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If it becomes inevitable that development will proceed over 

 the entire area, plans should be made to protect as much of the 

 natural features as possible. These natural features include 

 large 50' relict dunes, swale ponds, large trees, and large pri- 

 mary and secondary dunes. Many of the swale ponds are already 

 being filled in on the south side of the road. 



Developers are considering leaving some of the forest on the 

 north side of the road as a greenway area. 



Vegetation and Plant Communities: This tract of land is essentially a 

 transect of a barrier island. Large sand dunes (to 35' in ele- 

 vation) including shifting dunes and stabilized dunes are present 

 near the ocean. The stabilized primary dunes are dominated by 

 Sea oats ( Uniola paniculata ) ♦ The shifting dunes do not have any 

 vegetation cover. The swale between the primary and secondary 

 dune contains a shrub thicket of predominantly wax myrtle ( Myrica 

 cerifera ) , cottonbush ( Baccharis halimifolia ) and yaupon ( Ilex 

 vomitoria ) . The vegetation cover of the secondary dune is a 

 shrub thicket with dwarf live oak ( Quercus virginiana ) and many 

 herbaceous species. The live oaks only reach 3' in height due 

 to high winds and salt spray pruning. 



There is an abrupt transition into maritime forest behind 

 these high dunes. This maritime forest is unique because of its 

 undisturbed state, the unusually high dune ridges (to 50') and 

 high species diversity relative to its proximity to the ocean. 

 The dominant tree species are laurel oak, red maple, american 

 holly, red cedar, loblolly pine, red bay and ironwood. Many 

 species of shrubs, vines and herbs are also present. Species 

 diversity of plants and animals is high at Emerald Isle because 

 of the forest size and stability. 



Large swale ponds occur between the dune ridges. These are 

 freshwater ponds containing many aquatic species such as duckweed 

 (Spirodela and Wolf f iella ) , frog's bit ( Limnobium spongia ) , 

 hornwort rCeratophyllum demersura) , bur-reed ( Sparganium americanum ) 

 and cat-tail ( Typha latifolia ) . The ponds serve as gathering areas 

 for many animal species as well. 



On the north side of the island along Bogue Sound is a thin 

 margin of salt marsh, dominated by Spartina alterniflora and 

 Juncus roemerianus . An extensive patchy salt marsh is present 

 throughout this portion of Bogue Sound. 



