22. Threats: 



Anything that would disrupt present light and moisture regimes. 

 Logging is the most likely threat. Clearcutting would destroy the 

 fern community by elimination of the shady, moist habitat and by 

 allowing a takeover by weedy species. 



It is likely that at some time in the future US 158 will be widened. 

 Ditching on the south side of the highway could destroy the fern site 

 by lowering the water table. 



23c Management and preservation recommendations: 



Preserve the site from any type of logging. Explore the possibility of 

 Natural Heritage Registry with Mr. Briggs. Consider the possiblity of 

 acquisition. See if Mr. White might consider willing his 20 a portion 

 to the Nature Conservancy. The land on the opposite side of US 158 is 

 owned by the Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, which might be able 

 to manage the area. 



The District Engineer of the Dept. of Transportation in Ahoskie and the 

 Division Engineer in Elizabeth City should be notified of the sensitiv- 

 ity of the site to highway construction, and requested to keep this 

 information on file for such time as the highway is to be widened. 



Widening of the highway per se will not harm the site. However, care 

 must be taken to preserve existing hydrology. This means that there 

 should be no ditching on the south side of the highway and no new 

 culverts connecting the north and south sides. Existing culverts far 

 down the road should be replaced at exactly the same elevation after 

 any new construction and any redredging or relocation of the existing 

 ditch on the north side should be done in such a way as to maintain 

 existing water levels. 



The vegetation consists entirely of native species, with the exception 

 of Japanese honeysuckle which has invaded and is locally dominant in 

 the herb and shrub layers. At some point it might be necessary to 

 (manually?) remove this species if it appears to be overrunning the 

 more important fern assemblages. 



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