 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Linville/Grandfather Mountain Conservation Area |
 |
 |
|
Steels Creek Gorge
Approximate size: 5,839 acres
Old growth acreage: 1,438 acres
Steels Creek Gorge has a small USFS Large Old Growth Patch, two candidate old growth sites, and 1,549 acres of old growth. Forest communities are Acidic Cove, Submesic Oak, Dry Oak, and Dry Oak-Pine. Soils are generally quick draining and acidic in this area. The limited range of forest types reflects this.
Unique shelf topography near Steels Creek Gorge is an exception to this. That, combined with the lack of access for logging, tall trees, and uncommon tree species such as pawpaw and American elm make Steels Creek Gorge stand out as the richest forest in this 1,549-acre old-growth area. A small patch of Rich Cove forest was spotted in a small cove near the shelf in Steels Creek Gorge. Second generation Alluvial Birch-Poplar forest was found in the low section of a large watershed on the southeast side of Lettered Rock Ridge. Surveyors found a black locust tree in Steels Creek measuring 32.8 inches in diameter and an American elm with a 22.9-inch diameter.
A small patch of Rich Cove forest was found in a riparian area in Steels Creek Gorge. Pawpaw, American elm, and tall pignut hickory trees were also present in this gorge. Pileated woodpeckers, sapsuckers, and red-eyed vireos were heard in Steels Creek Gorge. Slugs were commonly spotted on tree boles in Dry Oak forest on the west side of Ripshin Ridge.Andrew Hotchkiss noted considerable insect diversity at the base of white oak trees 150 to 200 years old, including four species of ants and two species of beetles. He observed one wolf spider as well. |
|
to Top of Page >> |
|
Horsepen Creek
Approximate size: 1,528 acres
Old growth acreage: 644 acres
Horsepen Creek has a partial Forest Service Large Old Growth Patch, 500 acres of old growth, but no candidate old growth sites. Forest communities include: Rich Cove (small patch at low elevation), Hemlock-Mixed Mesophytic (small patch), Submesic Oak, Dry Oak, and Dry Oak-Pine.
Rich forest communities seem to be mainly grouped in tight topographic areas, such as in a deep valley slope or near a cascade. Numerous cove adapted herb species were found in a small patch of Rich Cove forest near the prominent cascade on Horsepen Creek. In one small area on Craig Creek the presence of Hemlock-Mixed Mesophytic forest may be influenced by felsic volcanic rock on one side of the valley slope. Woodpeckers were heard in Submesic Oak forest on the west side of Horsepen Creek.
Surveyors found high tree diversity (19 species) in a transition between Dry Oak and riparian forests along a tributary on the west side of Horsepen Creek and near a blowdown. A hawk was heard in this same area (species unknown). Some potentially unique dry adapted herb species were found on rock outcrops in Dry Oak-Pine forest near Brown Mountain peak. |
|
to Top of Page >> |
|
Wilson Ridge
Approximate size: 3,541 acres
Old growth acreage: 759 acres
Wilson Ridge does not have a USFS Large Old Growth Patch or candidate old growth sites, but it does have 1,032 acres of old growth. Adams Mountain has Acidic Cove (second generation), and Dry Oak-Pine (old) forest communities. Native yucca plants were found amid granitic rocks on Adams Mountain. This plant occurs in the same rock type on the Upper Creek Ridge side of Brown Mountain.
Loose Mountain has Hemlock-Mixed Mesophytic, Submesic Oak, and Pine-Oak Heath communities. Hemlock-Mixed Mesophytic forest southwest of Loose Mountain is associated with felsic volcanic rock. The presence of maidenhair fern and white basswood trees point to richer soil conditions than those found in Submesic Oak forest upslope. Wilson Ridge has Submesic Oak and Dry Oak forest communities. Surveyors found relatively rich Submesic Oak forest with moss covered seeps, maidenhair ferns, and small yellow buckeye trees near an elevation of 2,100 feet in a tributary of Sally Creek. Sally Creek itself is a tributary on the Johns River side of Wilson Ridge. A small cascade was at about 1,700 feet in a tributary of Sally Creek in 1995. There were no signs of past logging activity upslope of this cascade.
