Marc Lapin, Ph.D.

Ecosystem Conservation Science 239 Cider Mill Road 802-989-0610 <.ornwall, VT 05753 [email protected]

Rachel Cliche Nulhegan Basin Division Silvio 0. Conte 'ational Fish and Wildlife Refuge 5396 Route I 05 Brunswick, VT 05905

Rachel, Enclosed you will find two copies of each report for the two different refuge units and a CD with the shapefiles of the natural communities and rare plants for the Nulhegan Basin Division added lands and Blueberry Swamp. l 've also included files of all of our waypoints. which indicates the extent of on-the-ground coverage. I've also included georectified scans of l 955 black-and-white and I 999 color infrared aerial photographs of Blueberry Swamp. We made these files from photos borrowed from NRCS; it seems that the digital files might be useful for Blueberry Swamp staff.

As I mentioned on the phone. I will complete a layout for the Natural Community Map of the entire Nulhegan Basin Division and hope to get that in the mail to you in a couple of weeks.

Please don' t hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or need any additional materials.

It has been fantastic to have the opportunity to continue natural community mapping of Conte Refuge lands. These are tru ly s::>me very special places and we·re all fortunate to have them protected. s?v·n er ,~y, // f:i1. _; , f Let Marc Lapin Summary of Natural Community and Flora Findings Lands Added to Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, Nulhegan Basin Division, Essex County, Vermont Marc Lapin and Brett Engstrom January 201 3

Introduction This brief report accompan ies the natural community mapping of t he Red Pi ne, Contact Station, and Dupont and vicinity parce ls that were additions to the Nulhegan Basin Division refuge lands since our initial mapping published in 2002. We provide here concise descriptions of the maj or features of the several parcels, as well as commen ts regarding restoratio n management of these lands. In addition to the natural community information, we include partial floras of the vascular plants, as we ll as shapefiles of rare/uncommon and invasive plants. A few notes on cas ual ani mal observations are also included. The following ArcGIS shapefiles and layer files accompany our work:

Shapefile name Description

Nulhegan_natcoms_Lapin&Engstrom2012_VSP.shp natural community polygons with state ranks and element occurrence ranks nulhegan_natcoms_Lapin&Engstrom2012 _VSP. lyr symbology layer for the natural communities nulhegan_rare_uncommon_plants_2012_Lapin&Engstrom.shp waypoint file of rare and uncommon species observations invasive_plants_nulhegan_Lapin&Engstrom2012.shp waypoint file of invasive olant observations waypoints_alLNulheganBasin_Lapin&Engstrom2012 all waypoints collected durina field work Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 201 3

Red Pine Parcel The Red Pine parcel, located on the flats adjacent to the Nulhegan River near the confluence of the Black Branch and main stem, is a mix of uplands on glaciofluvial sands and seepage and floodplain wetlands. The majority of the uplands are a mesic lowland spruce-fir forest natural community type, but the entirety of this community had been cleared and farmed. Much of it was replanted into conifer plantation, hence the parcel name, red pine. The wetland mosaic consists of floodplain forest, marsh and shrub swamp; the latter two natural communities have been influenced by substantial beaver damming and should be seen as a dynamic wetland complex whose composition shifts among open pond, beaver meadow/ marsh and shrub swamp. Dominant in the parcel is mesic lowland spruce-fir forest. Less extensive spruce- fir types include a small esker-like ridge adjacent to the railroad, which is the glaciofluvial variant-a type on the dry- mesic position of moisture regimes that tends to support white and red pines in addition to the spruce and fir- and a small area with loamier soil than the mesic type, which is the red maple variant that includes red maple and some yellow birch in a mature successional stage. A small area with wet sandy soils is the wet- mesic variant. All of these lowland spruce- fir forest types would naturally be dominated by red spruce and balsam fir; the moss composition, ground flora, shrub component and associate tree species presently do differ even in the heavily disturbed, post- agricultural condition. In time, if natural processes are allowed to proceed, the plant composition of these different lowland spruce-fir forest types will become more differentiated. Wetlands consist of a fairly large, beaver- impacted piece that runs south to north through the mid-section of the parcel. Undoubtedly parts of this complex are very changeable depending on the beaver activity. The northern part is more of a seepage wetland with some influence of flooding from the Nulhegan River. That area is comprised of mixed northern seepage swamp and alluvial shrubland, and it is likely quite stable. The southern two- thirds of the complex can be

2 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions lapin and Engstrom 2013 expected to be in dynamic flux between pond, meadow, and alder swamp. As with the rest of the Nulhegan Division and West Mountain Wildlife Management Area lands, we mapped the beaver-impacted meadows as the shallow marsh/ beaver meadow natural community type, and differentiated the shrub swamp areas as alder swamp. Any currently existing ponds were mapped as beaver pond. Parts of the shallow marsh/beaver meadow type are currently sedge dominated and could be characterized as sedge meadow, but those areas were found to be too small and scattered to be mapped. Our mapped units should be understood to be dynamic in this type of beaver-impacted wetland complex, and it is necessary to acknowledge that the entire complex of open water, shallow marsh and shrub swamp will be changed by intermittent beaver activity. Ranking of the natural community element occurrences followed the same procedure as the previous ranking completed for the other Nulhegan Division landholdings. Condition, landscape context and size are used to determine a rank for each natural community occurrence per Natural Heritage Inventory and NatureServe protocol. Per protocol, the three mixed northern floodplain forest polygons in the parcel become included in the element occurrence of that type that extends across the river and was previously mapped at the confluence of the Black Branch and the Nulhegan River. The alluvial shrubland natural community is likewise part of the larger occurrence along the Black Branch. Both the mixed northern floodplain forest and alluvial shrubland natural communities receive element occurrence ranks (EO ranks) of A, and both are state-significant examples of the community types. One state-rare plant species was observed in the Red Pine parcel. A population of lake shore sedge (Carex lenticularis) was observed within the last remnant of a beaver pond and contiguous low channel (Lapin waypoint 134). Five plants were seen in habitat that is periodically disturbed by beaver activity. This population is likely part of a larger metapopulation that consists of scattered populations in periodically disturbed shoreline situations, such as the plants

3 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013 noted on the Nulhegan River mainstem shore at the Contact Station. The plants are expected to persist at this location for as long as the marsh remains without further ponding. Uncommon rough avens (Ceum laciniatum) was observed well scattered throughout the nearby Alluvial Shrubland (Lapin waypoint 1 35).

Restoration Planning for the Red Pine Parcel The lowland spruce-fir forest and the mixed northern floodplain forest had been formerly converted to agricultural fields and after agricultural abandonment were planted to red pine. Although there are two different natural community types converted to plantation, and several variants of the spruce-fir type, restoration to the native composition of the communities can be enhanced by planting red spruce and balsam fir throughout. In the floodplain forest type, black cherry and white spruce are associate species and would also be appropriate planting selections. Black cherry persists on the parcel and across the river on other refuge lands; the species is bird-dispersed and since seed source is present and establishment is already seen to occur readily, it seems unnecessary to plant cherry. Restoration to a closed-canopy forest dominated by spruce and fir will be enhanced, however, by harvesting the remaining red pine and planting the native conifers. Planting (active restoration) is not necessary, however, as evidence of regeneration in the local area suggests that natural regeneration of spruce and fir is likely to result within several decades through passive restoration of the lands. The hydrology of the parcel has not been disrupted by agriculture or by flood control; hence the natural pattern of lowland spruce- fir and floodplain forest types will recolonize the land without any restoration of hydrology.

Dupont Parcel and Adjacent Refuge Lands The Dupont parcel lies on a lower slope nearly adjacent to the riparian wetlands of the Nulhegan River main stem. Most of the parcel has wet, dense compacted till soils; a small sl ice of a well-drained glaciofluvial ridge enters the

4 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013 southern part of the piece. Recent clear-cutting removed the trees from the western third of the Dupont parcel and contiguous private land. Aerial photos from 1999 and 2009 indicate that logging on the Dupont and adjacent lands occurred in two stages and that the wettest areas-Mixed Northern Seepage Swamp in the mid-portion of these parcels-were more lightly harvested. The clearcut natural communities are Red Spruce-Hardwood Forest and Lowland Spruce-Fir Forest. Of the three dominant natural communities, the most intact, Mixed

Northern Seepage Swamp 1, also fortunately happens to be the type that is least common, both within the Nulhegan Basin landscape and within Vermont overall. The 19.5- hectare (48-acre) occurrence on the parcel is not hydrologically connected to the many other patches of this natural community type within the Nulhegan Basin and is thus considered its own element occurrence. It is a state­ significant, B-ranked example of a state-uncommon (S3) natural community type. The seepage forest features a mixed overstory of northern white cedar, yel low birch, red maple, balsam fir, tamarack and red spruce. Some parts are more coniferous, with balsam fir prominent, whereas others display a predominantly yellow birch-red maple canopy. Sugar maple was seen at the northern boundary of the parcel, where the seepage forest continues, but oddly sugar maple was not noted in the portion of the natural community within the Dupont parcel (perhaps this downslope area was too wet for the maple). Cedar is present throughout, and overall these are the largest diameter trees; many cedar are 40 to 45 cm (1 6-1 8") dbh. Other species tend to be 25 to 30 cm (10-12") dbh. Herbaceous flora is diverse and differs from place to place; seepage species that are consistent throughout are swamp red-blackberry (Rubus pubescens), lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) and northeastern mannagrass (G/yceria melicaria); scabrous sedge (Carex scabrata) is more patchily distributed. Also common are swollen sedge

1 This is a type that has not been incorporated into the Vermont state classification at this time. Thuas our rankings of commonness (State ranks) and viability/integrity (EO ranks) are tentative.

5 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013

(Carex intumescens), intermediate wood-fern (Dryopteris intermedia), cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) and, in canopy gaps, virgin's-bower (Clematis virginiana). The only non-native species observed was self-heal (Prune/la vu/garis). In numerous areas one can see rivulets flowing on the soil surface; seepage from adjacent upland forest is very evident between boulders and cobbles where those are present. The southeast corner of the natural community patch within the Dupont parcel is more level. The seepage influence here is not as prominent and one could map very small areas of northern white cedar swamp rather than mixed northern seepage swamp. In this area only, mosses are prominent, with Sphagnum spp. on leveler spots and Hy/ocomium splendens on mounds. Additional common species in all parts of the natural community include goldthread (Coptis trifolia), bluebead lily (Clintonia borealis), common wood- sorrel (Oxalis montana), three-seeded sedge (Carex trisperma) and whorled mountain aster (Aster acuminatus). Shrubs present are red raspberry (Rubus ideaus), Canada fly- honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis), bush-honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera), beaked hazel (Cory/us cornuta) and velvetleaf blueberry ( Vaccinium myrtilloides). Scattered about are small amounts of mountain holly (flex mucronata) and sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifo/ia). The uncommon mountain fly- honeysuckle (Lonicera villosa) was seen in the western part of the natural community (Lapin waypoint 111 ). Soils are poorly drained, densely compacted very stony sandy loams. Although absent from some parts, a shallow mucky loam or muck layer overlies much of the compact till. Red Spruce-Hardwood forest at the site was clearcut recently and is growing back with abundant regeneration of balsam fir, red spruce, yellow birch, red maple and some sugar maple and beech. The herbaceous flora is apparently "intact"; bunchberry dogwood (Cornus canadensis), bluebead lily, narrow beech­ fern (Phegopteris connectilis) and bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) were noted. Lowland Spruce-Fir Forest on these refuge lands is almost entirely clearcut. One small area (l .2ha (2.9 acres)) on the glaciofluvial ridge within the Dupont

6 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013

Parcel is closed-canopy forest that remained unharvested in the recent logging. Other parts of the glaciofluvial type on refuge lands feature a dense pole-sized stand of young successional, pioneer hardwood species with thickets of beaked hazel. Wet-mesic Lowland Spruce-Fir Forest in the Dupont Parcel has abundant balsam fir and tamarack regeneration, with paper birch, white spruce and red maple. Succession back to coniferous forest characteristic of the natural community type is advancing nicely.

