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Example of the Rating System in Use . Below is an illustration of 

 the rating system as applied to Zekiah Swamp, the first-ranked area. 

 The natural features of the site are listed or summarized on the left. 

 On the right are the numerical values which apply to those features, 

 according to the scheme in Table 4 on the previous page. 



Data Points Awarded 



Zekiah Swamp 



Maryland 



Charles County 



5,385 hectares in size 4 



Private ownership 



Hardwood swamp forest 1 



Good stands of Ilex opaca , Quercus palustris , 



and Liquidambar styracif lua . Mature Timber. 

 High diversity of plant species. 2 



Populaous heterophylla , southern outlier 1 



Beaver, mink (commercial species) 1 



Osprey (depleted), heronry (seasonal breeders) 3 



Wilson's snipe and wood duck (overwintering) 1 



Concentration of migrating birds 1 



Southern Bald Eagle nest (endangered) 4 



Rare animals: red bellied woodpecker, 



Maryland Diamondback Terrapin, Allocapania 



Zekiah Stonefly 4 



One of the largest of Maryland's remaining 



undisturbed swamps 2 



Rating Total 24 



