_ 221 



DESCRIPTION OF SITE (See map 28.) 



Pond 



The focal point of this natural area is Walker's Mill Pond 

 (now usually called "The Mill Pond"). This reservoir was repor- 

 tedly constructed shortly after 1900; it occupies a former flood' 

 plain and is long and narrow, running generally N-S . The extent 

 of open water is about 125 acres; the pond is probably mostly 

 less than 5' in depth. The pond itself is relatively "sterile"; 

 its associated swamp forests and floodplain forests are much 

 more biologically productive. 



Swamp_ forest 



At the mouths of the four streams running into the pond, 

 where the water is ca. 1-4 feet deep, there are swamp forests 

 made up almost exclusively of Taxod ium d i s t i c hum ; these trees 

 have a thick covering of Ti ll and s ia usneoides . Trees are about 

 70' high with an average DBH of ca. 20'. The water is mostly 

 covered with Nymphaea odor at a . This is the most impressive ex- 

 ample of this type community in Carteret County; of course it is 

 artificial though. Common here are yellowbelly sliders and cot- 

 tonmouths. Wood ducks are common in winter and prothonotary 

 warblers and northern parulas in summer. 



F_l££d^£_l_a j^n f^£r^e s t 



ond are 



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 £ 9 t yr ac 

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e the ve 

 average 



pec le s 



four floodplains, and another 

 River. Together these make 



t in rather close proximity. 

 Main Prong, is most notable 



dth (500+ feet across). Ma- 



omen t o s a ? ) , Nj^^^^. syl vatica 



iflua ; Ny s s a is most common 

 ommon upstream. 



getation was analyzed, the 



DBH is ca. 20". The under- 

 The shrub layer is generally 

 re Saururus cernuus and a 



so common in these areas. Common perma- 



woodpeckers, Carolina chickadees and 

 r, red-eyed vireos, prothonotary war- 

 las are common 



