AN INVENTORY OF THE SIGNIFICANT NATURAL AREAS OF BURKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

February 2002

Shawn C. Oakley

N. C. Natural Heritage Program Division of Parks and Recreation Department of Environment and Natural Resources Raleigh, NC

Funding provided by: Burke County and the North Carolina Natural Heritage Trust Fund.

ABSTRACT

This inventory of the significant natural areas, ecological communities, and rare species of Burke County was funded by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Trust Fund. Of the 100 counties in the state, Burke County ranks in the upper third in terms of total numbers of rare species and community types. It is in the upper third for numbers of rare animal species, in the upper fifth for numbers of rare plant species, and in the upper third for numbers of natural community types. More revealing is that of seven counties which lie at the juncture between the Piedmont and Blue Ridge regions (i.e., Surry, Wilkes, Caldwell, Burke, McDowell, Rutherford, and Polk), Burke County ranks first in numbers of rare plant species, rare animal species, and natural community types.

This report provides background information on the county as a whole and descriptions of 34 Significant Natural Heritage Areas (SNHAs), including four significant aquatic habitats and three large, landscape-scale sites. The descriptions of SNHAs include information on their significance, viability, natural community types, rare species, management needs, and protection status. The report is intended to provide guidance for land use decisions by private landowners, conservation and land management agencies, and county government. Field work was supervised by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NC NHP) during the 2000-2001 growing seasons. A large number of surveys were conducted in the South Mountains and associated foothills south of Interstate 40, which contains some of the most significant natural areas in the western foothills region of the state. Piedmont areas outside the South Mountains which lie north of Interstate 40 were also emphasized in the inventory, but yielded few significant sites. The Blue Ridge region of the county, which is primarily in Pisgah National Forest, received substantially less emphasis in this inventory. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

In the course of the inventory, many agencies, organizations, and individuals contributed to the planning, progress, and completion of the work. I am appreciative of support and assistance provided by the staff of the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, with special thanks to Project Manager Tom Kenney for assistance with the substantial tasks of managing tax office information and landowner contacts and to Ruby Pharr for assistance with selection of survey areas. Thanks are also in order for interest in the inventory and assistance with tax parcel mapping provided by Judy Francis and Scott Black of the Burke County Planning Office. Other organizations which provided assistance and information during the inventory are the U.S. Farm Service Agency, N.C. Division of Water Quality, and the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service. The substantial written contributions by botanist William Moye from his extensive ecological surveys of southern Burke County were invaluable to this effort. Ranger Allen Rogers assisted by providing access to lands near South Mountains State Park. I am also grateful to the private landowners who permitted access to their lands for surveys. This inventory would not have been possible without recognition of the importance of identifying significant natural areas. I would like to express my thanks to the Burke County Board of Commissioners, Burke County Manager Ron George, and the North Carolina Natural Heritage Trust Fund for recognizing the need to identify such areas and for funding this inventory. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ...... 1 OBJECTIVES ...... 1 METHODS ...... 1 DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA ...... 3 STUDY AREA ...... 3 TOPOGRAPHY AND PHYSIOGRAPHY ...... 3 GEOLOGY ...... 6 LAND USE ...... 8 THE BIODIVERSITY OF BURKE COUNTY ...... 10 NATURAL COMMUNITY TYPES...... 10 FLORA AND FAUNA ...... 15 DISCUSSION OF SIGNIFICANT NATURAL AREAS...... 25 PROTECTION PRIORITIES ...... 29 LAND PROTECTION INITIATIVES ...... 32 AREAS FOR FURTHER SURVEY WORK ...... 33 NEGATIVE SURVEY INFORMATION...... 35 BIOLOGICAL SURVEYS AND ENDANGERED SPECIES LAWS ...... 35 FEDERAL LAW...... 35 STATE LAW...... 36 REFERENCES ...... 38 SITE DESCRIPTIONS ...... 40 UPPER CREEK AQUATIC HABITAT ...... 47 JOHNS RIVER/MULBERRY CREEK AQUATIC HABITAT ...... 51 JACOB FORK (SOUTH FORK CATAWBA) AQUATIC HABITAT ...... 55 ISLAND CREEK HEATH BLUFF ...... 59 HILDEBRAN/HENRY RIVER SLOPES...... 63 CAMP CREEK BLUFF...... 67 CAMP CREEK NORTH...... 71 VULCAN--RHODHISS SLOPES ...... 75 LINVILLE GORGE MACROSITE ...... 79 LINVILLE RIVER AQUATIC HABITAT ...... 81 LINVILLE FALLS ...... 85 LINVILLE GORGE ...... 89 DUGGERS CREEK FORESTS ...... 95 JONAS RIDGE BOG ...... 99 CRANBERRY KNOB BOGS AND SWAMP FOREST ...... 103 BROWN MOUNTAIN GREENSTONE FORESTS ...... 107 UPPER CREEK FALLS FOREST ...... 111 FOOTHILLS MEGASITE...... 115 YELLOW MOUNTAIN\IRONMONGER MOUNTAIN ...... 119 SMITH MOUNTAIN ...... 123 SMITH CLIFF/HENRY FORK RIVER...... 127 HILDEBRAN MOUNTAIN ...... 131 SOUTH MOUNTAINS MACOSITE ...... 135 SOUTH MOUNTAINS JACOB FORK WATERSHED ...... 137 SOUTH MOUNTAINS HENRY FORK WATERSHED ...... 143 CLEAR CREEK WATERSHED NATURAL AREA...... 149 DEAF SCHOOL WATERSHED ...... 155 SIMMS HILL--LITTLE RIVER UPLANDS ...... 161 BROUGHTON HOSPITAL/KELLER KNOB ...... 165 SHOAL CREEK WATERSHED ...... 169 BRINDLETOWN FORESTS ...... 173 JIMMY KNOB ...... 179 BURKEMONT MOUNTAIN ...... 183 HALL KNOB ...... 187 APPENDIX I. EXPLANATION OF STATUS AND RANK CODES FOR RARE PLANTS ...... 189 APPENDIX II. EXPLANATION OF STATUS AND RANK CODES FOR RARE ANIMALS ...... 191 LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Ecological grouping of natural community types occurring in Burke County, North Carolina with state and global ranks...... 12 Table 2. Rare plant species documented from Burke County, North Carolina...... 17 Table 3. Rare animal species documented from Burke County, North Carolina...... 21 Table 4. Significant Natural Heritage Areas in Burke County, North Carolina...... 27

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Municipalities and Roads of Burke County, North Carolina...... 4 Figure 2. Geomorphic regions of Burke County, North Carolina...... 5 Figure 3. Geologic Map of Burke County, North Carolina...... 7 Figure 4. Public Lands, Conservation Lands, and Major Streams of Burke County, North Carolina...... 9 Figure 5. Significant Natural Heritage Areas in Burke County North Carolina...... 44

INTRODUCTION

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of this inventory is to identify and describe significant ecological sites in Burke County. Such areas contain good examples of natural community types and/or rare plant or animal species populations. Of the 100 counties in the state, Burke County is in the upper third in terms of numbers of rare plant species, rare animal species, and natural community types. The significant natural areas that support this biodiversity are critical for the ecological, scientific, aesthetic, environmental health, recreational, educational, and cultural values that they provide. They are reservoirs of native biodiversity and often contain habitats that are crucial to the long-term survival of species that may be at risk. They can also play a significant role in groundwater recharge and pollution abatement. The increase in land development seen throughout the state in the last few decades threatens to reduce or eliminate these biological reservoirs. It is crucial that these exemplary natural areas be identified and that efforts be made to protect them with the willing cooperation of land owners.

This report provides an overview of how the inventory was conducted, description of the county's environmental features, and listings of the natural communities and rare plants and animals that have been documented. The introductory sections are followed by a description and map for each of the 34 biologically significant natural areas, including rare species and natural communities found there and information on landscape context, protection status, and management needs.

METHODS

The methods used in this inventory are those established by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NC NHP), an agency of the Division of Parks and Recreation within the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The NC NHP maintains the state's primary database and geographic information for rare species, exemplary natural community types, and significant sites (i.e., Significant Natural Heritage Areas, or SNHAs). The primary focus of the inventory was the identification and description of SNHAs in the foothills and Piedmont sections of the county, with an emphasis on privately-owned lands. Field surveys of plant species and natural community types were conducted during the summer of 2000 and spring of 2001 by the author. Although surveys for animal habitats and rare animal species were not conducted in this inventory, information from previous animal surveys is included in this report.

The goal of the inventory was to identify, describe, and rank high quality natural areas qualifying as SNHAs. Natural areas, though not necessarily undisturbed, retain a substantial amount of their original natural character. The inventory used data maintained by the NC NHP on previously-identified SNHAs and rare species occurrences, as well as previous reports on natural areas, topographic and geologic maps, and aerial photosgraphs. Criteria used to determine the significance of various sites included the quality and significance of the natural attributes and the

1 overall integrity of the site and areas surrounding it. For sites that merited recognition as SNHA's, natural communities and rare species were described using report formats developed by the NC NHP. SNHAs were ranked as national, regional, state, or county significant with criteria used by the NC NHP and The Nature Conservancy for statewide and global rarity for rare species and communities. The criteria used for site significance are:

National Significance: Considered to contain examples of natural communities, rare plant or animal populations, or other significant ecological features that are among the highest quality or best of their kind in the nation.

State Significance: Considered to contain examples of natural communities, rare plant or animal populations, or other significant ecological features that are among the highest quality occurrences in North Carolina after nationally significant examples. There may be comparable (or more significant) sites elsewhere in the nation or within the state.

Regional Significance: These sites contain communities or species that are represented elsewhere in the state by better quality examples, but which are among the outstanding examples in their geographic region of the state. Normally, the geographic region considered includes at least the counties immediately surrounding the county the site is located in.

County Significance: Sites that do not rank of regional significance, but which are significant biological resources at the county level. These may include sites with a good example of a fairly common community type, a species that is rare in the state but widespread in other parts of the nation or in neighboring states, or a site that has been greatly reduced from its original quality but which still has significance.

For various reasons, this inventory is not a complete record of all natural areas in Burke County. Although thousands of acres were identified as having potential as significant natural areas, they represent only a fraction of the county. Some areas with potential were not surveyed due to a lack of landowner permission. Land ownership patterns characterized by numerous small tracts, or poor condition of surrounding lands, precluded survey in other areas. It is almost certain that additional significant natural areas will be found over time as areas that were inaccessible become available for biological survey.

2 DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA

STUDY AREA

Burke County is located in the southwestern region of North Carolina piedmont. It is bordered by Caldwell County and Avery County on the north, Catawba County on the east, Rutherford County and Cleveland County on the south, and McDowell County the west. It contains a land area which is roughly comparable to other counties in the western piedmont of North Carolina. With a human population of 89,148 in 2000, it is the most populated of the seven westernmost foothills counties of the state. The majority of the county is forested. Morganton is the county seat and the largest municipality in the county with a population of 17,300. Most of the other municipalities in the county are clustered along the Interstate 40 corridor east of Morganton. This area includes the towns of Drexel, Valdese, Connelly Springs (Rutherford College), and Hildebran (Icard). Glen Alpine is located west of Morganton along the interstate corridor. Numerous smaller communities are scattered across the county. Figure 1 shows the municipalities and major roads of the county.

TOPOGRAPHY AND PHYSIOGRAPHY

Figure 2 shows two geomorphic regions, classified by similarity of landform and geology, that Burke County lies within. Less than one-fifth of Burke County is located within the Blue Ridge Ranges section of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province, an area which includes all of North Carolina west of the steep, eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge. Elevations in this section range from about 1200 to 4000 feet in elevation. This montane section of the county consists of steep slopes and ridges with deep stream valleys on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge. The extremely rugged 10 mile-long Linville Gorge lies at the top of the escarpment in northwestern Burke County. The higher peaks that surround the gorge rim exceed 3800 feet in elevation. All of the gorge is included in Linville Gorge National Wilderness. The northernmost part of the county, near the head of Linville Gorge and the Blue Ridge Parkway, includes a small area of terrain exceeding 3500 feet in elevation which contains the only montane wetlands known in the county. Most of the Blue Ridge section of the county is contained in Pisgah National Forest.

The remaining four-fifths of the county are within the Inner Piedmont Section of the Piedmont Physiographic Province. This area is characterized by the typical rolling to moderately steep topography of the western piedmont, with the exception of the South Mountains. The South Mountains are quite rugged, with a topography of slopes, peaks, ridgetops, and high-gradient streams that is quite similar to areas in the Blue Ridge. Although their physiography and geology place them in the Piedmont physiographic province, the South Mountains are considered by many biologists to be an outlier of the Blue Ridge. Elevations in the South Mountains range between 1200 and 2800 feet.

3

All of Burke County is located within the Catawba River drainage. The mainstem of the Catawba River crosses central Burke County from east to west. Two large impoundments created from damming of the river for hydroelectric power generation are present: Lake James in the west-central part of the county and Lake Rhodhiss in the east-central part of the county. Prominent streams in northern Burke County which flow from the Blue Ridge into the piedmont landscape include the Linville River, Upper Creek/Warrior Fork, and the Johns River. Primary streams in the southern part of the county include the Henry Fork Catawba River and Jacob Fork Catawba River, both of which originate in the South Mountains.

GEOLOGY

The major rock types of Burke County appear in Figure 3. About four-fifths of Burke County is underlain by gneisses, granites, and schists which are relatively common in the state. These rock types weather to acidic soils that have physical/chemical characteristics typical of most of the Piedmont and mountains. These rock types are widespread across all of the piedmont regions of Burke County, including the South Mountains.

Minor amounts of amphibolite, a metamorphic mafic rock type, are mapped for Burke County. Mafic rocks weather to nutrient-rich, high pH soils preferred by numerous rare plant species and often associated with unusual community types. Mafic rocks are uncommon in North Carolina. The only mapped area of amphibolite occurs in areas around the community of Glen Alpine, largely in the developed US Highway 70 and Interstate 40 corridors. Due to the altered condition of the lands in that area, field surveys did not focus there. Small, unmapped areas of amphibolite or similar mafic rock types almost certainly exist in the South Mountains region. Several sites there support plant species indicative of high pH soils. The presence of plant indicators suggests that other small, unmapped areas of mafic rock, and potential for rare plant species, exists elsewhere in the South Mountains. Other types of mafic rock in the county include a few small, widely scattered areas of metamorphosed ultramafic rock -- mainly dunite with soapstone, perodotite, and serpentinite -- in areas that were excluded from survey due to poor condition of those lands.

A single diabase dike is mapped along a northwest-southeast line across eastern Burke County. Dikes are very narrow, often obscure zones of rock resulting from vertical intrusion of volcanic material into fractures in existing rocks that have subsequently become exposed through erosional processes. Diabase is an uncommon mafic rock type associated with rich soils, rare plant species, and atypical community types. Some effort in this inventory was devoted to surveying areas believed to be on this dike, though the areas seen were degraded from logging. Although locating the dike on topographic maps is difficult, subsequent botanical surveys should consider the potential for interesting plant species where the dike is mapped.

The base of the Blue Ridge is characterized by highly deformed rocks of the Brevard Fault Zone, composed of schists with metamorphosed sandstone and small bodies of marble. The majority of Blue Ridge escarpment area, which lies above the Brevard Fault Zone, is underlain by gneisses

6 and granites that produce acidic soils typical of the mountain region. However, some exceptions exist in this region. Greenstone, a mafic rock type formed by the metamorphosis of basalt, is mapped in one area near Brown Mountain on the Burke-Caldwell county line. Greenstone is chemically similar to amphibolite, and has good potential for rare plants and uncommon communities. The Brown Mountain Greenstone Forests site is located over this rock type. While the site contains exemplary community types, evidence of high pH soils were absent at this site. Additional survey of areas near the mapped greenstone area is needed. The northwestern edge of the county contains other uncommon sedimentary rock types with which certain rare plant species and natural communities associate. Among these are the sedimentary rocks of the Chilowhee Group -- lightly metamorphosed siltstones, slates, and conglomerates -- as well as an area of meta-arkose. Calcium-cementation that occurs in conglomerate, in particular, can produce high pH soils. These rocks are largely restricted to the complex Linville Gorge area. The erosion resistance of quartzite, another metamorphosed sedimentary rock, as well as that of granites and gneisses have exerted a topographic control evidenced on the east rim of Linville Gorge by high peaks such as Hawksbill Mountain, Tablerock Mountain, and others.

LAND USE

A majority of Burke County is undeveloped and in private ownership. Public lands are restricted to areas in Pisgah National Forest, Lake James State Park on Lake James, and South Mountains State Park and South Mountains Game Land. Lands protected for conservation are limited to those in state parks, state game lands, Linville Gorge National Wilderness, and the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor. Public land comprises roughly 20% of the county. Although many areas remain forested, extensive logging has resulted in young, successional forests in many areas. It appears that large parts of the thousands of acres of land across central Burke County owned by Crescent Resources ( a subsidiary of Duke Energy) are largely in degraded, successional condition. However, permission to access those lands was not granted in this inventory. Although loss or degradation of forest cover through logging has been greatest in central Burke County, large tracts in the South Mountains have also been cleared. Agricultural uses such as pasturelands and ornamental tree nurseries occur primarily in central Burke County, often along streams. Figure 4 shows public lands in Burke County.

8

THE BIODIVERSITY OF BURKE COUNTY

NATURAL COMMUNITY TYPES

Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Burke County ranks in the upper third in numbers of natural community types. Twenty-two community types are documented from the county. Natural communities are a distinct form of biodiversity, important in their own right and also important as “coarse filters” for conservation work -- protection of exemplary, viable communities can simultaneously protect uncommon or rare species that they support. The Natural Heritage Program’s natural community interests include protection of the highest quality examples of each community type, as well as examples of rare community types and those that support rare species. Natural community types -- reoccurring assemblages of populations of species naturally associated with each other and their physical environment -- can be recognized as distinct forest, rock outcrop, woodland, shrubland, or wetland types. In most cases, biologically significant sites are delineated around good examples of natural community types. Although significant sites are occasionally recognized simply for rare species, most contain examples of one to several community types ranging in quality from fair to excellent. Rare species augment but do not completely determine the significance of a particular site. The rarity, quality, condition, and extent of a community type has a strong influence on site significance.

Although communities often grade into each other without distinct boundaries, classification which divides them into distinct types is necessary for describing communities and for planning their conservation. The natural community types used in this report correspond to the current state classification of community types (Schafale and Weakley 1990). Table 1 contains the natural communities documented from Burke County, arranged in ecological groupings which reflect relationships between them. Ranks which indicate their global and in-state rarity are provided, with an explanation of ranks at the end of the table. Ranks for communities were developed by the N.C. Natural Heritage Program from information on their rarity range-wide (i.e., globally) and in state. For additional information on these communities and their floristics from a statewide perspective, refer to Schafale and Weakley (1990).

Of the 22 natural community types documented for Burke County the rarest types include rock outcrops and nonalluvial wetlands of the mountains. The best examples of the very rare Quartzite Variant of the High Elevation Rocky Summit community are present at Linville Gorge. Clearly. Linville Gorge is also important for examples of the rare Montane Acidic Cliff community, and for two exemplary Upland Pool communities. Only nine examples of the Upland Pool community are known in the state and no other examples are known to exist in the mountain region. Linville Gorge and the adjacent Linville Falls site support some of the most extensive old-growth examples of Canada Hemlock Forest and Carolina Hemlock Bluff communities in the state, second only to those in the Great Smoky Mountains. Nonalluvial wetlands include the rare Southern Appalachian Bog and Swamp Forest--Bog Complex types, both of which are found in Burke County only at the top of the Blue Ridge. It is likely that few other examples of these wetland types, other than those known at Jonas Ridge Bog and Cranberry Knob Bogs and Swamp Forests, will be discovered in the county.

10 The South Mountains section of Burke County contains a couple of fair quality Spray Cliff communities, a rare and specialized type of nonalluvial wetland community, at South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed and Shoal Creek Watershed. Spray Cliffs are very rare in the piedmont, usually being restricted to the Blue Ridge. The South Mountains are also important for numerous examples of the rare Low Elevation Rocky Summit community. Fairly good examples occur at Shoal Creek Watershed, Brindletown Forests, Jimmy Knob, and Deaf School Watershed, but the cluster of pristine, extensive communities contained in Clear Creek Watershed Natural Area is by far the most important in the county. The South Mountains and larger foothills region of southern Burke County is also important for several community types that are fairly common in the Blue Ridge, but rare in the piedmont. These typically-montane communities include Rich Cove Forest, Acidic Cove Forest, Chestnut Oak Forest, Montane Oak- -Hickory Forest, and Pine--Oak/Heath. One or more of these communities are represented in each of the sites of the foothills region south of Interstate 40.

11 Table 1. Ecological grouping of natural community types occurring in Burke County, North Carolina with state and global ranks. GLOBAL N.C. ECOLOGICAL GROUPING RANK RANK Low Elevation Mesic Forest Communities Rich Cove Forest G5 S5 Acidic Cove Forest G5 S5 Canada Hemlock Forest G5 S5 Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest G5T51 S4 (Piedmont Subtype)

Low Elevation Dry and Dry-Mesic Forests and Woodlands Carolina Hemlock Bluff G2G32 S2 White Pine Forest G? S2? Pine-Oak/Heath G5 S4 Chestnut Oak Forest G5 S5 Heath Bald G4 S3 Montane Oak--Hickory Forest G5 S5

Rock Outcrop Communities High Elevation Rocky Summit G2 S2 Low Elevation Rocky Summit G2 S2 Montane Acidic Cliff G4 S3 Piedmont Mafic Cliff G1G2 S1 Montane Mafic Cliff G2? S1 Piedmont/Coastal Plain Acidic Cliff G4 S2?

River Floodplains Rocky Bar and Shore G5 S5 Piedmont/Low Mountain Alluvial Forest G5 S5

12 Table 1. Ecological grouping of natural community types occurring in Burke County, North Carolina with state and global ranks. GLOBAL N.C. ECOLOGICAL GROUPING RANK RANK

Nonalluvial Wetlands of the Mountains Southern Appalachian Bog (Northern Subtype) G1T11 S1 Swamp Forest-Bog Complex (Typic Subtype) G2G3T21 S2 Spray Cliff G2 S2 Upland Pool G1 S1

1 T rank indicates rank for the subtype. 2 An S or G rank involving two numbers indicates uncertainty of rank. For example, a G2G3 rank indicates that the species appears to warrant either a G2 or a G3 ranking, but that existing data do no allow that determination to be made.

13 EXPLANATION OF RANK CODES FOR NATURAL COMMUNITY TYPES

N.C. RANK

S1 = Critically imperiled in North Carolina because of extreme rarity or because of some factor making it especially vulnerable to degradation or destruction in the state. S2 = Imperiled in North Carolina because of rarity or because of some factor making it very vulnerable to degradation or destruction in the state. S3 = Rare or uncommon in North Carolina. S4 = Apparently secure in the state, with many occurrences. S5 = Demonstrably secure in the state. S? = Unranked, or rank uncertain. GLOBAL RANK

G1 = Critically imperiled globally because of extreme rarity or because of some factor making it especially vulnerable to degradation or destruction. G2 = Imperiled globally because of rarity or because of some factor making it vulnerable to degradation or destruction. G3 = Either very rare and local throughout its range or found locally (even abundantly at some of its locations) in a restricted range or because of other factors making it vulnerable to degradation or destruction. G4 = Apparently secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. G5 = Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. G? = Unranked, or rank uncertain. T_ = The rank of a subtype. As an example, G4T1 would apply to a subtype of a community with an overall rank of G4, but the subtype warranting a rank of G1.

14 FLORA AND FAUNA

The native plants and animals of Burke County are characteristic of two physiographic regions: 1) the southern section of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which extends from southwestern Virginia to northern Alabama and 2) the Piedmont physiographic province, which extends from southeastern New York to northern Alabama. The substantial differences in elevation, topography, and geology between the two regions produces high community diversity and therefore high species diversity.

Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Burke County ranks in the upper third in numbers of rare plant species and rare animal species. Fifty-four rare plant species are recorded for the county, with six ferns, 38 flowering plants, eight liverworts, and two mosses (Table 2). Forty-one rare animal species are documented from Burke County, with four mammals, five birds, one reptile, twofishes, three freshwater mollusks, one terrestrial mollusk, eight mayflies, two stoneflies, five caddisflies, eight dragonflies, and two butterflies (Table 3). Although these species have been documented from the county, some do not occur in the significant sites presented in this report. Explanations of ranks and status codes for rare plants and rare animals appear in Appendices I and II. Information on statewide distribution and habitats of rare plant species is contained in Amoroso (1999). Similar information for rare animal species is contained in LeGrand and Hall (1999).

Certain populations of the rare species of Burke County are especially significant. Two plant species -- mountain golden-heather (Hudsonia montana) and small whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides) -- are listed as State Endangered and Federally Threatened. Dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora) is listed as Threatened at both the state and federal levels. Heller's blazing star (Liatris helleri) is also State and Federally Threatened, and also a Special Concern species. One nonvascular plant, the liverwort Plagiochila caduciloba, is state-listed as Endangered. An additional 26 plant species are Candidates for state listing, several of which are also recognized as Federal Species of Concern due to their global rareness.

In Burke County, large clusters of rare species are contained in two landscape-scale sites: Linville Gorge Macrosite and South Mountains Macrosite. Linville Gorge contains almost all of the world's mountain golden-heather, a species known from only one other location. The Linville Gorge Macrosite supports several rare species known from few other locations in the state. The South Mountain Henry Fork Watershed supports the state's best population of small whorled pogonia, a species that is extant at only nine other locations in North Carolina. South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed supports one of the state's largest populations of bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia), which is known from few other locations in North Carolina. The South Mountains Macrosite contains several rare species that are not normally found in the Piedmont, as well as a large number of uncommon Watch List species.

Two animal species documented from Burke County are listed as State Endangered: the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). However,

15 the bald eagle is proposed for downlisting to State Threatened status and it is proposed for delisting at the federal level. The brook floater (Alasmidonta varicosa), a freshwater bivalve, is state-listed as Threatened and as a Federal Species of Concern. An additional six animal species are state-listed as Special Concern in recognition of their rarity in North Carolina; several of these species are also Federal Species of Concern, indicating their global rarity. The Special Concern species include all four rare mammals -- two bat species and two woodrat species. Though none are state-listed, a large number of rare aquatic invertebrates are documented from the county. These mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies are strongly correlated with high water quality and so are important as indicator species. These Ecological indicator species are especially important because they provide the biological basis for designation of significant aquatic habitats. Burke County is also highly significant in terms of rare species of dragonflies. Three dragonflies -- Edmund’s snaketail (Ophiogomphus edmundo), mountain river cruiser (Macromia margarita), and Cherokee clubtail (Gomphus consanguis) -- are Federal Species of Concern in recognition of their global rarity.

The more altered, developed landscape of central Burke County divides the county into two areas where rare species populations are most likely to remain viable: the South Mountains (and associated foothills) and the Blue Ridge. A need exists to maintain the integrity of the areas where rare species are clustered, particularly for animal species which are wide-ranging, vulnerable to disturbance, or which depend on forest interior habitats. Maintaining the integrity of such habitats, including landscape connections needed to accomodate seasonal movements, will become increasingly important.