Restoration Planning for the Dupont Parcel and Adjacent Refuge Lands Given several decades, these lands will likely return to more natural compositions in both uplands and wetlands. Moose will retard tree regeneration, but the native hardwoods and conifers will come back, especially since there are no invasive tree species present in the area that could overtake the vegetation. In some cases, the successional hardwoods - paper birch, quaking aspen, and red maple - will dominate for a generation. But without another major disturbance, especially clearcutting, the later successional tree species will come back under the canopies of the early successional species, hence the return to the typical natural communities' compositions. A small patch (l Om2) of invasive Common Reed (Phragmites austra!is var. australis) was noted near the bottom of the slope east of McConnell Pond Road at Engstrom waypoint 892 (44. 78065 5° N; - 71. 780472° W). This should be targeted for control during the next invasive species management activities.

Contact Station Parcels The Contact Station parcels' 27ha (66 acres) include two distinct landform types-upland terrace and scarp leading down to the Nulhegan River and a portion of a floodplain basin immediately upstream. While mapped as a variety of glacial till-derived soils by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the narrow upland terrace has light sandy loam soils that appear to be glacio-fluvial in origin.

7 Natural Community and Flora Findings, t-.ulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013

Supporting this observation is a small area of "littoral pebbly sands" shown on the 1970 state surficial geologic map (Charles Doll, ed.). The bulk of this upland is mapped as Red Spruce-Northern Hardwood Forest natural community type. It includes the Conte Refuge contact station buildings and grounds, a grove of white pine, and a varied hardwood forest that combines early successional aspen, paper birch, and white spruce as well as later successional sugar maple, red spruce, and balsam fir. The terrace scarp's lower slope becomes bouldery and wet. Mixed Northern Seepage Swamp/Forest dominates the northern section of this lower slope, while the upland forest grades into a Hemlock-Red Spruce Forest on the steep, backslope to the south. The hemlock is notable because of its relative scarcity in the Nulhegan Basin, which is towards the northern end of the species' range. At the base of the slope, a half-mile reach of the Nulhegan River runs straight with quickwater. The southwest third of the Contact Station parcel is predominantly Nulhegan River floodplain. While an Alluvial Shrub Swamp dominates this floodplain, oxbow and beaver impoundment marshes, River Sand Shores, and Alluvial Grassland/ Meadows add complexity and diversity to the floodplain ecosystem. Another Mixed Northern Seepage Swamp/ Forest occurs at the extreme toe of North Notch Mountain's northwest slope to the east of the floodplain, while muck-soil based Northern White Cedar Swamp and Black Spruce Swamp bound the floodplain to the south. These swamps lie just outside the Refuge on the south side of Route 105. The highway is situated on the ecotone between the floodplain and swamp ecosystems. The thin strand of upland mapped as Lowland Spruce- Fir Forest along the highway might very well be road fill covering what was once a wetland ecotone. Significantly, the Contact Station parcels' floodplain is a part of the extensive Nulhegan River alluvial ecosystem that runs 180- 300m (approximately 600- 1 ,000 feet) in breadth for over two miles upstream. Running for over six miles upstream from the North Branch's confluence, the mainstem Nulhegan's

8 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013 floodplain becomes a complex alluvial/ pluvial (muck and peat) ecosystem, which when combined with the alluvial reach above the Contact Station becomes a huge riparian wetland complex of high order conservation significance. The scarcity of alien and invasive species in this upper portion of the Nulhegan floodplain is remarkable and an additional attribute to its conservation significance. As at the Red Pine Parcel, lake shore sedge (Carex lenticularis), a state-rare plant species, was observed at a couple locations in the Contact Station parcels. A few sprigs of this sedge were found growing out of cracks in rock (bedrock or huge boulder) in an open, bouldery rivershore environment along the quickwater reach of the river (Engstrom waypoint 846). Additionally, during a volunteer survey for the Refuge on July 2, 2002, Engstrom observed roughly 30 clumps of lake shore sedge growing in full sun in the shallows and exposed shore of the artificial pond. As with the rivershore plants, this population is part of a much larger metapopulation that consists of scattered populations in periodically disturbed shoreline situations t hroughout the Nulhegan Basin.

Restoration Planning for the Contact Station Parcels While the terrace scarp, lower slopes, and floodplain are largely in natural condition, the successional hardwoods and white pine on the terrace and upper slopes represent a transitional vegetation where they will dominate the canopy for a generation, then be replaced by later successional tree species. Barring logging or other major canopy disturbance, this natural succession will lead to a more natural mixed canopy composition. Enhancing and updating the signage along the nature trail that passes through the forest will be of great educational value in tracking the forest and wildlife composition and diversity over time.

9 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 201 3

Appendices

Appendix 1. Partial attribute tables of natural community polygons. "NCTYPE" = the mapping code for natural community/ variant; "SRANK" = state rank of the natural community type; "EORANK" = element occurrence rank for the natural community occurrence2. a) Red Pine parcel polygons Natural Community Type NCTYPE SRANK EORANK HA ACRES Lowland spruce-fir forest, glaciofluvial 3d S3 c 0.56 1.38 Lowland spruce-fir-red maple forest 3c 53 c 0.55 1.37 Lowland spruce-fir forest, wet-mesic 3b $3 c 0.91 2.25 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic 3a $3 c 16.21 40.05 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic 3a 53 c 1.45 3.59 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic 3a $3 c 1.16 2.88 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic 3a 53 c 0.04 0.10 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic 3a $3 c 0.03 0.08 Spruce-fir-tamarack swamp 52 53 c 0.54 1.34 Shallow emergent marsh/beaver meadow 64a 54 nr 0.23 0.57 Shallow emergent marsh/beaver meadow 64a 54 nr 0.18 0.44 Shallow emergent marsh/beaver meadow 64a S4 nr 0.15 0.36 Shallow emergent marsh/beaver meadow 64a 54 nr 0.08 0.21 Shallow emergent marsh/beaver meadow 77 S3 A 0.80 1.97 Alder swamp 78 SS nr 5.27 13.02 Mixed northern seepage swamp 81 S2? c 1.08 2.67 Mixed northern floodplain forest 83 S2? A 1.82 4.51 Mixed northern floodplain forest 83 S2? A 0.85 2.10 Mixed northern floodplain forest 83 S2? A 0.80 1.96 Water (river) 99 nr 0.04 0.10

2 Rankings based on Vermont Wildlife Diversity Program ranking specifications; based on the specifications, many of the community polygons are ranked as part of large multi-polygon features extending over all or part of the refuge (and adjacent) lands. "nr" = not ranked; ranks were not calculated for common natural communities known to have low EO ranks; ranking specifications have not been developed for aquatic features.

10 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 20 l 3 b) Contact Station parcel polygons Natural Community Type NCTYPE SRANK EORANK HA ACRES Lowland spruce-fir-red maple forest 3 53 c 0.17 0.43 Lowland spruce-fir-red maple forest 3 53 c 0.02 0.06 Lowland spruce-fir forest, various 3 53 nr 0.19 0.46 Red spruce-hardwood forest, various 5 S4 nr 9.36 23.14 Red spruce-hardwood forest, various 5 S4 nr 1.42 3.50 Hemlock-red spruce forest lla S4 nr 1.15 2.84 Northern white cedar sloping seepage forest 51a S3 c 0.17 0.41 Seep 55 S3 nr 0.02 0.06 Shallow emergent marsh 64 S4 nr 0.19 0.47 River sand/gravel shore 72 S3 A? 0.02 0.05 River sand/gravel shore 72 S3 A? 0.00 0.01 Alluvial shrubland 77 53 A 6.05 14.96 Alluvial shrubland 77 S3 A 1.15 2.84 Mixed northern seepage swamp 81 S2? B 2.15 5.31 Mixed northern seepage swamp 81 52? c 0.74 1.83 Mixed northern seepage swamp 81 S2? c 0.24 0.58 Mixed northern seepage swamp 81 52? c 0.07 0.16 M ixed northern seepage swamp 81 S2? c 0.06 0.15 Alluvial meadow 82 52? A? 0.04 0.09 Alluvial meadow 82 S2? A? 0.03 0.07 Oxbow marsh 85 S4 nr 0.43 1.06 Oxbow marsh 85 S4 nr 0.16 0.39 Oxbow marsh 85 54 nr 0.09 0.21 Oxbow marsh 85 S4 nr 0.04 0.10 Oxbow marsh 85 S4 nr 0.02 0.05 Pond, artificial 99p nr 0.15 0.36 Water (river) 99 nr 1.03 2.54 Water (river) 99 nr 0.11 0.28 (developed land) 0 na 1.08 2.68

1 l Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013 c) Dupont parcel and vicinity polygons Natural Community Type NCTYPE SRANK EORANK HA ACRES Lowland spruce-fir forest, glaciofluvial 3d S3 c 4.61 11.39 Lowland spruce-fir forest, glaciofluvial 3d S3 c 1.24 3.06 Lowland spruce-fir forest, glaciofluvial 3d S3 c 1.16 2.88 Lowland spruce-fir forest, wet-mesic 3b 53 c 2.22 5.47 Lowland spruce-fir forest, wet-mesic 3b S3 c 0.42 1.04 Lowland spruce-fir forest, wet-mesic 3b S3 c 0.40 1.00 Red spruce-hardwood forest, typic Sa S4 nr 22.71 S6.13 Northern hardwood forest, typic Sa SS nr S.89 14.SS Northern hardwood forest, typic Sa SS nr 2.60 6.43 Seep SS S3 nr 0.02 o.os Seep SS S3 nr 0.02 0.04 Mixed northern seepage swamp 81 S2? B 10.51 2S.98 Mixed northern seepage swamp 81 S2? B 8.SS 21.12 Mixed northern seepage swamp 81 S2? B 0.43 1.07 (developed land) 0 nr nr 1.02 2.Sl

12 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013

Appendix 2. Partial Flora of Red Pine parcel, Silvio 0. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, Brunswick, VT

Based on observations by Marc Lapin & Brett Engstrom during 2012 natural community mapping. Nomenclature follows Arthur Haines' Flora Novae-Angliae (New England Wildflower Society, 201 l)