A "salvage rider" timber sale occurred in the lower section of this tributary in 1996. Access was from an extension of FR 187. This extension was punched in from the east to gain access to an area not previously entered for logging. Some blowdowns had occurred in the area of the timber sale. |
|
to Top of Page >> |
|
Johns River Gorge
Approximate size: 1,640 acres
Old growth acreage: 917 acres
Though it has 932 acres of old growth, Johns River Gorge contains no FS Large Old Growth Patch or candidate old growth sites.
Forest communities in the Tarkin Ridge area Rich Cove (low elevation), Acidic Cove, Submesic Oak, Dry Oak, and Pine-Oak Heath. In the Johns River Gorge, the communities are Rich Cove (low elevation), Acidic Cove, Hemlock-Mixed Mesophytic, and Sub mesic Oak, and Dry Oak. A black walnut tree there measured 29.6 inches in diameter.
Pinchgut Creek has the lowest elevation occurrence of intact Rich Cove forest found in the Nantahala-Pisgah NF, from 2000 feet to 1300 feet. The deep cove topography of Pinchgut Creek is unique. This partially explains the presence of Rich Cove forest near the stream. Rich soils and alluvial-colluvial conditions are also a factor. Black walnut and a few persimmon trees were found in this type, along with medium to highdiversity of cove-adapted herbs. Alan Weakely spotted walking fern during a NCNHP outing in the summer of 2001.
Fraser magnolia and eastern hemlock trees in the Acidic Cove and Dry Oak forests on the south side of Pinchgut Creek showed woodpecker and sapsucker holes. Acidic Cove forest exists near 1450 feet on the south side of Pinchgut Creek. This community had high herb diversity, with pockets of relatively deep dark brown to chestnut brown soil. Forests in this area resemble Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest, which is more common in the Piedmont.
A unique assemblage of uncut forest communities exists on the south-flowing tributary of Cold Water Creek south of Tate Mountain. Surveyors found An unusual black birch tree with molting bark in Submesic Oak forest in this area. In this same community violets, fire pink, bloodroot, purple iris, jack in the pulpit, and ferns grow among northern red oak trees up to 44 inches in diameter and tulip poplar trees up to 3 feet in diameter. Showy orchis, blue cohosh, and stinging nettle were found in Hemlock-Mixed Mesophytic forest near the mouth of the same valley slope mentioned above. Dog hobble beds were present. Bellwort was found in a rich riparian area nearby. American beech trees, and other cove adapted tree species, were found near Cold Water Creek. |
|
to Top of Page >> |
|
Upper Mulberry Creek
Approximate size: 3,882 acres
Old growth acreage: 1,120 acres
Upper Mulberry Creek contains one candidate old growth site, a FS Large Old Growth Patch, and 1,123 acres of old growth. Its forest communities include Rich Cove (small patch at low elevation), Acidic Cove, Submesic Oak, Dry Oak, and Dry Oak-Pine. Protection of this area will secure three major ridge systems in the upper Mulberry Creek watershed. The delineated area would protect a sound representation of forest communities common to mid-elevations in the Grandfather Mountain area. The elevation differential for this area is 1700 feet. The 1994 Forest Plan lists Upper Mulberry Creek as "Interior Forest Habitat. |
|
to Top of Page >> |
|
Upper Johns River
Approximate size: 2,561 acres
Old growth acreage: 813 acres
Upper Johns River contains oneUSFS Large Old Growth Patch and 987 acres of old growth, but has no candidate old growth sites. Forest communities for Big Ridge are Acidic Cove, Hemlock-Mixed Mesophytic, Submesic Oak, and Dry Oak. China Creek's forest communities are Rich Cove, Mesic Oak, Submesic Oak, Dry Oak, Dry Oak-Pine, and Carolina Hemlock Forest. Those on Lower Thunderhole Creek are Montane Alluvial Forest, Acidic Cove, Submesic Oak, Dry Oak, and Pine-Oak Heath. A cucumber magnolia was found with a 43.7" dbh.