16 Table 2. Rare plant species documented from Burke County, North Carolina.

SCIENTIFIC NAME STATUS RANK COMMON NAME N.C. U.S. N.C. GLOBAL VASCULAR PLANTS (An explanation of the status and rank codes appears Appendix I). Amelanchier sanguinea C - S1 G5 roundleaf serviceberry Amorpha schwerinii SR - S3 G3 Piedmont indigo-bush Asplenium bradleyi C - S1 G4 Bradley's spleenwort Asplenium ruta-muraria SR - S1 G5 wall-rue Aster shortii SR - S1 G4G5 Short's aster Baptisia albescens SR - S2 G4 thin-pod white wild indigo Botrychium jenmanii SR - S1 G3G4 Alabama grape fern Botrychium lanceolatum var. angustisegmentum SR - S1 G5T4 lance-leaf moonwort Botrychium matricariifolium SR - S1 G5 daisy-leaf moonwort Botrychium oneidense C - S1 G4Q blunt-lobed grape fern Calystegia sericata ssp. sericata C - S2 G3T2T3 Blue Ridge bindweed Campanula aparinoides SR - S2 G5 marsh bellflower Chelone cuthbertii SR - S3? G3? Cuthbert's turtlehead Cirsium carolinianum C - S1 G5 Carolina thistle Dicentra eximia SR - S2 G4 bleeding heart

17 SCIENTIFIC NAME STATUS RANK COMMON NAME N.C. U.S. N.C. GLOBAL Echinacea purpurea SR - S1 G4 purple coneflower Fothergilla major C - S2 G3 large witch-alder Helianthus laevigatus SR - S2 G4 smooth sunflower Hexalectris spicata SR - S2 G4? crested coralroot Hexastylis naniflora T T S2 G2 dwarf-flowered heartleaf Hudsonia montana E T S1 G1 mountain golden-heather Isotria medeoloides E T S1 G2G3 small whorled pogonia Liatris aspera SR - S1 G4G5 rough blazing star Liatris helleri T/SC T S2 G2 Heller's blazing star Liatris turgida SR - S2 G3 shale-barren blazing star Lonicera flava SR - S2 G5? yellow honeysuckle Matelea decipiens SR - S2 G5 glade milkvine Minuartia groenlandica C - S2 G5 Greenland sandwort Monotropsis odorata C FSC S3 G3 sweet pinesap Oenothera perennis C - S1 G5 perennial sundrops Parthenium auriculatum C - S1 G3?Q glade wild quinine Platanthera peramoena C - S1 G5 purple fringeless orchid

18 SCIENTIFIC NAME STATUS RANK COMMON NAME N.C. U.S. N.C. GLOBAL Quercus ilicifolia SR - S1 G5 bear oak Robinia hispida var. fertilis C - S1 G5TUQ fruitful locust Robinia hispida var. kelseyi C - S1 G5TUQ Kelsey's locust Saxifraga caroliniana C FSC S2 G2 Carolina saxifrage Stachys eplingii SR - SH G5 hedge-nettle Thermopsis fraxinifolia C - S2? G3? ash-leaved golden-banner Thermopsis mollis SR - S2 G3G4 Appalachian golden-banner Trichophorum cespitosum C - S2S3 G5 deerhair bulrush Trillium simile SR - S1 G3 sweet white trillium Vaccinium macrocarpon C - S2 G4 cranberry Woodsia appalachiana SR - S1 G4 Appalachian cliff fern Zigadenus leimanthoides C - S1 G4Q pinebarren death-camas

19 SCIENTIFIC NAME STATUS RANK COMMON NAME N.C. U.S. N.C. GLOBAL NONVASCULAR PLANTS Cephalozia macrostachya ssp. australis C - S1 G4T1 a liverwort Chiloscyphus appalachianus C - S1 G1G2 a liverwort Chiloscyphus muricatus C - S1 G5 a liverwort Dicranum undulatum SR - S1 G5 bog broom-moss Drepanolejeunea appalachiana C - S1 G2? a liverwort Plagiochila caduciloba E - S1 G2 a liverwort Plagiochila sullivantii var. spinigera C FSC S1 G2T1 a liverwort Plagiochila sullivantii var. sullivantii C - S2 G2T2 a liverwort Porella wataugensis C - S1 G2 a liverwort Sphagnum pylaesii C - S1 G4 simple peatmoss

20 Table 3. Rare animal species documented from Burke County, North Carolina.

(An explanation of the status and rank codes appears Appendix II). SCIENTIFIC NAME STATUS RANK COMMON NAME N.C. U.S. N.C. GLOBAL MAMMALS Corynorhinus rafinesquii SC FSC S3 G3G4 Rafinesque's big-eared bat Myotis septentrionalis SC - SUB, S3N G4 northern long-eared bat Neotoma floridana - population 2 SC FSC S3 G5T4Q eastern woodrat (Southern Appalachian population) Neotoma magister SC FSC S1S2 G3G4 Allegheny woodrat BIRDS Coccyzus erythropthalmus SR - S2B, SZN G5 black-billed cuckoo Coragyps atratus SC - S3 G5 black vulture Falco peregrinus E - S1B, S2N G4 peregrine falcon Haliaeetus leucocephalus E T S3B, S3N G4 bald eagle Loxia curvirostra population 1 SR FSC S3B, S3N G5T? red crossbill (Southern Appalachian population) REPTILES Crotalus horridus SR - S3 G4T4 timber rattlesnake FISHES Cyprinella zanema (population 1) SR - S3 G3T3Q Santee Chub (Piedmont population) Micropterus coosae SR - S1 G5 redeye bass

21 SCIENTIFIC NAME STATUS RANK COMMON NAME N.C. U.S. N.C. GLOBAL MOLLUSKS-FRESHWATER BIVALVES Alasmidonta varicosa T FSC S2 G3 brook floater Villosa constricta SR - S3 G3G4 notched rainbow Villosa delumbis SR - S3 G4 eastern creekshell MOLLUSKS-TERRESTRIAL GASTROPODS Triodopsis fulciden SC - S2 G? [G2]1 dwarf threetooth MAYFLIES Acerpenna macdunnoughi SR - S2S3 G? a mayfly Barbaetis benfieldi SR - S1 G2G3 Benfield's bearded small minnow mayfly Ephemerella berneri SR - S3 G3 a mayfly Heterocloeon petersi SR - S2S3 G? a mayfly Homoeoneuria cahabensis SR - S1S2 G2 Cahaba sand-flitering mayfly Leptohyphes robacki SR - S1 G? a mayfly Litobrancha recurvata SR - S3 G? brown drake mayfly Timpanoga lita SR - S3 G? a mayfly STONEFLIES Bolotoperla rossi SR - S3 G4 a stonefly Diploperla morgani SR - S3 G2 a stonefly

22 SCIENTIFIC NAME STATUS RANK COMMON NAME N.C. U.S. N.C. GLOBAL CADDISFLIES Ceraclea slossonae SR - S2? G? a caddisfly Matrioptila jeanae SR - S3 G? a caddisfly Micrasema sprulesi SR - S3 G? a caddisfly Neophylax fuscus SR - S3 G? a caddisfly Psilotreta frontalis SR - S2 G? a caddisfly DRAGONFLIES Aeshna tuberculifera SR - S1S2 G4 black-tipped darner Aeshna verticalis SR - S1S2 G5 green-striped darner Cordulia shurtleffii SR - S1? G5 American emerald Gomphus consanguis SR FSC S1S2 G2G3 Cherokee clubtail Macromia margarita SR FSC S1S2 G2G3 mountain river cruiser Ophiogomphus edmundo SR FSC S1? G1 Edmund's snaketail Ophiogomphus howei SR - S1? G3 pygmy snaketail Ophiogomphus mainensis SR - S2? G4 Maine snaketail

BUTTERFLIES

23 SCIENTIFIC NAME STATUS RANK COMMON NAME N.C. U.S. N.C. GLOBAL Autochton cellus SR - S1S2 G4 golden-banded skipper Speyeria diana SR FSC S3 G3 diana fritillary

1 Global ranks in brackets are those suggested by Scientific Councils in North Carolina and are not The Nature Conservancy's assigned ranks.

24 DISCUSSION OF SIGNIFICANT NATURAL AREAS

An exemplary natural area contains a good example of one or more community types with good integrity, with or without the presence of rare species. Exemplary natural areas should be considered targets for conservation. They are generally referred to in this report as "sites". The sites in this report fall into three categories recognized by the NC NHP: standard site, macrosite, and megasite. Standard sites are those containing from one to thousands of acres, with reasonably good integrity throughout. In certain cases, standard sites fall into distinct groups with strong geographical connections and ecological relationships. Such clusters of standard sites are arranged within macrosites. Undeveloped lands between standard sites in a macrosite are typically of lower quality, but contain ecologically important buffers, wildlife corridors, or landscape connections. The even larger megasite is delineated where a macrosite lies within a larger region that is within a distinct geographical unit. For example, the Foothills Megasite contains the large South Mountains Macrosite (with its constituent standard sites) as well as a larger, distinct region of relatively undeveloped natural lands in which four other standard sites are located. The significant sites of Burke County, arranged in geographic and ecological categories, are listed in Table 4. In the table, the sites are arranged within the following categories: Central and Eastern Burke County Sites, Blue Ridge Sites, and Foothills Sites. Standard sites are indented in the table where they occur within a macrosite or megasite. A detailed description of each of the significant sites shown in Table 4 is contained in the Site Descriptions section of this report. A map of the county showing locations of the significant sites is provided at the beginning of the Site Descriptions section.

Significant sites in Burke County are strongly clustered in the Blue Ridge region and the region of the South Mountains and associated foothills. In contrast, sites identified in central and eastern Burke County are smaller and widely scattered, from differences in land use due to closer proximity to developed areas and gentler topography.

Although areas in the Blue Ridge received relatively little survey, several new significant sites were located. This part of the county contains the only known sites for the rare Southern Appalachian Bog community type, with several rare plant species that are restricted to bog habitats. Four standard sites in this part of the county form a cluster and are contained within the Linville Gorge Macrosite. Linville Gorge and Linville Falls contain extensive, exemplary and rare natural community types, including old-growth forests, as well as a large number of rare plant and animal species. The gorge also contains the best examples of the rare High Elevation Rocky Summit communities in the county, as well as most of the global population of mountain golden-heather (Hudsonia montana), a very rare endemic species known from only one other site in the world. The highly significant Linville River Aquatic Habitat benefits from location within the protected gorge area. The Blue Ridge area has good potential for additional significant sites, especially those with old-growth forests, and it merits additional study.

The largest cluster of sites occurs in the South Mountains and the associated foothills to the northeast. The fifteen standard sites distributed through this region exhibit close proximity or a high degree of landscape connection, which greatly enhances their ecological viability. The site

25 clustering is reflected in two large landscape-scale sites which delineate a larger area for conservation: the 84,000-acre Foothills Megasite and, nested within it, the 55,000-acre South Mountains Macrosite. The South Mountains support the most extensive area of contiguous forests in the piedmont of the state, with natural communities that typically exist only in the Blue Ridge. They also contain Rich Cove Forests and several rock outcrop community types with unusual species composition and diversity due to influence on soil pH from mafic rock. They collectively support a large number of rare and uncommon plant and animal species, some of which are typically montane in distribution. The South Mountains Macrosite cluster is enhanced by good landscape connections to the northeast (within the Foothills Megasite) and westward to the Blue Ridge (across northern Rutherford County and southern McDowell County). The Foothills Megasite contains all of the South Mountains Macrosite cluster, as well as the Yellow Mountain\Ironmonger Mountain, Smith Mountain, Smith Cliff/Henry Fork River, and Hildebran Mountain standard sites. The Megasite is a very large area of mostly undeveloped, forested lands with a relatively low degree of fragmentation. It extends from the South Mountains proper northeast to near the Interstate 40 corridor near the community of Connelly Springs. The Foothills Megasite, with its constituent standard sites, offers potential for a larger system of linked natural areas than that which exists in the South Mountains Macrosite.

26 Table 4. Significant Natural Heritage Areas in Burke County, North Carolina. Rank Codes A = National significance C = Regional significance B = State significance D = County significance Rank

Central and Eastern Burke County Sites

Upper Creek Aquatic Habitat A Johns River/Mulberry Creek Aquatic Habitat B Jacob Fork (South Fork Catawba) Aquatic Habitat B Island Creek Heath Bluff D Hildebran/Henry River Slopes D Camp Creek Bluff D Camp Creek North D Vulcan--Rhodhiss Slopes D Blue Ridge Sites

Linville Gorge Macrosite A Linville Gorge A Linville River Aquatic Habitat B Linville Falls B Duggers Creek Forests D Jonas Ridge Bog B Cranberry Knob Bogs and Swamp Forest C Brown Mountain Greenstone Forests C Upper Creek Falls Forest D

27 Rank Codes A = National significance C = Regional significance B = State significance D = County significance Rank

Foothills Sites

Foothills Megasite A Yellow Mountain\Ironmonger Mountain C Smith Mountain C Smith Cliff/Henry Fork River C Hildebran Mountain D South Mountains Macrosite A South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed B South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed B Clear Creek Watershed Natural Area B Deaf School Watershed C Simms Hill--Little River Uplands C Broughton Hospital/Keller Knob C Shoal Creek Watershed C Brindletown Forests C Jimmy Knob D Burkemont Mountain D Hall Knob D

28 PROTECTION PRIORITIES

Although site significance rankings indicate the biological significance of sites, they do not reveal protection needs. In general, conservation efforts should be concentrated on the most significant, defensible sites in the county. Logging and agricultural uses in areas adjacent to streams are the greatest threats to aquatic habitats in the county, whereas logging and habitat fragmentation from development are probably the greatest threats to significant terrestrial sites. Priority sites in need of protection are summarized below.

Aquatic habitats. The nationally significant Upper Creek Aquatic Habitat and the state significant Johns River/Mulberry Creek Aquatic Habitat are the two aquatic sites most in need of protection in Burke County. Clusters of rare animal species, including mollusks, dragonflies, fish, and insects are documented from both sites. Both sites are designated High Quality Waters by the state. The Upper Creek Aquatic Habitat is especially important in having the best population of Edmund's snaketail dragonfly (Ophiogomphus edmundo) of only two in the state. The Johns River/Mulberry Creek Aquatic Habitat is especially significant for its population of the State Threatened brook floater (Alasmidonta varicosa). Protecting water quality in these sites is especially important because the rare animal species they support are also ecological indicators of high water quality. These habitats are probably threatened most by improper logging and agricultural practices on adjacent private lands, which produce sediment loading and inputs of pollutants. Although numerous terrestrial areas were surveyed during this inventory on private lands adjacent to Upper Creek and the Johns River, none were found to have attributes qualifying them as Significant Natural Heritage Areas. Most of these lands support younger second-growth forests, recently-logged forests, or small pockets of older forest in a matrix of second-growth and logged forests. An approach is needed to reduce impacts on the aquatic habitats from terrestrial sources which does not rely on the inherent biological significance of the terrestrial areas. The high significance of the Upper Creek and Johns River/Mulberry Creek aquatic habitats should be central to any proposal for funding to enhance water quality in these areas. Due to the need for streamside buffers, funding for protection should include monies for purchase of conservation easements. To the extent possible, development and agricultural uses should be directed away from the significant aquatic habitats or major tributaries flowing into them. Finally, programs which offer tax incentives or cost-sharing options to landowners should be promoted. Among these are forest management programs available through the N.C. Division of Forest Resources and the Natural Resource Conservation Service; reforestation or wildlife habitat programs available through the Farm Service Agency; and soil conservation programs offered by the local Soil and Water Conservation District.

South Mountains sites. A large part of the core of the South Mountains is protected within state park lands managed by the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. However, several significant sites are without protection and are important for rare species or exemplary natural communities, as well as for continuity in the South Mountains landscape. Because several of these sites are visible from the Interstate 40 corridor near Morganton, they also have important aesthetic value. The regionally significant Deaf School Watershed is deeded to the N.C. Department of Human Resources.. While the

29 area has a measure of protection in being managed primarily for low impact recreational use by the N.C. School for the Deaf, it has no formal protection from activities such as logging. The site contains good examples of Chestnut Oak Forest, Montane Oak--Hickory Forest, Rich Cove Forest, and Acidic Cove Forest communities. An excellent example of the rare Low Elevation Rocky Summit community with a population of the State Candidate Greenland sandwort (Minuartia groenlandica) is present near the crest of Burkemont Mountain. A population of the State Candidate Blue Ridge bindweed (Calystegia sericata ssp. sericata) occurs on disturbed roadbank habitats along Burkemont Mountain Road. The site is contiguous with the core of the South Mountains through the state significant Clear Creek (Broughton) Watershed Natural Area and South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed. It forms a critical link to unprotected, unfragmented forests that extend northeastward along Burkemont Mountain to the Broughton Hospital/Keller Knob site. Broughton Hospital/Keller Knob is a regionally significant site deeded to the N.C. Department of Human Resources. It has no formal protection. It supports good examples of Chestnut Oak Forest and Montane Oak--Hickory Forest communities. It is linked by largely unfragmented, unprotected forests that extend southwestward to Burkemont Mountain and the core of the South Mountains. Simms Hill--Little River Uplands is a regionally significant site that was formerly managed for timber. It is significant primarily for several locations of the State Candidate large witch-alder (Fothergilla major) and the Significantly Rare bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia), in remnant Chestnut Oak Forest and Pine-- Oak/Heath communities. Bear oak, a species that is believed to be in decline due to fire suppression, is known in the state only from the South Mountains, Crowder's/King's Mountains, and the Sauratown Mountains. Although the areas between remnant habitats have been logged heavily until recently, they have potential for regeneration to forest communities comparable to those in adjacent areas of South Mountains State Park. As an addition to South Mountain State Park, areas in the site could be managed with prescribed burning to enhance and maintain the bear oak population. Jimmy Knob, which borders on South Mountains State Park and the State significant South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed, supports good examples of Rich Cove Forest with the Significantly Rare sweet white trillium (Trillium simile) and Carolina saxifrage (Saxifraga caroliniana), a State Candidate and Federal Species of Concern, as well as other uncommon species indicative of uncommon high pH soils. The site has good potential for additional rare species and would make a good addition South Mountains State Park. Shoal Creek Watershed is regionally significant for its exemplary Chestnut Oak Forest, Montane Oak--Hickory Forest, and Acidic Cove Forest community types, a small but high quality example of the rare Spray Cliff community type, and for populations of the Significantly Rare yellow honeysuckle (Lonicera flava) and the State Candidate roundleaf serviceberry (Amelanchier sanguinea). The site is contiguous with Clear Creek (Broughton) Watershed Natural Area and is positioned at the edge of the South Mountains wildlands core. This privately-owned site is an excellent candidate for protection by a conservation easement. Brindletown Forests contains one of the larger blocks of unfragmented, unprotected forests in the core of the South Mountains. It is contiguous with the nationally significant Rollins/South Mountains Natural Area of Rutherford County. A small part of the site was recently acquired by N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission for addition to the South Mountains Game Land, parts of which are proposed for dedication as a State Natural Area. However, the majority of the site is in private ownership and has no protection. It supports extensive Chestnut Oak Forest and

30 Montane Oak--Hickory Forest communities which contribute to the core of the South Mountains, as well as four Significantly Rare plant species: Appalachian cliff fern (Woodsia appalachiana), shale-barren blazing star (Liatris turgida), yellow honeysuckle (Lonicera flava), and sweet white trillium (Trillium simile). Protection options for this site may be limited, however. In 2000 and 2001, extensive logging had taken place on a single, privately-owned tract that encompasses the entire western half of the site.

Foothills sites. Several significant sites were identified in the inventory that lie to the northeast of the South Mountains proper. These sites are located among the high foothills south of Interstate 40 that extend northeastward from Old NC Highway 18 to near Connelly Springs. The Yellow Mountain\Ironmonger Mountain, Smith Cliff/Henry Fork River, and Smith Mountain sites are all ranked regionally significant, primarily for exemplary natural community types that they support. These sites are also significant as a part of the landscape that forms the Foothills Megasite. Smith Cliff/Henry Fork River contains a good example of the uncommon Piedmont/ Coastal Plain Acidic Cliff community, which is also a rare geologic feature in this part of the Piedmont. The site also supports good examples of Chestnut Oak Forest and Pine-- Oak/Heath woodland communities, as well as rare plant species: the State Candidate Bradley's spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi), the Federally Threatened dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora), and State Candidate/Federal Species of Concern sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata). Yellow Mountain\Ironmonger Mountain contains exemplary Chestnut Oak Forest and Montane Oak--Hickory Forest communities, as well as the Significantly Rare Alabama grape fern (Botrychium jenmanii). Extensive Chestnut Oak Forest, Pine--Oak/Heath woodlands, and Acidic Cove Forest communities occur at Smith Mountain, as well as the Significantly Rare timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus). Yellow Mountain\Ironmonger Mountain and Smith Mountain could be vulnerable to fragmentation of their forest habitats, especially given the vistas that are provided from their ridgetop areas. Smith Mountain is especially vulnerable to development or logging, because it is accessible from a private road that extends to its summit. Although rugged topography and the Henry Fork River provide natural protection for the cliff at Smith Cliff/Henry Fork River, the exemplary forest communities and rare plant species above the cliffs are vulnerable to logging or development.

These foothills sites are well suited to protection through conservation easements. The pattern of land ownership for these sites is characterized by fairly large tract sizes and few owners. A large part of the Smith Mountain site is contained within a single tract. Substantial parts of the Yellow Mountain\Ironmonger Mountain site are contained within a large tract owned by Western Piedmont Community College. Other substantive, vulnerable foothills in the area between Yellow Mountain and Smith Mountain were not accessed in this inventory, but appear to have potential for significant natural areas. These include High Peak, Rector Knob, Mineral Springs Mountain, and Prospect Ridge.

Montane wetland sites. Examples of the very rare Southern Appalachian Bog community type occur in Burke County at Jonas Ridge Bog and also at Cranberry Knob Bogs and Swamp Forest, located near the community of Jonas Ridge in northern Burke County. The Southern Appalachian Bog community at Jonas Ridge Bog also supports two State Candidate plant

31 species: cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and perennial sundrops (Oenothera perennis). It is encircled by sparsely developed areas and it could easily be impacted by draining or ditching. Cranberry Knob Bogs and Swamp Forest supports remnant bog pockets, an example of a Swamp Forest-Bog Complex community, and a previously-documented population of the rare cranberry. The portions of the site in Pisgah National Forest have already been degraded by logging, but retain bog communities that are in need of protection from future logging. Recent destructive clearcutting on private land in the stream corridor above the site is an indication of the primary threat to the site.

Dwarf-heartleaf sites.

Protection is needed for the State and Federally Threatened dwarf-heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora) at sites where it occurs in Burke County. Most of the locations for this species are not contained in sites designated as Significant Natural Heritage Areas and so are not described in this report, but they are included in the N.C. Natural Heritage Program's rare species geographic information system data layer. Many of the areas where this species has been documented are in more highly developed parts of the county which were not targeted in this inventory. Of the four Significant Natural Heritage Areas described in this report that support dwarf-heartleaf, one stands out as a priority for protection. Island Creek Heath Bluff, located near Rutherford College, contains a large, viable population of dwarf-heartleaf as well as a good example of the uncommon Piedmont/Coastal Plain Heath Bluff community. Given its location near developed areas, the stream corridor which contains this site could be a good candidate for inclusion in a greenway system.

LAND PROTECTION INITIATIVES

Since the majority of Burke County is in private ownership, protection of significant sites will depend largely on the active participation of landowners and interested citizens. Although many natural lands in Burke County have benefitted from good stewardship of natural lands, some land owners may not be aware of conservation options which can provide additional incentives to conserve. These options can provide a financial incentive to conserve or assistance in conservation planning and management. In certain cases, assistance could make the difference between divesting land for development and retaining it for natural values.

The conservation easement is a flexible, but permanent, option for conserving land with natural, scenic, or cultural values. Conservation easements can be sold or donated, they confer state and federal tax benefits to the owner, and they are "in perpetuity" -- being affixed to the property deed. They allow the owner to retain ownership as well as property rights that are established in the agreement. Certain rights, such as the right to develop in some areas, are deeded over to a recognized conservation organization. Several organizations qualified to establish conservation easements work in the area. The organizations and their current locations are: the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, located in Morganton; the North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, located in Durham; and the Conservation Trust for North Carolina in Raleigh. Updated information on how to contact land trusts can be obtained through the Natural

32 Heritage Program of the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation in Raleigh or from the Conservation Trust for North Carolina.

Another option for owners who wish to preserve high quality land in a natural state is the North Carolina Registry of Natural Areas Program administered by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program of the state Division of Parks and Recreation. The program relies on voluntary agreements and provides management prescriptions, some degree of statutory protection from pipelines and transmission lines, and public recognition (if desired).

AREAS FOR FURTHER SURVEY WORK

Although this inventory examined numerous areas across the county, needs for subsequent inventory exist for areas where permission to survey was not granted or in areas not targeted in the inventory. A list of areas suggested for subsequent survey follows, arranged by the distinct physical regions where these suggested areas are located. For each area, a verbal description of each location is given along with reference to the 7.5 minute USGS topographic quadrangle on which it is located.

Central and Eastern Burke County

1. The primary need for central and eastern Burke County is survey to determine whether large tracts owned by Crescent Resources (a subsidiary of Duke Energy) , many parts of which appear to be degraded by previous land use, retain natural areas that are exemplary, restorable, or that have influence of water quality in adjacent streams, especially those with rare species populations. This includes the lower reaches of the Johns River, Upper Creek/Warrior Fork, Roses Creek, and other streams north of Morganton. North-facing slopes on the south side of the mainstem of the Catawba River should also be targeted for survey, especially for good examples of piedmont community types such as Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest. Areas containing small tributaries to the larger streams of this area (e.g., tributaries of the mainstem Catawba River, Johns River, and Warrior Fork) should be evaluated for the presence of rare dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora). (Drexel, Granite Falls, Morganton North, and Oak Hill quadrangles).

2. A much smaller need exists for survey of areas in central and eastern Burke County which are on private land. Many such areas were evaluated, primarily in areas adjacent to the lower reaches of the Johns River, Upper Creek/Warrior Fork, and other streams north of Morganton with disappointing results due to poor condition of forests from previous logging. Evaluations of these private tracts should complement surveys on adjacent Crescent Resources land and be focused on identifying exemplary or restorable forests that could contribute to enhanced water quality. (Drexel, Granite Falls, Morganton North, and Oak Hill quadrangles).

3. Additional survey is needed in areas southward from Island Creek Heath Bluff to better define the (Hexastylis naniflora) it supports. (Drexel quadrangle).

33 Blue Ridge

1. The primary survey need for this section of Burke County is general inventory of areas in Pisgah National Forest, few of which were surveyed in this inventory due to time limitations. Survey is needed especially for areas classified as supporting old-growth forest as identified in Messick (2000a, 2000b). Surveys of other areas are needed, particularly in the Steels Creek and Upper Creek drainages as well as extensive areas that lie east of Linville Gorge. (Ashford, Oak Hill, Linville Falls, Chestnut Mountain quadrangles).

2. Additional survey is needed for Brown Mountain Greenstone Forests and areas that border it on the east to determine whether rare or unusual habitats or plant species exist due to influence from the underlying greenstone rock type. (Chestnut Mountain quadrangle).

3. Additional survey of Cranberry Knob Bogs and Swamp Forest is needed to verify previous reports of the rare cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), reported elsewhere in the county at only one other location. Repeated searches for this population of cranberry during the inventory were negative. Additional survey is needed to identify any additional bog areas that might exist in the Pisgah National Forest portion of the site (Linville Falls and Chestnut Mountain quadrangles).

4. Although Linville Gorge enjoys a level of protection afforded few other sites, a need exists to identify unusual natural community types and additional rare species populations. A particular need exists to identify non-vascular plant species, to which little recent attention has been given. Linville Gorge is the only location in Burke County known to contain habitats for rare liverworts and mosses. (Linville Falls and Ashford quadrangles).

Foothills Megasite and South Mountains Macrosite

1. A need exists to identify additional significant sites within the Foothills Megasite, especially in areas that lie between the South Mountains Macrosite and Smith Mountain, south of Connelly Springs, NC. A cluster of mountains located just south of Interstate 40 (Mineral Springs Mountain, Rector Knob, and High Peak) appear to have potential for significant natural areas. A need also exists to evaluate areas from the Mineral Springs Mountain-High Peak cluster southward to Prospect Ridge near NC Highway 18, excluding the large Catawba Timber Company tract on Long Mountain. Finally, large tracts that lie between Prospect Ridge and the eastern edge of the South Mountains Macrosite are in need of inventory. Geologic mapping shows Burke County's only known diabase dike, which could support unusual plant species, perhaps crossing over Mineral Springs Mountain. (Valdese, Casar, Morganton South quadrangles).

2. Additional survey is needed in areas bordering on the north side of South Mountains State Park. These include Bob Knob and cove areas along Rich Mountain Road (SR 1919) that lie between Hipp Knob, Jimmy Knob, and Horse Ridge, adjacent to South Mountains State Park. What appear to be exemplary Acidic Cove Forest and Chestnut Oak Forest communities are present along this sheltered drainage. (Morganton South and Benn Knob quadrangles).

34 3. A need exists to determine the extent of logging that may have occurred at Brindletown Forests since surveys were conducted there. A large tract that contains much of the Brindletown Forests site was being logged in 2000-2001. Survey is needed in areas west of Brindletown Forests, including Silver Creek Knob and Bolin Knob, which were not accessible in this inventory. (Dysartsville quadrangle)

4. Survey is needed for mature forests located just east of Benn Knob, which were not accessed due to a lack of permission. Other areas in the headwater region of White Oak Creek should also be a priority, aside from those where residential development has already occurred. (Benn Knob and Casar quadrangles).

NEGATIVE SURVEY INFORMATION

In addition to tracts for which permission was not granted to survey, other targeted tracts were visited which did not meet the criteria for inclusion in the inventory as Significant Natural Heritage Areas. Information on such tracts is of value to those who conduct biological inventory or conservation work in the future. Information on tracts that yielded negative survey information was retained and is archived at the office of the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina.

BIOLOGICAL SURVEYS AND ENDANGERED SPECIES LAWS

Obtaining landowner permission to survey is an integral part of biological inventory. Occasionally, however, permission to survey on private lands is not granted due to a belief that if a rare species is discovered, restrictions and land-use limitations will be imposed. Clearly, when this occurs the search for scientific information is hindered. A secondary effect of not granting permission to survey is that owners of lands that are biologically significant do not learn about the conservation options and tax incentives that are available to them. Those who grant permission and are found to own significant lands are given results from the biological survey and, if they wish, are put in contact with an appropriate conservation organization, or are made aware of other management or protection options.

In reality, there is very little reason for landowners to have concerns about the presence of rare species on their land. A summary of federal and state endangered species laws relevant to private landowners was recently prepared by Mark A. Cantrell of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Kenneth A. Bridle, Ph.D. of the Piedmont Land Conservancy in Greensboro, North Carolina. Some of that information is presented below to help dispel concerns landowners may have about rare species and to provide clarification on potential land-use restrictions.

FEDERAL LAW

1. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) protects only plants and animals that are federally listed as Endangered or Threatened. Since federally listed species are by definition very rare, the likelihood of their occurring on a given tract of private land is generally very small.

35 2. The ESA does protect federally listed animal species from the potenially harmful actions of private landowners. Because this may lead to restrictions on their use of lands, Congress, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), and a variety of partners have worked to develop flexible tools for resolving conflicts. These tools include Section 10 permits, such as habitat conservation plans, safe harbor agreements, and candidate conservation agreements. Federal funds are also available to assist landowners with management and conservation of listed and candidate species on their lands.

3. Engaging in trade in a federally listed species without a permit is illegal for both plants and animals. "Taking" (i.e., harassing, harming, pursuing, hunting, killing, or trapping) or illegally possessing federally listed animals is a violation of the ESA. Removing, digging up, cutting, damaging, or destroying a federally listed plant on public land, or on private land without the owner’s permission, is illegal.

4. Through the habitat conservation planning process, the USFWS may issue a permit so that private landowners can lawfully “take” a federally listed animal species if it is “incidental to and not the purpose of carrying out otherwise lawful activities.” These permits are available as long as the landowner implements an approved conservation plan for the species, and the “taking” does not jeopardize the continued existence of the species. A private landowner is not required to prepare a conservation plant for the “taking” of federally listed plant species as long as the activity does not involve federal funding or permitting.

5. Under the ESA, private developers can obtain permits to legally harm or even kill federally listed species on their property provided that they show that attempts were made to minimize their impact on the species in other ways.

6. The existence of a federally listed plant species on private property legally has no effect on the landowner unless a project requires a federal permit or uses federal funds and will clearly result in the taking of a listed plant species. Landowners, individuals, and agencies are prohibited from taking endangered animals without authorization, whether the action is private of federally funded.

7. When critical habitat is designated for federally listed species, it applies only to federal actions, and not to the non-federal actions of private landowners.

STATE LAW

1. North Carolina endangered species laws apply to species listed by the state as endangered or threatened.

2. The plant and animal endangered species laws are modelled after the ESA, in that it prohibits illegal trafficking or poaching of listed species.

36 3. The state endangered animal species law states that “no rule may be adopted that restricts use or development of private property.”

4. The state endangered plant species law specifically states that “the incidental disturbance of protected plants during agricultural, forestry or development operations is not illegal so long as the plants are not collected for sale or commercial use.”