Species Name Common Name Family Abies balsamea Ba lsam Fir Pinaceae Acer rubrum Red Maple Sapindaceae Alnus incana Speckled Alder Betulaceae Alopecurus aequalis Short-Awned Meadow-Foxtail Poaceae Anemone canadensis Canada Windflower Ranunculaceae Anemone quinquefolia Wood Windflower Ranunculaceae Apocynum androsaemifolium Spreading Dogbane Apocynaceae Aralia nudicaulis Wild Sarsaparilla Apiaceae Aralia nudicaulis Wild Sarsaparilla Apiaceae Arisaema triphyllum Jack-In-The-Pulpit Araceae Betula papyrifera Paper Birch Betulaceae Brachyelytrum aristosum Northern Long-Awned Wood Grass Poaceae Bromus ciliatus Fringed Brome Poaceae Calamagrostis canadensis Canad<1 Reed Grass Poaceae Caltha palustris Marsh ·Marigold Ranunculaceae Carex arctata Drooping Woodland Sedge Cyperaceae Carex debilis White· Edged Sedge Cyperaceae Carex debilis White· Edged Sedge Cyperaceae Carex disperma Soft-Leaved Sedge Cyperaceae Carex echinata Star Sedge Cyperaceae Carex flava Yellow-Green Sedge Cyperaceae Carex gynandra Nodding Sedge Cyperaceae Carex intumescens Greater Bladder Sedge Cyperaceae Carex lenticularis Lake Shore Sedge Cyperaceae Carex lurida Sallow Sedge Cyperaceae Carex pallescens Pale Sedge Cyperaceae Carex pedunculata Long-Stalked Sedge Cyperaceae Carex scoparia Pointed Broom Sedge Cyperaceae Carex trisperma Three-Seeded Sedge Cyperaceae Carex vesicaria Lesser Bladder Sedge Cyperaceae Chelone glabra White Turtlehead Plantaginaceae Clematis virginiana Virginia Virgin's-Bower Ranunculaceae

13 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013

Cornus alternifolia Alternate-leaved Dogwood Cornaceae Cornus sericea Red-Osier Dogwood Cornaceae Corylus cornuta Beaked Hazelnut Betulaceae Crataegus sp. Hawthorn Rosaceae Dendrolycopodium dendroideum Prickly Tree-Clubmoss Lycopodiaceae Diervilla lonicera Bush-Honeysuckle Caprifoliaceae Diphasiastrum complanatum Northern Ground-Cedar Lycopodiaceae Doellingeria umbellata Tall White-Aster Asteraceae Dryopteris cristata Crested Wood Fern Dryopteridaceae Dryopteris intermedia Evergreen Wood Fern Dryopteridaceae Eleocharis tenuis Slender Spikesedge Cyperaceae Elymus cf. trachycaulus Wheatgrass Poaceae Equisetum fluviatile River Horsetail Equisetaceae Eutrochium maculatum Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Asteraceae Fragaria virginiana Common Strawberry Rosaceae Fraxinus nigra Black Ash Oleaceae Galium asprellum Rough Bedstraw Rubiaceae Galium brevipes limestone Swamp Bedstraw Rubiaceae Galium palustre Marsh Bedstraw Rubiaceae Gaultheria procumbens Eastern Spicy-Wintergreen Ericaceae Geum laciniatum Floodplain Avens Rosaceae Glyceria canadensis Rattle~nake Manna Grass Poaceae Glyceria grandis American Manna Grass Poaceae Glyceria striata Fowl Manna Grass Poaceae Hieracium cf. lachenalii Common Hawkweed Asteraceae llex mucronata Mountain Holly Aquifoliaceae llex verticillata Common Winterberry Aquifoliaceae Iris versicolor Blue Ins lridaceae Juncus effusus Common Soft Rush Juncaceae Larix laricina American Larch Pinaceae Lilium canadense Canada Lily Liliaceae Lysimachia borealis Starflower Myrsinaceae Lysimachia ciliata Fringed Yellow-Loosestrife Myrsinaceae Lysimachia terrestris Swamp Yellow-Loosestrife Myrsinaceae Maianthemum canadense Canada-Mayflower Ruscaceae Mentha arvensis Ginger Mint Lamiaceae Mentha arvensis Ginger Mint Lamiaceae Myrica gale Sweetgale Myricaceae Oclemena acuminata Sharp-Toothed Nodding-Aster Asteraceae Oenothera sp. Evening-primrose Onagraceae Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern Onocleaceae

14 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013

Osmunda claytoniana Interrupted Fern Osmundaceae Osmunda regalis Royal Fern Osmundaceae Osmundastrum cinnamomeum Cinnamon Fern Osmundaceae Packera schweinitziana New England Groundsel Asteraceae Parathelypteris noveboracensis New York Fern Thelypteridaceae Persicaria sagittata Arrow-Leaved Tearthumb Polygonaceae Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary Grass Poaceae Phleum pratense Common Timothy Poaceae Picea rubens Red Spruce Pinaceae Pinus resinosa Red Pine Pinaceae Pinus strobus Eastern White Pine Pinaceae Poa sp. Bluegrass Poaceae Populus tremuloides Quaking Poplar Salicaceae Potentilla simplex Old-Field Cinquefoil Rosaceae Prunella vulgaris Common Selfheal Lamiaceae Prunus serotina Black Cherry Rosaceae Prunus serotina Black Cherry Rosaceae Prunus virginiana Choke Cherry Rosaceae Pteridium aquilinum Bracken Fern Dennstaedtiaceae Pyrola elliptica Elliptic-Leaved Shinteaf Ericaceae Rubus allegheniensis Common Blackberry Rosaceae Rubus idaeus Red Raspberry Rosaceae Salix eriocephala Heart-l eaved Willow Salicaceae Salix lucida Shining Willow Salicaceae Salix sericea Silky Willow Salicaceae Salix sp. Willow Salicaceae Sambucus nigra Black Elderberry Adoxaceae Scirpus cyperinus Common Woolsedge Cyperaceae Scirpus microcarpus Barber-Pole Bulrush Cyperaceae Scutellaria galericulata Hooded Skullcap Lamiaceae Scutellaria lateriflora Mad Dog Skullcap Lamiaceae Solidago flexicaulis Ziz-Zag Goldenrod Asteraceae Solidago gigantea Smooth Goldenrod Asteraceae Solidago rugosa Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod Asteraceae Sorbus americana American Mountain-Ash Rosaceae Sparganium angustifolium Narrow-Leaved Bur-Reed Typhaceae Spiraea alba White Meadowsweet Rosaceae Symphyotrichum puniceum Purple-Stemmed American-Aster Asteraceae Thalictrum pubescens Tall Meadow-Rue Ranunculaceae Thelypteris palustris Marsh Fern Thelypteridaceae Thuja occidentalis Northern White-Cedar Cupressaceae

1 5 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013

Tiarella cordifolia Foam-Flower Saxifragaceae Triadenum fraseri Fraser's Marsh-St. John's-Wort Hypericaceae Typha latifolia Broad-Leaved Cat-Tail Typhaceae Ulmus americana American Elm Ulmaceae Uvularia sessilifolia Sessile-Leaved Bellwort Colchicaceae Vaccinium angustifolium Common Lowbush Blueberry Ericaceae Vaccinium myrtilloides Velvet-Leaved Blueberry Ericaceae Veratrum viride American False Hellebore Melanthiaceae Veronica officinalis Common Speedwell Plantaginaceae Veronica scutellata Narrow-Leaved Speedwell Plantaginaceae Viburnum nudum Withe· Rod Adoxaceae Viburnum opulus Highbush-Cranberry Adoxaceae Viccia sp. Vetch Fabaceae

16 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013

Appendix 3. Partial Flora of Dupont Parcel vicinity, Silvio 0. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, Ferdinand, VT

Based on observations by Marc Lapin & Brett Engstrom during 2012 natural community mapping. Nomenclature follows Arthur Haines' Flora Novae-Angliae (New England Wildflower Society, 201 1)

Species Name Common Name Family Ables balsamea Balsam Fir Pinaceae Acer pensylvanicum Striped Maple Sapindaceae Acer rubrum Red Maple Sapindaceae Acer saccharum Sugar Maple Sapindaceae Actaea sp. baneberry species Ranunculaceae Agrostis scabra Rough Bentgrass Poaceae Alnus incana Speckled Alder Betulaceae Amelanchier bartramiana Mountain Shadbush Rosaceae Amelanchier sp. Shad bush Rosaceae Aralia hispida Bristly Sarsaparilla Apiaceae Aralia nudicaulis Wild Sarsapa rilla Apiaceae Athyrium filix-femina Northern Lady Fern Woodsiaceae Betula alleghaniensis Yellow Birch Betulaceae Betula papyrifera Paper Birch Betulaceae Betula populifolia Gray Birch Betulaceae Brachyelytrum aristosum Northern Long-Awned Wood Grass Poaceae Calamagrostis canadensis Canada Reed Grass Poaceae Callictriche sp. water starwort species Plantaginaceae Carex debilis White-Edged Sedge Cyperaceae Carex deflexa Northern Sedge Cyperaceae Carex deweyana Round-Fruited Short-Scaled Sedge Cyperaceae Carex disperma Soft-Leaved Sedge Cyperaceae Carex echinata Star Sedge Cyperaceae Carex gynandra Nodding Sedge Cyperaceae Carex intumescens Greater Bladder Sedge Cyperaceae Carex leptalea Bristly-Stalk Sedge Cyperaceae Carex leptonervia Nerveless Woodland Sedge Cyperaceae Carex lurida Sallow Sedge Cyperaceae Carex pedunculata Long-Stalked Sedge Cyperaceae Carex projecta Necklace Sedge Cyperaceae Carex scabrata Eastern Rough Sedge Cyperaceae Carex scoparia Pointed Broom Sedge Cyperaceae

17 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions lapin and Engstrom 2013

