16. Name(s) of knowledgeable person (s) (with addresses, phone numbers, 

 and other pertinent information) : Not available 



17. Attitude of owner or custodian toward preservation (contacted?) : 

 One custodian was contacted. He is manager of a large tract on 

 the upper stretch of the river, and the property is currently 

 managed for timber and wildlife. 



18. Uses of natural area: Recreational boating, hunting, fishing. 



19. Uses of surrounding land: Wildland: 60%; Agricultural land: 10%; 

 High-intensity forestry: 25%; Developed: 5% 



20. Preservation Status: Category 4, 10%; Category 7, 90% 



21. Regulatory protections in force: Wetlands, natural hazard area 



22. Threats: Small amounts of local residential development, limited 

 to higher bluffs and banks of river. 



23. Management and Preservation Recommendation: Acquisition of the 

 the Larkins Cove Cypress Forest, or agreement among landowners 

 to protect the stand as much as possible. The remainder of the 

 river could be better utilized with an additional boat ramp on the 

 east side, downstream from NC 210. At the mouth of Black River is 

 a large island, Roan Island, that was circumnavigated during the 

 survey, but the interior was not examined from the ground. Further 

 study may show this island to be a suitable natural area. It is 

 owned, in various tracts by Corbett Industries. 



Natural Characteristics Summary 



24A. Vegetation - Biotic Community Summary: 



Community type: Taxodium distichum - Acer rub rum forest 

 Community cover type: Taxodium distichum 

 General habitat feature: Riverine swamp 

 Average canopy height: 40 ft 

 Estimated age of canopy trees: 80-250 years 

 Canopy cover: Closed to somewhat open 



Estimated size of community: 7,500 ac, with the Larkins Cove 

 Cypress stand comprising approximately 600 ac. 

 Successional stage: Climax 

 Sere type: Pelosere 



Common canopy species in community cover or community type (but 

 not dominant) : Polypodium polypodioides , Nyssa bif lora , Quercus 

 lyrata, Liquidambar styracif lua 



Common sub-canopy or shrub stratum species in community cover or 

 community type (but not dominant) : Cornus stricta , Crataegus sp. 

 Ilex verticillata , Betula nigra 



Common herb stratum species in community cover or community type 

 (but not dominant) : Justicia ovata , Boehmeria cylindrica 



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