37 REFERENCES

Amoroso, J.L. 1999. Natural Heritage Program list of the rare plant species of North Carolina. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Bick, G.H. 1983. Odonata at risk in conterminous United States and Canada. Odonatologica 12 (3): 209-226. DENR. 1999. Catawba River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. N.C. Division of Water Quality, Water Quality Section. Gaddy, L.L. 1981. Status of Hexastylis naniflora in North Carolina. Report to the North Carolina Plant Conservation Program, Department of Agriculture. Gaddy, L.L. 1987. A review of the taxonomy and biogeography of Hexastylis (Aristolochiaceae). Castanea 52(3):186-196. Gaddy, L.L. 1987. A Review of the Taxonomy and Biogeography of Hexastylis (Aristolochiaceae). Castanea: 52(3): 186-196. Lambiase, S.J., M.K. Clark, and L.J. Gatens. 2000. Bat (Chiroptera) inventory of North Carolina state parks, 1999-2000. DPR, DENR, Raleigh. LeGrand, H.E., Jr. and S.P. Hall. 1999. Natural Heritage Program list of the rare animal species of North Carolina. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation, Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources. Messick, R. 2000a. Site Specific Catalog: Old Growth Forest Communities in the Nantahala- Pisgah National Forest. Report for the Western North Carolina Alliance, Asheville, NC. Messick, R. 2000b. Summary Report: Old Growth Forest Communities in the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest. Report for the Western North Carolina Alliance, Asheville, NC. Morse, L.E. 1979. Report on the conservation status of Hudsonia montana, a candidate endangered species. New York Botanical Garden, Cooperative Parks Study Unit, Bronx, NY. Morse, L.E. 1979. Systematics and ecological biogeography of the genus Hudsonia (Cistaceae), the sand heathers. Ph.D. Dissertation, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Moye, W.S. 1992. An examination of the Joe Rollins Tract in Cleveland, Rutherford, and McDowell counties, North Carolina. Unpublished report to The Nature Conservancy. Moye, W.S. 1994. Inventory of the South Mountains, North Carolina. Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Raleigh. NC Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Pescador, Manuel L. and Wm. L. Peters. 1980. A revision of the genus HOMOEONEURIA (Ephemeroptera: Oligoneuriidae). Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 106: 357-393. Schafale, M.P. and A.S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina: Third Approximation. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation, Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources. Smith, A.B. 1993. A Survey of Mountain Wetlands Communities. Report to N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Smith, E.L. 1982. Vegetation of the South Mountains State Park (Burke County, N.C.). Master's thesis, North Carolina State University.

38 Vogt, T.E. 1995. Rediscovery of Edmund's snaketail dragonfly Ophiogomphus edmundo Needham. Final report submitted to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, per Agreement No. 3, April 1995. Cooperative Agreement No. 14-48-0005-93-9002. Weakley, A.S. and M.P. Schafale. 1994. Non-alluvial wetlands of the Southern Blue Ridge - diversity in a threatened ecosystem. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

39 SITE DESCRIPTIONS

Descriptions for 34 biologically significant sites in Burke County are contained in this section. Figure 5 shows the locations of the sites from a whole-county perspective. The site descriptions are arranged by geographic themes in the following order: Central and Eastern Burke County Sites; Blue Ridge Sites; and Foothills Sites. Central and Eastern Burke County Sites are those which are located in northern and central Burke County and are not on the Blue Ridge escarpment or in the South Mountains and adjacent foothills. Blue Ridge Sites are those located on the Blue Ridge escarpment. Foothills Sites include sites in the South Mountains, as well as low mountain sites northeast of the South Mountains proper.

Natural areas of biological significance are referred to in this report as "sites". Four types of sites are documented in Burke County: "standard site", "aquatic habitat", "macrosite", and "megasite". Standard sites can range in size from one to thousands of acres and tend to have good ecological integrity throughout. Most of the sites in the county are of this type. Aquatic habitats are waters usually containing good physical/chemical water quality ratings and rare species which are also biological indicators of good water quality. Macrosites are designated where clusters of standard sites have strong geographical and ecological relationships in a viable natural landscape context. Megasites are an even larger geographic entity which can contain multiple macrosites or a large macrosite and other standard sites, situated in a viable natural landscape that forms a distinct unit. Location of standard sites within macrosites and megasites often enhances their long-term viability and ecological significance. Macrosites and megasites typically contain lands of lower quality as "matrix" between standard sites. The matrix lands are not highly developed or fragmented, but have more roads, clearings, logged areas, or uninventoried lands that standard sites. Standard sites, aquatic habitats, macrosites, and megasites that have been identified by the NC NHP are officially called Significant Natural Heritage Areas.

Each of the following site description includes a site map, most of which are at the standard 1:24,000 scale, though a few large sites are shown at other scales. The names of quadrangle maps all refer to 1:24,000 scale USGS topographic maps. Each site is assigned one of four levels of biological significance which were determined by comparison of site attributes with those of similar sites. The levels of significance are defined as:

National Significance: Considered to contain examples of natural communities, rare plant or animal populations, or other significant ecological features that are among the highest quality or best of their kind in the nation.

State Significance: Considered to contain examples of natural communities, rare plant or animal populations, or other significant ecological features that are among the highest quality occurrences in North Carolina after nationally significant examples. There may be comparable (or more significant) sites elsewhere in the nation or within the state.

40 Regional Significance: These sites contain communities or species that are represented elsewhere in the state by better quality examples, but which are among the outstanding examples in their geographic region of the state. Normally, the geographic region considered includes at least the counties immediately surrounding the county the site is located in.

County Significance: Sites that do not rank of regional significance, but which are significant biological resources at the county level. These may include sites with a good example of a fairly common community type, a species that is rare in the state but widespread in other parts of the nation or in neighboring states, or a site that has been greatly reduced from its original quality but which still has significance.

Names of natural community types correspond to those in Classification of the Natural Communities of North Carolina: Third Approximation (Schafale and Weakley, 1990). Rare plant species names and statuses are as listed in the Natural Heritage Program List of the Rare Plant Species of North Carolina (Amoroso, 1999). Watch List plant species -- those which are generally uncommon and which may be determined to be rare in the future -- appear in some descriptions and are described more completely by Amoroso (1999). Rare animal species names and statuses are from the Natural Heritage Program List of the Rare Animals of North Carolina (LeGrand and Hall, 1999). Updated site boundary and rare species location information is maintained at the NC NHP in a Geographic Information System (GIS) in ARCVIEW format. The information is also kept in ARCVIEW at the Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (CGIA) in Raleigh and the western regional office of CGIA in Asheville.

41

FIGURE 5 - LEGEND

Central and Eastern Burke County Sites 1. Upper Creek Aquatic Habitat 2. Johns River/Mulberry Creek Aquatic Habitat 3. Jacob Fork (South Fork Catawba) Aquatic Habitat 4. Island Creek Heath Bluff 5. Hildebran/Henry River Slopes 6. Camp Creek Bluff 7. Camp Creek North 8. Vulcan--Rhodhiss Slopes

Blue Ridge Sites 9. Linville Gorge Macrosite 10. Linville River Aquatic Habitat 11. Linville Falls 12. Linville Gorge 13. Duggers Creek Forests 14. Jonas Ridge Bog 15. Cranberry Knob Bogs and Swamp Forest 16. Brown Mountain Greenstone Forests 17. Upper Creek Falls Forest

Foothills Sites 18. Foothills Megasite 19. Yellow Mountain\Ironmonger Mountain 20. Smith Mountain 21. Smith Cliff/Henry Fork River 22. Hildebran Mountain 23. South Mountains Macrosite 24. South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed 25. South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed 26. Clear Creek Watershed Natural Area 27. Deaf School Watershed 28. Simms Hill--Little River Uplands 29. Broughton Hospital/Keller Knob 30. Shoal Creek Watershed 31. Brindletown Forests 32. Jimmy Knob 33. Burkemont Mountain 34. Hall Knob

43 Figure 5. Significant Natural Heritage Areas in Burke County North Carolina.

44 45

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

UPPER CREEK AQUATIC HABITAT Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: National Size: 10 river miles Quadrangles: Morganton North, Oak Hill, Chestnut Mountain Ownership: N.C. Public Waters

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The aquatic habitat is significant for its high water quality and for its cluster of six rare animal species. It supports three Significantly Rare dragonfly species which are also Federal Species of Concern: the pygmy snaketail (Ophiogomphus howei), the mountain river cruiser (Macromia margarita), and Edmund's snaketail (Ophiogomphus edmundo). The Edmund's snaketail population is especially significant as the best of only two known North Carolina locations for this globally imperiled, range-restricted, southern Appalachian endemic species. Also of special significance is a population of the brook floater (Alasmidonta varicosa), a bivalve mollusk that is State Threatened and a Federal Species of Concern. A Significantly Rare bivalve mollusk, the eastern creekshell (Villosa delumbis) and the Significantly Rare stonefly Diploperla morgani are also present. The rare species are important indicators of water quality.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: As currently delineated, no direct linkage is known to exist between the Upper Creek Aquatic Habitat and other significant aquatic habitats because rare species have not yet been identified in Warrior Fork or the mainstem Catawba River. Absence of rare species may be due to unsuitable habitat characteristics or lower water quality in the intervening waters. Water quality and habitat factors may also limit the potential for dispersal of rare species, or for genetic exchange between rare species' populations, to other significant aquatic habitats in the surrounding landscape. However, the dispersal ability of the rare dragonflies may be several miles and the dispersal ability of larvae of the rare mollusks (via host fish species) is not known.

The rare brook floater, eastern creekshell, and the stonefly Diploperla morgani occur in both the Upper Creek Aquatic Habitat and the Johns River/Mulberry Creek Aquatic Habitat. The regionally significant Brown Mountain Greenstone Forests lies on the Blue Ridge escarpment about 0.5 mile east of the northern end of the site.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The Upper Creek Aquatic Habitat includes the middle and lower sections of Upper Creek. The upstream end of the aquatic site is at the confluence of Upper Creek with Timbered Branch, near the Burke-Caldwell county line. The southern end of the site is at the confluence of Upper Creek with Warrior Fork, near the community of Worry. More than half of the aquatic site is located in Pisgah National Forest. The lower stretches of the aquatic habitat are bordered by lands in private ownership.

47 The headwaters of Upper Creek originate at the top of the Blue Ridge escarpment, near the community of Jonas Ridge. From its source, the creek flows nearly ten miles down the steep, heavily forested escarpment. In the escarpment region, the Upper Creek watershed is separated on the north and east from the Wilson Creek watershed by a high divide which forms the Burke- Caldwell county line. It is separated from the Steels Creek drainage on the west by the high divide followed by N.C. Highway 181.

The upper section of Upper Creek is designated an Outstanding Resource Water (ORW) by North Carolina Division of Water Quality (DWQ), to its confluence with Timbered Branch. From the Timbered Branch confluence downstream, along the entire length of the Upper Creek Aquatic Habitat, the creek is designated High Quality Waters by DWQ. This confluence area marks the upper end of the aquatic habitat and is habitat for the rare mountain river cruiser and for the rare stonefly Diploperla morgani. From the Timbered Branch confluence, the aquatic habitat flows through over four miles of Pisgah National Forest to the base of the Blue Ridge escarpment, where it is joined by Steels Creek. Areas just below the Steels Creek-Upper Creek confluence are known habitat for the rare pygmy snaketail dragonfly (Ophiogomphus howei)and the very rare Edmund's snaketail dragonfly. The only other extant location for Edmund's snaketail (Opiogomphus edmundo) in North Carolina is in the Wilson Creek Aquatic Habitat in Caldwell County. Edmund's snaketail is known from only four rivers and streams in eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and Georgia. The pygmy snaketail is known elsewhere in the state only from the New River, but it ranges over a larger area in eastern North America.

As Upper Creek flows from the escarpment into the Piedmont, areas cleared for agricultural and residential purposes become more numerous, though many areas remain forested. However, many of the forested lands in this area appear to have been logged in the last several decades. Two rare mollusks, the eastern creekshell and the brook floater, are documented from the stretch of Upper Creek between Steels Creek and Warrior Fork. The confluence with Warrior Fork marks the end of the significant aquatic habitat. Areas below the Warrior Fork-Upper Creek confluence are not designated HQW and are not known to support rare animal species.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: Maintenance of high water quality is critical to maintaining rare species at this site. The greatest threat to water quality at this site is probably siltation from timber harvesting and related activities. The brook floater and eastern creekshell are sensitive to siltation, oxygen-depleted waters, and pollutants. The North Carolina populations of the brook floater are vulnerable to extinction due to small population size. The very rare Edmund's snaketail is believed to be in decline due to larval sensitivity to flood scouring and siltation resulting from clearcutting. Impoundment is also a threat to the rare dragonflies because it eliminates well-oxygenated riffle habitats needed for larval development and alters adjacent streambank habitat. The adult dispersal ability of species of the genus Ophiogomphus (e.g., six waterway miles per day for the closely related brook snaketail, O. aspersus) indicates potential for dispersal to other high quality aquatic habitats in the region. The aquatic habitat is in need of additional survey rare species and for monitoring of known rare animal populations.

48 All parts of Upper Creek upstream from the aquatic habitat are designated ORW by N.C. DWQ. All parts of Upper Creek within the aquatic habitat are designated HQW by N.C. DWQ. HQW's are those with water quality higher than state water quality standards. By definition, waters classified as ORW's are HQW's. Criteria for designation as an HQW are 1) water quality rated excellent by DWQ through biological and chemical monitoring; 2) streams designated as native and special native trout waters or primary nursery areas by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC); 3) critical habitat areas designated by WRC or N.C. Department of Agriculture; or 4) waters classified by DWQ as Watershed Supply I or II. Criteria for designation as an ORW include 1) outstanding fisheries resources; 2) a high level of water-based recreation; 3) a special designation such as national Wild and Scenic River or a National Wildlife Refuge; 4) being within a state or national park or forest; or 5) having special ecological or scientific significance, such as rare or endangered species habitat.

RARE ANIMALS: brook floater (Alasmidonta varicosa), eastern creekshell (Villosa delumbis), Edmund's snaketail dragonfly (Ophiogomphus edmundo), pygmy snaketail dragonfly (Ophiogomphus howei), mountain rivercruiser dragonfly (Macromia margarita), the stonefly Diploperla morgani.

REFERENCES: Bick, G.H. 1983. Odonata at risk in conterminous United States and Canada. Odonatologica 12 (3): 209-226. DENR. 1999. Catawba River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. N.C. Division of Water Quality, Water Quality Section. Vogt, T.E. 1995. Rediscovery of Edmund's snaketail dragonfly Ophiogomphus edmundo Needham. Final report submitted to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, per Agreement No. 3, April 1995. Cooperative Agreement No. 14-48-0005-93-9002.

49

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

JOHNS RIVER/MULBERRY CREEK AQUATIC HABITAT Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: State Size: 41 river miles Quadrangles: Globe, Collettsville, Morganton North Ownership: N.C. Public Waters

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The aquatic habitat is significant for its high water quality and for populations of nine rare animal species. Of special significance are populations of the brook floater (Alasmidonta varicosa), a bivalve mollusk that is State Threatened and a Federal Species of Concern and the stonefly Diploperla morgani, known only from southwestern Virginia and five river systems in western North Carolina. One of the Piedmont populations of the Santee chub (Cyprinella zanema), a Significantly Rare fish species, is widespread through the aquatic habitat. Other Significantly Rare species include two bivalve mollusks: the eastern creekshell (Villosa delumbis) and the notched rainbow (Villosa constricta); the stonefly Bolotoperla rossi; and the caddisflies Ceraclea slossonae and Neophylax fuscus. The rare species are important indicators of water quality.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: There is direct aquatic linkage between this aquatic habitat and the Wilson Creek Aquatic Habitat of Caldwell County; both significant aquatic habitats both support the rare stoneflies Bolotoperla rossi and Diploperla morgani. No direct linkage is known to exist between this aquatic habitat and the Upper Creek Aquatic Habitat and the Linville River Aquatic Habitat because rare species have not yet been identified in the waters that separate them, namely Warrior Fork and the mainstem Catawba River. Absence of rare species in the intervening waters may be due to unsuitable habitat characteristics or lower water quality. Water quality and habitat factors may also limit the potential for dispersal of rare species, or genetic exchange between rare species' populations, to other significant aquatic habitats in the surrounding landscape.

Two rare stoneflies, Bolotoperla rossi and Diploperla morgani, occur in both this site and Wilson Creek Aquatic Habitat. Although the brook floater (Alasmidonta varicosa) and eastern creekshell (Villosa delumbis) occur in both this site and Upper Creek Aquatic Habitat, the dispersal ability of their larvae (via fish hosts) is not known. Because these streams have physical connection and share rare species, there is potential for the exchange of genetic material between those species' populations. There may be potential for dispersal of rare dragonflies known from the Upper Creek Aquatic Habitat to this aquatic habitat, since dragonfly movements of up to six miles per day along stream corridors have been documented for the family Gomphidae (Association for Biodiversity Information, NatureServe website www.natureserve.org).

The upper half of the Johns River portion of the aquatic site, in Caldwell County between the communities of Collettsville and Upton, is well buffered by heavily forested land in Pisgah National Forest. The lower half of the Johns River and the included section of Mulberry Creek

51 are situated in foothill topography which is largely forested, but which much more disturbed by human activities, with extensive acreage devoted to timber production. Numerous bottomland areas along this section are used for production of stock for the nursery industry. Lands cleared for other agricultural uses are also common in this lower section. The included section of Mulberry Creek flows through a similar patchwork of cleared and forested land, but it is bordered on the northwest by Pisgah National Forest. The upper two-thirds of Mulberry Creek flows through heavily forested escarpment lands in Pisgah National Forest, but is excluded from the site because rare species have yet to be documented there. However, these sections of Mulberry Creek almost certainly enhance downstream water quality.

No significant terrestrial sites lie near the Johns River/Mulberry Creek Aquatic Habitat, except the county significant Vulcan--Rhodhiss Slopes which lies opposite the mouth of the Johns River at Morganton. Wilson Creek Aquatic Habitat, a site of national significance, joins the central part of the Johns River/Mulberry Creek Aquatic Habitat about one mile north of the Caldwell- Burke county line. The lower portion of the nationally significant Upper Creek Aquatic Habitat is separated from the lower portion of the Johns River/Mulberry Creek Aquatic Habitat by only about one mile of sparsely developed, forested uplands.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The Johns River/Mulberry Creek Aquatic Habitat includes most of the length of the Johns River, from near its source on the Blue Ridge Escarpment in Caldwell County to its confluence with the Catawba River at Lake Rhodhiss, near Morganton in Burke County. The upper half of the significant aquatic habitat is in Caldwell County and the lower half is in Burke County. The upper half is bordered mainly by public land in Pisgah National Forest, while the lower half flows through private lands. The aquatic habitat also includes a 5- mile stretch of Mulberry Creek above its confluence with the Johns River, bordered on the northwest by the national forest and elsewhere by private lands.

The headwaters of the Johns River and Mulberry Creek originate from numerous drainages in northern Caldwell County, from U.S. Highway 321 near Blowing Rock westward to Wilson Ridge, which separates the Johns River watershed from the Wilson Creek watershed. The Johns River part of the significant aquatic site begins about three-fourths of the way up the escarpment near the community of Upton in Caldwell County. This upper half of the aquatic habitat is heavily forested. The lower half of the aquatic habitat extends from the confluence of the Johns River with Mulberry Creek at the base of the Escarpment southward to the confluence of the Johns River and Catawba River just west of Lake Rhodhiss. Through the lower section, the aquatic habitat meanders through a mosaic of forested and cleared foothill topography. Clearings are larger and more numerous in the lands bordering the lower section, where timber production, and to a much smaller extent, agricultural and residential uses are more prevalent.

A cluster of nine rare animal species are documented from the site. The rare Santee chub is documented throughout the aquatic habitat. Of particular significance is the presence of the brook floater, a rare bivalve mollusk which is documented from the Burke County part of the river. This species has experienced significant population decline in the northeastern United States, as well as in North Carolina where populations of this species are small and vulnerable to

52 extirpation. The very rare stonefly Diploperla morgani is documented from both the Caldwell and Burke county parts of the aquatic habitat. Other rare species from the Caldwell County part of the aquatic habitat include the stonefly Bolotoperla rossi and the caddisfly Neophylax fuscus. Other rare species known from the Burke County part of the aquatic habitat include the bivalve mollusks notched rainbow (Villosa constricta) and eastern creekshell (Villosa delumbis), as well as the mayfly Ephemerella berneri and the caddisfly Ceraclea slossonae.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: Based on biological data collected by the N.C. Division of Water Quality (DWQ), all parts of the aquatic habitat in the Pisgah National Forest have good or excellent water quality, and other parts of the aquatic habitat are rated good-fair to excellent. Sections of the Johns River from its confluence with Wilson Creek southward to the Catawba River are classified as High Quality Waters (HQW) by DWQ. Although areas above the Wilson Creek-Johns River confluence are not classified HQW or Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW), reclassification of those parts of the aquatic habitat would provide protect water quality through wastewater treatment and development controls enforced by DWQ. HQW's are those with water quality higher than state water quality standards. By definition, waters classified as ORW's are HQW's. Criteria for designation as an HQW are 1) water quality rated excellent by DWQ through biological and chemical monitoring; 2) streams designated as native and special native trout waters or primary nursery areas by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC); 3) critical habitat areas designated by WRC or N.C. Department of Agriculture; or 4) waters classified by DWQ as Watershed Supply I or II. Criteria for designation as an ORW include 1) outstanding fisheries resources; 2) a high level of water-based recreation; 3) a special designation such as national Wild and Scenic River or a National Wildlife Refuge; 4) being within a state or national park or forest; or 5) having special ecological or scientific significance, such as rare or endangered species habitat.

The greatest threat to water quality in this subbasin of the Catawba River, and thus to rare species in the aquatic habitat, is nonpoint sources of pollution and sediment such as those produced by timber harvesting and land clearing for crops and development. Numerous tree nurseries on the floodplain of the Johns River, primarily in the middle sections of the aquatic habitat, are another probable source of pollution and sediment in the aquatic system.

RARE ANIMALS: Santee chub-Piedmont population (Cyprinella zanema pop. 1), brook floater (Alasmidonta varicosa), notched rainbow (Villosa constricta), eastern creekshell (Villosa delumbis), the mayfly Ephemerella berneri, the stoneflies Bolotoperla rossi and Diploperla morgani, the caddisflies Ceraclea slossonae and Neophylax fuscus.

REFERENCES: DENR. 1999. Catawba River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. N.C. Division of Water Quality, Water Quality Section.

53

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

JACOB FORK (SOUTH FORK CATAWBA) AQUATIC HABITAT Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: State Size: 35 river miles Quadrangle: Longview, Banoak, Hickory Ownership: N.C. Public Waters

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site is significant for high water quality and for the presence of three Significantly Rare animal species: Benfield's bearded small minnow mayfly (Barbaetis benfieldi), the Cahaba sand-filtering mayfly (Homoeoneuria cahabensis), and the Santee chub (Cyprinella zanema).

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The upstream end of the aquatic habitat is situated just east of heavily forested areas in the South Mountains, contained within the South Mountains Macrosite. The aquatic habitat flows through more open, fragmented lands as it extends into southeastern Burke County and western Catawba County. The downstream extent of the aquatic habitat is about six miles south of the City of Hickory. The South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed site (South Mountains State Park) is just west of the aquatic habitat. The Camp Creek Bluff site borders on the aquatic habitat near the Burke-Catawba county line. In Catawba County, the aquatic habitat flows near the Catawba County Wildlife Club Heartleaf Site and Baker Mountain site.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The Jacob Fork of the South Fork Catawba River originates in the heavily forested core of the South Mountains, in an area noted for its high water quality. It flows eastward across Burke County and into central Catawba County, where it joins the Henry Fork to form the South Fork Catawba River. The Jacob Fork Aquatic Habitat is defined as the reaches of the stream known to support viable populations of rare animal species that are associated with high water quality.

The upstream end of the site begins just below the confluence of the Jacob Fork with the Little River, just east of South Mountains State Park. The aquatic habitat continues across southeastern Burke County into central Catawba County, terminating just below the Jacob Fork's confluence with the Henry River about five miles south of the City of Hickory. Throughout its length, the habitat is characterized by wide meandering bends alternating with relatively straighter reaches up to a mile long. It is bordered by a mixture of forested and cleared lands.

Fish representing the Piedmont population of the rare Santee Chub (Cyprinella zanema) have been documented from the Catawba County section of the river for over 25 years. The species has since been recorded from other locations in both the Burke and Catawba sections of the aquatic habitat. In North Carolina, fish of the Piedmont population are restricted to the Catawba River and Broad River drainages. Also present are two rare mayflies that are indicators of good water quality. Benfield's bearded small minnow mayfly (Barbaetis benfieldi) was documented from the Burke County portion of the aquatic habitat near Old Highway 18 in 1990. This

55 occurrence is one of only four documented for the state, the others being in Buncombe, Transylvania, and Jackson counties. The rare Cahaba sand-filtering mayfly (Homoeoneuria cahabensis), known in the world only from Mississippi, Alabama, and North Carolina, was documented in 1992 from the Jacob Fork-Henry Fork confluence area of the aquatic habitat in Catawba County. Elsewhere in North Carolina, this mayfly is known from only two tributaries of the Yadkin River in Iredell and Rowan counties and from the Second Broad River in Rutherford County.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: Most of the Jacob Fork upstream from the aquatic habitat is protected in South Mountains State Park. From the Burke-Catawba County line and upstream, the Jacob Fork has excellent water quality and is classified an Outstanding Resource Water (ORW) by the N.C. Division of Water Quality (DWQ). Criteria for designation as an ORW include 1) outstanding fisheries resources; 2) a high level of water-based recreation; 3) a special designation such as national Wild and Scenic River or a National Wildlife Refuge; 4) being within a state or national park or forest; or 5) having special ecological or scientific significance, such as rare or endangered species habitat. The Catawba County part of the Jacob Fork is rated as having good water quality.

The greatest threat to water quality in this subbasin of the Catawba River, and thus to rare species in the aquatic habitat, is nonpoint sources of pollution and sediment such as those produced by timber harvesting and land clearing for crops and development. Protection is needed to maintain or improve water quality in the unprotected sections of the Jacob Fork in Burke County, as well as in the Catawba County section of the Jacob Fork.

RARE ANIMALS: Benfield's bearded small minnow mayfly (Barbaetis benfieldii), Cahaba sand-filtering mayfly (Homoeoneuria cahabensis), Santee chub-Piedmont population (Cyprinella zanema pop. 1).

REFERENCES: DENR. 1999. Catawba River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. N.C. Division of Water Quality, Water Quality Section. Pescador, Manuel L. and Wm. L. Peters. 1980. A revision of the genus HOMOEONEURIA (Ephemeroptera: Oligoneuriidae). Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 106: 357-393.

56 57

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

ISLAND CREEK HEATH BLUFF Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: County Size: 47 acres Quadrangle: Drexel Ownership: Private

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The significance of the site is primarily due to the presence of a large population of the Federal and State Threatened dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora), in good quality habitat. The Piedmont/Coastal Plain Heath Bluff community, which supports most of the heartleaf population, is also significant as a good example of a fairly common Piedmont community type. The site might be of higher significance if surrounding fragmentation were less and if surrounding forests were allowed to regenerate naturally.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site lies in the more fragmented eastern part of Burke County, where it is impinged upon by developed areas around the community of Rutherford College to the south, west, and east. Less fragmentation exists to the north and northeast on timber company-owned lands, but those areas contain many successional hardwood and pine- dominated forests that have been logged in recent years.

SITE DESCRIPTION: Island Creek Heath Bluff is situated in an area along Island Creek where the surrounding slopes form a mesic, protected habitat. Similar habitat is present along several intermittent drainages which drain to Island Creek. Areas bordering on the south, east, and west around the community of Rutherford College have a moderate degree of residential development, as well as a significant amount of uplands that are cleared but not developed. Lands to the north and northeast, extending to Lake Rhodhiss, support younger hardwood forests and forests converted to pine plantation. The protected location of the site on steeper slopes along the stream corridor helps buffer it from disturbance in the surrounding landscape.

The site contains a good, but fairly small, example of a Piedmont/Coastal Plain Heath Bluff community with a large population of dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora), as well as a smaller, fair quality Piedmont/Low Mountain Alluvial Forest community. The Piedmont/Coastal Plain Heath Bluff community has a closed canopy of white oak (Quercus alba), red oak (Quercus rubra), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), white pine (Pinus strobus), sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), and other trees with an understory containing umbrella magnolia (Magnolia tripetala) and American holly (Ilex americana), and a dense, well- developed layer of the heath shrubs, primarily mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) and infrequent patches of rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) and dog-hobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana). The typically montane shrub buffalo-nut (Pyrularia pubera) is also present. Herbs are fairly sparse beneath the heavy shrub cover, but characteristic species such as galax (Galax urceolata), pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens), and others are present. A

59 large and vigorous population of the rare evergreen herb dwarf-flowered heartleaf, estimated at over 1000 plants, occurs on moist, well-drained, shaded slopes in this community.

Flat, alluvial areas which form a narrow strip of forest along Island Creek support a Piedmont/Low Mountain Alluvial Forest of fair maturity. The forest canopy is dominated by many of the hardwoods of the adjacent slopes, as well as occasional river birch (Betula nigra), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), and sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua). The understory contains canopy saplings and understory species such as ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana), American holly, and umbrella magnolia. Shrubs include most of the species of the Heath Bluff community, but are notably sparser. A dense and fairly diverse herb layer includes silverleaf violet (Viola hastata), other violets (Viola spp.), Christmas fern, trout lily (Erythronium umbilicatum), green-headed coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata), chickweed (Stellaria sp.), rattlesnake fern (Botrychium virginianum), jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), and others.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: Little active management is needed at the site. Natural forest dynamics should be permitted to operate. Adjacent forested lands of lower quality should be viewed as buffer to the site. Given its position near developed areas, the site would be very suitable for use as a natural area used for low-impact recreation, such as narrow walking paths. Periodic monitoring of the site for invasion by non-native species and to assess the condition of habitat for dwarf-flowered heartleaf is recommended. The non-native Japanese spiraea (Spiraea japonica), Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) are present in disturbed forests bordering the site. The heartleaf population should remain viable as long as its habitat is allowed to remain intact. The site would benefit from protection of the stream corridor above and below it.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Piedmont/Coastal Plain Heath Bluff, Piedmont/Low Mountain Alluvial Forest.