Carex stipata Awl-Fruited Sedge Cyperaceae Carex tribuloides Blunt Broom Sedge Cyperaceae Carex trisperma Three-Seeded Sedge Cyperaceae Chelone glabra White Turtlehead Plantaginaceae Chrysosplenium americanum Golden-Saxifrage Saxifragaceae Cinna latifolia Slender Wood-Reed Poaceae Clematis virginiana Virginia Virgin's-Bower Ranunculaceae Clintonia borealis Yellow Blue-Bead Lily Liliaceae Coptis trifolia Three-Leaved Goldthread Ranunculaceae Cornus alternifolia Alternate-Leaved Dogwood Cornaceae Cornus canadensis Canada Dwarf-Dogwood Cornaceae Corylus cornuta Beaked Hazelnut Betulaceae Danthonia spicata Poverty Oatgrass Poaceae Dendrolycopodium dendroideum Prickly Tree-Clubmoss Lycopodiaceae Dennstaedtia punctilobula Eastern Hay-Scented Fern Dennstaedtiaceae Diervilla lonicera Bush-Honeysuckle Ca prifoliaceae Doellingeria umbellata Tall White-Aster Asteraceae Dryopteris campyloptera Mountain Wood Fern Dryopteridaceae Dryopteris carthusiana Spinulose Wood Fern Dryopteridaceae Dryopteris cristata Crested Wood Fern Dryopteridaceae Dryopteris intermedia Evergreen Wood Fern Dryopteridaceae Epilobium ciliatum Fringed Willow-Herb Onagraceae Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail Equisetaceae Equisetum sylvaticum Wood Horsetail Equisetaceae Eurybia macrophylla Large-Leaved Wood-Aster Asteraceae Eurybia radula Rough Wood-Aster Asteraceae Euthamia graminifolia Common Grass-Leaved-Goldenrod Asteraceae Fagus grandifolia American Beech Fagaceae Fragaria virginiana Common Strawberry Rosaceae Fraxinus americana White Ash Oleaceae Fraxinus nigra Black Ash Oleaceae Galium palustre Marsh Bedstraw Rubiaceae Galium triflorum Fragrant Bedstraw Rubiaceae Glyceria grandis American Manna Grass Poaceae Glyceria melicaria Northeastern Manna Grass Poaceae Glyceria striata Fowl Manna Grass Poaceae Gymnocarpium dryopteris Northern Oak Fern Woodsiaceae Houstonia sp. Bluets Rubiaceae llex mucronata Mountain Holly Aquifoliaceae Impatiens capensis Spotted Touch-Me-Not Balsaminaceae Juncus effusus Common Soft Rush Juncaceae

18 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013

Kalmia angustifolia Sheep American-Laurel Ericaceae Larix laricina American Larch Pinaceae linnaea borealis American Twinflower Caprifoliaceae Lonicera canadensis American Honeysuckle Caprifoliaceae Lonicera villosa Mountain Honeysuckle Caprifoliaceae Lycopus uniflorus Northern Water-Horehound Lamiaceae Lysimachia borealis Starflower Myrsinaceae Maianthemum canadense Canada-Mayflower Ruscaceae Maianthemum racemosum False Solomon's-Seal Ruscaceae Medeola virginiana Indian Cucumber Roo,t Liliaceae Milium effusum Millet Grass Poaceae Mitchella repens Partridge-Berry Rubiaceae Oclemena acuminata Sharp-Toothed Nodding-Aster Asteraceae Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern Onocleaceae Osmunda claytoniana Interrupted Fern Osmundaceae Osmundastrum cinnamomeum Cinnamon Fern Osmundaceae Ostrya virginiana Hop-Hornbeam Betulaceae Oxalis montana Northern Wood Sorrel Oxalidaceae Packera aurea Golden Groundsel Asteraceae Parathelypteris noveboracensis New York Fern Thelypteridaceae Phegopteris connectilis Long Beech Fern Thelypteridaceae Phragmites australis Common Reed Poaceae Picea glauca White Spruce Pinaceae Picea rubens Red Spruce Pinaceae Poa saltuensis Weak Spear Grass Poaceae Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas Fern Dryopteridaceae Populus tremuloides Quaking Poplar Salicaceae Prunella vulgaris Common Selfheal Lamiaceae Prunus pensylvanica Pin Cherry Rosaceae Prunus serotina Black Cherry Rosaceae Prunus virginiana Choke Cherry Rosaceae Pteridium aquilinum Bracken Fern Dennstaedtiaceae Rhododendron canadense Rhodora Ericaceae Rubus allegheniensis Common Blackberry Rosaceae Rubus dalibarda Dewdrop Rosaceae Rubus idaeus Red Raspberry Rosaceae Rubus pubescens Dwarf Raspberry Rosaceae Sa lix discolor Pussy Willow Salicaceae Sambucus racemosa Red Elderberry Adoxaceae Schizachne purpurascens False Melic Grass Poaceae Schizachyrium scoparium little Bluestem Poaceae

19 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013

Scirpus cyperinus Common Woolsedge Cyperaceae Scirpus microcarpus Barber-Pole Bulrush Cyperaceae Scutellaria lateriflora Mad Dog Skullcap Lamiaceae Solidago canadensis Canada Goldenrod Asteraceae Solidago nemoralis Gray Goldenrod Asteraceae Solidago puberula Downy Goldenrod Asteraceae Solidago rugosa Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod Asteraceae Sorbus americana American Mountain-Ash Rosaceae Spinulum annotinum Common lnterrupted-Clubmoss Lycopodiaceae Spiraea alba White Meadowsweet Rosaceae Spiraea tomentosa Rosy Meadowsweet Rosaceae Streptopus roseus Lance-Leaved Twistedstalk Liliaceae Symphyotrichum puniceum Purple-Stemmed American-Aster Asteraceae Thuja occidentalis Northern White-Cedar Cupressaceae Tiarella cordifolia Foam-Flower Saxifragaceae Trillium erectum Red Wakerobin Mela nthiaceae Trillium undulatum Painted Wakerobin Mela nthiaceae Tsuga canadensis Eastern Hemlock Pinaceae Typha latifolia Broad-Leaved Cat-Tail Typhaceae Vaccinium angustifolium Common Lowbush Blueberry Ericaceae Vaccinium myrtilloides Velvet-Leaved Blueberry Ericaceae Veronica officinalis Common Speedwell Plantaginaceae Veronica scutellata Narrow-Leaved Speedwell Pia ntaginaceae Viburnum nudum Withe-Rod Adoxaceae Viola rotundifolia Round-Leaved Violet Violaceae Viola sp. violet species Violaceae

20 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 201 3

Appendix 4. Partial Flora of Contact Station parcel, Silvio 0 . Conte National Fi sh & Wildlife Refuge, Brunswick, VT

Based on observations by Marc Lapin & Brett Engstrom during 2012 nat ural community mapping. Nomenclature follows Arthur Hai nes' Flora Novae-Angliae (New Eng land Wildflower Society, 2011 )

Species Name Common Name Family Abies balsamea Balsam Fir Pinaceae Acer pensylvanicum Striped Maple Sapindaceae Acer rubrum Red Maple Sapindaceae Acer saccharum Sugar Maple Sapindaceae Acer spicatum Mountain Maple Sapindaceae Agrostis perennans Autumn Bentgrass Poaceae Alnus incana Speckled Alder Betulaceae Ara lia nudicaulis Wild Sarsaparilla Apiaceae Athyrium filix-femina Northern Lady Fern Woodsiaceae Betula alleghaniensis Yellow Birch Betulaceae Betula papyrifera Paper Birch Betulaceae Brachyelytrum aristosum Northern Long-Awned Wood Grass Poaceae Bromus ciliatus Fringed Brome Poaceae Calamagrostis canadensis Canada Reed Grass Poaceae Carex crinita Fringed Sedge Cyperaceae Carex debilis White-Edged Sedge Cyperaceae Carex disperma Soft-Leaved Sedge Cyperaceae Carex flava Yellow-Green Sedge Cyperaceae Carex gracillima Graceful Sedge Cyperaceae Carex gynandra Nodding Sedge Cyperaceae Carex intumescens Greater Bladder Sedge Cyperaceae Carex lenticularis Lake Shore Sedge Cyperaceae Carex leptalea Bristly-Stalk Sedge Cyperaceae Carex pedunculata Long-Stalked Sedge Cyperaceae Carex projecta Necklace Sedge Cyperaceae Carex scabrata Eastern Rough Sedge Cyperaceae Carex stricta Tussock Sedge Cyperaceae Ca rex torta Twisted Sedge Cyperaceae Carex utriculata Swollen-Beaked Sedge Cyperaceae Carex vesicaria Lesser Bladder Sedge Cyperaceae Chelone glabra White Turtlehead Plantaginaceae Clintonia borealis Yellow Blue-Bead Lily Liliaceae

21 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013

Coptis trifolia Three-Leaved Goldthread Ranunculaceae Cornus alternifolia Alternate-Leaved Dogwood Cornaceae Cornus canadensis Canada Dwarf-Dogwood Cornaceae Cornus sericea Red-Osier Dogwood Cornaceae Corylus cornuta Beaked Hazelnut Betulaceae Danthonia spicata Poverty Oatgrass Poaceae Dennstaedtia punctilobula Eastern Hay-Scented Fern Dennstaedtiaceae Diervilla lonicera Bush-Honeysuckle Caprifoliaceae Doellingeria umbellata Tall White-Aster Asteraceae Dryopteris carthusiana Spinulose Wood Fern Dryopteridaceae Dryopteris cristata Crested Wood Fern Dryopteridaceae Dryopteris intermedia Evergreen Wood Fern Dryopteridaceae Dulichium arundinaceum Three-Way Sedge Cyperaceae Eleocharis acicularis Needle Spikesedge Cyperaceae Elymus virginicus Common Eastern Wild-Rye Poaceae Equisetum scirpoides Dwarf Scouring-Rush Equisetaceae Equisetum sylvaticum Wood Horsetail Equisetaceae Euthamia graminifolia Common Grass-Leaved-Goldenrod Asteraceae Fragaria virginiana Common Strawberry Rosaceae Fraxinus americana White Ash Oleaceae Fraxinus nigra Black Ash Oleaceae Galium triflorum Fragrant Bedstraw Rubiaceae Gaultheria procumbens Eastern Spicy-Wintergreen Ericaceae Geum rivale Water Avens Rosaceae Glyceria borealis Northern Manna Grass Poaceae Glyceria grandis American Manna Grass Poaceae Glyceria melicaria Northeastern Manna Grass Poaceae Glyceria striata Fowl Manna Grass Poaceae llex mucronata Mountain Holly Aquifoliaceae llex verticillata Common Winterberry Aquifoliaceae Juncus effusus Common Soft Rush Juncaceae Larix laricina American Larch Pinaceae Lonicera canadensis American Honeysuckle Caprifoliaceae Lysimachia borealis Starflower Myrsinaceae Lysimachia terrestris Swamp Yellow-Loosestrife Myrsinaceae Maianthemum canadense Canada-Mayflower Ruscaceae Malus pumila Cultivated Apple Rosaceae Myrica gale Sweetgale Myricaceae Oclemena acuminata Sharp-Toothed Nodding-Aster Asteraceae Oenothera perennis Little Evening-Primrose Onagraceae Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern Onocleaceae

