We wish to underscore the investigators' recommendations, 

 in their introduction to this report, that several other areas 

 in Pamlico County warrant further inventory. Some of these 

 other sites may prove to possess special interest natural 

 features. One other area not identified in this report has 

 been earlier considered as a natural area. Previous to this 

 survey project, the Natural Heritage Program conducted a site 

 inventory for Jones "Island" south of Hobuken. That 3,000- 

 acre peninsula on the Pamlico Sound is cut off from the main- 

 land by the Intracoastal Waterway. It is characteristic of 

 extensive but ditched needier ush-brackish marshes, with 

 second-growth loblolly pine, live oak, and black gum on 

 upland hummocks. Jones Island is considered to be represen- 

 tative of a widespread and generally protected wetland 

 habitat type. 



The Office of Coastal Management, and the Coastal 

 Resources Commission which it serves, implement the Coastal 

 Area Management Act of 1974 (CAMA) . Under this statute, the 

 North Carolina Coastal Management Plan has been prepared 

 and approved. It includes the definition and designation 

 of various Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC) . In many 

 cases, AECs may coincide with natural areas that are herein 

 recommended for preservation or special management. In some 

 cases, AECs may encompass other areas — 'such as marsh zone 

 wetlands — which are not extensively treated in this inventory. 



Peat mining has particular implications for these 

 natural areas, some of which overlay exploitable peat 

 deposits. Mining will remove natural vegetation, permanently 

 alter the hydrology of the region, lower surface soil types 

 from high organic histosoils to the clayey, sandy, and loamy 

 soils typical of other parts of the outer coastal plain. 

 Thus, natural communities, once mining is complete, almost 

 certainly could never be re-established or reclaimed on 

 mined-out land. Preservation of the best natural areas, 

 and appropriate hydrological management, is necessary prior 

 to and during active peat mining. 



The Natural Heritage Program is most pleased to have 

 had this opportunity to conduct this project for the Office 

 of Coastal Management. The inventory has revealed a number 

 of high-quality natural areas that possess natural elements 

 of statewide priority and are important parts of North 

 Carolina's natural diversity. Most of the identified sites 

 were previously unknown and undocumented by the state's 

 scientific community. The Natural Heritage Program hopes 

 that these areas will be protected for the benefits of 

 present and future generations of North Carolinians and for 

 the preservation of the state's truly exceptional natural 

 heritage. 



Charles E. Roe, Coordinator 

 N.C. Natural Heritage Program 

 November 16, 1982 



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