RARE PLANTS: dwarf-flowered heatleaf (Hexastylis naniflora).

REFERENCES: Oakley, S.C. 2001. Site Survey Report: Island Creek Heath Bluff. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

60 61

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

HILDEBRAN/HENRY RIVER SLOPES Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: County Size: 202 acres Quadrangle: Longview Ownership: Private

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site contains a cluster of small populations of rare plant species, small, fair quality examples of two relatively common community types, and a marginal example of an uncommon community type. Rare species include the State and Federally Threatened dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora), as well as the Significantly Rare glade milkvine (Matelea decipiens) and Piedmont indigo-bush (Amorpha schwerinii). This site is the only known in Burke County for the Piedmont indigo-bush. Plant species that are most typical of montane habitats are present.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site has no connection with other significant sites in the county. The landscape around the site is fragmented by cleared lands and residential areas associated with county roads. The site lies within one air mile of Interstate 40. Remaining forest cover in this area is primarily along drainages and steeper slopes. Many of the forested areas along this section of the Henry Fork corridor have been logged in recent years. A county road and bridge bisect the site.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The site is primarily an area of slopes and bottomlands along a stretch of the Henry Fork River near the Burke-Catawba county line. It lies about one mile south of the Interstate 40 corridor, just south of the old mill community of Henry River. Adjacent lands are largely cleared for residential and agricultural uses. Although the site is a narrow forested corridor no more than 0.25 mile wide along more than half its length, it retains fair examples of natural community types.

Fair quality examples of Piedmont/Low Mountain Alluvial Forest occupy areas on the river terrace and have a canopy of flood-tolerant trees such as sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), river birch (Betula nigra), green ash (Fraxinus pensylvanica), and red maple (Acer rubrum) with understory trees such as ironwood (Carpinus carolininana), umbrella magnolia (Magnolia tripetala), American holly (Ilex opaca), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), paw-paw (Asimina triloba), and black willow (Salix nigra). Shrubs such as spicebush (Lindera benzoin) and yellowroot (Xanthorhiza simplicissima) and patches of cane (Arundinaria gigantea) are occasional. A variety of herbs and woody vines of alluvial bottomlands are present, such as false nettle (Boehmaria cylindrica), beggarticks (Bidens sp.), monkeyflower (Mimulus ringens), river oats (Chasmanthium latifolium), poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), trumpetvine (Campsis radicans), and others. Non-native species typical of frequently flooded Piedmont bottomlands, such as Japanese grass (Microstegium vimineum) and Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) are abundant in several areas. Openings on the lower slopes adjacent to the terrace provide habitat for the rare glade milkvine (Matelea decipiens).

63 Fair quality examples of Montane Oak--Hickory Forests occupy slopes above the river and upland areas. They contain canopies of white oak (Quercus alba), black oak (Quercus velutina), chestnut oak (Quercus montana), red oak (Quercus rubra), white pine (Pinus strobus), red maple, and mockernut hickory (Carya alba). Understory trees include canopy saplings and also sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), umbrella magnolia, silverbell (Halesia tetraptera), and flowering dogwood. Shrubs are sparse, but include dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), buffalo-nut (Pyrularia pubera), sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), great rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum), and gorge rhododendron (Rhododendron minus). Herbs are generally sparse, including several widespread species of Piedmont oak--hickory forests. The rare dwarf-flowered heartleaf population is recorded from areas which contain this community type.

A small, open bluff with a marginally-developed example of the uncommon Piedmont Mafic Cliff is present on steep slopes on the south side of the river. Open areas of bare rock and sparse forest on shallow soils supports trees not seen elsewhere in the site, such as winged elm (Ulmus alata), hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus), and Georgia hackberry (Celtis tenuifolia). Shrubs are infrequent but include fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica), an indicator of nutrient-rich mafic rock. Herbs are fairly sparse and include eastern columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), as well as fairywand (Chamaelirium luteum), wild oregano (Cunila origanoides), blazing star (Liatris spicata), greater coreopsis (Coreopsis major), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and others. A rock overhang near the top of the bluff contains in interesting grotto which supports an alumroot (Heuchera sp.) at its edge.

One of the two westernmost known occurrences of the rare Piedmont indigo-bush (Amorpha schwerinii) occurs near the bridge over the Henry Fork, on a bank in the road right-of-way.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: A 1956 report of the rare Lewis' heartleaf (Hexastylis lewisii) from this site is doubtful, since all other known North Carolina populations of this species occur in the eastern Piedmont and Coastal Plain. Additional surveys are needed to verify that only Hexastylis naniflora is present. The invasive non-native chinese privet and Japanese grass are very dense in parts of the alluvial floodplain and are probably beyond practical control. Forested areas should be passively managed for older growth. Openings and areas buffering this narrow corridor should be permitted to regenerate to natural forest. The Piedmont indigo-bush population is located at least partly in the right-of-way for a county road.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Piedmont/Low Mountain Alluvial Forest, Montane Oak-- Hickory Forest, Piedmont Mafic Cliff.

RARE PLANTS: dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora), glade milkvine (Matelea decipiens), Piedmont indigo-bush (Amorpha schwerinii).

REFERENCES:

64 Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Hildebran/Henry River Slopes. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

65

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

CAMP CREEK BLUFF Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: County Size: 15 acres Quadrangle: Casar Ownership: Private

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site is significant for the presence of a population of the State and Federally Threatened dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora). It is one of nine known occurrences in Burke County and 50 in the state, most of which are small and poorly protected.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The Camp Creek North Significant Natural Heritage Area is about one mile to the southwest. The South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed Significant Natural Heritage Area is about five miles to the west. One part of the site lies on the Jacob Fork of the Catawba River. The surrounding landscape is not highly developed and retains substantial forest cover, although it is fragmented by numerous county roads and clearings associated with low density rural residential and agricultural uses.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The site lies in the rural, Piedmont landscape about four miles east of the South Mountains proper. It consists of two subsites located 0.2 mile apart, both of which are small, north-facing, blufflike slopes with hardwood forest cover. The northern bluff is located on the Jacob Fork and supports a fairly small population of dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora). A moderate-sized population of dwarf-flowered heartleaf occurs on the southern bluff, which lies above Camp Creek and is bisected by a county road. The moist forests contained in both bluffs are best classified as fair examples of the Montane Oak--Hickory Forest community type. They have canopies dominated by red oak (Quercus rubra), white pine (Pinus strobus), American beech (Fagus americana), white oak (Quercus alba), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), red maple (Acer rubrum), chestnut oak (Quercus montana), and others with understory trees such as American holly (Ilex opaca), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), and others. Shrubs are scattered and include patches of mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) on drier slopes, with rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) and dog-hobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana) on protected lower slopes.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site is unmanaged and has no formal protection. Bank scrapes associated with recent road maintenance could have disrupted a few plants, but most of the habitat remains intact. To protect the dwarf-flowered heartleaf, the habitat should be managed for natural forest dynamics. Vigorous dwarf-flowered heartleaf populations appear to require moist, well-drained soils and an intact tree canopy which produces moisture-retentive litter and cool, moist conditions. Much larger, more defensible populations of the heartleaf are known than this population, which was discovered in the 1980's. However, this species may not be as sensitive to fragmentation as some other rare species. It continues to persist at many sites

67 in fairly small blocks of forest. Its probable pollinators are common ground-dwelling insects such as ants or beetles.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Montane Oak--Hickory Forest.

RARE PLANTS: dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora).

REFERENCES: Gaddy, L.L. 1981. Status of Hexastylis naniflora in North Carolina. Report to the North Carolina Plant Conservation Program, Department of Agriculture. Gaddy, L.L. 1987. A review of the taxonomy and biogeography of Hexastylis (Aristolochiaceae). Castanea 52(3):186-196. Oakley, S.C.. 2000. Site Survey Report: Camp Creek Bluff. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

68 69

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

CAMP CREEK NORTH Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: County Size: 7 acres Quadrangle: Casar Ownership: Private

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site is significant for the presence of a population of the State and Federally Threatened dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora). It is one of nine known occurrences in Burke County and 50 in the state, most of which are small and poorly protected.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site is situated in the somewhat fragmented rural landscape of eastern Burke County. Most of the surrounding lands are in rural residential and agricultural use and are not highly developed. Adjacent lands are fragmented by county roads and have been reduced to about 50% forest cover. The Camp Creek North Significant Natural Heritage Area is about one mile to the northeast. The South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed Significant Natural Heritage Area is about five miles to the west. The site lies on Camp Creek, a tributary of Jacob Fork.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The site lies on northeast-facing slopes in a small block of forest along Camp Creek, a perennial tributary of the Catawba River's Jacob Fork. It lies on slopes and slight ravines on well-drained sandy loam soils above the creek. A few houses and associated clearings impinge on it on the east, north, and south. The primary significance of the site is a moderately-large population of the rare dwarf-flowered heartleaf in a small, fair example of Montane Oak--Hickory Forest. The forest canopy is dominated by red maple (Acer rubrum), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), white oak (Quercus alba), red oak (Quercus rubra), white pine (Pinus strobus), Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana), and others with understory trees such as flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) and American holly (Ilex opaca). A collection of herbs typical of western Piedmont dry-mesic forests are present.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site is unmanaged and has no formal protection. This population of dwarf-flowered heartleaf is vulnerable to enlargement of clearings on adjacent land or to other anthropogenic alteration, such as logging. To protect the dwarf- flowered heartleaf, the habitat should be managed for natural forest dynamics. Vigorous dwarf- flowered heartleaf populations appear to require moist, well-drained soils and an intact tree canopy which produces moisture-retentive litter and cool, moist conditions. Much larger, more defensible populations of the heartleaf are known than this population, which was discovered in the 1980's. However, this species may not be as sensitive to fragmentation as some other rare species. It continues to persist at many sites in fairly small blocks of forest. Its probable pollinators are common ground-dwelling insects such as ants or beetles.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Montane Oak--Hickory Forest.

71 RARE PLANTS: dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora).

REFERENCES: Gaddy, L.L. 1981. Status of Hexastylis naniflora in North Carolina. Report to the North Carolina Plant Conservation Program, Department of Agriculture. Gaddy, L.L. 1987. A review of the taxonomy and biogeography of Hexastylis (Aristolochiaceae). Castanea 52(3):186-196. Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Camp Creek North. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

72 73

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

VULCAN--RHODHISS SLOPES Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: County Size: 49 acres Quadrangle: Morganton North Ownership: Private

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site supports fair quality examples of Piedmont/Low Mountain Alluvial Forest on the bottomland along the river and of Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest on the adjacent north-facing slopes. Few examples of these communities are known from Burke County, although others presumably exist along the river corridor. Though the site is small and bordered on the south by developed areas, fairly extensive undeveloped lands lie to the east and on the opposite bank of the Catawba River. The slopes and bottomlands of this site buffer this section of the Catawba River and insulate associated wildlife from human disturbance. Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), a Watch List species, is present.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site is entirely isolated from other significant terrestrial sites in the county. However, it lies opposite the mouth of the Johns River which is the southern terminus of the State significant Johns River/Mulberry Creek Aquatic Habitat. Although substantial areas of forest line the banks of this stretch of the Catawba River, the bulk of the land within a 1-2 mile radius is commercially managed for timber production. Areas not in timber production are increasingly occupied by residential uses. Land owned by the City of Morganton which contains a sewage treatment facility borders the site on the west. The site is bordered by white pine plantation and cleared areas on the south.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The site consists of an area of north-facing slopes and a narrow alluvial zone on the south side of the Catawba River as it becomes Lake Rhodhiss. It lies opposite the mouth of the Johns River. Though the area is surrounded on the south by development around the City of Morganton, substantial forested lands lie to the east and across the Catawba River. This section of the river is attractive to a variety of waterbirds, such as great blue herons. The site supports fair quality examples of two natural community types that are widespread in the Piedmont: Piedmont/Low Mountain Alluvial Forest and Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest. The Piedmont/Low Mountain Alluvial Forest occupies a flat, narrow alluvial terrace along the river. It has a closed canopy dominated by flood-tolerant trees such as river birch (Betula nigra), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), green ash (Fraxinus pensylvanica), box elder (Acer negundo), black walnut (Juglans nigra), and sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua). Trees that are less flood-tolerant are less frequent but include American beech (Fagus americana) and black cherry (Prunus serotina). Occasional patches of cane (Arundinaria gigantea) and the non-native shrub Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) occur in some areas and vines such as trumpetvine (Campsis radicans) and poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) are fairly frequent. A fairly dense carpet of herbs, most of which are common to bottomlands disturbed by occasional flooding are present. They include the non-native japanese grass (Microstegeum vimineum), as well as smartweeds (Polygonum spp.), violets (Viola spp.), sedges (Carex spp.), wood-nettle (Laportea canadensis),

75 false nettle (Boehmaria cylindrica), pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), jumpseed (Persicaria virginiana), and grasses.

Fairly mature Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forests occupy the adjacent north-facing slopes. Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), American beech, red oak (Quercus rubra), and bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis) are common in the closed canopy. White pine (Pinus strobus) and basswood (Tilia heterophylla) are also present. Some more scenic areas contain small, pure stands of American beech. Other understory trees include American holly (Ilex opaca), witch- hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), silverbell (Halesia tetraptera), and red mulberry (Morus rubra). Shrubs include smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), hearts-a-bustin' (Euonymus americanus), and sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus). Occasional dense patches of rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) and dog-hobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana) occur in very shady, moist areas on the toe of the slope. Herbs are a sparse to moderately-dense mixture of maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum), Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), beech- drops (Epifagus virginiana), stonecrop (Sedum ternatum), white heart-leaved aster (Aster divaricatus), shining clubmoss (Huperzia lucidulum), arrowleaf heartleaf (Hexastylis arifolia), and bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). More uncommon species include ginseng (Panax quinquefolium), cove bladder fern (Cytopteris protrusa), and spikenard (Aralia racemosa). Rockcap fern (Polypodium virginianum) is occasional on small, shaded outcrops along the toe of the slopes.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site is unmanaged and has no formal protection. The forest should be passively managed for natural, older growth condition and forest dynamics. The alluvial zone and adjacent moist slopes are particularly susceptible to encroachment by invasive non-native species. The site should be monitored periodically for increases in numbers of non-native plants. Though only the common arrowleaf heartleaf (Hexastylis arifolia) was noted at this site, habitats that could support the very rare dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora) are present on the forested slopes. The Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and the landowner are currently exploring opportunities for protection of the site. This site would be suitable as a segment of a greenway along the river, given its scenic qualities and proximity to Morganton.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Piedmont/Low Mountain Alluvial Forest, Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest.

REFERENCES: Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Vulcan--Rhodhiss Slopes. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

76 77

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

LINVILLE GORGE MACROSITE Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: National Size: 13,380 acres Quadrangles: Linville Falls; Ashford Ownership: United States of America and private

Standard Sites (Significance): Linville River Aquatic Habitat (State), Linville Gorge (National), Linville Falls (State), Duggers Creek Forests (County).

The Linville Gorge Macrosite is located in northwestern Burke County between the Blue Ridge Parkway on the north, McDowell County on the west, Lake James on the south, and by Pisgah National Forest on the east. It includes all of the Linville Gorge National Wilderness, the Linville Falls area of the Blue Ridge Parkway, biologically significant sections of the Linville River, and one standard site on private land. The macrosite centers on Linville Gorge, a rugged cut in the Blue Ridge escarpment ten miles long with elevational variation of up to 1800 feet. It is characterized by rocky, heavily forested gorge walls and bluffs which ascend steeply to quartzite-capped rock outcrops on exposed peaks. The inner gorge contains extensive hardwood and coniferous forests, numerous rock outcrop features, and high quality rocky riverine habitats. At the head of the gorge is Linville Falls, which drops over 60 feet in elevation. The gorge is noted for outstanding examples of geologic features such as a large thrust fault, entrenched river meanders, and headward river retreat. Areas on high slopes and crests above the inner gorge are heavily forested.

The macrosite contains an example of a primieval Appalachian gorge with virgin examples of hemlock forests and bluffs, and extensive white pine and oak forests. Aquatic habitats in the adjacent Linville River contain a cluster of rare animal species. Large, nearly inaccessible cliffs that provide nesting habitat for peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) are present in several locations. Moist cliff bases and rocky grottoes support several rare liverwort species. Several mountain summits contain the only known high quality examples of the Quartzite Variant of the rare High Elevation Rocky Summit community type in the state, with habitat for the very rare Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister). The rocky summits support most of the world's mountain golden-heather (Hudsonia montana), a Federally Threatened/State Endangered plant species and large populations of the Federally Threatened Heller's blazing star (Liatris helleri). Heath woodlands and balds are also present, as well as rare Upland Pool communities. A total of 23 rare plant and 11 rare animal species occur in the macrosite, including numerous species with State Candidate, Special Concern, or Federal Species of Concern status.

Four standard sites are included in the macrosite. Areas within the macrosite not included within a standard site have been determined to be of lesser significance, but are important to the overall integrity of the area, such as by providing landscape connections for animal populations and ensuring the integrity of standard sites.

79

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

LINVILLE RIVER AQUATIC HABITAT Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: State Size: 12 river miles Quadrangle: Ashford, Linville Falls Ownership: N.C. Public Waters

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The aquatic site is significant for an assemblage of rare animal species, particularly the brook floater (Alasmidonta varicosa), a State Threatened mussel which is also a Federal Species of Concern. Also present are the Significantly Rare redeye bass (Micropterus coosae), eastern creekshell (Villosa delumbis), the mayfly Ephemerella berneri, and the stonefly Diploperla morgani. The eastern creekshell population is particularly significant as one of the three westernmost populations in the state.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: Areas upstream from the aquatic habitat are designated Trout Waters by N.C. Division of Water Quality (DWQ). About three-fourths of the length of the aquatic habitat is contained within Linville Gorge National Wilderness. The upper end of the aquatic habitat is 1.5 air miles below Linville Falls. Linville Falls Significant Natural Heritage Area is about one air mile northwest of the upstream end of the aquatic habitat. The southernmost three river miles of the habitat flow through privately-owned land with a few floodplain clearings. Residential uses in the privately-owned segment are slight, except for areas near NC Highway 126.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The site comprises a 12-mile segment of the Linville River, most of which is contained in Linville Gorge National Wilderness. The Linville River originates near Grandfather Mountain in Avery County and flows southward for more than 25 miles to terminate at Lake James in McDowell and Burke counties. The upstream end of the significant aquatic habitat is in Linville Gorge near the Babel Tower trail and the downstream endpoint is at Lake James. Above Linville Gorge the river is designated as Trout Waters and those within the aquatic habitat are designated as High Quality Waters.

The majority of the aquatic habitat is bordered by the very steep, heavily forested slopes of Linville Gorge National Wilderness. The lower three miles of the aquatic habitat flow through privately-owned lands before the river empties into Lake James. Although perennial tributaries that flow directly into the aquatic habitat are few, numerous intermittent tributaries arise on the steep gorge walls. Of the perennial tributaries, Chimney Branch and Cambric Branch are contained in the Linville Gorge Wilderness but Shooks Creek flows through privately-owned land to join the aquatic habitat near Lake James. Several well-known points of interest which lie high above the aquatic habitat along this section of the gorge include Hawksbill Mountain, Wiseman's View, Tablerock Mountain, and Shortoff Mountain. Some areas on the privately- owned lands in the lower part of the aquatic habitat have been logged in recent years. The river flows beneath NC Highway 126 about one-half mile before it empties into Lake James.

81 With the exception of the rare redeye bass, all of the rare animal species known from the aquatic habitat were discovered at a sampling point at the NC Highway 126 crossing below Linville Gorge. Water quality at the Highway 126 sampling point was classified by DWQ as good in 1989, but had improved to excellent in 1991. There is some question as to the validity of the redeye bass occurrence as a wild population, since it is well outside the normal range of the species in North Carolina. The rare brook floater is also recorded in Burke County from the Johns River/Mulberry Creek Aquatic Habitat and the Upper Creek Aquatic Habitat. Twenty- nine other populations of brook floater are known in the state, all of which are strictly Piedmont populations. The eastern creekshell population is one of the three westernmost in the state (Linville River, Johns River, and Upper Creek), with the remaining 16 populations occurring from Mecklenburg County eastward in the piedmont and coastal plain. The stonefly Diploperla morgani is known elsewhere in Burke County from the Upper Creek Aquatic Habitat, Wilson Creek Aquatic Habitat, Johns River/Mulberry Creek Aquatic Habitat, and Jacob Fork in the South Mountains. Elsewhere in the state it is known from 14 locations, all of which are in the mountains or near the Blue Ridge Escarpment. The mayfly Ephemerella berneri is known in the state from 11 locations in the mountains and piedmont, but it may be more widespread. All of the rare species are indicators of good water quality.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: Clearcutting on privately-owned lands along the southernmost segment of the aquatic habitat could diminish water quality in that segment. The Linville River is a State Natural and Scenic River, a designation which places no land use or development regulations on developments on private lands except on the contruction of dams and other water resources projects. Areas above the significant aquatic habitat are designated Trout Waters by DWQ, which affects wastewater quality but not type of discharge. The aquatic site is located in Linville Gorge National Wilderness, which is a Registered Natural Heritage Area and also a Special Interest area within Pisgah National Forest. Water quality data from a sampling site at NC Highway 126 was good in 1989 but had improved to excellent in 1991. All sections of the river containing the aquatic habitat are designated High Quality Water (HQW) by the N.C. Division of Water Quality. HQW's are those with water quality higher than state water quality standards. HQW requirements address levels of various pollutants from new wastewater discharge facilities as well as those which expand beyond their currently permitted loadings. Criteria for designation of an HQW include 1) water quality rated excellent by DWQ; 2) streams designated as native and special native trout waters or primary nursery areas by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC); 3) critical habitat areas designated by WRC or N.C. Department of Agriculture; or 4) waters classified by DWQ as Watershed Supply I or II.

RARE ANIMALS: redeye bass (Micropterus coosae), brook floater (Alasmidonta varicosa), eastern creekshell (Villosa delumbis), the mayfly Ephemerella berneri, the stonefly Diploperla morgani.

REFERENCES: DENR. 1999. Catawba River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. N.C. Division of Water Quality, Water Quality Section.

82 83

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

LINVILLE FALLS Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: State Size: 260 acres Quadrangle: Linville Falls Ownership: United States of America

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site has geologic significance for its large, excellent exposure of a thrust fault and excellent example of headward retreat at the falls. The ecological site contains old-growth examples of Canada Hemlock Forest and uncommon Carolina Hemlock Bluff communities. It also contains a cluster of three rare plant species including the State Candidate purple fringeless orchid (Platanthera peramoena), the State Endangered liverwort Plagiochila caduciloba, and the Significantly Rare bog broom-moss (Dicranum undulatum), as well as the Southern Appalachian red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), a rare bird that is a Federal Species of Concern and proposed Special Concern. The southern crossbill occurrence is one of only two known in the state from gorge habitats.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: Linville Falls is located within the Linville Gorge Macrosite, which also includes Linville Gorge, Linville River Aquatic Habitat, and Duggers Creek Forests. It is contiguous with the Linville Gorge site on the south and with the Duggers Creek Forests site on the northeast. The site is just upstream from the Linville River Aquatic Habitat. National Park Service-Blue Ridge Parkway lands border on the north. Pisgah National Forest borders on the west, south, and east. The Blue Ridge Parkway lies about 1.5 miles to the north. The site is bordered on the northwest by privately-owned lands along NC Highway 183 near the community of Linville Falls.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The falls consist of a vertical drop of more than 60 feet where the Linville River descends over a large excellent example of an exposed thrust fault which occurs near the falls. The falls and head of Linville Gorge provide an exceptional illustration of the geomorphic process of headward erosion. It is contiguous with the 10,000-acre Linville Gorge Wilderness to the south and it is almost completely embedded in Pisgah National Forest. The site supports excellent examples of two conifer-dominated community types, as well as several rare species. The site is poorly-studied and is in need of subsequent survey. The northern edge of the site contains park infrastructure including the Linville Falls spur road from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Linville Falls Visitor Center.

The ecological site supports old-growth examples of the fairly uncommon Canada Hemlock Forest community type in coves and on lower slopes above Linville Falls. The forest canopy is dominated by large specimens of Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), with smaller numbers of hardwoods such as red maple (Acer rubrum), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), sweet birch (Betula lenta), and others. Understory trees are fairly sparse beneath the dense shade of the hemlocks and consist of species of the canopy, as well as typical species such as Fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri), witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), and others. A dense, well-developed

85 shrub layer is dominated by rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum). These communities grade upslope to examples of Carolina Hemlock Bluff and cove forest communities. Openings along the Linville River at the lower margins of these forests are the probable habitat for a 1935 record of the rare purple fringeless orchid (Platanthera peramoena), which is considered historic but probably still extant. Its habitat was described as "edge of open peat-bog marsh along river above Linville Falls".

Excellent, old-growth examples of the rare Carolina Hemlock Bluff community type occur on better-drained soils and drier, southwest-facing middle and upper slopes in the areas above Linville Falls. These communities are dominated by Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana), itself an uncommon species that occurs only in the southern Appalachians from southern Virginia to northern Georgia. Understory trees are generally sparse, but a shrub layer of mixed heaths, including mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), rosebay rhododendron, and blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) is well-developed.

The remainder of the site supports examples of more typical oak forest communities. Potential is high for additional high quality examples of the two hemlock community types. The Southern Appalachian population of the rare red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) has been recorded recently from areas near Erwin's View Trail, Linville Falls, and the Linville Falls Visitor Center in pine/hemlock/hardwoods habitats. This bird species, recorded from only 15 locations in North Carolina, is primarily restricted to high elevation habitats from Swain County (Great Smoky Mountains) to Ashe County (Long Hope Valley) as well as the gorges of the Horsepasture River and Linville River.

The rare liverwort Plagiochila caduciloba is recorded from an historic 1950s record at "Linville Gorge, 1-2 miles below the falls, on a deeply shaded, recessed rock wall" and "on shaded, barely damp vertical ledges, gorge of Linville River, below falls" is presumed to be extant. This nonvascular plant species is known in the state from rocks in humid gorges and at waterfalls in Jackson, Macon, Haywood, Transylvania, Clay, and Burke counties. Fourteen North Carolina records for the species are considered historic and all but two are from the southwestern mountain counties. The rare bog broom-moss, was reported in 1936 from "sandy soil, Linville Gorge, below Linville Falls" is presumed to be extant. Although considered only Significantly Rare due to a wide range in eastern North America, this nonvascular plant species is known from only three other North Carolina records: in boggy habitats at Mount Pisgah, at Pineola Bog in Avery County, and from Mount Mitchell. The Federally Endangered spreading avens (Geum radiatum) was reported from "Linville Falls" in 1923, but it has not since been located and is presumed extirpated from the site.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site is managed by the National Park Service as part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is heavy visitation to the visitor center and Linville Falls overlooks, but few human impacts elsewhere. The site is a Registered Natural Heritage Area. The Linville River is a State Natural and Scenic River. The Duggers Creek Forests site was acquired by the Conservation Trust for North Carolina in 2000 with the intent to divest it to the National Park Service as an addition to the Linville Falls portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

86 The rare Carolina Hemlock Bluff and Canada Hemlock Forest communities should be considered vulnerable to the hemlock wooly adelgid, an introduced pest.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Canada Hemlock Forest, Carolina Hemlock Bluff.

RARE PLANTS: purple fringeless orchid (Platanthera peramoena), the liverwort Plagiochila caduciloba, bog broom-moss (Dicranum undulatum).

RARE ANIMALS: Southern Appalachian red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra population 1).

87

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

LINVILLE GORGE Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: National Size: 10,315 acres Quadrangle: Linville Falls Ownership: United States of America

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site is significant for one of the largest expanses of old- growth forest in the state, as a National Wilderness Area, and as habitat for 26 rare species. It contains a cluster of 20 rare vascular and nonvascular plant species, including most of the world's mountain golden-heather (Hudsonia montana), a State Endangered and Federally Threatened species and substantial populations of the State and Federally Threatened Heller's blazing star (Liatris helleri). Also present are the State Candidate/Federal Species of Concern plant species sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata) and the liverwort Plagiochila sullivantii var. spinigera, as well as 12 State Candidate plant species: Greenland sandwort (Minuartia groenlandica), ash-leaved golden-banner (Thermopsis fraxinifolia), large witch-alder (Fothergilla major), roundleaf serviceberry (Amelanchier sanguinea), deerhair bulrush (Trichophorum cespitosum), pinebarren death-camas (Zigadenus leimanthoides), simple peatmoss (Sphagnum pylaesii), the liverwort Plagiochila sullivantii var. sullivantii, the liverwort Drepanolejeunea appalachiana, the liverwort Cephalozia macrostachya ssp. australis, the liverwort Chiloscyphus muricatus and the liverwort Chiloscyphus appalachianus. Also of significance is the presence of the Significantly Rare wall-rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria), known in the state from only six small populations.

It also contains a cluster of six rare animal species, including the Special Concern/Federal Species of Concern Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister), the Federally Endangered peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), the Federal Species of Concern Southern Appalachian red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), and the Special Concern black vulture (Coragyps atratus).

The site contains one of the largest areas of old-growth forest in North Carolina, including examples of Canada Hemlock Forest and the uncommon Carolina Hemlock Bluff communities. Excellent examples of the rare High Elevation Rocky Summit and Upland Pool community types, are present as well as other uncommon rock outcrop types. The site is notable for its outstanding geologic features.

Linville Gorge forms the primary component of the Linville Gorge Macrosite and it protects most of the Linville River Aquatic Habitat.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The Linville Falls site is contiguous with the gorge on the north. Most of the Linville River Aquatic Habitat is contained within Linville Gorge. The Duggers Creek Forests site lies about one-half mile north of the northern boundary of this site. Linville Gorge is located entirely within Pisgah National Forest. Habitats required by several of the rare species of Linville Gorge do not exist elsewhere in the nearby landscape.

89 SITE DESCRIPTION: Linville Gorge is a deep, narrow, 10-mile-long gorge in the Blue Ridge Escarpment with 2000-foot high, steep valley walls formed by the erosion of thick beds of quartzite rock by the Linville River. Beginning about one-half mile south of Linville Falls, this site extends south to near Lake James. It is ringed by numerous summits capped by quartzite. It contains excellent examples of geomorphic features such as entrenched river meanders and an exposure of one of the largest thrust faults in the United States. The gorge also contains small inclusions of limestone, a rare rock type associated with many rare plant species.

