_47 _ 



Sweet gum) are found on the better drained mineral soils 

 near drainage creeks. Again, fire and hydrology play a 

 major role in limiting succession of other vegetation 

 forms, and therefore maintain the pocosin's integrity 

 providing habitat for the uniquely adapted species. 



Sheepridge and Low Pocosin are prime examples of 

 well developed low pocosin and are considered as best 

 representative of "low pocosin ecosystems" in North 

 Caroina. This section, of higher elevation, is asso- 

 ciated with the thickest peat found in the above study. 

 This area is underlain by humic peat ranging from 4-6 

 feet thick. 



The Catfish Lake South section supports a mixture of 

 high shrub pocosin and pond pine woodland. This area is 

 underlain by at least four feet of peat. 



Pond Pine , as its name implies, is a prime example 

 of the open Pond pine dominated forest which is found 

 in areas underlain by shallow peat around the edges of 

 peat deposits. In the Pond pine overstory some of the 

 trees are 160+ years old. 



The Pocosin section is also covered predominantly by 

 high shrub pocosin and Pond pine woodland. It is 

 believed that this area also should be underlain by 

 well-developed peat deposits. 



As the demand for productive agricultural and timber 

 lands increase, these wetlands will come under increased 

 pressure for conversion into commercially productive 

 land. Therefore, it is important to preserve represen- 

 tative segments as natural areas for scientific and 

 educational purposes to accrue knowledge of their biolo- 

 gical structure, function and significance. Moreover, 

 wetland habitats such as the impenetrable pocosins are 

 the final refugia for heavily hunted species like the 

 black bear and alligator (see table 2). 



Preserve Recommendations: The Pocosin Natural Area is 



exemplary of the sensitive pocosin ecosystem and con- 

 tains the best examples in North Carolina of the low 

 shrub pocosin ecosystem. The sites provide habitat for 

 several plants or animals listed as endangered or threatened 

 nationally and within the state of North Carolina. For 

 these reasons, these sites should be protected as an 

 exceptional natural area. 



Management Recommendations: A management plan should be 



developed for the protection of the Pocosin Natural Area 

 as an outstanding natural area. Management should be 

 directed towards: 1) maintaining the existing hydrology 

 of the area through restriction on all draining in the 

 area or areas adjacent which would affect the watertable 

 here; 2) providing (allowing) for fire sufficient to 

 maintain the dominant vegetation now occupying each 

 site (If allowed to develop in the absence of fire, the 

 establishing trees/shrubs will grow and shade out the 