22 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013

Osmunda regalis Royal Fern Osmundaceae Osmundastrum cinnamomeum Cinnamon Fern Osmundaceae Oxalis montana Northern Wood Sorrel Oxalidaceae Parathelypteris noveboracensis New York Fern Thelypteridaceae Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary Grass Poaceae Phegopteris connectilis Long Beech Fern Thelypteridaceae Picea glauca White Spruce Pinaceae Picea rubens Red Spruce Pinaceae Pinus strobus Eastern White Pine Pinaceae Populus balsamifera Balsam Poplar Salicaceae Populus tremuloides Quaking Poplar Salicaceae Potamogeton amplifolius Big-Leaved Pondweed Potamogetonaceae Prunella vulgaris Common Selfheal Lamiaceae Prunus serotina Black Cherry Rosaceae Prunus virginiana Choke Cherry Rosaceae Pyrola americana American Shinleaf Ericaceae Pyrola elliptica Elliptic-Leaved Shinleaf Ericaceae Ranunculus flammula Creeping Crowfoot Ranunculaceae Ranunculus recurvatus Hooked Crowfoot Ranunculaceae Rhamnus alnifolia Alder-Leaved Buckthorn Rhamnaceae Ribes hirtellum Hairy-Stemmed Gooseberry Grossulariaceae Ribes lacustre Bristly Swamp Currant Grossulariaceae Rubus allegheniensis Common Blackberry Rosaceae Rubus pubescens Dwarf Raspberry Rosaceae Saggitaria sp. arrowhead species Alismataceae Salix discolor Pussy Willow Salicaceae Salix lucida Shining Willow Salicaceae Scirpus cyperinus Common Woolsedge Cyperaceae Scirpus microcarpus Barber-Pole Bulrush Cyperaceae Solidago flexicaulis Ziz-Zag Goldenrod Asteraceae Solidago rugosa Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod Asteraceae Spiraea alba White Meadowsweet Rosaceae Symphyotrichum lanceolatum Lance-Leaved American-Aster Asteraceae Symphyotrichum puniceum Purple-Stemmed American-Aster Asteraceae Thalictrum pubescens Tall Meadow-Rue Ranunculaceae Thuja occidentalis Northern White-Cedar Cupressaceae Tiarella cordifolia Foam-Flower Saxifragaceae Torreyochloa pallida Pale False Manna Grass Poaceae Tsuga canadensis Eastern Hemlock Pinaceae Ulmus americana American Elm Ulmaceae Uvularia sessilifolia Sessile-Leaved Bellwort Colchicaceae

23 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 20 l 3

Vaccinium myrtilloides Velvet-Leaved Blueberry Ericaceae Viburnum lantanoides Hobblebush Adoxaceae Viburnum nudum Withe-Rod Adoxaceae Viola sp. violet species Violaceae

24 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013

Appendix 5. Attribute table (partial) of rare and uncommon plants shapefile. Observations by Lapin and Engstrom 2012 during natural community mapping.

TYPE WAYPOINT WAYPOINT WAYPOINT WAYPOINT IDENT 111 134 135 846 LAT 44.78478558 44.78033915 44.78097316 44.76594893 LONG -71. 79074418 -71.69345342 -71.69489125 -71. 70878978 06-JUL-12 COMMENT 05-JUL-12 1:00:02PM 06-J UL-12 12:11:02PM 12:52:34PM 25-SEP-12 14:08:01 ALTITUDE 360.00 322.00 315.00 358.00 MODEL GPSMap76CSX GPSMap76CSX GPSMap76CSX GPSMap60CSX Species Lonicera villosa Carex lenticularis Geum laciniatum Carex lenticularis Mountain Fly- Plant name honeysuckle Lake Shore Sedge Rough avens Lake Shore Sedge SRANK S3 S2 $3 S2 1 tussock at edge of north of wpt 111, near large pop'n scattered 4 sprigs out of small still ponded area; Notes granite erratic; scattered throughout alder crack in rivershore 4 tu5$ocks to west of about; few individuals alluvial shrubland outcrop wpt in wet channel Species2 Alopecurus aequalis SRANK2 S3 Alopecurus growing NotesSp2 next to the single C. lenticularis tussock

25 Natural Community and Flora Findings, Nulhegan Division Additions lapin and Engstrom 2013

Appendix 6. Attribute table (partial) of invasive plants shapefile. Observations by Lapin and Engstrom 2012 during natural community mapping.

TYPE WAYPOINT WAYPOINT IDENT 892 127 LAT 44.78065507 44.77770288 LONG -71.78047174 -71.69329022 COMM ENT 26-SEP-12 13:54:48 06-JUL-12 9:47:35AM ALTITUDE 383.00 329.00 MODEL GPSM ap60CSX GPSM ap76CSX Species Phragmites australis Phalaris arundinacea PlantName Common Reed Reed Canary Grass

10m2 patch in marshy area Reed Canary Grass in wet grassy Notes of mixed seepage opening with native sedges, forest/swamp grasses, alder, willows

26 Natural Community and Flora Findings, t\ulhegan Division Additions l apin and Engstrom 2013

Appendix 7. Animals Observed during 2012 Natural Community Mapping,

Nulhegan Division, Silvio 0 . Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge.

Date observed notes Contact Station Parcel American woodcock 25-Sep moose 25-Sep plenty of tracks recent beaver activity in Nulhegan beaver 25-Sep floodplain

Red Pine Parcel American woodcock 6-Jul pair abundant sign and river crossing NE moose 6-Jul parcel corner at Black Branch confluence activity in floodplain forest and in beaver 6-Jul marsh/shrub swamp complex

Dupont Parcel and Adjacent Acquisitions American woodcock 26-Sep black-capped chickadee 26-Sep solitary vireo 26-Sep black-throated green warbler 26-Sep myrtle warbler 26-Sep northern parula 26-Sep

27 Natural Community and Flora Findings, ~ulhegan Division Additions Lapin and Engstrom 2013

Appendix 8. Natural community type map codes.

NCTYPE Natural Community Type Code (developed land) O Hemlock-red spruce forest lla Lowland spruce-fir forest, various 3 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic 3a Lowland spruce-fir forest, wet-mesic 3b Lowland spruce-fir-red maple forest 3c Lowland spruce-fir forest, glaciofluvial 3d Red spruce-hardwood forest, various 5 Red spruce-hardwood forest, typic Sa Northern hardwood forest, typic 8a Northern white cedar sloping seepage forest Sla Spruce-fir-tamarack swamp 52 Seep 55 Shallow emergent marsh 64 Shallow emergent marsh/beaver meadow 64a River sand/gravel shore 72 Shallow emergent marsh/beaver meadow 77 Alder swamp 78 Mixed northern seepage swamp• 81 Alluvial meadow• 82 Mixed northern floodplain forest• 83 Oxbow marsh* 85 Water (river) 99 Pond, artificial 99p

*These natural community types are not currently recognized in the Vermont state classification. They are ones that we used in our 2002 mapping of the Nulhegan Basin Division and West Mountain Wildlife Management Area, and we continue to find examples of these types and use these names.

28 Ecological Overview of Blueberry Swamp, Columbia, Coos County, NH

Accompanying the natural community map created for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Silvio 0 . Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge

Marc Lapin and Brett Engstrom January 2013

Introduction This brief report accompanies the natural community mapping of Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge lands in Blueberry Swamp, Columbia, New Hampshire. We provide a landscape overview of the physiography, soils and surface waters and then describe the ecological, natural community and floristic characteristics that are especially interesting in this unique basin. We also include some observations on land use and the challenges of accurate mapping of the upland natural communities. In addition to the natural community information, we provide partial floras of the vascular plants, as well as shapefiles of rare and invasive plants. A few notes on casual animal observations are also appended. The following ArcGIS shapefiles and layer files accompany our work:

Shapefile name Description

BlueberrySwamp_Natcoms_NHSP83_Lapin&Engstrom20l 2.shp natural community polygons with state ranks and element occurrence ranks

BlueberrySwamp_Natcoms_N HSP83_Lapin&Engstrom.lyr symbology layer for the natural communities

RarePlants_BlueberrySwp_Lapin&Engstrom20l 2.shp waypoint file of rare species observations lnvasivePlant_BlueberrySwp_Lapin&Engstrom2012.shp waypoint file of invasive plant observations waypoints_all_Blueberry_Lapin&Engstrom20l 2.shp all waypoints collected during field work Ecological overview of Blueberry Swamp, Lapin and Engstrom, 2013

Landscape Overview Blueberry Swamp is more than a typical "swamp." It is a large and diverse wetland complex that occupies an approximately 607- ha (1500- acre) perched basin within a hill- and -mountain landscape. The basin is perched 90m (300') above the nearby Mohawk River valley and 1 50m (500') above the Connecticut River valley. Simms Stream East Branch, a tributary of the Connecticut River, flows through the swamp and annually carries flood waters that persist as standing water in much of the basin through the spring. From elevations of 475m to 488m (560' to 1600') on the basin floor, the surrounding land rises to heights such as 542m to 549m (1780' to 1800') on Cilley and Marshall hills, and 762m (2500') to nearly 1220m (4000') on mountain summits to the east and south, including Blue Mountain, elevation 1134m (3720'). Thus, the Blueberry Swamp basin is deep-over 300m (1000') from the encircling highest summits to the basin floor, and climatically it is a substantial cold-air trap. The maximum elevation of the Fish and Wildlife Refuge lands is 536m (1 760') at Bungy Road, near the refuge-owned house.

The principal surface water features are Simms Stream East Branch which generally flows north to south and an unnamed branch that flows east to west. The main stem of Simms Stream joins the East Branch in the southwest at the basin outlet. Unmapped permanent and intermittent streamlets also drain the basin slopes. Beaver activity is very common on all but the smallest streamlets. In addition to the surface waters, groundwater seepage is active in the basin and not only contributes water to the spring/ early summer floods, but also has a strong role year-round in the hydrology that helps shape the natural communities.

Soils of the Blueberry Swamp basin are strongly dominated by stone-free silt loams and very fine sandy loams. The preponderance of silt loams in the basin bottom indicates a late Pleistocene/ early Holocene history of ponding, during which time the small silt particles were able to settle to become parent material for the post- glacial soils. We ll-drained Plaisted very fine sandy loam covers the upper and mid-slopes. Lower slopes typically feature moderately we ll- drained Howland silt loam and poorly drained Cabot gravelly silt loam. The basin

2 Ecological overview of Blueberry Swamp, Lapin and Engstrom, 2013 bottom is a mix of very poorly drained peat and muck soils west of the East Branch-mostly Wonsqueak muck with lesser area of Peacham muck-and poorly drained Charles and Grange silt loams in the eastern areas which are closer to the streams and are frequently inundated by surface waters.

The ecological relationships fundamental to the occurrence and pattern of natural communities in this landscape are complex. Of principal importance in shaping the natural communities are the relationships among hydrology, soils and landscape position. Principal factors include position on slopes and within the basin bottom, groundwater seepage (presence and amount) and proximity to flowing water (alluvial deposition and length / magnitude of inundation). The influence of the cold-air-trap microclimate is of note throughout the basin landscape.

Of Special Ecological Interest The extent of the silt loam landscape and its being "perched" at a moderately high elevation make for natural community and vegetation composition different from what is typically encountered in such foothills locations.

The heterogeneity of this large wetland complex is notable. The diversity of natural communities includes large examples of minerotrophic and acidic types. Among the minerotrophic natural communities are the following: northern white cedar swamp types, seepage forest/swamp types, alluvial alder swamp, and an unusual alder-cedar swamp. The acidic types are lowland spruce-fir forest (a complex mosaic of mesic and wet-mesic variants) and black spruce swamp.

The diversity of natural community types and the size of the entire wetland complex are impressive. Within refuge lands we mapped slightly over 1 50ha (370 acres) of wetland natural community types. According to the New Hampshire wetlands GIS base layer (nhwetlandsbase.shp), an additional 40ha (100 acres) of wetland lie adjacent to the refuge lands.