Excellent, old-growth examples of Canada Hemlock Forest and the rare Carolina Hemlock Bluff communities are present. The Canada Hemlock Forests are extensive on rugged lower slopes and support numerous trees to 48 inches in diameter. Canopy treefall gaps, down logs, and snags are common. Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) dominates the canopy, though appreciable sweet birch (Betula lenta), red maple (Acer rubrum), and Fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri) are present. Rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) and gorge rhododendron (Rhododendron minus) form a dense shrub layer in many places. Herbs are typically sparse.

Old-growth examples of the rare Carolina Hemlock Bluff community, forming an extensive occurrence in aggregate, are present in the gorge interior. They occur on south-facing sides of spur ridges and steep middle slopes on thin soils and are embedded in a mosaic of other forest communities. They are dominated by Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana), itself an uncommon endemic of the Southern Appalachians. Table mountain pine (Pinus pungens), white pine (Pinus strobus), chestnut oak (Quercus montana), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), and sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) also exist in the canopy. An open to dense shrub layer of rosebay rhododendron and gorge rhododendron fills the understory of these communities.

A majority of the gorge is covered by mature, undisturbed oak and pine forests. Chestnut Oak Forest is widespread on steep upper slopes, especially in the southern two-thirds of the gorge. Along with chestnut oak, the forest canopy contains smaller numbers of white pine, red maple, Canada hemlock, red oak (Quercus rubra), white oak (Quercus alba), black gum, and hickory (Carya sp.). Root sprouts of the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) are occasional. Frequent shrubs include black huckleberry, dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), gorge rhododendron, and mountain laurel. Herbs are typically sparse. White Pine Forests are also very extensive in the gorge, occupying north-facing middle and upper slopes and spur ridges. Their canopies are dominated by white pine, with a subcanopy of sourwood, red maple, black gum, and other hardwoods. Gorge rhododendron and mountain laurel are common in the understory. Although these forests are not in old-growth condition, they have not been cut and probably represent regeneration after natural fire.

The crests of Hawksbill Mountain, Tablerock Mountain, The Chimneys, and areas southward on the east rim of the gorge support the state's only examples of the Quartzite Variant of the rare High Elevation Rocky Summit community type. They are distinctive due to the extreme acidity and hardness of the quartzite and dryness due to relatively low elevation. The ecotone between these rocky summits and associated Heath Bald and Pine--Oak/Heath communities support the very rare mountain golden-heather (Hudsonia montana). Collectively, these areas comprise the

90 largest of only three populations of golden-heather worldwide. The exposed summit outcrop communities consist of bare rock with soil accumulations on ledges, cliffs, and crags with a flora of mostly shrubs and herbs. These communities provide nesting habitats for rare black vultures (Coragyps atratus) and Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister). Dominant shrubs include sand-myrtle (Leiophyllum buxifolium), gorge rhododendron, highbush blueberry (Vaccinium sp.), mountain laurel, bushy St. John's-wort (Hypericum densiflorum), and mountain golden-heather. Dominant herbs include beargrass (Xerophyllum asphodeloides), twisted-hair spikemoss (Selaginella tortipila), oatgrass (Danthonia sp.), threetooth cinquefoil (Sibbaldiopsis tridentata), parasol sedge (Carex umbellata), and others. Several lichens are important on bare rock. Rare plants include Heller's blazing star, deerhair bulrush (Trichophorum cespitosum), and Greenland sandwort (Minuartia groenlandica). Trees such as table mountain pine (Pinus pungens), pitch pine (Pinus rigida), and typical hardwoods are stunted, infrequent, and restricted to relatively deep soil accumulations.

The only known montane examples in North Carolina of the rare Upland Pool community occur in a small depression in bedrock on the top of the gorge rim. They have organic soils around their margins. The pool on the western rim retains water for most of the year and supports species that are unusual in the mountains, such as sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and swamp smartweed (Polygonum hydropiperoides), as well as abundant royal fern (Osmunda regalis), three-way sedge (Dulichium arundinaceum), and yellow peatmoss (Sphagnum lescurii). Another pool, located on the eastern rim at Shortoff Mountain, does not retain water year-round. It supports cottongrass bulrush (Scirpus cyperinus), lamp rush (Juncus canadensis), and beds of sphagnum moss. Higher parts of the depression support red maple and dry-site trees such as chestnut oak and scarlet oak, over dense galax (Galax urceolata). A 1964 collection of simple peatmoss (Sphagnum pylaesii), a State Candidate plant species, from "Shortoff Mountain, Blue Ridge Escarpment, ... edge of receding pool" probably occurred at this pool; the plant may still be extant there.

Associated with the High Elevation Rocky Summits on thin soils of upper slopes are Heath Bald and Pine--Oak/Heath communities. Exemplary Heath Balds occur on Tablerock Mountain and Hawksbill Mountain, in very exposed conditions. They occur on shallow soils over acidic quartzite rock and are largely unknown. They are dominated by Catawba rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense), gorge rhododendron, highbush blueberry, and beargrass. Stunted pitch pine, table mountain pine, and various hardwoods are occasional emergents from the dense shrub cover. The rare roundleaf serviceberry (Amelanchier sanguinea) occurs in this community at Tablerock Mountain.

Good examples of Pine--Oak/Heath communities occur on the east rim of the gorge from Tablerock Mountain southward and from Hawksbill Mountain northward. They exist on exposed peaks and associated ridges, in association with the Heath Bald and High Elevation Rocky Summit communities. They have an open canopy of pitch pine, table mountain pine, scarlet oak, black gum, and chestnut oak over an understory of shrubs such as mountain laurel, gorge rhododendron, and black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata). Some of these communities are largely unexplored and could contain additional rare plant species.

91 Extensive, high quality, undisturbed Montane Acidic Cliff communities of quartzite rock occur at several locations in the site, some of which are used for nesting by rare peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus). They are primarily distributed near the Linville River in the northern part of the gorge and on the upper gorge rim in the south part of the gorge. The largely inaccessible cliffs in the northern gorge have extensive bare rock. Typical trees such as Carolina hemlock, Canada hemlock, table mountain pine, serviceberry and shrubs such as rosebay rhododendron and gorge rhododendron are scattered in deeper soil pockets and on ledges. Herb coverage is typically sparse, though seepages and crevices support mountain spleenwort (Asplenium montanum) and various mosses and liverworts. Where the gorge widens to the south, the primary expanse of cliffs shifts to the upper slopes, on the east between Tablerock Mountain and Shortoff Mountain and on the west below the Kistler Memorial Highway. Only the upper margins of the eastern rim cliffs have been surveyed. They support twisted-hair spikemoss (Selaginella tortipila), the rare mountain golden-heather, sand-myrtle, highbush blueberry, and gorge rhododendron.

Areas along the edges of the Linville River contain extensive, excellent examples of the Rocky Bar and Shore community. These communities consist of series of bedrock shores with scour zones, gravel bars, and even occasional small islands. The narrowness of the gorge and the resistance of quartzite to erosion may play an important role in development of scour areas. Herbs and shrubs are sparse and patchy. Most abundant are twisted sedge (Carex torta) and yellowroot (Xanthorhiza simplicissima), a common shrub of stream banks. The rare marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) is also present.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: Large parts of the site are a National Wilderness Area. The site is a Special Interest Area and a Registered Natural Heritage Area. Prescribed burning is needed to maintain the mountain golden-heather populations. About 8000 acres of forest burned in the vicinity of Table Rock Mountain, The Chimneys, and Shortoff Mountain in 2000. The primarily ground-level fire removed litter and duff that had accumulated during decades of fire suppression, but did not cause extensive canopy damage. The fire did not reach areas containing mountain golden-heather. One year later, areas that burned were repairing and little long-term adverse effect is expected (Cecil Frost, N.C. Plant Conservation Program, pers. comm.). Decline of mountain golden-heather due to competition from competing shrubs has been shown to occur in the absence of periodic fire. Trampling is a potential threat to High Elevation Rocky Summit communities in general and to mountain golden-heather and Heller's blazing star in particular. The mountain golden-heather population at Table Rock has experienced serious decline from trampling over the last decade. Although rock climbing is a potential threat to cliff communities, few impacts have been reported. A campsite has produced frequent impacts to the rare Upland Pool community on the top of Shortoff Mountain and may have impacted the rare simple peatmoss, which was previously collected from that location. Information on the presence and abundance of several rare plants is needed, including large witch-alder, ash-leaved golden-banner, Greenland sandwort, rough blazing star (Liatris aspera), sweet pinesap, deerhair bulrush, the liverworts Cephalozia macrostachya ssp. australis, Drepanolejeunea appalachiana, Plagiochila sullivantii var. spinigera, and simple peatmoss.

92 Relatively little is known about the distribution and abundance of the Allegheny woodrat and the timber rattlesnake in the gorge.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Rocky Bar and Shore, Upland Pool, Heath Bald, Canada Hemlock Forest, Carolina Hemlock Bluff, White Pine Forest, Pine--Oak/Heath, Chestnut Oak Forest, High Elevation Rocky Summit, Low Elevation Rocky Summit, Montane Acidic Cliff.

RARE PLANTS: rough blazing star (Liatris aspera), Heller's blazing star (Liatris helleri), marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides), Greenland sandwort (Minuartia groenlandica), mountain golden-heather (Hudsonia montana), ash-leaved golden-banner (Thermopsis fraxinifolia), bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia), large witch-alder (Fothergilla major), sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata), wall-rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria), roundleaf serviceberry (Amelanchier sanguinea), deerhair bulrush (Trichophorum cespitosum), pinebarren death-camas (Zigadenus leimanthoides), simple peatmoss (Sphagnum pylaesii), the liverwort Plagiochila sullivantii var. spinigera, the liverwort Plagiochila sullivantii var. sullivantii, the liverwort Drepanolejeunea appalachiana, the liverwort Cephalozia macrostachya ssp. australis, the liverwort Chiloscyphus muricatus, the liverwort Chiloscyphus appalachianus.

RARE ANIMALS: Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister), Southern Appalachian red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra population 1), black vulture (Coragyps atratus), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus horridus).

REFERENCES: Morse, L.E. 1979. Report on the conservation status of Hudsonia montana, a candidate endangered species. New York Botanical Garden, Cooperative Parks Study Unit, Bronx, NY. Morse, L.E. 1979. Systematics and ecological biogeography of the genus Hudsonia (Cistaceae), the sand heathers. Ph.D. Dissertation, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

93

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

DUGGERS CREEK FORESTS Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: County Size: 163 acres Quadrangle: Linville Falls Ownership: Private

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site contains mature examples of two common montane community types and most of the Duggers Creek watershed. Significance is derived from its proximity to the state significant Linville Falls site and nationally significant Linville Gorge site. Significance is also derived from its inclusion in the 13,000-acre Linville Gorge Macrosite. It is important as a natural and scenic buffer to Linville Falls. As an addition to Blue Ridge Parkway lands at Linville Falls, this land enables the National Park Service to maintain better control of unauthorized visitation to the falls. Ginseng, a Watch List species, is present.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The tract is directly connected to land owned by the National Park Service-Blue Ridge Parkway along the Linville Falls spur road and connects to the northeast corner of the Linville Falls site. It is a part of the viewshed to the northeast of Linville Falls. It lies within one mile of the Linville Gorge Wilderness in Pisgah National Forest. It is contiguous with land in Pisgah National Forest on the south and east.

SITE DESCRIPTION: This forested site is situated on the Blue Ridge escarpment near the north end of Linville Gorge. It contains a forested knob, gentle to moderately steep slopes in the broad cove along Duggers Creek, and steeper slopes along the deeply incised cove around Gulf Branch. Duggers Creek flows into the Linville River a few tenths of a mile above Linville Falls, very near the Linville Falls visitor center on the Blue Ridge Parkway's Linville Falls Spur Road. Gulf Branch joins the Linville River a short distance below Linville Falls.

Much of the site lies on a moderately-sloping knob which supports Chestnut Oak Forest with dense cover. Areas along Duggers Creek contain fairly good quality Acidic Cove Forests with canopies of several cove hardwoods over a dense understory of great rhododendron. The portion of Gulf Branch drainage that passes through the southern end of the tract contains very steep slopes with Acidic Cove Forest vegetation. These steep slopes descend directly onto U.S. Forest Service lands in the Linville Gorge Wilderness. The tract is in the viewshed of the Blue Ridge Parkway and that of Linville Falls.

The Chestnut Oak Forest community has a semi-open canopy dominated by chestnut oak (Quercus montana), but with appreciable scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), red maple (Acer rubrum), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), red oak (Quercus rubra), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), and white pine (Pinus strobus). Trees to more than 20 inches in diameter are occasional. A moderately dense understory supports saplings of the canopy species as well as witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), American chestnut (Castanea dentata), Fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri), sourwood (Oxydendrum

95 arboreum), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), and other typical species. The dense, patchy shrub layer is dominated by mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), with less frequent dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), and rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum). The herb layer is sparse beneath the dense cover, though galax (Galax urceolata), trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens), hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula), teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens), sedges (Carex spp.), partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), and the common greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) are fairly frequent.

The Acidic Cove Forest communities occur in sheltered, moist areas along stream drainages. Their canopies are dense and dominated by a mixture of red maple, red oak, white pine, yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), sweet birch (Betula lenta), and Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), with occasional cucumber-trees (Magnolia acuminata). Certain areas support support appreciable numbers of Canada hemlock. Large trees are occasional. The moderately dense understory is composed of saplings of the canopy species as well as Fraser magnolia and witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). Dense patches of rosebay rhododendron occupy substantial areas. Areas not dominated by shrubs support numerous herbs including New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), white heart-leaved aster (Aster divaricatus), bigleaf aster (Aster macrophyllus), galax, devil’s-bit (Chamaelirium luteum), partridgeberry, ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), and others.

The site contains suitable habitats for certain rare animals known from Linville Gorge, such as the Southern Appalachian red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) or the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus). In terms of landscape function, this site benefits from its contiguity with the Linville Gorge and Linville Falls sites.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site needs little active management other than to allow the forests to mature to older-growth. Limited selective logging has occurred at this site in the last few decades, but most areas were last logged about 80 years ago. The site has been purchased by the Conservation Trust for North Carolina, pending divestment to the National Park Service for addition to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Chestnut Oak Forest, Acidic Cove Forest.

REFERENCES: Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Duggers Creek Forests. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

96 97

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

JONAS RIDGE BOG Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: State Size: 19 acres Quadrangle: Linville Falls Ownership: Private

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site contains a high quality, relatively large example of the rare Southern Appalachian Bog (Northern Subtype) community with populations of two State Candidate plant species: cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and perennial sundrops (Oenothera perennis). Jonas Ridge Bog is one of only two Southern Appalachian Bogs known from Burke County. The cranberry population is one of only two recorded from Burke County. Species of both northern and Coastal Plain habitats are present.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site lies in an unusually flat valley near the top of the Blue Ridge escarpment at the upstream end of a tributary of Upper Creek. Another significant montane wetland site, Cranberry Knob Bogs and Swamp Forest, also occurs in the unusually flat areas at the head of the Upper Creek drainage about one mile northeast of Jonas Ridge Bog. Landscape connectivity between these two wetland sites is fairly good, though a county road and cleared areas around scattered residences separate them. Flat, undeveloped sections of the stream corridor exist both upstream and downstream from the site. The site is otherwise isolated in the landscape from other non-alluvial wetland sites. Linville Gorge lies within one mile to the southwest. The Blue Ridge Parkway lies about 1.5 miles to the north.

SITE DESCRIPTION: Jonas Ridge Bog lies near the top of the Blue Ridge escarpment in the headwater region of Upper Creek, on unusually flat topography. The site is bounded by roads on the west, south, and east in a sparsely developed rural area. Areas in the narrow stream corridor above and below the site have previously been cleared and now support successional forest, pasture, and maintained clearings. Cleared areas remain on the west side of the site, near U.S. Highway 181. Some areas in the site were perviously disturbed by the creation of two small ponds which have long since been drained. The site contains a good example of the Northern Subtype of the rare Southern Appalachian Bog community on both undisturbed and previously- impounded parts of the site. A diverse mixture of natural and successional bog habitats are now present.

Northern Subtype bogs contain species of primarily northern distribution, with fewer species of mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain habitats. Northern species in this bog include the rare cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), as well as the uncommon crested woodfern (Dryopteris cristata) and narrowleaf willowherb (Epilobium leptophyllum). However, this bog also contains certain species that are primarily of Coastal Plain habitats but which are uncommon in the mountains. Examples of such regionally rare plants at this site are southern sheeplaurel (Kalmia carolina), rose pogonia (Pogonia ophioglossoides), and button sedge (Carex bullata). The presence of species of both northern and southern habitats, as well as wetland specialists, results in high

99 species diversity in this bog. A total of 55 species of herbs are recorded from the site, including numerous species of sedges, beaksedges, rushes, bulrushes, grasses, forbs, ferns, and other flowering plants.

The 6-acre bog contains distinct shrub and herb zones, as well as extensive, dense areas of sphagnum mosses (Sphagnum spp.). Soils range from mucky, organic loams in undisturbed areas to less organic subsoils in areas that were previously scraped and impounded. The wettest parts of the site remain quite open, with few trees. Higher ground around bog margins and old earthen pond levees supports trees such as red maple (Acer rubrum), serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), white pine (Pinus strobus), Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), and yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). Bog areas free from earlier disturbance support scattered islands of shrubs such as rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum), silky willow (Salix sericea), Catawba rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense), tag-alder (Alnus serrulata), maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina), and hardhack (Spiraea tomentosa). Several other species of shrubs and vines are also present. More prevalent are herb zones with high species diversity. Dominant herbs in these areas include shallow sedge (Carex lurida), prickly bog sedge (Carex atlantica), brownish beakrush (Rhynchospora capitellata), ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), purple- stem aster (Aster puniceus), and dense mats of sphagnum. Rare species in this bog include cranberry and perennial sundrops (Oenothera perennis). Those on the North Carolina Plant Watch list include tawny cottongrass (Eriophorum virginicum), narrowleaf willowherb, crested woodfern, and seep rush (Juncus gymnocarpus).

Most of the rare and uncommon plants of this bog occur in areas that were not previously- impounded. However, the old bed of the impounded area now has a dense layer of sphagnum moss, with scattered wetland herbs. This is of interest as an example of plant succession that may be similar to that which occurs on abandoned beaver ponds, which are believed to have played a role in formation of some mountain bogs.

Birds observed at this site in breeding season include the willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii), a North Carolina Animal Watch List species, as well as the yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia), common yellowthroat (Geothylis trichas), and green heron (Butorides virescens). Snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina), spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer), and American toads (Bufo americanus) have also been noted.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The bog is without formal protection and has no form of management at present. Although the old dams and berms constructed for the previous impoundments are still present, the openness of the bog and the lack of encroachment by woody plants is an indication that its hydrology remains intact. However, the bog could easily be re- impacted with only limited repair of the old dams. Its most pressing management needs are monitoring of site hydrology, rare species, woody plant encroachment, and non-native species. Invasive non-native plants are not extensive, but multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) are present. The bog and surrounding areas are designated Outstanding Resource Waters by the N.C. Division of Water Quality.

100 NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Southern Appalachian Bog (Northern Subtype).

RARE PLANTS: cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), perennial sundrops (Oenothera perennis).

REFERENCES: Smith, A.B. 1989-90. Site Survey Report: Jonas Ridge Bog. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Smith, A.B. 1993. A Survey of Mountain Wetlands Communities. Report to N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

101

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

CRANBERRY KNOB BOGS AND SWAMP FOREST Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: Regional Size: 25 acres Quadrangle: Linville Falls Ownership: Private and United States of America

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The primary significance of the site is in three fair quality remnants of the rare Southern Appalachian Bog (Northern Subtype) community, a fair quality Swamp Forest--Bog Complex (Typic Subtype) community, and a population of the rare cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon). The site is one of only two locations for Southern Appalachian Bogs in Burke County.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site lies in an unusually flat valley near the top of the Blue Ridge escarpment at the upstream end of the northern headwater tributary of Upper Creek. Another significant montane wetland site, Jonas Ridge Bog, occurs on similar topography on the southern headwater tributary of Upper Creek, about one mile southwest of this site. Landscape connectivity between these two wetland sites is fairly good, though a county road and cleared areas around scattered residences separate them. Upper Creek Falls Forest is about one mile to the southeast. The Linville Gorge Macrosite, Linville Gorge, Linville Falls, and Duggers Creek Forests sites all lie about 2.75 miles to the southwest. Areas east and west of the site along the stream corridor have been logged in recent years.

SITE DESCRIPTION: Cranberry Knob Bogs and Swamp Forest lies in northern Burke County at the top of the Blue Ridge escarpment in the headwater region of the northern tributary of Upper Creek. It occurs in a very flat valley bottom ringed by moderately elevated mountains. The northern tributary of Upper Creek drains through the center of the site. The site contains several very small Southern Appalachian Bog remnants, a couple of which are embedded in a Swamp Forest-Bog Complex community. A couple of small bog remnants in the eastern half of the site, on land within Pisgah National Forest, are located in an area that was logged within the last decade.

The bog remnants associated with forests are situated in small, shallow depressions in the bottomlands along Upper Creek. They are roughly linear and lie parallel to the creek. These are fairly well-shaded by moist hardwood forest and a Swamp Forest-Bog Complex community. Other bog remnants occur on U.S. Forest Service land on the north side of Upper Creek, in areas that were heavily logged in the last decade or so. They are without a forest canopy and are generally linear in shape, being situated along slight, gently sloping drainages that flow toward the creek. The very mucky, wet bog pockets are dominated by herbs and forbs of mountain wetlands and are interspersed by drier ground with dense shrub cover, forming a fine mosaic of open wet and drier habitats. Tree trunks and slash from logging is abundant in these bog areas.

103 Herbs are sparse to moderately dense in the forest-embedded bog areas. Herbs such as cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) and prickly bog sedge (Carex atlantica) are abundant in places, though many others are present. These include jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), purple-stem aster (Aster puniceus), fringed sedge (Carex crinita), northern long sedge (Carex folliculata), Howe's sedge (Carex howei), little bog sedge (Carex leptalea), shallow sedge (Carex lurida), goldenrod (Solidago sp.), autumn sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale), orange jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), lamp rush (Juncus effusus), woods rush (Juncus subcaudatus), mannagrass (Glyceria sp.), bulrush (Scirpus sp.), swamp- candles (Lysimachia terrestris), arrowleaf tearthumb (Polgonum sagittatum), stiff cowbane (Oxypolis rigidior), and mountain meadowrue (Thalictrum clavatum). Beds of sphagnum moss (Sphagnum sp.) are abundant in some areas. Shrubs are patchy in the forest-embedded bog areas but dense in the clearcut bog areas. Most common are tag alder (Alnus serrulata), common winterberry (Ilex verticillata), mountain dog-hobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana), swamp rose (Rosa palustris), Catawba rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina), black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), mountain sweet pepperbush (Clethra acuminata), and St. John's-wort (Hypericum sp.). A large population of the rare cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) was reliably documented from the vicinity in the 1980's but has not been relocated since, though it may still be extant.

Some bog pockets are bordered by moist forests of yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), red maple (Acer rubrum), and Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) with thickets of rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) and tag-alder. Other bog patches are bordered by a fair quality Swamp Forest-Bog Complex community which occurs on slight sloughs and old depressions near the stream. The swamp forest-bog complex supports a canopy of scattered red maple, white pine (Pinus strobus), sweet birch (Betula lenta), and Canada hemlock over a very dense understory of rosebay rhododendron, with occasional mountain holly (Ilex montana), tag alder and mountain dog-hobble. Herbs in small openings include cinnamon fern, swamp dewberry (Rubus hispidus), sedges (Carex spp.), lamp rush, mannagrass, orange jewelweed, and small beds of sphagnum moss. Drier areas support New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), shining clubmoss (Huperzia lucidula), teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens), and pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata).

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site has no formal protection. A large part of the upstream corridor above the forest-embedded bogs was cleared in the last few years. The forested bog areas had become shrubby and shaded by the late 1980s and remain so now. It is possible that the cranberry population is no longer extant there: its presence in in need of verification. The eastern half of the site is located in the Pisgah National Forest timber base and was clearcut about a decade ago. The bog areas in the national forest remain very wet, but shrubs in the surrounding clearcut have become very dense. The site lies in an area designated as Outstanding Resource Waters by the N.C. Division of Water Quality and Wild Trout Waters by N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Southern Appalachian Bog (Northern Subtype), Swamp Forest- Bog Complex (Typic Subtype).

104 RARE PLANTS: cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon).

REFERENCES: Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Cranberry Knob Bogs and Swamp Forest. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Smith, A.B. 1989. Site Survey Report: Cranberry Knob Bogs. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Smith, A.B. 1993. A Survey of Mountain Wetlands Communities. Report to N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

105

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

BROWN MOUNTAIN GREENSTONE FORESTS Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: Regional Size: 324 acres Quadrangle: Chestnut Mountain Ownership: United States of America

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site is significant for a matrix of good quality Pine-- Oak/Heath and Acidic Cove Forest communities and fairly good quality Chestnut Oak Forest and Montane Oak--Hickory Forest communities, as well as for the presence of the Significantly Rare timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus).

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The northern end of the nationally significant Upper Creek Aquatic Habitat is 0.25 mile to the west. No other Significant Natural Heritage Areas are near the site, though forests identified by Messick (2000a) as old-growth border on the east.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The site is located in Pisgah National Forest on a rugged part of the Blue Ridge escarpment at elevations of 1400-2400 feet. It lies on the Burke-Caldwell county line between Brown Mountain and Little Chestnut Mountain and is in the Upper Creek drainage. It consists of a primary cove which supports Acidic Cove Forest, a prominent spur ridge which supports Pine--Oak/Heath woodlands, and intervening slopes and coves with Chestnut Oak Forest and Montane Oak--Hickory Forest communities.

The primary cove encloses a perennial tributary of Upper Creek. Its lower portion is deeply incised, with steep slopes and bouldery areas near the stream. The upper cove occurs on gentler topography and is joined by numerous smaller coves at intermittent drainages. Good quality Acidic Cove Forest is predominant in these areas. It supports a closed canopy of yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), red maple (Acer rubrum), Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), sweet birch (Betula lenta), red oak (Quercus rubra), Fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri), and other cove hardwood species. The understory is dominated by dense patches of rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum). Less dominant are shrubs such as flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), and dog-hobble (Leucothoe fontansiana), and small-statured hardwood species such as witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), silverbell (Halesia tetraptera), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), American holly (Ilex opaca), and others. Herbs are sparse in shrub-dominated areas but moderately dense elsewhere. Typical species include Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), white heart-leaved aster (Aster divaricatus), sedges (Carex spp.), roundleaf violet (Viola rotundifolia), downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens), and others. These cove forests are habitat for the rare timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus).

Good quality Pine--Oak/Heath woodlands lie on the driest portions of the crest of a spur ridge west of the primary cove. They have a semi-open canopy dominated by table mountain pine

107 (Pinus pungens), white pine (Pinus strobus), Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana), chestnut oak (Quercus montana), scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica). Canopy pines compose 50-80% of the canopy in some areas. Occasional tree saplings and dense patches of shrubs such as mountain laurel, black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), and dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum) dominate the shrub layer, though shrubs such as horse-sugar (Symplocos tinctoria), maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina), and rosebay rhododendron are also present. A sparse herb layer contains little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens), galax (Galax urceolata), pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens), wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria), and the uncommon beargrass (Xerophyllum asphodeloides). Tangles of common greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia), a woody vine, are common.

Fairly good quality Chestnut Oak Forest occupies many slope areas between the sheltered Acidic Cove Forest and the exposed Pine--Oak/Heath communities. It is dominated by chestnut oak and scarlet oak, with substantial red maple, sourwood, and black gum with lesser amounts of white pine and Virginia pine. American holly and witch-hazel are common in the understory. Shrubs are represented by patches of mountain laurel, as well as dryland blueberry, deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), and rosebay rhododendron. Where shrubs are not dense, herbs such as galax, goldenrod (Solidago sp.), partridgeberry, white heart-leaved aster, roundleaf violet, pipsissewa, dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), and downy rattlesnake plantain are present. Less widespread on the slopes are fairly good quality examples of Montane Oak--Hickory Forest, with a canopy dominated by red oak, scarlet oak, chestnut oak, white oak (Quercus alba), red maple, and yellow poplar. Patches of shrubs, mostly mountain laurel and rosebay rhododendron, are sparse. Herbs are a moderately dense collection of typical species such as Christmas fern, New York fern, white heart-leaved aster, goldenrod, pipsissewa, downy rattlesnake plantain, sedges (Carex spp.), witch-grasses (Dichanthelium spp.), black snakeroot (Ageratina altissima), and others.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site lies within the Upper Creek watershed, which is designated High Quality Waters by the N.C. Division of Water Quality. The invasive, non-native Japanese grass (Microstegium vimineum) is well established in some cove areas, probably a result of introduction during previous logging. The forests should be allowed to mature to older growth, especially those supporting good quality Pine--Oak/Heath and Acidic Cove Forest communities. The Pine--Oak/Heath communities would probably benefit from occasional low-intensity prescribed burning.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Chestnut Oak Forest, Acidic Cove Forest, Montane Oak-- Hickory Forest, Pine--Oak/Heath.

RARE ANIMALS: timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

REFERENCES:

108 Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Brown Mountain Greenstone Forests. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Messick, R. 2000a. Site Specific Catalog: Old Growth Forest Communities in the Nantahala- Pisgah National Forest. Report for the Western North Carolina Alliance, Asheville, NC.

109

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

UPPER CREEK FALLS FOREST Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: County Size: 111 acres Quadrangle: Chestnut Mountain Ownership: United States of America

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The primary significance of the site lies in its mature examples of Chestnut Oak Forest and Acidic Cove Forest natural community types. Beargrass (Xerophyllum asphodeloides), a Watch List plant species, is common in some parts of the Chestnut Oak Forest. A good quality Rocky Bar and Shore community is also present.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site is situated at the top of the Blue Ridge escarpment among unfragmented areas in Pisgah National Forest. The Linville Gorge Macrosite is located within two air miles to the west. The Cranberry Knob Bogs and Swamp Forest site is about 1.5 miles upstream in the Upper Creek drainage. The Lost Cove Cliffs site in Caldwell County is about 3.5 air miles to the north-northeast.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The site lies in the upper section of Upper Creek at a point where the stream begins to descend the Blue Ridge escarpment. It consists of slopes centered on a steeply- decending bedrock streambed. A rocky alluvial zone lies between Upper Falls and Lower Falls, two large, cascading waterslides. Footpaths provide access to the waterslides from NC Highway 181. The surrounding slopes are heavily forested.