A band of meta-diabase exists in the upper section of Phillips Creek. This may contribute to the presence of rich plant communities in parts of the upper section of this watershed. Cove-adapted mesic tree species such as yellow buckeye, white ash, and black cherry were identified in this area. A band of the unusual rock type called "greenstone" is present in a section of the Phillips Creek watershed. This substrate may support unique plant communities. The Hemlock-Mixed Mesophytic forest in upper Thunderhole Creek is a mixture of Rich Cove and Acidic Cove forests.
An odd array of rock types may contribute to the mix of forest communities here. Rock types include Blowing Rock Gneiss and Felsic Volcanic Rock which can contribute to circum-neutral soils. Meta-siltstone is present on private land upslope of the delineated area. This form of meta-siltstone contains dolomitic marble, a source of calcium.
Jewel weed beds exist in Rich Cove and Mesic Oak forests in upper China Creek. Bouldery conditions were found in a patch of Rich Cove forest. This bouldery area is associated with a tributary drainage that heads upslope of a steep rock wall. Surveyors found numerous white basswood trees up to 31 inches in diameter. The highest herb diversity surveyors found was in Mesic Oak forest near the top of the east fork of China Creek. They also found three occurrences of Carolina Hemlock forest in the upper China Creek old growth site. A relatively small (20-inch diameter) black gum tree was found on a ridge slope west of Round Mountain in Dry Oak-Pine forest. Will Blozan, a technician with Great Smoky Mountains National Park, read a core sample and determined its age to 294 years old.
Montane Alluvial forest, with sizeable moss-covered American sycamore trees, was found in the lower Thunderhole Creek area. White basswood trees, and a patch of large wake robin trilliums, live near the mouth of the prominent tributary in lower Thunderhole Creek. Herb variety was high in one valley slope in the Lower Thunderhole Creek area. This cove had open understory Submesic Oak forest, and was located east of Big Ridge(above 2000 feet. A transition occurred downslope, between this community and Acidic Cove forest. |
|
to Top of Page >> |
|
Pilot Ridge
Approximate size: 1,524 acres
Old growth acreage: 320 acres
Pilot Ridge contains a Large Old Growth Patch, 650 acres of old growth, and a candidate old growth site. Ballew Creek has Northern Hardwood, Rich Cove, Acidic Cove, and Dry Oak forest communities. Racket Creek has Cove, Submesic Oak, and possibly Mafic Cliff forest communities. Tough Hill Branch (south fork) has a Dry Oak forest community (with numerous old black gum trees). Surveyors found one black gum that measured 37.7 inches in diameter.
A patch of Rich Cove forest was found near 3,650 feet on the north side of Ballew Creek. High herb diversity and moss-covered sugar maple trees occur in this community. There are many very old black gum trees on dry northeast facing slopes here. Wet rocky conditions along much of upper Ballew Creek provide high quality salamander habitat. Surveyors have also seen newts in this area.
. High quality bear habitat is likely here; surveyors found bear claw marks. The Mafic Cliff area near an old roadbed may have Linville Diabase for a rock base-significant because such cliff communities can support uncommon or rare plant species. Black walnut and shagbark hickory trees stand in this area. These species often indicate circum-neutral soil conditions. |
|
to Top of Page >> |
|
Little Wilson Creek
Approximate size: 770 acres
Old growth acreage: 133 acres
Though lacking a USFS Large Old Growth Patch or a candidate old growth site, Little Wilson Creek does have 141 acres of old growth and a North Carolina Natural Heritage Listing. Along Stackrock Creek, the forest communities are Hemlock-Northern Hardwood and High Elevation Northern Red Oak. Wilson Creek has a Hemlock-Northern Hardwood forest community and Little Wilson Creek has Hemlock-Northern Hardwood, Acidic Cove, Dry Oak, Dry Oak-Pine, and Subxeric Pine forest communities.
Surveyors found numerous salamanders near upper Little Wilson Creek. They were small, black, and spotted. Black bear scratch marks were seen in this area. Numerous large old eastern hemlock trees were found in Hemlock-Northern Hardwood forest. |
|
to Top of Page >> |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