Several rare plants were found in the wetlands, including one species, swamp honeysuckle (Lonicera oblongifo/ia), that was not previously known to occur in

3 Ecological overview of Blueberry Swamp, Lapin and Engstrom, 2013

New Hampshire. What appears to be a large swamp honeysuckle population occurs in the northern white cedar swamp that straddles the refuge northern boundary (waypoints 586, 605, 606, 608). Wiegand's sedge (C wiegandil), an endangered (Sl) species in New Hampshire, was found within a spruce-fir­ tamarack swamp (waypoint 183). It is quite possible that there are other locations of this rare sedge within the basin. Hayden's Sedge (Carex haydenil), while not tracked as rare in the state, is an uncommon tussock sedge that was found in a couple alluvial meadows (waypoints 545, 590, 616).

Other notes of floristic interest include the sparsity of red spruce (Picea rubens) and perhaps total absence of beech (Fagus grandifolia). Black spruce (Picea mariana) is the most abundant spruce in the basin, even in the mixed hardwood- spruce forests, and white spruce (P. glauca) is common in the alluvial forests, mixed seepage swamps, and as a successional species in former fields. Although it would typically occur in northern hardwood forests at these elevations, beech appears to be totally absent from the forests in the Blueberry Swamp basin; the absence (or paucity) of beech is most probably an effect of the cold-air microclimate. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is scarce in the forests of the basin; we speculate that its small population size is an artifact of land- use history rather than a natural ecological phenomenon. Sugar maple is prominent on the slopes of the surrounding hills; during foliage season the mid- slopes of Baldhead Mountain to the east of the swamp were aglow with sugar maple colors.

Boreal bird species are rare or uncommon in New Hampshire, and in Blueberry Swamp we sighted boreal chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) and black-backed woodpecker (Picoides arcticus).

Land Use Notes and Upland Forest Mapping Challenges Nearly the entire area was farmed (cultivated fields, haymeadows, pasture), except for the lands with the muck or peat soils (black spruce, cedar, spruce­ fir-tamarack swamps and some of the wettest lowland spruce- fir forests. Such intensive historical transformation of the vegetation from forest to field made typing of the uplands problematic. In many other landscapes, there are less modified natural communities nearby occupying areas with similar landscape

4 Ecological overview of Blueberry Swamp, Lapin and Engstrom, 2013

settings. Since the Blueberry Swamp is such a unique place, however, less disturbed examples of upland forests in the basin bottom were not present to base mapping on. Substantial acreage of the old farm fields had been planted to balsam fir and white spruce. The moss groundcover (especially Pleurozium schreben) with scant herbage and general lack of regeneration provided little clue as to what these plantations will succeed to.

Heavy and repeated logging throughout the uplands is another artificial disturbance that confounds natural community identification, especially when considered in combination with the former agricultural clearing and the silt loam soils in a cold- air microclimate. Cedar swamps and other wetlands with muck soils appear to be the least intensively logged areas.

Artificial alteration of stream hydrology is another factor that needs more study. One area in the big alder swamp along the East Branch (waypoints 596/597) has a west flowing channel that does not look natural. While no dams are shown on the 1930 fifteen minute U.S.G.S. topographic quadrangle, the brief history found on a town website mentions old grist and sawmills in Columbia. We speculate that historic hydrologic alterations continue to influence the composition and structure of vegetation in the basin- bottom natural communities.

5 Ecological overview of Blueberry Swamp, Lapin and Engstrom, 2013

Appendix 1. Natural community map codes and crosswalk to New Hampshire natural community types.

Natural Community Type (as mapped in NCTYPE New Hampshire Natural Community Type Nulhegan Basin Division) Code

Lowland spruce-fir forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3a Lowland spruce-fir forest, wet -mesic Lowland spruce -fir forest 3b Lowland spruce-fir-red maple forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3c Red spruce-northern hardwood forest Northern hardwood-spruce-fir forest 5 Northern hardwood forest Sugar maple-beech-yellow birch forest 8 Northern white cedar swamp Northern white cedar-balsam fir swamp 51 Northern white cedar sloping seepage forest Northern white cedar seepage forest 51a Spruce-fir-tamarack swamp Larch-mixed conifer swamp 52 Black spruce swamp Black spruce swamp 53 Tall graminoid meadow marsh, tussock Shallow emergent marsh sedge variant 64 Tall graminoid meadow marsh or Mixed tall Sha llow marsh/ beaver meadow graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 64a Tall graminoid meadow marsh or Mixed tall Beaver pond and meadow graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 64ac Beaver pond 64c Alder seepage thicket or M ixed tall Alluvial shrub swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 77 Alluvial shrub swamp Alder alluvial shrubland 77 Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 Alder swamp, deep peat Alder seepage thicket 78a Alder-northern white cedar swamp/ bog Alder wooded fen 78b Northern hardwood-black ash-conifer M ixed northern seepage swamp/forest swamp, typic 81 Herbaceous riverbank/floodplain, bluejoint Alluvial grassland/meadow variant 82 Mixed northern floodplain forest Balsam fir floodplain/silt plain forest 83 Pond, artificial 99p

6 Appendix 2. Partial attribute table of natural community polygons. "Natural Community Type"= the mapping code for natural community/ variant; New Hampshire Natural Community Type = type per the NH state classification; "NH_Srank" = state rank of the natural community type; "EORAN K" =element occurrence rank for the natural community occurrence' .

Natural Community Type• New Hampshire Natural Community Type NCTYPE NH_Srank EORANK HA ACRES Lowland spruce-fir forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3 S3 B 4.4 10.8 Lowland spruce-fir forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3 S3 B 4.1 10.2 Lowland spruce-fir forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3 S3 B 2.1 5.2 Lowland spruce-fir forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3 S3 B 1.8 4.5 Lowland spruce-fir forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3 53 B 1.0 2.4 Lowland spruce-fir forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3 S3 B 0.7 1.7 Lowland spruce-fir forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3 S3 B 0.4 1.0 Lowland spruce-fir forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3 S3 B 0.2 o.s Lowland spruce-fir forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3 S3 B 0.1 0.2 Lowland spruce-fir forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3 53 B 0.1 0.2 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3a S3 B 42.6 105.3 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3a S3 B 12.1 29.9 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3a S3 B 5.0 12.4 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3a S3 B 4.5 11.1 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3a S3 B 2.2 5.4 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3a 53 B 1.8 4.5 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3a 53 B 0.9 2.3 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3a S3 B 0.3 0.7 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3a S3 B 0.2 0.4 Lowland spruce-fir forest, mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3a S3 B 0.1 0.2 Lowland spruce-fir forest, wet-mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3b 53 B 31.7 78.2 Lowland spruce-fir forest, wet-mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3b 53 B 6.6 16.3

1 Rankings based on New Hampshire Natural Heritage Inventory ranking specifications. "nr" = not ranked; ranks were not calculated for common natural communities known to have low EO ranks; ranking specifications have not been developed for aquatic features. 7 Ecological overview of Blueberry Swamp, Lapin and Engstrom, 2013

Natural Community Type• New Hampshire Natural Community Type NCTYPE NH_Srank EORANK HA ACRES Lowland spruce-fir forest, wet-mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3b S3 B 3.8 9.5 Lowland spruce-fir forest, wet-mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3b S3 B 1.8 4.4 Lowland spruce-fir forest, wet-mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3b 53 B 1.3 3.2 Lowland spruce-fir forest, wet-mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3b 53 B 1.0 2.5 Lowland spruce-fir forest, wet-mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3b S3 B o.s 1.3 Lowland spruce-fir forest, wet-mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3b 53 B 0.5 1.2 Lowland spruce-fir forest, wet-mesic Lowland spruce-fir forest 3b 53 B 0.2 0.6 Lowland spruce-fir-red maple forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3c 53 B 21.S S3.0 Lowland spruce-fir-red maple forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3c 53 B 10.6 26.2 Lowla nd spruce-fir-red maple forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3c 53 B 4.1 10.1 Lowland spruce-fir-red maple forest Lowland spruce-fir forest 3c 53 B 0.6 1.S Red spruce-northern hardwood forest Northern hardwood-spruce-fir forest s 54 nr 11.6 28.6 Red spruce-northern hardwood forest Northern hardwood-spruce-fir forest s S4 nr 1.S 3.6 Red spruce-northern hardwood forest Northern hardwood-spruce-fir forest s 54 nr 1.2 3.1 Red spruce-northern hardwood forest Northern hardwood-spruce-fir forest s S4 nr 1.0 2.S Red spruce-northern hardwood forest Northern hardwood-spruce-fir forest s S4 nr o.s 1.3 Northern hardwood forest Sugar maple-beech-yellow birch forest 8 SS nr S2.3 129.3 Northern hardwood forest Sugar maple-beech-yellow birch forest 8 SS nr 22.6 SS.9 Northern hardwood forest Sugar maple-beech-yellow birch forest 8 SS nr 10.9 27.0 Northern white cedar swamp Northern white cedar-balsam fir swamp 51 S2 B+ 10.7 26.4 Northern white cedar swamp Northern white cedar-balsam fir swamp 51 S2 B+ 3.3 8.1 Northern white cedar swamp Northern white cedar-balsam fir swamp Sl $2 B+ 1.6 3.9 Northern white cedar swamp Northern white cedar-balsam fir swamp Sl S2 B+ 1.2 3.0 Northern white cedar sloping seepage Northern white cedar seepage forest forest Sla S2 B+ 4.6 11.4 Northern white cedar sloping seepage Northern white cedar seepage forest forest Sla 52 B+ 1.9 4.6 Spruce-fir-tamarack swamp Larch-mixed conifer swamp S2 S3 B- 3.7 9.1 Spruce-fir-tamarack swamp Larch-mixed conifer swamp S2 53 B- 3.1 7.7 Spruce-fir-tamarack swamp Larch-mixed conifer swamp S2 S3 B- 3.1 7.7

8 Eco logical overview of Bl ueberry Swamp, Lapin and Engstrom, 2013

Natural Community Type• New Hampshire Natural Community Type NCTYPE NH_Srank EORANK HA ACRES Spruce-fir-tamarack swamp Larch-mixed conifer swamp 52 S3 B- 0.5 1.2 Black spruce swamp Black spruce swamp 53 S3 B 25.5 63.1 Black spruce swamp Black spruce swamp 53 S3 B 3.9 9.8 Black spruce swamp Black spruce swamp 53 S3 B 3.6 8.9 Black spruce swamp Black spruce swamp 53 S3 B 2.5 6.3 Black spruce swamp Black spruce swamp 53 S3 B 0.4 1.0 Tall graminoid meadow marsh, tussock Shallow emergent marsh sedge variant 64 S4 nr 0.1 0.3 Tall graminoid meadow marsh or Mixed Shallow marsh/beaver meadow tall graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 64a S4/S4S5 nr 0.9 2.1 Tall graminoid meadow marsh or Mixed Shallow marsh/beaver meadow tall graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 64a S4/S4S5 nr 0.8 2.1 Tatl graminoid meadow marsh or M ixed Shallow marsh/beaver meadow tall graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 64a S4/S4S5 nr 0.4 0.9 Tall graminoid meadow marsh or Mixed Shallow marsh/beaver meadow tall graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 64a 54/54S5 nr 0.2 0.6 Tall graminoid meadow marsh or M ixed Beaver pond and meadow tall graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 64ac S4/5455 nr 0.9 2.1 Tall graminoid meadow marsh or Mixed Beaver pond and meadow tall graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 64ac 54/5455 nr 0.0 0.1 Beaver pond 64c nr 0.2 0.5 Alder seepage thicket or M ixed tall Alluvial shrub swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 77 53/54S5 A- 17.4 43.0 Alluvial shrub swamp Alder alluvial shrubland 77 53 A- 2.3 5.6 Alluvial shrub swamp Alder alluvial shrubland 77 53 A- 1.3 3.2 Alluvial shrub swamp Alder alluvial shrubland 77 53 A- 0.3 0.8 Alluvial shrub swamp Alder alluvial shrubland 77 53 A- 0.2 0.6 Alluvial shrub swamp Alder alluvial shrubla nd 77 53 A- 0.2 0.5 Alder seepage thicket or M ixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 53/5455 A- 12.4 30.7