The alluvial zone is characterized by stretches of scoured bedrock separated from bedrock- rimmed pools by small drops and cascades. Trees of adjacent cove forests line the open but narrow stream corridor. A fairly good quality example of Rocky Bar and Shore community occurs on rock and sediment deposits along the stream. It supports occasional shrubs such as yellowroot (Xanthorhiza simplicissima), northern wild-raisin (Viburnum cassinoides), dog- hobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana), rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum), and tag- alder (Alnus serrulata). Herbs are scattered and include Appalachian bluet (Houstonia serpyllifolia), white heart-leaved aster (Aster divaricatus), hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula), sedges (Carex spp.), lamp rush (Juncus effusus), St. John's-wort (Hypericum sp), pink turtleheads (Chelone lyonii), evening primrose (Oenothera sp.), water-horehound (Lycopus sp.), purple-stem aster (Aster puniceous), tassel-rue (Trautvettaria carolinensis), and occasional grasses.

Acidic Cove Forest occurs on lower slope areas along the stream. It has a closed canopy dominated by red maple (Acer rubrum), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), red oak (Quercus rubra), chestnut oak (Quercus montana), white pine (Pinus strobus), Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), sweet birch (Betula lenta), Fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri), and cucumber-tree (Magnolia acuminata). Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum), Canada hemlock, and other saplings of the canopy species compose the

111 sparse understory. Dense thickets of rosebay rhododendron dominate the shrub layer, though occasional patches of dog-hobble, mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), and mountain sweet pepperbush (Clethra acuminata) are also present. Herbs are very sparse and include indian cucumber-root (Medeola virginiana), downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens), partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), galax (Galax urceolata), Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), violets (Viola spp.), and others. Occasional shaded rock outcrops support rockcap fern (Polypodium virginianum).

More widespread are mature, good quality Chestnut Oak Forests which occupy middle and upper slope areas. Its canopy contains chestnut oak, red maple, white pine, red oak, scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), and infrequent table mountain pine (Pinus pungens). A mixture of saplings of canopy species and understory trees such as American chestnut (Castanea dentata), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), mountain holly (Ilex montana), witch-hazel, and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) form a moderately dense understory. A patchy shrub layer contains dense thickets of mountain laurel, with mountain highbush blueberry (Vaccinium simulatum), rosebay rhododendron, buffalo-nut (Pyrularia pubera), maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina), mountain fetterbush (Leucothoe recurva), and mountain sweet pepperbush elsewhere. Herbs are sparse and typical of this community type. They include teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens), galax, trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens), heartleaf (Hexastylis sp.), indian cucumber-root, hay-scented fern, Appalachian bellflower (Campanula divaricata), Appalachian gentian (Gentiana decora), and roundleaf violet (Viola rotundifolia). More open upper slope areas also support the uncommon beargrass (Xerophyllum asphodeloides).

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: Although Upper Creek Falls Forest has no formal protection, it is not part of the timber base. However, areas along Upper Creek upstream from the site are in the timber base. This site is managed for recreation, with hiking trail access to the upper and lower falls. Messick (2000a) defined this site and surrounding areas as old-growth forest. The forests should be managed for older growth. The diana fritillary (Speyeria diana), a rare butterfly, is recorded from several locations in the vicinity and may occur in the site.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Chestnut Oak Forest, Acidic Cove Forest, Rocky Bar and Shore.

REFERENCES: Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Upper Creek Falls Forest. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Messick, R. 2000a. Site Specific Catalog: Old Growth Forest Communities in the Nantahala- Pisgah National Forest. Report for the Western North Carolina Alliance, Asheville, NC.

112 113

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

FOOTHILLS MEGASITE Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: National Size: 84,300 acres Quadrangles: Glen Alpine; Morganton South; Valdese; Dysartsville; Benn Knob; Casar Ownership: Public and private

Standard Sites (Significance): South Mountains Macrosite (National), Rollins/South Mountains Natural Area (National), South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed (State), South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed (State), Clear Creek Watershed Natural Area (State), Deaf School Watershed (Regional), Broughton Hospital/Keller Knob (Regional), Simms Hill--Little River Uplands (Regional), Shoal Creek Watershed (Regional), Brindletown Forests (Regional), Jimmy Knob (County), Burkemont Mountain (County), Hall Knob (County).

The Foothills Megasite includes the northeastern corner of Rutherford County, the northwestern corner of Cleveland County and all areas northward and northeastward to include most of southern Burke County as well as parts of east-central Burke County. The Megasite includes all of the primary core of the South Mountains as well as an area of prominent foothills that extend northeast to near the Interstate 40 corridor at the community of Icard. It is highly significant not only for the biodiversity within the standard sites it contains, but also for its overall size, for the relatively good integrity of lands between its standard sites, and also for its westward landscape connection to the Blue Ridge.

The Foothills Megasite contains a total of 16 standard sites, 11 of which are of regional or higher significance, as well as numerous rare species. All of the South Mountains Macrosite and the 12 standard sites it contains are contained within the Megasite. Four standard sites -- Yellow Mountain\Ironmonger Mountain, Smith Mountain, Hildebran Mountain, and Smith Cliff/Henry Fork River -- lie within the Megasite but east of the South Mountains Macrosite. A relatively small part of the Megasite has formal protection. Large parts of South Mountains State Park (i.e., South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed and South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed) and substantial parts of the South Mountains Game Land are a Dedicated State Nature Preserve. None of the privately-owned portions of the Megasite have formal protection. See descriptions of the component standard sites for additional information.

Areas between standard sites, particularly in the central and eastern parts of the Megasite, are extensive, undeveloped, relatively unfragmented lands. These foothill peaks, slopes, and intervening stream valleys constitute a natural matrix in which the standard sites are situated. The matrix areas buffer and provide landscape continuity for the standard sites and also provide ecological support for animal species that are wide-ranging, area-sensitive, or secretive. Some of the more prominent matrix areas include Mineral Springs Mountain, Rector Knob, High Peak, Long Ridge, Prospect Ridge, and areas situated just east and north of South Mountains State

115 Park. With subsequent survey, certain of these areas may be identified as significant standard sites. Some extensive matrix areas have been logged in recent decades, but remain undeveloped.

The Megasite is important at a landscape level as the largest contiguous area of relatively undeveloped forests in the southwestern Piedmont of North Carolina. At present, its viability as a Megasite is enhanced by a distinct landscape connection that extends westward to large undeveloped areas on the eastern front of the Blue Ridge, through the higher elevations of the Hickorynut Mountains and other elevated areas that lie in southern McDowell County and northern Rutherford County.

116 117

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

YELLOW MOUNTAIN\IRONMONGER MOUNTAIN Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: Regional Size: 709 acres Quadrangle: Morganton South Ownership: Private and Western Piedmont Community College

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site contains good examples of Montane Oak--Hikcory Forest, Chestnut Oak Forest, and Pine--Oak/Heath woodlands. A good population of the Significantly Rare Alabama grape fern (Botrychium jenmanii) is present. The uncommon Carolina buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana), a Watch List tree species, is also present.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site is situated among the primarily forested foothills that lie south of Interstate 40 and extend northeast from the South Mountains to near Connelly Springs, NC. It is flanked by sparsely-developed lands on the south, east, and west and by primarily cleared, more populated lands on the north. This site and Smith Cliff/Henry Fork River lie in the midst of the Foothills Megasite and function to connect sites in the South Mountains Macrosite with those which lie further to the northeast. Smith Cliff/Henry Fork River is about 1.5 air miles to the southeast. Smith Mountain and Hildebran Mountain lie about 5-6 air miles to the east and east-northeast. The South Mountains Macrosite lies about 2 air miles to the southwest. Standard sites in the South Mountains Macrosite that lie in the adjacent landscape include Broughton Hospital/Keller Knob (2.5 air miles to the southwest); Simms Hill--Little River Uplands and the northern end of South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed (3.5 air miles to the south).

SITE DESCRIPTION: The Yellow Mountain\Ironmonger Mountain site contains most of the middle and upper slopes of three moderately-elevated peaks which lie in close proximity to each other. Elevations range from 1400 to 1900 feet. The north slope of Yellow Mountain, which is occupied by a quarry, is excluded from the site as are the north slopes of Ironmonger Mountain, which are regenerating from previous logging. The site is drained by Laurel Creek and other small perennial streams in the Henry Fork River watershed. Exemplary upland forest and woodland community types are predominant, though a fairly low quality alluvial forest is also present along Laurel Creek. The site includes parts of Western Piedmont Community College's Hildebrand Forest. Montane Oak--Hickory Forests of good quality occur on middle slopes and crests throughout the site. These communities generally grade to good quality Chestnut Oak Forest communities on upper slopes and higher crests. Although these two forest types constitute the majority of the site, several acres of exemplary woodlands classified as Pine-- Oak/Heath communities occur on a high ridge and unnamed summit that extend southeast from Yellow Mountain.

The Montane Oak--Hickory Forests have closed canopies dominated by a mixture of mature white oak (Quercus alba), chestnut oak (Quercus montana), red maple (Acer rubrum), yellow

119 poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), and mockernut hickory (Carya alba) with smaller numbers of several other species. The moderately dense subcanopy is dominated by saplings of the canopy species, especially red maple, black cherry (Prunus serotina), and yellow poplar. Silverbell (Halesia tetraptera), an understory species of the southwestern Piedmont and mountains, is also present. Red bud (Cercis canadensis) and the uncommon Carolina buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana) are locally abundant in one peculiar area on the ridgetop west of Yellow Mountain, which may indicate an influence by mafic rock. Shrubs are sparse, though maple-leaved viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), buffalo-nut (Pyrularia pubera), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), and others are occasional. Some upper slopes and low ridgetops support sparse, short- statured stands of giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea), a bamboo-like grass. The herb layer is generally sparse and includes typical species such as Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), black snakeroot (Ageratina altissima), cranefly orchid (Tipularia discolor), birdsfoot violet (Viola pedata), downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens), white heartleaf aster (Aster divaricatus), false Solomons'-seal (Maianthemum racemosum), Solomon's- seal (Polygonatum biflorum), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), indian cucumber-root (Medeola virginiana), indian-tobacco (Lobelia inflata), a milkvine (Matelea sp.), and many others as well as vines such as poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolius). A fairly large population of the rare Alabama grape fern (Botrychium jenmanii) occurs in this community near the lower southeast site boundary.

The mature Chestnut Oak Forest communities have closed to semi-open canopies dominated by chestnut oak and scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea) and appreciable red maple, black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana), and sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum). Small stands of table mountain pine (Pinus pungens) occur in places. Southern red oak (Quercus falcata) and post oak (Quercus stellata) are infrequent. Sporadic stands of Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) occur in previously-disturbed or logged areas. The subcanopy is generally sparse, being displaced by dense shrub cover in many areas, and composed of saplings of the canopy species. Blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) and sprouts of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) are infrequent. Dense patches of shrubs characterize the understory. Mountain laurel is the widespread dominant, though black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) and dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum) form smaller patches. Flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) is occasional. Sparse patches of giant cane occur in some openings. Herbs are generally sparse in the dense hardwood litter and heavy shrub cover. Most frequent are pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), greater coreopsis (Coreopsis major), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), witch-grasses (Dichanthelium spp.), bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), and common wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium var. integrifolium). Galax (Galax urceolata), wild oregano (Cunila origanoides), indian pipes (Monotropa uniflora), and blazing star (Liatris sp.) are infrequent.

Several small but good quality Pine/Oak--Heath woodlands are embedded in Chestnut Oak Forest on the driest parts of the high ridge between Yellow Mountain and the unnamed 1945- foot summit to its southeast. A larger example, perhaps three to four acres in size, occurs on the summit of the 1945-foot peak. These communities have semi-open to open canopies dominated by table mountain pine, Virginia pine, pitch pine (Pinus rigida), chestnut oak, scarlet oak, red

120 maple, sourwood, and black gum. Subcanopy trees are typically sparse, but a dense shrub layer is present. Dryland blueberry and mountain laurel are dominant. Tangles of common greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia), a thorny vine, are common. Herbs are sparse collection of species of very dry piedmont habitats, including bracken fern, greater coreopsis, trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens), goldenrod (Solidago sp.), witch-grasses (Dichanthelium spp.), kidneyleaf rosinweed (Silphium compositum var. reniforme), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata), and others. Tangles of common greenbrier are also common.

A fair example of Piedmont/Low Mountain Alluvial Forest occurs adjacent to Laurel Creek. It has a canopy of yellow poplar and red maple over an understory of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), American holly (Ilex opaca), witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana) with shrubs such as dog-hobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana) and yellowroot (Xanthorhiza simplicissima). Giant cane forms occasional dense, waist-high thickets in some areas. Herbs include New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), pipsissewa, Christmas fern, bloodroot, downy rattlesnake plantain, cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), and other typical species.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site has no formal protection. The invasive non- native Japanese grass (Microstegium vimineum) is present along some old road beds, but does not present a serious problem at present. The invasive non-native Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) is present in moist areas along Laurel Creek. Substantial areas bordering on the eastern site boundary were heavily logged in recent years. The Alabama grape fern population should be protected from logging. Management needs are few other than passive management of communities for older growth.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Montane Oak--Hickory Forest, Chestnut Oak Forest, Pine-- Oak/Heath, Piedmont/Low Mountain Alluvial Forest.

RARE PLANTS: Alabama grape fern (Botrychium jenmanii).

REFERENCES: Moye, W.S. 1994. Inventory of the South Mountains, North Carolina. Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Raleigh. NC Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Yellow Mountain\Ironmonger Mountain. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

121

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

SMITH MOUNTAIN Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: Regional Size: 1439 acres Quadrangle: Valdese Ownership: Private

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site supports fairly extensive, good quality examples of Chestnut Oak Forest and Pine--Oak/Heath communities with little fragmentation or development, in a landscape that is fragmented to the north and east. These communities are common in the Blue Ridge, but are uncommon in the Piedmont. Smith Mountain is the northeasternmost standard site in the Foothills Megasite. Unsubstantiated reports of black bears (Ursus americanus) from the site may indicate an ecological link between this site and the South Mountains. As a part of the Foothills Megasite, Smith Mountain may provide an important landscape function for wide-ranging species. The presence of the Significantly Rare timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) adds significance to the site.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: Smith Mountain is located at the northeastern end of the Foothills Megasite, which includes all of the South Mountains and a chain of relatively unfragmented foothills that extend northeast from the South Mountains. It lies just south of the Interstate 40 corridor, within six miles of the City of Hickory. Lands to the north and east of Smith Mountain are much more fragmented and developed. The Hildebran Mountain site lies about one mile to the south of Smith Mountain. Although much of the foothills landscape from Smith Mountain southwest to the South Mountains is forested and largely undeveloped, some substantial areas support young forests that are regenerating after recent logging. As part of the forested landscape contained within the Foothills Megasite the site may provide habitat for wide- ranging, area-sensitive species such as black bears, which have been reported from the area.

SITE DESCRIPTION: Smith Mountain is a large, distinct foothill located just south of the Interstate 40 corridor in eastern Burke County. The mountain has a complex crest consisting of various spur ridges at elevations of over 1600 feet in elevation, which culminate at a 2100-foot summit. Broad, open slopes are widespread through the site, though protected cove areas occur near drainages. Although this large site is essentially unfragmented, a communications relay tower with surrounding clearings exists on the summit.

Chestnut Oak Forest communities are prevalent throughout the site on slopes and ridgetops. Embedded within it are small examples of Pine--Oak/Heath, a woodland community type, in a few very dry crest locations. Acidic Cove Forest occurs on sheltered lower slopes and cove bottoms along drainages on the north slope of the mountain. While the communities are largely montane in composition, they also support certain species typical of the Piedmont.

The widespread Chestnut Oak Forests are fairly mature and have canopies dominated by chestnut oak (Quercus montana) or codominant with scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), with

123 substantial numbers of red maple (Acer rubrum), mockernut hickory (Carya alba), black oak (Quercus velutina), sourwood (Oxydendrum arborea), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana). Table mountain pine (Pinus pungens) is infrequent. Some formerly disturbed areas support stands of Virginia pine. The understory is moderately dense with saplings of the canopy species, as well as black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), American holly (Ilex opaca), wild cherry (Prunus serotina), American chestnut (Castanea dentata), and other tree species. Species that are more typical of the Piedmont, such as American holly (Ilex opaca), southern red oak (Quercus falcata), and blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) are infrequent. Shrubs are sparse except where patches of mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) form thickets. Black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum) and deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) are scattered throughout. Flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) is occasional. The herb layer is quite sparse. Dominant herbs include greater coreopsis (Coreopsis major), trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens), dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), goldenrod (Solidago sp.), witch-grasses (Dichanthelium spp.), and pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata). Certain areas support kidneyleaf rosinweed (Silphium compositum var. reniforme, little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata), bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), and others. Vines such as muscadine (Vitis rotundifolium), and common greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) are fairly frequent in some areas.

In a few small areas on crests and knobs, fairly good quality Pine--Oak/Heath communities are embedded in the Chestnut Oak Forests. These communities have semi-open canopies dominated by mature table mountain pine (Pinus pungens), Virginia pine, and chestnut oak. The hardwood species of adjacent Chestnut Oak Forests are also present. The subcanopy is sparse with saplings of the canopy, but shrubs such as mountain laurel and black huckleberry forming dense patches in many areas. Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) are also frequent. Herbs are very sparse to absent beneath heavy shrub cover. Common bracken, trailing arbutus, pipsissewa, greater coreopsis, little bluestem, and galax (Galax urceolata) are most frequent.

Fair quality Acidic Cove Forest occurs in a few of the more protected coves, especially those on the north flank of the mountain. They support closed canopies dominated by red maple, white pine (Pinus strobus), cucumber-tree (Magnolia acuminata), and yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), with some white oak (Quercus alba), mockernut hickory, and chestnut oak. Their understories are moderately dense except where shrubs form thickets. Trees include saplings of the canopy species, as well as American holly, witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), and flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). Dense patches of rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) occur along drainages and patches of mountain laurel occur in some slopes. Yellowroot (Xanthorhiza simplicissima) is scattered in moist areas. Herbs are sparse to moderately dense, varying with shrub cover. Most frequent are New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) and Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides). Galax forms occasional patches in the dense shade of rhododendron thickets. Other herbs include partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula), cranefly orchid (Tipularia discolor), trillium (Trillium sp.), cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea), and sedges (Carex sp.).

124 Although no animal surveys were conducted at this site, the rare timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) was noted and occasional sightings of black bear (Ursus americanus) have been reported from the mountain.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site has no formal protection. Although only a couple of residences are located on it, Smith Mountain should be considered vulnerable to residential development due to its attractive vistas and its proximity to the Interstate 40 corridor. Protection for Smith Mountain might be facilitated by its relatively simple land ownership pattern of large tracts and few owners. Little management other than passive management for older growth condition is needed on most of this site. Areas supporting Pine--Oak/Heath communities may benefit from prescribed burning. Dense stands of Virginia pine or other young trees scattered throughout the site are evidence of prior logging on the mountain. Successional openings and disturbed areas are present around an FCC tower located on the summit.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Chestnut Oak Forest, Pine--Oak/Heath, Acidic Cove Forest.

RARE ANIMALS: timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus).

REFERENCES: Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Smith Mountain. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

125

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

SMITH CLIFF/HENRY FORK RIVER Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: Regional Size: 192 acres Quadrangle: Valdese Ownership: Private

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site contains geomorphic features, such as a prominent ingrown river meander and cliff system, that are rare in the Piedmont. Communities include good examples of Chestnut Oak Forest, the uncommon Pine--Oak/Heath, and the rare Piedmont/Coastal Plain Acidic Cliff. Small populations of the State and Federally Threatened dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora), the State Candidate/Federal Species of Concern sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata), and the State Candidate Bradleys' spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi) are present. The uncommon beargrass (Xerophyllum asphodeloides) and roundleaf ragwort (Packera obovata), Watch List plant species, are also present.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: Although the site lies among the fairly undeveloped areas northeast of the South Mountains, it is bordered on the south by scattered residential and agricultural clearings along the Henry Fork River and on the west by cleared areas along NC Highway 18. The Yellow Mountain\Ironmonger Mountain site is about 1.5 air miles to the northwest. The Simms Hill--Little River Uplands site is about 2.5 air miles to the southwest. South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed and South Mountains State Park are about 3.0 air miles to the southwest.

SITE DESCRIPTION: Smith Cliff is a steep exposure of coarse sillimanite-bearing mica schists and pegmatites on the outside bend of a prominent ingrown meander in the Henry Fork River. The cliff, which has vertical relief of about 200 feet from base to top, is a good example of a Piedmont/Coastal Plain Acidic Cliff community. Good quality examples of Chestnut Oak Forest occur on slopes lateral to the cliff and on the crest above it. Small but good quality Pine-- Oak/Heath woodlands are embedded in the Chestnut Oak Forests on the crest. More disturbed, lower quality hardwood forest and alluvial forest communities border the cliff on lower slopes and along the Henry Fork River.

The steep, south-facing slopes on which the cliff occurs extend along the Henry Fork for about 0.2 mile. The open, steeply-sloping cliffs consist of scattered rocky outcroppings interspersed by islands of thin soil. Many areas are devoid of vegetation. Trees such as chestnut oak (Quercus montana), Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana), sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) are scattered the dry, acidic soils of the slopes. Blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) is less frequent. Shrubs such as gorge rhododendron (Rhododendron minus), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), and St. John's-wort (Hypericum sp.) are widely scattered. Herbs are sparse, but include kidneyleaf rosinweed (Silphium compositum var. reniforme), galax (Galax urceolata), trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens), pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), downy yellow oakleach (Aureolaria laevigata),

127 birdsfoot violet (Viola pedata), partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), Carolina alumroot (Heuchera caroliniana), devil's-bit (Chamaelirium luteum), sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), and the uncommon roundleaf ragwort (Packera obovata) and bear grass (Xerophyllum asphodeloides). A fairly small population of Bradley's spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi), a rare fern, occurs on one of the outcroppings.

Good quality Chestnut Oak Forest occupy slope areas adjacent to the cliff and on the crest. They have a closed canopy dominated by chestnut oak, with substantial scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), black gum Virginia pine, and sourwood. The subcanopy supports a fairly sparse collection of saplings of the canopy species, as well as sassafras (Sassafras albidum) and mockernut hickory (Carya alba). Blackjack oak, post oak (Quercus stellata), root sprouts of American chestnut (Castanea dentata), and hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) are infrequent. Shrubs vary from sparse to dense. Patches of black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) and mountain laurel are prominent, though dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus), and St. John's-wort are also present. Tangles of vines such as common greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) are fairly common. A sparse herb layer includes galax, kidneyleaf rosinweed, cranefly orchid (Tipularia discolor), teaberry (Gaultheria repens), bear grass, partridgeberry, trailing arbutus, greater coreopsis, blazing star (Liatris sp.), pipsissewa, flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata), bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), little heartleaf (Hexastylis minor), devil's-bit, downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens), downy yellow oakleach, and putty-root (Aplectrum hyemale). Small populations of the rare dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora) and sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata) are documented from these forests.

Small examples of good quality Pine--Oak/Heath woodlands are embedded in the Chestnut Oak Forests on the crest. These communities have more open canopies that are dominated by Virginia pine, chestnut oak, and table mountain pine (Pinus pungens), with smaller numbers of other hardwoods. The understory is not well developed, but the shrub layer supports dense, shrubby patches of mountain laurel and black huckleberry. Other shrubs and herbs of the surrounding forests are present.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site has no formal protection. Although the cliffs are naturally protected by topography, the forests and rare species above the cliffs are vulnerable to logging. Little active management is needed other than allowing forest communities to attain older growth. Areas at the top of the cliffs that support Pine--Oak/Heath vegetation may benefit from prescribed burning.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Chestnut Oak Forest, Piedmont/Coastal Plain Acidic Cliff, Pine--Oak/Heath.

RARE PLANTS: sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata), dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora), Bradley's spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi).

128 REFERENCES: Moye, W.S. 1994. Inventory of the South Mountains, North Carolina. Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Raleigh, NC. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation, Raleigh, NC. Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Smith Cliff/Henry Fork River. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

129

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

HILDEBRAN MOUNTAIN Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: County Size: 274 acres Quadrangle: Valdese Ownership: Private

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site is a small intact mountain with fairly good quality examples of Chestnut Oak Forest and Montane Oak--Hickory Forest community types. It and the adjacent Smith Mountain site are the two easternmost sites in the Foothills Megasite. The uncommon Carolina buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana), a Watch List plant species, is present.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site occurs at the easternmost end of the Foothills Megasite, a large area of relatively unfragmented, forested foothills that extend southwest to include the South Mountains. Areas to the east of Hildebran Mountain are substantially fragmented, but largely undeveloped. The site is nearly connected to the Smith Mountain site, which lies within 0.5 mile to the northwest. The site lies about two miles south of the Interstate 40 corridor. The City of Hickory is located about six miles to the east along the interstate corridor.

SITE DESCRIPTION: Hildebran Mountain is a small, round foothill with a small summit at over 2000 feet in elevation. Its moderately steep slopes are primarily open, though a few broad coves are present. It supports hardwood forest communities with some storm damaged areas that support stands of Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana). A large portion of its east flank was recently logged and is excluded from the site boundary.

Fairly mature Chestnut Oak Forests occur on many middle and upper slopes areas. They support a closed canopy of chestnut oak (Quercus montana) with substantial Virginia pine and smaller numbers of scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), mockernut hickory (Carya alba), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), red maple (Acer rubrum), and persimmon (Diospyros virginiana). Understory trees include saplings of the canopy species, as well as black cherry (Prunus serotina), serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), and occasional blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica), American holly (Ilex opaca), and fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus). Dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum) is most common in the sparse to moderately dense shrub layer. Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), buffalo-nut (Pyrularia pubera), and flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) are less frequent. Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) forms dense thickets in some areas. Tangles of common greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) occur in places. Herbs are sparse and include pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), greater coreopsis (Coreopsis major), blackberry (Rubus sp.), witch-grasses (Dichanthelium spp.), grass-leaved goldenaster (Pityopsis sp.), flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata), a sunflower (Helianthus sp.), wild oregano (Cunila origanoides), goldenrod (Solidago sp.), wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium), sedges (Carex sp.), and a milkvine (Matelea sp.).

131 Fairly good quality Montane Oak--Hickory Forests occur on the middle and lower slopes, as well as on the flat summit. These closed canopied forests are dominated by a mixture of white oak (Quercus alba), chestnut oak, black gum, red oak (Quercus rubra), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), mockernut hickory, Virginia pine, white pine (Pinus strobus), and black locust. These species and flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), and black cherry (Prunus serotina) form a moderately dense understory. The uncommon Carolina buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana) is present. Shrubs such as buffalo-nut, mountain laurel, hearts-a-bustin (Euonymus americanvs), deerberry, flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum), and dryland blueberry are infrequent. Vines such as muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia) and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolius) sprawl prominently in some areas. Elsewhere, herbs are sparse and include Solomon's-seal (Polygonatum biflorum), false Solomon's-seal (Maianthemum racemosum), sanicle (Sanicula sp.), black snakeroot (Ageratina altissima), Canada avens (Geum canadense), Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), blackstem spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron), birdsfoot violet (Viola pedata), northern dewberry (Rubus flagellaris), blackberry (Rubus sp.), lopseed (Phryma leptostachya), hairy skullcap (Scutellaria elliptica), woodland tick-trefoil (Desmodium nudiflorum), rattlesnake fern (Botrychium virginianum), roundleaf violet (Viola rotundifolia), and others.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site has no formal protection. This site is well suited to opportunistic protection by a local land trust. Although no recent logging has occurred in the site, it should be considered vulnerable. A large area on the east flank of the mountain, outside the site boundary, was recently clearcut. The forests should be managed for older growth conditions.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Chestnut Oak Forest, Montane Oak--Hickory Forest.

REFERENCES: Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Hildebran Mountain. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

132 133

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

SOUTH MOUNTAINS MACOSITE Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: National Size: 55,380 acres Quadrangles: Benn Knob, Casar, Dysartsville, Glen Alpine, Morganton South, and Valdese. Ownership: State of North Carolina and private.

Standard Sites (Significance): Rollins/South Mountains Natural Area (National), South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed (State), South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed (State), Clear Creek Watershed Natural Area (State), Deaf School Watershed (Regional), Simms Hill--Little River Uplands (Regional), Broughton Hospital/Keller Knob (Regional), Shoal Creek Watershed (Regional), Brindletown Forests (Regional), Jimmy Knob (County), Burkemont Mountain (County), Hall Knob (County).

South Mountains Macrosite contains most of the South Mountains of southern Burke County, northeastern Rutherford County, and northwestern Cleveland County. It contains the most extensive unfragmented area of forested lands in the North Carolina piedmont. Over half of the South Mountains Macrosite is in public ownership, including all of South Mountains State Park and most of the South Mountains Game Land. It contains the largest cluster of standard sites in Burke County, as well as numerous rare species locations. It is also significant as a piedmont area that supports many species and natural communities that are typically found in the Blue Ridge.

About half of the area in the macrosite is protected as a Dedicated State Nature Preserve (including all of South Mountains Jacobs Fork Watershed and Rollins/South Mountains Natural Area, and about half of South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed). The northern half of South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed and Clear Creek Watershed Natural Area are included in South Mountains State Park, administered by the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation, but remain to be dedicated as nature preserves. The Deaf School Watershed and Broughton Hospital/Keller Knob standard sites are administered by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Resources, but have no formal protection. None of the standard sites in private ownership have formal protection.

The prospect for long-term ecological viability of the macrosite and its constituent standard sites is greatly enhanced by its size and low degree of fragmentation. The viability of the macrosite is increased by an excellent landscape connection that extends from the South Mountains westward to the Blue Ridge through southern McDowell and northern Rutherford counties. As a large island of natural lands, the macrosite provides benefits to species of forest interior habitats, as well as to disturbance-sensitive and wide-ranging animal species. Its strong landscape connection to the Blue Ridge may be important for movements of black bears. Refer to descriptions of the constituent standard sites for additional information.

