. The canopy 

 in this section is now dominated by sweetgum, tulip poplar, 

 red maple, and swamp blackgum. The canopy is more open than 

 in the mature stands and there is an abundance of shrubby 

 canopy transgressives. Understory layers are much denser 

 due to the increased amount of sunlight. Although these more 

 heavily timbered stands are not considered to be of high 

 natural significance relative to the undisturbed stands, they 

 still retain some natural qualities because of the continued 

 domination by hardwood species. This point can be more clearly 

 understood when one compares the vegetation surrounding the 

 natural area to the thinned hardwood stands. Intensively 

 managed loblolly pine plantations covering several thousand 

 acres now almostly completely encompass the natural area. 

 Conversion of the hardwood stands to managed tree farms 

 greatly reduces both floristic and faunistic diversity; 

 artificial drainage associated with the development of 

 these tree farms further alters the ecosystem. 



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