9 Ecological overview of Blueberry Swamp, Lapin and Engstrom, 2013

Natural Community Type• New Hampshire Natural Community Type NCTYPE NH_Srank EORANK HA ACRES Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 S3/S4S5 A- 3.5 8.6 Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 S3/S4S5 A- 2.3 5.6 Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 S3/S4SS A- 2.1 5.2 Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 S3/S4S5 A- 2.0 5.0 Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 S3/S4S5 A- 1.6 4.0 Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 53/5455 A- 1.2 3.0 Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 S3/S4S5 A- 0.5 1.2 Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 53/$4$5 A- 0.3 0.8 Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 S3/S4S5 A- 0.3 0.8 Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 S3/S4S5 A- 0.3 0.6 Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 53/5455 A- 0.3 0.6 Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 S3/S4S5 A- 0.2 0.5 Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 $3/$455 A- 0.2 0.4 Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 S3/S4SS A- 0.1 0.2 Alder seepage thicket or Mixed tall Alder swamp graminoid-scrub-shrub swamp 78 53/5455 A- 0.1 0.1

10 Ecological overview of Blueberry Swamp, Lapin and Engstrom, 2013

Natural Community Type• New Hampshire Natural Community Type NCTYPE NH_Srank EORANK HA ACRES Alder swamp, deep peat Alder seepage thicket 78a 53 A- 0.2 0.4 Alder-northern white cedar swamp/bog Alder wooded fen 78b 5354 A 14.1 34.9 Alder-northern white cedar swamp/bog Alder wooded fen 78b 5354 A 4.1 10.0 Northern hardwood-black ash-conifer Mixed northern seepage swamp/forest swamp, typic 81 53 B 1.8 4.4 Northern hardwood-black ash-conifer Mixed northern seepage swamp/forest swamp, typic 81 53 B 1.7 4.2 Northern hardwood-black ash-conifer Mixed northern seepage swamp/forest swamp, typic 81 53 B 1.2 2.9 Northern hardwood-black ash-conifer Mixed northern seepage swamp/forest swamp, typic 81 53 B 1.0 2.6 Northern hardwood-black ash-conifer Mixed northern seepage swamp/forest swamp, typic 81 53 B 0.5 1.3 Northern hardwood-black ash-conifer Mixed northern seepage swamp/forest swamp, typic 81 53 B 0.4 0.9 Northern hardwood-black ash-conifer Mixed northern seepage swamp/forest swamp, typic 81 $3 B 0.3 0.6 Northern hardwood-black ash-conifer Mixed northern seepage swamp/forest swamp, typic 81 53 B 0.2 0.4 Northern hardwood-black ash-conifer Mixed northern seepage swamp/forest swamp, typic 81 53 B 0.1 0.3 Herbaceous riverbank/floodplain, Alluvial grassland/meadow bluejoint variant 82 54 B- 1.3 3.3 Herbaceous riverbank/floodplain, Alluvial grassland/meadow bluejoint variant 82 54 B- 0.9 2.1 Herbaceous riverbank/floodplain, Alluvial grassland/meadow bluejoint variant 82 54 B- 0.6 1.4 Herbaceous riverbank/floodplain, Alluvial grassland/meadow bluejoint variant 82 54 B- 0.1 0.2

l l Ecological overview of Blueberry Swamp, Lapin and Engstrom, 2013

Natur~I Community Type• New Hampshire Natural Community Type NCTYPE NH_Srank EORANK HA ACRES Mixed northern floodplain forest Balsam fir floodplain/silt plain forest 83 S2 B 1.8 4.5 Mixed northern floodplain forest Balsam fir floodplain/silt plain forest 83 S2 B 0.5 1.2 Mixed northern floodplain forest Balsam fir floodplain/silt plain forest 83 S2 B 0.3 0.7 Mixed northern floodplain forest Balsam fir floodplain/silt plain forest 83 S2 B 0.2 0.5 Mixed northern floodplain forest Balsam fir floodplain/silt plain forest 83 S2 B 0.1 0.4 Pond, artificial 99p nr nr 0.0 0.1

12 Appendix 3. Partial Flora of Blueberry Swamp, Silvio 0. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, Columbia, NH

Based on observations by Marc Lapin & Brett Engstrom during 2012 natural community mapping. Nomenclature follows Arthur Haines' Flora Novae-Angliae (New England Wildflower Society, 2011)

Species Name Common Name Family Abies balsamea Balsam Fir Pinaceae Acer rubrum Red Maple Sapindaceae Acer saccharum Sugar Maple Sapindaceae Acer spicatum Mountain Maple Sapindaceae Actaea pachypoda White Ba neberry Ranunculaceae Actaea rubra Red Baneberry Ranunculaceae Agrimonia gryposepala Common Agrimony Rosaceae Agrostis giga ntea Redtop Bentgrass Poaceae Agrostis sp. Bentgrass sp. Poaceae Alnus incana Speckled Alder Betulaceae Alopecurus aequalis Short-Awned Meadow-Foxtail Poaceae Amelanchier bartramiana Mountain Shadbush Rosaceae Amelanchier sp. Shadbush Rosaceae Anemone canadensis Canada Windflower Ranunculaceae Anthoxanthum hirtum Northern Sweet Grass Poaceae Aralia nudicaulis Wild Sarsaparilla Apiaceae Arisaema triphyllum Jack-In-The-Pulpit Araceae Athyrium filix-femina Northern Lady Fern Woodsiaceae Betula alleghaniensis Yellow Birch Betulaceae Betula papyrifera Paper Birch Betulaceae Betula populifolia Gray Birch Betulaceae Bidens cernua Nodding Beggar-Ticks Asteraceae Bidens connata Purple-Stemmed Beggar-Ticks Asteraceae Brachyelytrum aristosum Northern Long-Awned Wood Grass Poaceae Bromus ciliatus Fringed Brome Poaceae Calamagrostis canadensis Canada Reed Grass Poaceae Calla palustris Wild Calla Araceae Callitriche palustris Vernal Wat er-Starwort Plantaginaceae Cardamine pensylvanica Pennsylvania Bitter-Cress Brassicaceae Carex bromoides Brome-Uke Sedge Cyperaceae Carex brunnescens Brownish Sedge Cyperaceae Carex canescens Hoary Sedge Cyperaceae Carex debilis White-Edged Sedge Cyperaceae Carex deflexa Northern Sedge Cyperaceae

l 3 Ecological overview of Blueberry Swamp, Lapin and Engstrom, 2013

Carex disperma Soft-Leaved Sedge Cyperaceae Carex echinata Star Sedge Cyperaceae Carex gracillima Graceful Sedge Cyperaceae Carex gynandra Nodding Sedge Cyperaceae Carex haydenii Hayden's Sedge Cyperaceae Carex interior Inland Sedge Cyperaceae Carex intumescens Greater Bladder Sedge Cyperaceae Carex leptalea Bristly-Stalk Sedge Cyperaceae Carex leptonervia Nerveless Woodland Sedge Cyperaceae Carex lurida Sallow Sedge Cyperaceae Carex magellanica Boreal Bog Sedge Cyperaceae Carex novae-angliae New England Sedge Cyperaceae Carex oligosperma Few-Seeded Sedge Cyperaceae Carex pedunculata Long-Stalked Sedge Cyperaceae Carex projecta Necklace Sedge Cyperaceae Carex scoparia Pointed Broom Sedge Cyperaceae Carex sec. montanae Sedge sp., section Montanae Cyperaceae Carex stipata Awl-Fruited Sedge Cyperaceae Carex stricta Tussock Sedge Cyperaceae Carex torta Twisted Sedge Cyperaceae Carex tribuloides Blunt Broom Sedge Cyperaceae Carex trisperma Three-Seeded Sedge Cyperaceae Carex vesicaria Lesser Bladder Sedge Cyperaceae Carex wiegandii Wiegand's Sedge Cyperaceae Caulophyllum thalictroides Blue Cohosh Berberidaceae Chelone glabra White Turtlehead Plantaginaceae Chrysosplenium americanum Golden-Saxifrage Saxifragaceae Cinna latifolia Slender Wood-Reed Poaceae Circaea alpina Small Enchanter's-Nightshade Onagraceae Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle Asteraceae Cirsium muticum Swamp Thistle Asteraceae Clematis virginiana Virginia Virgin's-Bower Ranunculaceae Clinopodium vulgare Wild Basil Lamiaceae Clintonia borealis Yellow Blue-Bead Lily Liliaceae Coptis trifolia Three-Leaved Goldthread Ranunculaceae Cornus alternifolia Alternate-Leaved Dogwood Cornaceae Cornus canadensis Canada Dwarf-Dogwood Cornaceae Cornus sericea Red-Osier Dogwood Cornaceae Corylus cornuta Beaked Hazelnut Betulaceae Cypripedium acaule Pink Lady's-Slipper Orchidaceae Danthonia spicata Poverty Oatgrass Poaceae Dendrolycopodium dendroideum Prickly Tree-Clubmoss Lycopodiaceae