135

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

SOUTH MOUNTAINS JACOB FORK WATERSHED Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: State Size: 7,317 acres Quadrangles: Benn Knob; Morganton South; Casar Ownership: State of North Carolina

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site is an important part of the core of the South Mountains Macrosite and part of the largest continuously-forested area in the North Carolina Piedmont. It supports extensive examples of community types that typically occur in the Blue Ridge but which are very uncommon in the Piedmont, primarily Chestnut Oak Forest, Acidic Cove Forest, Rich Cove Forest, and Pine--Oak/Heath, but also including the rare Spray Cliff type. The site is connected to other large sites in the South Mountains, which increases its overall significance. It is habitat for wide-ranging species such as the black bear. It supports an excellent population of bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia), a Significantly Rare species known from very few locations in the state. An additional seven rare plant species are present, including the State Candidates Blue Ridge bindweed (Calystegia catesbiana ssp. sericata), large witch-alder (Fothergilla major), Bradleys' spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi), and the State Candidate and Federal Species of Concern sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata). Rare animals include Rafinesque's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii), a Special Concern species that is also a Federal Species of Concern, the Special Concern northern bat (Myotis septentrionalis), and the Significantly Rare diana fritillary (Speyeria diana), which is also a Federal Species of Concern. Several uncommon Watch List plant species are present.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site constitutes a large part of the core of the South Mountains and it is an important part of the South Mountains Macrosite and Foothills Megasite. The South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed is contiguous on the west. The Rollins/South Mountains Natural Area adjoins the site on the south, in Rutherford and Cleveland counties. Simms Hill--Little River Uplands borders a part of the northern site boundary. Fairly large expanses of primarily forested land lie to the east and north of the site. Adjacent lands to the northeast are undeveloped but heavily logged. To the west, the site benefits from good landscape connection across relatively unfragmented, forested lands that extend to the Blue Ridge through the Hickorynut Mountains of southern McDowell County and northern Rutherford County. The site is habitat for wide-ranging species such as black bear.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed is located in southernmost Burke County, with its southernmost extent bordering on the northwestern corner of Cleveland County. It contains roughly the eastern half of South Mountains State Park and most of the headwaters of Jacob Fork. Elevations range from about 1400 feet near Jacob Fork and increase to the south and west to attain elevations exceeding 2600 feet at several points on the Burke- Cleveland County line and along the divide that separates the Jacob Fork and Henry Fork watersheds. Benn Knob, located at the southernmost extent of the site, is nearly the highest

137 point in the South Mountains at 2900 feet in elevation. The site is a topographically complex area of narrow ridges, ravinelike valleys, and steep slopes with very little flat land.

South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed is an almost entirely forested ecosystem. It was thoroughly logged in the last century, but now supports mature forests. All of the community types described below, and certain plant species, are notable because they typically occur in the Blue Ridge and are infrequent in the Piedmont. The site is especially notable for multiple populations of sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata) and for one of the largest populations of bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia) in the state, a species otherwise known only from Crowders and Kings Mountains in Gaston County and from the Sauratown Mountains of Surry and Stokes counties.

Although rock outcrop features represent a minor part of the site, a fair quality example of the rare Spray Cliff community is present at High Shoal Falls, located on the Jacob Fork in the eastern part of the site. Although the waterfall features an 80-foot plunge into a rocky cove, the Spray Cliff community is small and poorly developed. It has a spray zone that is mostly bare, though riverweed (Podostemum ceratophyllum) grows in wetter areas. Branch lettuce (Saxifraga micranthidifolia), tassel-rue (Trautvetteria carolinensis), and a few other plant species occur in moist areas. A small, marginally developed Montane Acidic Cliff community occurs on rocky areas outside the spray zone of the waterfall. It consists of exposed rock near the falls and along the cove below, in areas where no overhanging forest canopy is present. It supports a sparse collection of herbs such as marginal wood fern (Dryopteris marginalis), Appalachian bellflower (Campanula divaricata), and others. Gorge rhododendron (Rhododendron minus) and other woody species occur infrequently on the outcrops. The rare bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia) and Bradley's spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi) are reported from the vicinity. These particular Spray Cliff and Montane Acidic Cliff communities are notable for their low elevation location in the piedmont.

Small areas of Rich Cove Forest are present within the site. One example occurs in the area below High Shoal Falls. This example is without exceptionally high species diversity, but it is in good condition and notable for its low elevation position. Its canopy and understory are dominated by yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), red maple (Acer rubrum), Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), red oak (Quercus rubra), white oak (Quercus alba), with other rich-site species such as red bud (Cercis canadensis). Areas along the Jacob Fork support dense rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum), but other areas are open and support a variety of herbs of coves and moist forests. Uncommon shrubs such as leatherwood (Dirca palustris) and wafer-ash (Ptelea trifoliata) and herbs such as ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and roundleaf ragwort (Packera obovata) have been reported from other rich cove areas in the site.

Fairly good examples of Acidic Cove Forest are widespread through the site in coves and ravines on more typical acidic soils. Due to previous logging, yellow poplar and white pine (Pinus

138 strobus) are abundant in these forests. Red maple, Canada hemlock, red oak, and white oak are also present. The understory supports saplings of the canopy species, especially red maple and Canada hemlock, as well as American holly (Ilex opaca), witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), and dense thickets of shrubs such as rosebay rhododendron and mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia). Low patches of dog-hobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana) occur in very moist, shady areas near streams. A variety of typical herbs are present, such as Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), violets (Viola spp.), heartleaf (Hexastylis sp.), and others. Protected cove areas may provide shelter for the rare Rafinesque's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) and the northern bat (Myotis septentrionalis), which are known from the area.

Drier community types such as Chestnut Oak Forest and Montane Oak--Hickory Forest are by far the most prevalent in the site, covering expanses of middle and upper slopes and ridgetop areas. The mostly young-mature examples of Chestnut Oak Forest are dominated by chestnut oak (Quercus montana), scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), and white pine (Pinus strobus), with appreciable Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana), pitch pine (Pinus rigida), and table mountain pine (Pinus pungens). The understory supports white pine and the more typical sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), and red maple. Blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) and sprouts of the typically montane American chestnut (Castanea dentata) are occasional. Shrubs such as dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum) or black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) and scattered patches of mountain laurel are fairly frequent. A sparse herb layer supports oat grass (Danthonia sp.), pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), goldenrod (Solidago sp.), the uncommon bear grass (Xerophylum asphodeloides), trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens), bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), yellow stargrass (Hypoxis hirsuta), dwarf-crested iris (Iris verna), and witch-grasses (Dichanthelium spp.). Uncommon species such as spreading pogonia (Cleistes bifaria) and Appalachian gentian (Gentiana austromontana) are present. Rare species include shale-barren blazing star (Liatris turgida), bear oak, large witch-alder (Fothergilla major), and sweet pinesap. These communities are the probable habitat for a previous report of the rare thin-pod white wild indigo (Baptisia albescens).

Fair quality, young-mature examples of Montane Oak--Hickory Forest are widespread on slopes and in ridgetop saddles. They are dominated by a mixture of white oak and scarlet oak, with mockernut hickory (Carya alba), chestnut oak, and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). White pine is abundant in some areas due to previous logging. Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), sourwood, and saplings of the canopy species, form a moderately dense understory. Mountain laurel, rosebay rhododendron, or other shrubs are infrequent. Herbs are primarily those shared with adjacent Chestnut Oak Forests.

Embedded in forest communities on a few very dry, narrow spur ridges are examples of Pine-- Oak/Heath, an uncommon community type maintained by periodic natural fires. Although small

139 and of moderate maturity, these examples do show evidence of previous fire. The canopy is naturally semi-open, though more so where opened by fire. It supports mixtures of Virginia pine, pitch pine, table mountain pine, chestnut oak, and scarlet oak. The understory includes sourwood, red maple, and black gum at low to moderate densities. Blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) and Allegheny chinquepin (Castanea pumila) are occasional. A distinctive, dense shrub layer supports mountain laurel and black huckleberry, with less frequent dryland blueberry, mountain fetterbush (Leucothoe recurva), and horse-sugar (Symplocos tinctoria). Tangles of common greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) are present in some areas. Herbs are typically sparse but include galax (Galax urceolata), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), dwarf-crested iris, mountain oat grass (Danthonia spicata), American ipecac (Porteranthus stipulatus), and nutrush (Scleria sp.). Rare plant species include shale-barren blazing star, Blue Ridge bindweed (Calystegia catesbiana ssp. sericata), bear oak, large witch-alder, and sweet pinesap.

Two rare butterflies, the golden-banded skipper (Autochton cellus) and the diana fritillary (Speyeria diana), are also documented from the site. Reliable, but as yet undocumented reports of the Watch List plant species Appalachian gametophyte (Vittaria appalachiana) and grotto-felt (Trichomanes intricatum) remain to be elucidated (Moye 1994).

This large site supports neotropical migrant birds, black bears, bobcats, and timber rattlesnakes that require forest interior conditions, that are highly mobile, or that require large blocks of undisturbed, contiguous habitat.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site is a Dedicated State Nature Preserve and is part of South Mountains State Park, managed by the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. All of this site was logged in the early part of the century, but now supports maturing forests. Access to the site is by trails through the park. Monitoring for invasive, non-native species should be a regular part of management, especially in areas where disturbance occurs. Prescribed burning is needed to maintain Pine--Oak/Heath communities and rare plant species such as bear oak. Post-burn monitoring to detect invasion by the aggressive, non-native princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa) may be important to the long-term composition and integrity of the forest ecosystem. Privately-owned lands bordering the site on the north and state-owned lands bordering it on the south are included in the South Mountains Game Land managed by N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. A need exists to document observations of the rare timber rattlesnake, which are certainly present in the site.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Chestnut Oak Forest, Montane Oak--Hickory Forest, Pine-- Oak/Heath, Acidic Cove Forest, Rich Cove Forest, Spray Cliff, Montane Acidic Cliff.

RARE PLANTS: shale-barren blazing star (Liatris turgida), Blue Ridge bindweed (Calystegia catesbiana ssp. sericata), thin-pod white wild indigo (Baptisia albescens), bear oak (Quercus

140 ilicifolia), bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia), large witch-alder (Fothergilla major), sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata), Bradleys' spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi).

RARE ANIMALS: Rafinesque's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii), northern bat (Myotis septentrionalis), diana fritillary (Speyeria diana), golden-banded skipper (Autochton cellus).

REFERENCES: Lambiase, S.J., M.K. Clark, and L.J. Gatens. 2000. Bat (Chiroptera) inventory of North Carolina state parks, 1999-2000. DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Moye, W.S. 1994. Inventory of the South Mountains, North Carolina. Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Raleigh. NC Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Smith, E.L. 1982. Vegetation of the South Mountains State Park (Burke County, N.C.). Master's thesis, North Carolina State University.

141

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

SOUTH MOUNTAINS HENRY FORK WATERSHED Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: State Size: 6,319 acres Quadrangles: Benn Knob; Morganton South Ownership: State of North Carolina

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site is an important part of the core of the South Mountains Macrosite and Foothills Megasite and part of the largest continuously-forested area in the piedmont of North Carolina. It supports examples of community types that typically occur in the Blue Ridge but which are very uncommon in the Piedmont. Its good landscape connection to other large sites in the South Mountains increases its overall significance. It is habitat for wide- ranging species, such as the black bear, which are uncommon in the piedmont. It contains multiple locations for the State Candidate ash-leaved golden-banner (Thermopsis fraxinifolia) and for three Significantly Rare plant species: shale-barren blazing star (Liatris turgida), sweet white trillium (Trillium simile), and lance-leaf moonwort (Botrychium lanceolatum var. angustisegmentum). It contains the state's largest population of the State Endangered and Federally Threatened small whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides) and small populations of the State Candidate and Federal Species of Concern sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata). Rare animals include the Special Concern Rafinesque's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii), which is also a Federal Species of Concern, the Special Concern northern bat (Myotis septentrionalis), and the Significantly Rare diana fritillary (Speyeria diana), which is also a Federal Species of Concern.

Several uncommon Watch List plant species are also present including Appalachian gentian (Gentiana austromontana), dwarf rattlesnake orchid (Goodyera repens), small spreading pogonia (Cleistes bifaria), roundleaf ragwort (Packera obovatus), ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), the Curtis' goldenrod (Senecio curtissii var. pubens), beargrass (Xerophyllum asphodeloides), heartleaf skullcap (Scutellaria ovata ssp. bracteata), and large yellow lady's- slipper (Cypripedium pubescens).

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site is contiguous with South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed along its eastern boundary, with the Rollins/South Mountains Natural Area on the south, with Clear Creek Watershed Natural Area on the northwest, and with Jimmy Knob on the northeast. It is nearly contiguous with Deaf School Watershed on the north. Burkemont Mountain and Broughton Hospital/Keller Knob are within two air miles to the north. Areas bordering on the site are undeveloped except for a sparse residential development just west of Propst Mountain and Icy Knob. This site and others in the South Mountains Macrosite are connected in the landscape to the Blue Ridge across largely undeveloped, forested lands in southern McDowell County and northern Rutherford County. Landscape connections to the

143 northeast, through other sites in the South Mountains Macrosite and across the Foothills Megasite are good.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed is located in southernmost Burke County, at the northeastern corner of Rutherford County. It is also known as the Morganton Watershed, an area which was formerly used by the City of Morganton to feed a water supply reservoir. All of the site was logged in the first half of the 20th century and logging of some areas took place as recently as the 1960's. It was acquired by N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation in the 1990's and now comprises roughly the western half of South Mountains State Park and most of the headwater region of the Henry Fork. Two perennial headwater streams -- known locally as Goins Creek and Smith Creek -- which converge to form the Henry Fork drain the western two-thirds of the site. He Creek originates along the high divide to the Jacob Fork watershed, draining the eastern third of the site. The land is rugged and quite convoluted by ridgelines, peaks, slopes, and coves throughout its entirety. Numerous small peaks punctuate the high ridgelines around the watershed on the west, south, and east. Elevations range from 1800 feet to 2980 feet at Buzzard Knob, the highest point in the South Mountains. Woods Gap, High Peak, and Skull Knob, Icy Knob, and Propst Mountain are all located along the southern and western boundaries. Buzzard Roost, Hickory Knob, Krunketon Knob, and Walker Top occur on the common boundary with Clear Creek (Broughton) Watershed. Bumgartner Mountain, Hickorynut Mountain, and Rainbow Mountain are prominent in the interior of the site.

Chestnut Oak Forest is the predominant community type in the site, occurring over at least 1800 acres of the site on ridgetops and slopes in various topographic positions. Mature examples, some with large, scattered, remnant trees, have regenerated after logging. The canopy typically supports chestnut oak (Quercus montana), scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), table mountain pine (Pinus pungens), and white pine (Pinus strobus). The amount of white pine in these examples, probably due to gaps left from previous logging, is unusual. Other trees such as white oak (Quercus alba), red oak (Quercus rubra), mockernut hickory (Carya alba), red maple (Acer rubrum), and others are also present. The understory contains saplings of those species, as well as sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), and flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). The shrub layer sparse in many areas, but supports occasional dense areas of mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), and black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata). The sparse herb layer is composed of species of dry sites and openings such as bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), galax (Galax urceolata), pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), Michaux's lily (Lilium michauxii), and the rare sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata). Dry forest locations reported to support the rare yellow honeysuckle (Lonicera flava) and ash-leaved golden-banner (Thermopsis fraxinifolia) may be of this type.

Pine--Oak/Heath communities are relatively small in extent but are present in multiple locations across the site on dry, thin soils near summits and on ridgetops where they are often embedded in

144 Chestnut Oak Forests. The community is represented at Icy Knob, Rainbow Mountain, Hickorynut Mountain, in the vicinity of Horse Ridge, and at various other locations. It supports a semi-open canopy dominated by pitch pine (Pinus rigida), table mountain pine, chestnut oak, sourwood, and scarlet oak. Understory development is typically slight, but includes sassafras (Sassafras albidum), sourwood, black gum, and others. Shrubs such as mountain laurel and black huckleberry form prominent patches, and mountain fetterbush (Leucothoe recurva) and horsesugar (Symplocos tinctoria) are infrequent. Typical herbs include trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens), pipsissewa, bracken fern, galax, birdsfoot violet (Viola pedata), the uncommon beargrass (Xerophyllum asphodeloides) and the rare shale-barren blazing star (Liatris turgida) and sweet pinesap. Tangles of common greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) are common in some areas.

Mature Rich Cove Forests, with some areas of younger forest, occur in scattered locations on lower slopes and in coves. Some areas appear to contain high pH soils that may be derived from uncommon mafic rock types. They have closed canopies dominated by yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) with other cove species including yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava), basswood (Tilia heterophylla), sweet birch (Betula lenta), cucumbertree (Magnolia acuminata), white ash (Fraxinus americana), red maple, and red oak. Understory trees include saplings of the canopy species, as well as ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana), flowering dogwood, silverbell (Halesia tetraptera), and others. Shrubs are sparse to moderately dense, frequently with maple- leaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), spicebush (Lindera benzoin), and strawberry-bush (Euonymus americanus). Herb diversity is fairly high, with moderate density in many areas. The rare sweet white trillium (Trillium simile) is documented from several locations. Herbs include sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii), maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum), black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), wood-nettle (Laportea canadensis), showy orchis (Orchis spectabilis), lopseed (Phryma leptostachya), sharp-lobed hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba), orange jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), eastern waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum), marginal wood fern (Dryopteris marginalis), fancy fern (Dryopteris intermedia), New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), several species of violet (Viola spp.), and many other species. Rare species include the rare lance-leaf moonwort (Botrychium lanceolatum var. angustisegmentum), daisy- leaf moonwort (Botrychium matricariifolium), blunt-lobed grape-fern (Botrychiuim oneidense), and ash-leaved golden-banner (Thermopsis fraxinifolia) as well as the uncommon roundleaf ragwort (Packera obovata), ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), and large yellow lady's-slipper (Cypripedium pubescens). The state's largest population of the very rare small whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides) occurs at various locations in the vicinity of Woods Gap and Bumgartner Mountain, in areas transitional to Rich Cove Forest. The rare Rafinesque's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) and northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) are documented from Rich Cove Forests in the site.

Other cove areas support examples of Acidic Cove Forest, with many of the hardwoods of the rich coves, as well as Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), American beech (Fagus grandifolia),

145 and Fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri). These understory of these communities is characterized by a dense layer of shrubs such as rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) and low, dense patches of dog-hobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana). The dense shrub layer precludes herbs in many areas, although many cove species occur in openings. These include many of the herbs of rich cove areas, as well as species such as partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), indian cucumber- root (Medeola virginiana), and black snakeroot (Ageratina altissima), as well as the uncommon dwarf rattlesnake orchid (Goodyera repens), autumn coral-root (Corallorhiza odontorhiza), small spreading pogonia (Cleistes bifaria), and Appalachian gentian (Gentiana austromontana).

The rare diana fritillary butterfly (Speyeria diana) is documented from various locations across the site, often from sunny forest openings. Black bears are known to frequent the site. Other animals that benefit from large undisturbed blocks of habitat or forest interior conditions, such as bobcats, forest interior bird species, or the rare timber rattlesnake are almost certainly present in the site.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site was previously managed as a water supply watershed for the City of Morganton and now constitutes about half of South Mountains State Park. The southern half of the site is a Dedicated State Nature Preserve managed by the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. Dedication as a nature preserve is intended for the northern half of the site. Most of this site was logged during the last century, and some local heavy logging took place in the 1960s. The site now supports maturing forests in most areas. Access to the site is by trails through the park. Monitoring for invasive, non-native species such as japanese grass (Microstegium vimineum), princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa), and tree-of- heaven (Ailanthus altissima), is needed especially in areas where disturbance occurs. Prescribed burning is needed to maintain Pine--Oak/Heath communities and associated rare plant species. Post-burn monitoring to detect invasion by the aggressive, non-native princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa) may be very important to the long-term composition and integrity of the ecosystem. Control of feral hogs may be needed to protect certain plant populations, including the rare sweet white trillium and small whorled pogonia, from foraging. Lands bordering the site on the south are included in the South Mountains Game Land managed by N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Chestnut Oak Forest, Acidic Cove Forest, Rich Cove Forest, Pine--Oak/Heath.

RARE PLANTS: shale-barren blazing star (Liatris turgida), yellow honeysuckle (Lonicera flava), ash-leaved golden-banner (Thermopsis fraxinifolia), sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata), sweet white trillium (Trillium simile), small whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides), lance-leaf moonwort (Botrychium lanceolatum var. angustisegmentum), daisy-leaf moonwort (Botrychium matricariifolium), blunt-lobed grape fern (Botrychium oneidense).

146 RARE ANIMALS: diana fritillary (Speyeria diana).

REFERENCES: Lambiase, S.J., M.K. Clark, and L.J. Gatens. 2000. Bat (Chiroptera) inventory of North Carolina state parks, 1999-2000. DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Moye, W.S. 1994. Inventory of the South Mountains, North Carolina. Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Raleigh. NC Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Smith, E.L. 1982. Vegetation of the South Mountains State Park (Burke County, N.C.). Master's thesis, North Carolina State University.

147

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

CLEAR CREEK WATERSHED NATURAL AREA Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: State Size: 2,156 acres Quadrangle: Morganton South; Benn Knob; Dysartsville; Glen Alpine Ownership: State of North Carolina

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site is significant for its excellent cluster of natural community types that are typical of the Blue Ridge region and for high quality examples of the rare Low Elevation Rocky Summit and Carolina Hemlock Bluff communities. It contains the most extensive old-growth Rich Cove Forest and Chestnut Oak Forest communities known in the South Mountains. It supports numerous rare and uncommon plant species that are indicators of high pH soils derived from mafic rock types. Six rare plant species are present, including the State Candidate and Federal Species of Concern sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata) and Carolina saxifrage (Saxifraga caroliniana), and State Candidate Blue Ridge bindweed (Calystegia catesbiana ssp.sericata). An extraordinary number of Watch List plant species are present including ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), roundleaf ragwort (Packera obovata), Curtis' goldenrod (Solidago curtissii var. pubens), large yellow lady's-slipper (Cypripedium pubescens), three-birds orchid (Triphora trianthophora), nestronia (Nestronia umbellula), American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), scentless mock-orange (Philadelphus inodorus), Porter's rockcress (Arabis laevigata var. burkii), Carolina alumroot (Heuchera caroliniana), beargrass (Xerophyllum asphodeloides), climbing buckwheat (Polygonum scandens var. cristata), glade knotweed (Polygonum tenue), glade fern (Diplazium pycnocarpon), Goldie's woodfern (Dryopteris goldiana), and small spreading pogonia (Cleistes bifaria).

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site lies at the northern edge of the core of the South Mountains and is an important part of the South Mountains Macrosite and the Foothills Megasite. It is contiguous with South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed along its entire southeastern boundary, with Deaf School Watershed on the northeast, and with Shoal Creek Watershed on the northwest. As a part of the core of the South Mountains Macrosite, it has excellent landscape connection to other areas in the Foothills Megasite as well as to the Blue Ridge through southern McDowell County and northern Rutherford County. It is bordered on the north by a more fragmented rural landscape of forests, clearings, and houses.

SITE DESCRIPTION: Clear Creek Watershed Natural Area is perhaps best known as the Broughton Watershed. It was formerly used as the water supply for the state's Broughton Hospital, but was recently deeded to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation for addition to South Mountains State Park. Clear Creek Watershed is situated on the steepest part of the

149 northwest-facing front of the South Mountains. It covers a three mile-long expanse of well- defined cove, slope, and spur ridge topography which culminates at several summit peaks. Elevations range from 1600 feet to 2980 feet at Buzzards Roost, the highest point in the South Mountains. The primary cove forming the headwaters of Clear Creek, known locally as Gilbert's Cove, is large, deep, and about a mile in length. Other prominent coves -- known locally as Camel Hollow and Black Hollow -- lie to the west. These coves and intervening spur ridges ascend to summits at Hickory Knob, Buzzard Roost, Propst Mountain, and Swayback Knob. To the east of Clear Creek is a similar expanse of cove, slope, and spur ridge topography which ascends to summits at Krunkleton Knob and Walker Top.

The best examples of Rich Cove Forest known in the South Mountains, with substantial areas of old-growth, are present in the upper portions of the site, particularly in protected areas below Walker Top, Krunkleton Knob, Hickory Knob, and Buzzard Roost. Canopy species of these forests include yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), sweet birch (Betula lenta), basswood (Tilia heterophylla), red oak (Quercus rubra), white ash (Fraxinus americana), yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava), cucumber-tree (Magnolia acuminata), Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), and others. Understory areas are moderately open, but populated with saplings of the canopy species, as well as flowering dogwood, silverbell (Halesia tetraptera), witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), and shrubs such as spice bush (Lindera benzoin), smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus), and the uncommon scentless mock-orange (Philadelphus inodorus). Some areas support dutchman's-pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla). The herb layer is moderate to dense, with very high species diversity for a piedmont location. Present are black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), may-apple (Podophyllum peltatum), false Solomon's-seal (Maianthemum racemosum), Canada violet (Viola canadensis), yellow jewelweed (Impatiens pallida), branch lettuce (Saxifraga micranthidifolia), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), lady fern (Athyrium asplenioides), yellow mandarin (Prosartes lanuginosa), maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum), marginal woodfern (Dryopteris marginalis), fancy fern (Dryopteris intermedia), Blue Ridge bittercress (Cardamine flagellifera), wood-nettle (Laportea canadensis), Canada waterleaf (Hydrophyllum canadense), tassel-rue (Trautvetteria carolinensis), the uncommon American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), and the rare sweet white trillium (Trillium simile). Many other herbs are also present, including many good indicators of very rich soils such as columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), green violet (Hybanthus concolor), wild ginger (Asarum canadense), dutchman's- breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), cove bladder fern (Cystopteris protrusa), and the uncommon glade fern (Diplazium pycnocarpon), Goldie's woodfern (Dryopteris goldiana), and three birds orchid (Triphora trianthophora).

Extensive high quality Chestnut Oak Forests are present on many upper slope and ridgetop areas. Substantial areas of old-growth are documented at Buzzards Knob, Hickory Knob, and Krunkleton Knob. Chestnut oak (Quercus montana) is the canopy dominant within a mixture of red oak (Quercus rubra), mockernut hickory (Carya alba), scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea),

150 Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana), white pine (Pinus strobus), and others. These species and sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), red maple (Acer rubrum), and American chestnut (Castanea dentata) comprise many understory areas. Shrubs such as mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum), dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), and rosebay rhododendron form dense patches in some areas. Herbs are sparse and typical of the community type. They include downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens), pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), galax (Galax urceolata), false Solomon's-seal (Maianthemum racemosum), trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens), wild sarparilla (Aralia nudicaulis), lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria montana), and turkscap lily (Lilium superbum). The uncommon Curtis' goldenrod (Solidago curtissii var. pubens) and small spreading pogonia (Cleistes bifaria) are also present.

A good quality Pine--Oak/Heath community occurs on the southwest side Walker Top. Its semi- open canopy consists of large table mountain pine (Pinus pungens), Virginia pine, chestnut oak, and scarlet oak. Understory species include sourwood, black gum, sassafras and shrubs such as Catawba rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense), pinxterflower (Rhododendron periclymenoides), mountain laurel, dryland blueberry, horse-sugar (Symplocos tinctoria), the uncommon nestronia (Nestronia umbellula), and others. Tangles of common greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) are abundant. The sparse collection of dry-site herbs includes bracken fern, trailing arbutus, goldenrod (Solidago sp.), asters (Aster sp.), pipsissewa, galax, greater coreopsis (Coreopsis major), dwarf crested iris (Iris verna), the uncommon beargrass (Xerophyllum asphodeloides), and a small population of rare Appalachian golden-banner (Thermopsis mollis). This community is also documented from Stony Ridge, where it contains the rare sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata).

Several excellent examples of the rare Low Elevation Rocky Summit community occur on the north faces of Buzzard Roost and Hickory Knob and on the west faces of Krunkleton Knob and Walker Top. They collectively contain a large area of outcrops with features ranging from crags and overhangs to smoother dome-like surfaces. Deep soil islands support Virginia pine, red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), chestnut oak, fringe-tree (Chionanthus virginicus), sourwood, black gum, red maple, and shrubs such as mountain laurel, bushy St. John's-wort (Hypericum densiflorum), deerberry, dryland blueberry, and Catawba rhododendron. The rare yellow honeysuckle (Lonicera flava) is present at Walker Top, Buzzard Roost, and Krunkleton Knob. The rare Carolina saxifrage (Saxifraga caroliniana) occurs at several locations between Krunkleton Knob and Walker Top. Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) grows at Buzzard Roost. Though bare rock is extensive, soil accumulations support a diverse collection of herbs such as live-for-ever (Sedum telephioides), Michaux's saxifrage (Saxifraga michauxii), the rare Carolina saxifrage (Saxifraga caroliniana), Small's ragwort (Packera anonyma), greater coreopsis, Solomon's-seal (Polygonatum biflorum), fame flower (Talinum teretifolium), spreading sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus), flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata), gray beardtongue

151 (Penstemon canescens), dwarf-dandelion (Krigia virginica), autumn goldenrod (Solidago sphacelata), perfoliate tinker's-weed (Triosteum perfoliatum), the uncommon Porter's rockcress (Arabis laevigata var. burkii), Carolina alumroot (Heuchera caroliniana), crag-jangle (Heuchera villosa), rock spikemoss (Selaginella rupestris), hairy lipfern (Cheilanthes lanosa), blunt-lobe woodsia (Woodsia obtusa), pale corydalis (Corydalis sempervirens), and the uncommon climbing buckwheat (Polygonum scandens var. cristata) and glade knotweed (Polygonum tenue). The rare sweet pinesap occurs at the wooded outcrop margins of Walker Top.

