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 Evaluation of the Site's Ecoloprjcal Significance ; 



1) This area is neolonically sif^nificant bocauso the v;cll -defined 

 system of ancient relict beach ridges is virtually undisturbed. The 

 fact that the ridges have been stable for so long is of interest, as 

 is the fact that those next to Bogue Sound curve northvzestward. It 

 is also interesting that several large shoala in adjacent Bofeue Sound 

 have the same northwest-southeast alignment as the northward ends of 

 the relict beach ridges on the island, / 



2) The stabilized relict beach ridge system has contributed to a 

 large number of habitats in a relatively small area. Wetland habitats 

 are salt marsh, brackish marsh, fresh marsh, temporary ponds (both 

 fresh and saline), shrub swamp, swamp forest, and pond holes. Plant 

 communities of the ridges are maritime forest and maritime shrub '.-i 

 thicket. 



The most slf^nlf leant of the above are the maritime forest and 

 swamp forest . In North Carolina, maritime forests are. rapidly being 

 destroyed by man. This area i's now the least htiraanly disturbed 

 example of the type of maritime forests in the state south of Cape 

 Hatteras, those that are dominated by red cedar and broadleaf ever- 

 green species such as live oak, laurel oak ( Quercus laxirifolia ), 

 red bay, wild olive, and Carolina che r r yl aur el , "This is also the 

 only area in the state where there still remains a complete cross- 

 section-- ocean to sound-.- of maritime forest. The tract o^ forest 

 south of the Salter Path Road is especially unique. No where else 

 in North Carolina does forest occur so close to the ocean — as close 

 as 200 feet to mean high water, (Adjacent similar areas have been 

 or are now being altered by h\iman development.) It should be noted 

 that this is the "natural" situation here — old charts show the same 

 forest to ocean proximity in the mid to late iSOO's. This seaside 

 tract of forest is dominated by live oak. It is probably the only 

 tract of live oak-dominated forest in the state that is on a site 

 that has apparently been stable for several hundred years. 



The 3v;amp forest of the area is also unique. This is the only 

 tract of swamp forest on the barrier islands of North Carolina, 

 It is interesting that bald cypress ( Taxodium dlstichum) is absent 

 here. Also interesting is the relative abundance of ash ( Fraxinus 

 tomentosa)* 



3) This area is important to a large niaraber of rare species: 



a) There are two endangered plant species and two threatened 

 plant species in the area. 



b) The endangered American alligator is resident and, at least 

 occasionally, nests within the area; the loggerhead tiortle may 

 occasionally nest on the ocean beachj the endangered brown pelican 

 feeds in the adjacent ocean and sound; the endangered peregrine 

 falcon sometimes uses the area during the fall migration, 



c) The threatened red-shovildered hawk nests in the area every 

 year, and the threatened merlin uses the area during the fall 

 migration, 



d) Also, 22 bird species of special concern occur in the area; 

 at least four of these nest within the area. 



Ein 