14 Ecological overview of Blueberry Swamp, Lapin and Engstrom, 2013

Dendrolycopodium obscurum Flat-Branched Tree-Clubmoss Lycopodiaceae Dennstaedtia punctilobula Eastern Hay-Scented Fern Dennstaedtiaceae Dichanthelium acuminatum Hairy Rosette-Panicgrass Poaceae Diervilla lonicera Bush-Honeysuckle Caprifoliaceae Doellingeria umbellata Tall White-Aster Asteraceae Drosera rotundifolia Round-Leaved Sundew Droseraceae Dryopteris campyloptera Mountain Wood Fern Dryopteridaceae Dryopteris carthusiana Spinulose Wood Fern Dryopteridaceae Dryopteris cristata Crested Wood Fern Dryopteridaceae Dryopteris intermedia Evergreen Wood Fern Dryopteridaceae Dryopteris marginalis Marginal Wood Fern Dryopteridaceae Eleocharis cf palustris spikesedge species Cyperaceae Eleocharis tenuis Slender Spikesedge Cyperaceae Elymus repens Creeping Wild-Rye Poaceae Elymus virginicus Common Eastern W ild-Rye Poaceae Elymus wieganidii Wiegand's Wild-Rye Poaceae Epilobium ciliatum Fringed Willow-Herb Onagraceae Epilobium leptophyllum Bog Willow-Herb Onagraceae Epipactis helleborine Broad-Leaved Helleborine Orchidaceae Equisetum arvense Fie ld Horsetail Equisetaceae Equisetum sylvaticum Wood Horsetail Equisetaceae Erigeron sp. Flea bane Asteraceae Eriophorum virginicum Tawny Cottonsedge Cyperaceae Eurybia macrophylla Large-Leaved Wood-Aster Asteraceae Eurybia radula Rough Wood-Aster Asteraceae Euthamia graminifolia Common Grass-Leaved-Goldenrod Asteraceae Eutrochium maculatum Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Asteraceae Fragaria virginiana Common Strawberry Rosaceae Fraxinus americana White Ash Oleaceae Fraxinus nigra Black Ash Oleaceae Galeopsis tetrahit Brittle-Stemmed Hemp-Nettle Lamiaceae Galium asprellum Rough Bedstraw Rubiaceae Galium brevipes limestone Swamp Bedstraw Rubiaceae Galium cf pa lustre Marsh Bedstraw? Galium triflorum Fragrant Bedstraw Rubiaceae Gaultheria hispidula Creeping Spicy-Wintergreen Ericaceae Geum laciniatum Floodplain Avens Rosaceae Geum macrophyllum Large-Leaved Avens Rosaceae Geum rivale Water Avens Rosaceae Glyceria borealis Northern Manna Grass Poaceae Glyceria canadensis Rattlesnake Manna Grass Poaceae Glyceria grandis American Manna Grass Poaceae Glyceria melicaria Northeastern Manna Grass Poaceae

l 5 Ecological overview of Blueberry Swamp, Lapin and Engstrom, 2013

Glyceria striata Fowl Manna Grass Poaceae Goodyera sp. Rattlesnake Plantain Orchidaceae Gymnocarpium dryopteris Northern Oak Fern Woodsiaceae Heracleum maximum American Cow-Parsnip Apiaceae Hieracium cf. lachenalii Common Hawkweed Asteraceae Huperzia lucidula Shining Firmoss Huperziaceae llex mucronata Mountain Holly Aquifoliaceae Impatiens capensis Spotted Touch-Me-Not Balsaminaceae Iris versicolor Blue Iris lridaceae Juncus effusus Common Soft Rush Juncaceae Kalmia angustifolia Sheep American-Laurel Ericaceae Kalmia polifolia Bog American-Laurel Ericaceae Larix laricina American Larch Pinaceae Leersia oryzoides Rice Cut Grass Poaceae Lemna minor Common Duckweed Araceae Linnaea borealis American Twinflower Ca prifoliaceae Lonicera canadensis American Honeysuckle Caprifoliaceae Lonicera oblongifolia Swamp Honeysuckle Caprifoliaceae Lonicera villosa Mountain Honeysuckle Caprifoliaceae Luzula acuminata Hairy Wood Rush Juncaceae Luzula multiflora Common Wood Rush Juncaceae Luzula parviflora Small-Flowered Wood Rush Juncaceae Lycopodium clavatum Common Clubmoss Lycopodiaceae Lycopus uniflorus Northern Water-Horehound Lamiaceae Lysimachia borealis Starflower Myrsinaceae Lysimachia nummularia Creeping Yellow-Loosestrife Myrsinaceae Lysimachia terrestris Swamp Yellow-Loosestrife Myrsinaceae Maianthemum canadense Canada-Mayflower Ruscaceae Maianthemum racemosum False Solomon's-Seal Ruscaceae Maianthemum trifolium Three-Leaved False Solomon's-Seal Ruscaceae Malus pumila Cultivated Apple Rosaceae Matteuccia struthiopteris Ostrich Fern Onocleaceae Milium effusum Millet Grass Poaceae Mitella nuda Naked Bishop's-Cap Saxifragaceae Monotropa uniflora One-Flowered Indian-Pipe Ericaceae Muhlenbergia mexicana Mexican Muhly Poaceae Myosotis scorpioides Water Forget-Me-Not Boraginaceae Nabalus altissimus Tall Rattlesnake-Root Asteraceae Nasturtium officinale Two-Rowed Water-Cress Brassicaceae Oclemena acuminata Sharp-Toothed Nodding-Aster Asteraceae Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern Onocleaceae Orthilia secunda One-Sided-Shinleaf Ericaceae Osmorhiza claytonii Bland Sweet-Cicely Apiaceae

16 Ecological overview of Blueberry Swamp, Lapin and Engstrom, 201 3

Osmunda claytoniana Interrupted Fern Osmundaceae Osmundastrum cinnamomeum Cinnamon Fern Osmundaceae Oxalis montana Northern Wood Sorrer Oxalidaceae Packera schweinitziana New England Groundsel Asteraceae Parathelypteris noveboracensis New York Fern Thelypteridaceae Persicaria arifolia Halberd-Leaved Smartweed Polygonaceae Persicaria sagittata Arrow-Leaved Tearthumb Polygonaceae Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary Grass Poaceae Phegopteris connectilis Long Beech Fern Thelypteridaceae Phleum pratense Common Timothy Poaceae Phragmites australis Common Reed Poaceae Picea glauca White Spruce Pinaceae Picea mariana Black Spruce Pinaceae Picea rubens Red Spruce Pinaceae Platanthera clavellata Little Club-Spur Bog-Orchid Orchidaceae Platanthera psycodes Lesser Purple Fringed Bog-Orchid Orchidaceae Poa alsodes Grove Blue Grass Poaceae Poa palustris Fowl Blue Grass Poaceae Poa pratensis Kentucky Blue Grass Poaceae Poa sp. Bluegrass Poaceae Populus balsamifera Balsam Poplar Salicaceae Populus deltoides Cottonwood Salicaceae Populus trernuloides Quaking Poplar Salicaceae Prunella vulgaris Common Selfheal Lamiaceae Prunus nigra Canada Plum Rosaceae Prunus pensylvanica Pin Cherry Rosaceae Prunus serotina Black Cherry Rosaceae Prunus virginiana Choke Cherry Rosaceae Pteridium aquilinum Bracken Fern Dennstaedtiaceae Pyrola elliptica Elliptic-Leaved Shinleaf Ericaceae Ranunculus acris Tall Crowfoot Ranunculaceae Ranunculus hispidus Hispid Crowfoot Ranunculaceae Ranunculus recurvatus Hooked Crowfoot Ranunculaceae Rhamnus alnifolia Alder-Leaved Buckthorn Rhamnaceae Rhododendron canadense Rhodora Ericaceae Rhododendron groenlandicum Labrador-Tea Ericaceae Ribes cynosbati Eastern Prickly Gooseberry Grossulariaceae Ribes glandulosum Skunk Currant Grossulariaceae Ribes hirtellum Hairy-Stemmed Gooseberry Grossulariaceae Ribes lacustre Bristly Swamp Currant Grossulariaceae Ribes triste Swamp Red Currant Grossulariaceae Rubus idaeus Red Raspberry Rosaceae Rubus pubescens Dwarf Raspberry Rosaceae

17 Ecological overview of Blueberry Swamp, Lapin and Engstrom, 2013

Rumex crispus Curly Dock Polygonaceae Salix bebbiana Long-Beaked Willow Salicaceae Salix discolor Pussy Willow Salicaceae Salix pyrifolia Balsam Willow Salicaceae Sambucus nigra Black Elderberry Adoxaceae Sambucus racemosa Red Elderberry Adoxaceae Scirpus cyperinus Common Woolsedge Cyperaceae Scirpus microcarpus Barber-Pole Bulrush Cyperaceae Scutellaria galericulata Hooded Skullcap Lamiaceae Scutellaria lateriflora Mad Dog Skullcap Lamiaceae Solidago altissima Tall Goldenrod Asteraceae Solidago canadensis Canada Goldenrod Asteraceae Solidago flexicaulis Ziz-Zag Goldenrod Asteraceae Solidago rugosa Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod Asteraceae Sorbus americana American Mountain-Ash Rosaceae Sparganium americanum American Bur-Reed Typhaceae Spinulum annotinum Common lnterrupted-Clubmoss Lycopodiaceae Spiraea alba White Meadowsweet Rosaceae Spiraea tomentosa Rosy Meadowsweet Rosaceae Stellaria cf alsine stichwort sp. Caryophyllaceae Symphyotrichum puniceum Purple-Stemmed American-Aster Asteraceae Taxus canadensis American Yew Taxaceae Thalictrum pubescens Tall Meadow-Rue Ranunculaceae Thuja occidentalis Northern White-Cedar Cupressaceae Tiarella cordifolia Foam-Flower Saxifragaceae Torreyochloa pallida Pale Fa lse Manna Grass Poaceae Trillium cernuum Nodding Wakerobin Melanthiaceae Trillium erectum Red Wakerobin Melanthiaceae Trillium undulatum Painted Wakerobin Melanthiaceae Tussilago farfara Coltsfoot Asteraceae Typha latifolia Broad-Leaved Cat-Tail Typhaceae - Vaccinium angustifolium Common Lowbush Blueberry Ericaceae Vaccinium myrtilloides Velvet-Leaved Blueberry Ericaceae Veronica americana American Speedwell Plantaginaceae Veronica officinalis Common Speedwell Plantaginaceae Veronica scutellata Narrow-Leaved Speedwell Plantaginaceae Viburnum nudum Withe-Rod Adoxaceae Viburnum opulus Highbush-Cranberry Adoxaceae Viccia sp. Vetch Fabaceae Viola sp. Violet Violaceae

18 Ecological overview of Blueberry Swa~ p , Lapin and Engstrom, 2013

Appendix 4. Animals Observed during 201 2 Natural Community Mapping,

Blueberry Swamp, Silvio 0. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, Columbia, NH

Name Dates observed notes American crow 2-Aug American robin 2-Aug American woodcock 7-Jul black-backed woodpecker 3-Aug black-capped chickadee 3-Aug 2-0ct 3-0ct blue jay 3-0ct boreal chickadee 3-0ct Canada goose 2-0ct common raven 2-Aug 2-0ct 3-0ct dark-eyed junco 10-0 ct golden-crowned kinglet 3-0ct magnolia warbler 3-Aug myrtle warbler 3-0ct Nashville warbler 3-Aug palm warbler 10-0ct pileated woodpecker 2-0ct purple finch 3-Aug red-breasted nuthatch 2-0 ct 3-0ct red-eyed vireo 3-0ct ruby-crowned kinglet 2-0ct 3-0ct rusty blackbird 2-0ct solitary vireo 3-0ct white-crowned sparrow 3-0ct white-throated sparrow 3-Aug 9-0ct Carrying food Aug 3 Wilson's warbler 3-Aug winter wren 10-0ct yellow-bellied sapsucker 2-0ct

earthworm 10-0ct moose sign frequent beaver sign frequent

19