22. Threats: 



1 . Continued loss of peat through fire and oxidation (perhaps 

 the principal process of peat wastage since establishment of 

 effective fire suppression) . 



2. Continued type conversion of forest communities: Conversion 

 of white cedar to maple and gum is already complete in the 

 Gates County tract. The type probably occurred at least in the 

 northeast corner and along the eastern third of the property. 



Along the western half of the tract, hydrologic conditions 

 are among the least altered in the swamp. Even here, however, 

 the slight change in soil drainage class from very poorly 

 drained to poorly drained, has apparently caused a shift to 

 the next more mesophytic forest type. The moist area at the 

 toe of the scarp probably originally contained tupelo ( Nyssa 

 aquatica ) . An example of a second-growth stand of this type 

 can be seen in a similar topographic position south of US 158. 

 Stumps of large baldcypress, and the existing vegetation 

 gradients in other parts of the region suggest that the 

 original series of communities, from the toe of the scarp 

 east into the swamp was as follows: 



Taxodium distichum / Nyssa aquatica ->■ Taxodium distichum 

 Nyssa sylvatica biflora ->■ Chamaecyparis thyoides . 

 Red maple would have occurred as a common, small understory 

 species. 



Logging and slight alteration of hydrology have produced 

 a community composed almost entirely of black gum and red 

 maple, with one or the other being dominant in selected areas. 

 Should the existing canopy be disturbed, it is likely that the 

 subsequent community would be dominated by red maple and 

 loblolly pine, the next more mesophytic type in the hydrologic 

 series. 



Invasion by loblolly pine in many areas of the swamp 

 where it did not originally occur, represents a subtle threat 

 in itself, in that its commercial value leads to political 

 and administrative pressures for its management and 

 perpetuation, to the detriment of natural communities. 



23. Management and preservation recommendations: 



1. Establish .water control structures on all ditches and canals. 



2. Raise water table in as much of the swamp as practicable. 



3. Begin to eliminate roads where practicable. 



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