A high quality, several-acre example of the rare Carolina Hemlock Bluff community lies on the north side of the ridge between Buzzard Roost and Hickory Knob, on rocky, northwest-facing slopes above a rock outcrop. It is dominated by dense Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana), with some chestnut oak. Although the understory is poorly developed beneath the hemlocks, silverbell, Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis), sourwood, Catawba rhododendron, and mountain laurel present. Herbs include pipsissewa, partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), Michaux's saxifrage, greater coreopsis, lily-of-the-valley, large yellow lady' slipper (Cypripedium pubescens), small-flowered bunchflower (Melanthium parviflorum), Carolina saxifrage, and live-for-ever.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site was formerly managed by the N.C. Forest Service as a water supply watershed for Broughton Hospital of the N.C. Department of Human Services and by N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission as part of the South Mountains Game Land. The site was deeded to N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation in 2000 for management as part of South Mountains State Park. Although substantial areas were logged previously, a significant area of old growth forests are present. Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) should be monitored in outcrop areas where it occurs.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Chestnut Oak Forest, Rich Cove Forest, Pine--Oak/Heath, Low Elevation Rocky Summit, Carolina Hemlock Bluff.

RARE PLANTS: Blue Ridge bindweed (Calystegia catesbiana ssp. sericata), yellow honeysuckle (Lonicera flava), Appalachian golden-banner (Thermopsis mollis), sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata), Carolina saxifrage (Saxifraga caroliniana), sweet white trillium (Trillium simile).

REFERENCES: Moye, W.S. 1994. Inventory of the South Mountains, North Carolina. Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Raleigh. NC Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

152 153

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

DEAF SCHOOL WATERSHED Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: Regional Size: 273 acres Quadrangle: Morganton South Ownership: State of North Carolina

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site supports good examples of natural communities typically found in the Blue Ridge. It also contains a good example of the rare Low Elevation Rocky Summity community with a population of the State Candidate Greenland sandwort (Minuartia groenlandica). The State Candidate Blue Ridge bindweed (Calystegia catesbiana ssp. sericata) is also present. Watch List plant species include roundleaf ragwort (Packera obovata), ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), and bear grass (Xerophyllum asphodeloides). The site is one of the constituent sites of the South Mountains Macrosite and the Foothills Megasite.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The Deaf School Watershed shares a common boundary with a section of Clear Creek Watershed Natural Area on the south and southwest. The expansive South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed lies just to the south. The Burkemont Mountain site is within located 0.25 mile to the east. Other standard sites clustered in the South Mountains Macrosite all occur in the undeveloped landscape to the southwest, southeast, and east. Deaf School Watershed has excellent landscape connection to these areas, even though logged forests adjoin on the southeast and small clearings are present near the Henry Fork.

SITE DESCRIPTION: Deaf School Watershed is situated on the steep, northern edge of the South Mountains. It consists of northwest-facing slopes, spur ridges, and coves along the western end of Burkemont Mountain. The largest, most prominent cove forms the headwater area for the perennial Bailey Fork. An old, small impoundment is located on the middle to lower slopes of the cove. A couple of other coves lie further to the east and shelter intermittent drainages. Steep-sided spur ridges extending from the summits of Burkemont Mountain and Kaylor Knob partition the cove habitats. All areas are forested, with exception of a substantial rock outcrop area on the northwest side of the summit of Burkemont Mountain.

Good examples of Rich Cove Forest occupy well defined coves in the watershed. They support a mature canopy of yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), red oak (Quercus rubra), red maple (Acer rubrum), chestnut oak (Quercus montana), white oak (Quercus alba), sweet birch (Betula lenta), with occasional basswood (Tilia heterophylla), white ash (Fraxinus americana), black walnut (Juglans nigra), cucumbertree (Magnolia acuminata), black cherry (Prunus serotina), and American beech (Fagus grandifolia). Understory trees include saplings of the canopy species, as well as flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), silverbell (Halesia tetraptera), bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), and alternate-leaved

155 dogwood (Cornus alternifolia). Shrubs are fairly sparse, though rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum), smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus), and spicebush (Lindera benzoin) are present. A dense and diverse herb layer contains many species typical of rich coves, such as black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), indian cucumber-root (Medeola virginiana), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), white heartleaf aster (Aster divaricatus), Solomon's-seal (Polygonatum biflorum), false Solomon's-seal (Maianthemum racemosum), meadow rue (Thalictrum sp.), yellow mandarin (Prosartes lanuginosa), wood nettle (Laportea canadensis), Canada richweed (Collinsonia canadensis), perfoliate bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata), blackbead lily (Clintonia umbellulata), dwarf crested iris (Iris sp.), downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens), orange jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), Canada waterleaf (Hydrophyllum candense), false goat's-beard (Astilbe biternata), the uncommon roundleaf ragwort (Packera obovata) and ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), and ferns such as Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), broad beech fern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera), southern lady fern (Athyrium asplenioides), New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), and maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum). Many additional species have been recorded from these coves (Moye 1994).

Fairly good examples of Acidic Cove Forest occur in sheltered areas of the primary cove. They support mature, closed canopy of yellow poplar, sweet birch, chestnut oak, red oak, red maple, white oak, Canada hemlock, and sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and subcanopy trees typical of surrounding coves. A dense layer of rosebay rhododendron dominates the understory in sheltered slopes, though patches of mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) occur on more open slopes. Openings in the rhododendron support other shrubs and various herbs of the surrounding rich cove habitats. Herbs of moist, acidic soils such as partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), indian cucumber-root, downy rattlesnake plantain, and Christmas fern are prominent. Galax (Galax urceolata) and roundleaf violet (Viola rotundifolia) are also present.

Occasional bedrock seepages in the coves produce small examples of High Elevation Seep communities. The damp to saturated soils support smooth hydrangea and herbs such as branch lettuce (Saxifraga micranthidifolia), mountain meadowrue (Thalictrum clavatum), orange jewelweed, violet (Viola sp), zigzap spiderwort (Tradescantia subaspera), pink turtleheads (Chelone lyonii), wood nettle, sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), tassel-rue (Trautvetteria carolinensis), and stiff cowbane (Oxypolis rigidior).

Middle and upper slopes in coves and on ridges support drier forest communities. These areas include fairly good examples of Montane Oak--Hickory Forest with canopies dominated by white oak, red oak, chestnut oak, mockernut hickory (Carya alba), red maple, yellow poplar, white pine (Pinus strobus), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), and sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum). Understory trees include flowering dogwood, silverbell, witch-hazel. Scattered shrubs include mountain laurel, mapleleaf viburnum

156 (Viburnum acerifolium), deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), and dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum). Root sprouts of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) are occasional. A fairly sparse collection of herbs includes Christmas fern, wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), woodland tick-trefoil (Desmodium nudiflorum), lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria montana), bunchflower (Melanthium sp.), false Solomon's-seal, skullcap (Scutellaria sp), white heartleaf aster, rattlesnake fern (Botrychium virginianum), bloodroot, wild oregano (Cunila origanoides), pale indian-plantain (Arnoglossum atriplicifolium), and goldenrod (Solidago sp.), and others. Some openings support a milkvine (Matelea sp.), as well as Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolius) and common greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia).

Mature Chestnut Oak Forests occur on the driest upper slopes and ridges of Burkemont Mountain. They are dominated by chestnut oak, within a mixture of Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana), scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), black gum, sourwood, red maple, southern red oak (Quercus falcata), and mockernut hickory. Pitch pine (Pinus rigida) and table mountain pine (Pinus pungens) are occasional. In addition to saplings of the canopy, the understory supports sassafras (Sassafras albidum), witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) and occasional sprouts of American chestnut (Castanea dentata). Dense patches of shrubs include mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), deerberry, black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), and occasional flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum). Herbs are typically sparse and include galax (Galax urceolata), lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria montana), greater coreopsis (Coreopsis major), pink lady's-slipper (Cypripedium acaule), dwarf crested iris (Iris verna), trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens), pipsissewa, little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), goldenrod (Solidago sp.), and the uncommon bear grass (Xerophyllum asphodeloides).

An excellent Low Elevation Rocky Summit community occurs on the northwest-facing crest of Burkemont Mountain. It is an expanse of dry, exposed outcrops that range from somewhat smooth and exfoliated to uneven and broken. Soil accumulations are slight and trees and shrubs are limited to deeper pockets and fissures. These include chestnut oak, scarlet oak, Virginia pine, sourwood, black gum, red cedar (Juniperus sp.), and notable numbers of fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus). Also present are shrubs such as mountain laurel, dryland blueberry, ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), and bushy St. John's-wort (Hypericum densiflorum). The resulting open habitats are dominated by moderate number of herb species. Most prominent are the live-for-ever (Sedum telephioides), northern sundrops (Oenothera tetragona), forked nailwort (Paronychia canadensis), Appalachian bellflower (Campanula divaricata), Small's ragwort (Packera anonyma), starved witch-grass (Dichanthelium depauperatum), and the rare Greenland sandwort (Minuartia groenlandica). Also present are wild oregano (Cunila origanoides), goldenrod (Solidago sp.), greater coreopsis (Coreopsis major), flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata), alumroot (Heuchera sp.), and others.

157 The rare Blue Ridge bindweed (Calystegia catesbiana ssp. sericata) occurs at the edge of the site on a roadbank beside Kaylor Knob.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site is publicly-owned, but has no formal protection. It is deeded to N.C. Department of Human Resources and is used by the N.C. School for the Deaf for low impact recreation. The forests should be managed for older growth and low impact recreation. Although non-native species are not abundant, monitoring is recommended for princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa) and tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), which are present in some areas. The rock outcrop community on Burkemont Mountain is fairly accessible and should be periodically monitored for trampling impacts.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Chestnut Oak Forest, Rich Cove Forest, Montane Oak-- Hickory Forest, Acidic Cove Forest, High Elevation Seep, Low Elevation Rocky Summit.

RARE PLANTS: Greenland sandwort (Minuartia groenlandica), Blue Ridge bindweed (Calystegia catesbiana ssp. sericata).

REFERENCES: Moye, W.S. 1994. Inventory of the South Mountains, North Carolina. Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Raleigh. NC Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Deaf School Watershed. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

158 159

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

SIMMS HILL--LITTLE RIVER UPLANDS Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: Regional Size: 432 acres Quadrangle: Morganton South; Benn Knob; Valdese; Casar Ownership: Private

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site is significant for fair to good remnant natural communities which support small occurrences of the State Candidate large witch-alder (Fothergilla major) as well as the Significantly Rare bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia) and shale- barren blazing star (Liatris turgida). Bear oak is known in North Carolina only from the Sauratown Mountains, the South Mountains, and King's/Crowder's Mountain. Bear grass (Xerophyllum asphodeloides), a Watch List plant species, is also present. The significance of the site is enhanced by its contiguity with South Mountains State Park (i.e., the South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed site). Simms Hill--Little River Uplands is a standard site contained within two larger nationally significant sites: the South Mountains Macrosite and the Foothills Megasite.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site consists of remnant forest patches situated among areas that have been logged in recent years. Immediately to the north, the site is bordered by clearcut areas. The southern borders of the site are contiguous with extensive mature and maturing forests in South Mountains State Park. It is directly connected with South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed (part of the state park) and thus with the core of the South Mountains. Because the site is situated among heavily-disturbed timberlands adjacent to the park, it and areas around it may have an effect on water quality in the Little River or on rare aquatic species in the Jacob Fork (South Fork Catawba) Aquatic Habitat, which is located about 3-4 miles downstream.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The site contains some good remnant natural communities on a very large, heavily-disturbed tract of land. The tract in which the site is situated shares a long common boundary with the northeast portion of South Mountains State Park, from just north of Horse Ridge eastward to Simms Hill, and thence southeastward to near Little River Falls and to Baptist Camp Road (SR 1900). The tract, formerly owned by Champion International, was managed for timber extraction. Many areas now support a maze of clearcuts, young regenerating forests, and logging roads. The tract had been leased to N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission for several years as part of the South Mountains Game Land.

The site borders on the northeast corner of South Mountains State Park on lands that have been managed for timber extraction for decades. It is topographically complex, with numerous convoluted ridgetops, small knobs, and intervening coves at elevations which range from 1800

161 feet in elevation to 2100 feet at Simms Hill. Although perhaps about half of the site contains forests logged in recent years, fair to good quality natural communities remain in areas that were bypassed by logging activities. Rare plant species are present in the remnant communities, and in some of the degraded areas.

Chestnut Oak Forest is the prevalent community type, though smaller examples of the relatively uncommon Pine--Oak/Heath community type are also present. The site contains two locations for the rare bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia), a shrub species known in North Carolina only from the South Mountains, from the Sauratown Mountains of Stokes and Surry counties, and from Crowder's Mountain and King's Mountain in Gaston County. A fairly robust population of the rare large witch-alder (Fothergilla major) is also present. The rare shale-barren blazing star (Liatris turgida) is documented from a roadside edge near Simms Hill.

The Pine--Oak/Heath communities occur on dry tops of knolls and ridges, embedded in Chestnut Oak Forests. These woodland communities are characterized by a semi-open canopy of Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana), pitch pine (Pinus rigida), and table mountain pine (Pinus pungens), with hardwoods such as chestnut oak (Quercus montana), scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), red maple (Acer rubrum), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica). Their understories are moderately dense with hardwood saplings, except where thickets of heaths, primarily mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) and black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), form dense patches. Where present, large witch-alder is fairly abundant. Other shrubs such as deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), and sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina) are scattered. Bear oak is infrequent. Greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) forms tangles in many areas. Herbs are sparse, but include galax (Galax urceolata), pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), and others. Scattered colonies of the uncommon beargrass (Xerophyllum asphodeloides) are present in a few locations.

Chestnut Oak Forest remnants are more widespread and occupy a greater portion of the site, occurring on ridgetops and middle and upper slopes. These communities are characterized by a closed canopy dominated by chestnut oak (Quercus montana) and scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), with occasional black gum, mockernut hickory (Carya alba), red maple, American chestnut (Castanea dentata), and sourwood and a sparse to moderately dense understory dominated by saplings of the canopy species, especially red maple. Shrubs such as blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) are scattered. Mountain laurel, and in moist ravines, rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum), occur in dense patches. In some areas, the rare large witch-alder is an abundant shrub. The herb layer contains a typical, sparse collection of dry-site species such as greater coreopsis (Coreopsis major), golden-aster (Pityopsis sp.), pipsissewa, trailing arbutus, galax, bracken fern, bear grass, goldenrod (Solidago sp.), and grasses.

162 Although coves and lower slopes are included in the site boundary, many of these areas have been logged heavily in recent years or support successional hardwood forests, often with substantial yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). They are included as matrix for the more exemplary communities.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site has no protection at present. The area in which the site occurs has been managed for timber extraction for many years. The area is leased to N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission as part of the South Mountains Game Land. Although many parts of the site are in poor condition, the presence of intact remnant communities, rare species, few invasive non-native species, and (in many areas) adjacent regenerating forests indicates that this site has good potential for restoration. A grant proposal being submitted by N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund would protect a portion of this site, if funded. Monitoring is needed for the rare plant populations. Monitoring of the bear oak occurrences to assess vigor and to detect decline from plant competition should be considered especially important. Opportunities for managing the habitats that support bear oak with prescribed burning should be explored.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Chestnut Oak Forest, Pine--Oak/Heath.

RARE PLANTS: large witch-alder (Fothergilla major), bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia), shale- barren blazing star (Liatris turgida).

REFERENCES: Moye, W.S. 1994. Inventory of the South Mountains, North Carolina. Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Raleigh. NC Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Simms Hill--Little River Uplands. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

163

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

BROUGHTON HOSPITAL/KELLER KNOB Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: Regional Size: 476 acres Quadrangle: Morganton South Ownership: State of North Carolina

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The primary significance of the site is for its exemplary Chestnut Oak Forest and Montane Oak--Hickory Forest communities. Broughton Hospital/Keller Knob is the northeasternmost in the cluster of significant sites that form the framework of the nationally significant South Mountains Macrosite. Showy skullcap (Scutellaria serrata) and large yellow lady's-slipper (Cypripedium pubescens), two Watch List plant species, are present.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site is located at the northeastern edge of the South Mountains. Areas to the south, west, and east of the site are primarily forested and relatively unfragmented whereas those to the north and northeast are more cleared, developed, or otherwise fragmented. The Yellow Mountain\Ironmonger Mountain site is located about two miles to the northeast. Broughton Hospital/Keller Knob is included in the South Mountains Macrosite and also the larger Foothills Megasite. Several other significant sites in the South Mountains Macrosite are located to the southwest and south. They include Burkemont Mountain, within one-half mile to the west; Deaf School Watershed, about one mile to the west; Jimmy Knob, about 1.5 miles to the south; Simms Hill--Little River Uplands about 2.75 miles to the southeast; and South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed, about 2.25 miles to the south.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The site is situated at the northeast end of the north-facing front of the South Mountains which is visible from Interstate 40 at Morganton. It contains moderately elevated, steep mountain slopes topped by narrow ridgetops and small knobs. The small summits and connecting ridgetops associated with Keller Knob, Burkemont Mountain, and Little Cedar Mountain encircle a flat-bottomed cove. The cove is drained eastward by an unnamed tributary of the Henry Fork River. Cleared areas that are a part of Broughton State Hospital occupy flat, cleared areas that lie north of Keller Knob. Forests regenerating after clearcutting border the southern boundary of the site at Little Cedar Mountain.

Good quality Chestnut Oak Forest, parts of which are quite mature, occupies upper and middle slopes and higher ridgetops and summits within the site. It is characterized by a closed canopy dominated by chestnut oak (Quercus montana), with substantial numbers of scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea). Other oaks (Quercus spp.) and hickories (Carya spp.), as well as red maple (Acer rubrum), sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) are present in smaller numbers. Pitch pine (Pinus rigida), table mountain pine (Pinus pungens), and Virginia

165 pine (Pinus virginiana) are occasional. A sparse to moderately dense understory supports saplings of the canopy species, as well as other typical species such as sassafras (Sassafras albidum), black cherry (Prunus serotina), and flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). Dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), pinxter-flower (Rhododendron periclymenoides), and flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) are scattered in a fairly sparse shrub layer except where dense thickets of mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) and beds of black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) are present. Herbs are typically sparse and include kidneyleaf rosinweed (Silphium compositum var. reniforme), pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), greater coreopsis (Coreopsis major), blackberry (Rubus sp.), hawkweed (Hieracium venosum), asters (Aster spp.), Curtis' goldenrod (Solidago curtissii), trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens), galax (Galax urceolata), dwarf crested iris (Iris sp.), moccasin flower (Cypripedium acaule), and others. Some pockets of forest with greater numbers of pitch pine and table mountain pine grade toward a Pine--Oak/Heath community.

Good examples of Montane Oak--Hickory Forest occurs on lower ridges, saddles, and middle and lower slopes. The closed forest canopy is dominated by a mixture of chestnut oak, white oak (Quercus alba), red oak (Quercus rubra), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), pignut hickory (Carya glabra), mockernut hickory (Carya alba), and red maple. Understory density is sparse to moderately dense. Present are saplings of the canopy hardwoods, as well as silverbell (Halesia tetraptera), American holly (Ilex opaca), black cherry, flowering dogwood, witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), and white pine (Pinus strobus). Shrubs are generally sparse and include sweet-shrub (Calycanthus floridus), dryland blueberry, deerberry, flame azalea, maple- leaved viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), and American filbert (Corylus americana). However, dense patches of mountain laurel are occasional and rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) forms small thickets along slight drainages. Small, short-statured patches of cane (Arundinaria gigantea) add to understory density on some dry slopes. Herbs are moderately dense and diverse. They include pipsissewa, downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens), false Solomon's-seal (Maianthemum racemosum), indian cucumber-root (Medeola virginiana), dwarf crested iris, perfoliate-leaved bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata), rattlesnake-root (Prenanthes altissima), white heart-leaf aster (Aster divaricatus), hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula), Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), bedstraw (Galium sp.), hairy skullcap (Scutellaria elliptica), black snakeroot (Ageratina altissima), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), Curtis' goldenrod, and others. The uncommon showy skullcap (Scutellaria serrata) and large yellow lady's-slipper (Cypripedium pubescens) are also reported from the site.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site has no formal protection. It is deeded to the N.C. Department of Human Services and is managed by the N.C. Division of Forest Resources. Lands bordering the site on the north are managed by N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission as part of the South Mountains Game Land. The site should be managed for natural, older growth forest attributes. It is suitable for use as a game land.

166 NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Chestnut Oak Forest, Montane Oak--Hickory Forest.

REFERENCES: Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Broughton Hospital/Keller Knob. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

167

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

SHOAL CREEK WATERSHED Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: Regional Size: 209 acres Quadrangle: Glen Alpine Ownership: Private

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site supports a cluster of natural community types, including fairly good examples of Chestnut Oak Forest, Montane Oak--Hickory Forest, and Acidic Cove Forest community types, a well-developed example of the rare Spray Cliff community type, and marginally-developed examples of the rare Montane Mafic Cliff and Low Elevation Rocky Summit communities. Populations of the Significantly Rare yellow honeysuckle (Lonicera flava) and the State Candidate roundleaf serviceberry (Amelanchier sanguinea) are present. The site derives significance from its contiguity with Clear Creek Watershed Natural Area and position at the edge of the South Mountains wildlands core. It is one of a cluster of sites that form the larger South Mountains Macrosite and Foothills Megasite.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site has direct connection to Clear Creek Watershed Natural Area on the east and to the ecological core of the South Mountains, which lies to the south and east. It is one of the standard sites located within the larger South Mountains Macrosite and Foothills Megasite. It is bounded on the north by lands near US Highway 64 which support younger forests and rural residential uses and clearings. The county significant Hall Knob site lies about one-half mile to the west, across younger forests along Chestnut Flat Branch. Connection to the regionally significant Brindletown Forests site, which is about one- half mile to the southwest, was sundered in 2000 by a two hundred-acre clearcut.

SITE DESCRIPTION: Shoal Creek Watershed occupies an area around the headwaters of Shoal Creek just north of a small impoundment known as Licklog Reservoir. It is within one- half mile of State Hospital Reservoir and publicly-owned land, managed by the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation, in Clear Creek Watershed Natural Area. It consists of forested knobs and slopes which enclose a well-defined cove. Along the more deeply-incised parts of Shoal Creek, slopes steepen and become rocky to form a ravine. In the middle of the ravine, Shoal Creek cascades over a fairly well-developed waterfall. Open outcrops on dry west-facing slopes are an example of the Low Elevation Rocky Summit community. A small Montane Mafic Cliff community lies in the northeastern part of the site.

Above and below the waterfall area, the rocky ravine supports fairly good Acidic Cove Forest dominated by red maple (Acer rubrum), sweet birch (Betula lenta), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), red oak (Quercus rubra), Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), and Fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri). The understory contains canopy tree saplings, witch-hazel (Hamamelis

169 virginiana), and dense patches of rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum). Where shrubs are not dense, the herb layer is a fairly diverse collection of cove species including Canada richweed (Collinsonia canadensis), white heart-leaved aster (Aster divaricatus), false Solomon's-seal (Maianthemum racemosum), Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), marginal wood fern (Dryopteris marginalis), round-leaved violet (Viola rotundifolia), galax (Galax urceolata), and others. Some areas grade to fair Rich Cove Forest, with higher herb diversity. Drier slopes above the ravine support good quality Montane Oak--Hickory Forest Forest dominated by yellow poplar, red oak, white oak (Quercus alba), chestnut oak (Quercus montana), and mockernut hickory (Carya alba), with occasional Fraser magnolia and sweet birch. Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), silverbell (Halesia tetraptera), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), and saplings of the canopy trees compose the moderately dense understory. Shrubs are fairly sparse, but include maple-leaved viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), buffalo-nut (Pyrularia pubera), and rosebay rhododendron. The herb layer is moderately dense, with black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), dwarf iris (Iris verna), witch-grass (Dichanthelium sp.), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), Christmas fern, and others. A well-developed example of the rare Spray Cliff community occurs at two drops in the bed of Shoal Creek, each of which is 20-30 feet tall and wide. The upper section is practically inaccessible without safety equipment. The lower drop consists of steeply-sloping waterslide areas and a substantial vertical drop which produces water spray. About half of the cliff is bare rock. Other parts of the rock face support a dense, well-developed moss and liverwort community, bathed by cold, well-oxygenated water and spray. Salamanders and aquatic snails reside in these moist areas. Herbs growing in the spray zone at the base of the cliff include Canada richweed, sedges (Carex spp.), white heart-leaved aster, false Solomon's-seal, partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), Christmas fern, New York fern, round-leaved violet, and galax.

Drier upper slopes and crests on the northeast and southwest sides of the waterfall ravine support good examples of Chestnut Oak Forest dominated by chestnut oak, scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), black gum, red maple, and scattered Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) and table mountain pine (Pinus pungens). The understory supports canopy saplings and dense mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia). Herbs are typically sparse. A heartleaf (Hexastylis sp.), which could be the rare dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora), occurs one slope northeast of the waterfalls. Good examples of Montane Oak--Hickory Forest are common on many middle slope areas. Their canopies support many of the species of the Chestnut Oak Forests, but are generally more species-diverse, with mockernut hickory, pignut hickory (Carya glabra), and yellow poplar in the canopy and flowering dogwood, hazelnut (Corylus sp.), and the typically-montane buffalo- nut and flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) in the understory. Herbs include Christmas fern, New York fern, white-heartleaved aster, crested iris (Iris cristata), false Solomon's-seal, cucumber-root (Medeola virginiana), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), and others. Some areas support a milkvine (Matelea sp.) which could be the rare glade milkvine (M. decipiens).

170 On dry, rocky slopes northeast of the waterfalls, the Chestnut Oak Forests grade to a fair example of the rare Low Elevation Rocky Summit community. Dry-site oaks and pines over mountain laurel occur on thin soils between outcrops. Small, exposed outcrops are scattered over about 100 vertical feet of the slope with a few of the larger up to 30 feet wide and 10-30 feet tall. The exposed rocks support lichens and sparse patches of grasses and herbs such as mountain oatgrass (Danthonia spicata), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), greater coreopsis (Coreopsis major), St. John's-wort (Hypericum sp.), a witch-grass, and Appalachian bellflower (Campanula divaricata).

The northeast corner of the site contains a small example of the rare Montane Mafic Cliff community. Populations of the rare yellow honeysuckle (Lonicera flava) and roundleaf serviceberry (Amelanchier sanguinea), both indicators of mafic rock types, occur on thin soils at the cliff margins. The sparsely-vegetated cliff is about 50 feet long and up to 20 feet tall and also supports crag-jangle (Heuchera villosa), resurrection fern (Polypodium polypodioides), and Solomon's-seal (Polygonatum biflorum).

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: Although the site has no formal protection, the site is managed informally for conservation. Few management needs exist for the site in its present condition. Management for natural forest dynamics and older growth is recommended. Periodic monitoring of the Spray Cliff and Montane Mafic Cliff communities and the yellow honeysuckle and roundleaf serviceberry populations for impacts from humans is needed. The site is very suitable for protection through a conservation easement.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Chestnut Oak Forest, Montane Oak--Hickory Forest, Acidic Cove Forest, Spray Cliff, Montane Mafic Cliff, Low Elevation Rocky Summit.

RARE PLANTS: roundleaf serviceberry (Amelanchier sanguinea), yellow honeysuckle (Lonicera flava).

REFERENCES: Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Shoal Creek Watershed. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

171

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

BRINDLETOWN FORESTS Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: Regional Size: 1068 acres Quadrangle: Dysartsville Ownership: Private and State of North Carolina

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site supports extensive examples of Chestnut Oak Forest and Montane Oak--Hickory Forest communities, good examples of the uncommon Rich Cove Forest community, and a small example of the rare Low Elevation Rocky Summit community. Certain areas appear to have high pH soils due to an influence by mafic rock. The site also contains populations of four Significantly Rare plant species: yellow honeysuckle (Lonicera flava), Appalachian cliff fern (Woodsia appalachiana), sweet white trillium (Trillium simile), and shale-barren blazing star (Liatris turgida). The Watch List plant species roundleaf ragwort (Packera obovata), ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), hog plum (Prunus umbellata), and false aloe (Manfreda virginica) are also present. Brindletown Forests is a standard site in the South Mountains Macrosite and Foothills Megasite.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: Brindletown Forests at the northwestern end of the core of the South Mountains, with direct linkage to public lands on the south and east. It is bordered by extensive undeveloped lands on the north and west, substantial parts of which have been logged in recent years. Relatively small residential developments border on the northeast at Swayback Knob. Recently clearcut lands are contiguous with the site on the north, from the north end of Shaft Ridge to Whites Knob near US Highway 64. Another recent clearcut lies about 0.5 mile north of Lane Branch. Other lands to the north were heavily logged in the last decade or so. Little is known about the condition of lands to the west. The site is contained within both the South Mountains Macrosite and the Foothills Megasite. Lands bordering on the south and east are contained in the 17,000-acre Rollins/South Mountains Natural Area, substantial parts of which are logged. Clear Creek Watershed Natural Area and South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed are about 0.75 mile to the northeast. Hall Knob is about one mile to the north, across clearcut lands. The site appears to have landscape connection to the Blue Ridge through Rollins/South Mountains Natural Area and undeveloped areas in northern Rutherford and southern McDowell counties.

SITE DESCRIPTION: Brindletown Forests lies at the western end of the South Mountains near the common corner of Burke, McDowell, and Rutherford counties. It is situated on the northwest facing front of the South Mountains, which includes several other significant sites. A topography of broad ridgetops, small knobs, and slopes interspersed by numerous small intermittent drainages is predominant over the western half of the site. The eastern half of the site contains large, well-defined coves around the headwater area of Hall Creek and at Lane

173 Branch, a perennial tributary. Exemplary Rich Cove Forests occur in the large coves, while Chestnut Oak Forest and Montane Oak--Hickory Forest are predominant elsewhere in the site. An example of the Low Elevation Rocky Summit community is present on small, dry outcrops above Lane Branch.

Good examples of Rich Cove Forests, which are very uncommon the South Mountains, are present in the sheltered upper cove of Hall Creek and at Lane Branch. An abundance of sweet white trillium (Trillium simile) and other species suggests that these communities may have high pH soils derived from mafic rock. Their diverse, closed canopies support yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), red maple (Acer rubrum), red oak (Quercus rubra), Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), cucumbertree (Magnolia acuminata), Fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri), sweet birch (Betula lenta), chestnut oak (Quercus montana), basswood (Tilia heterophylla), and white pine (Pinus strobus). In addition to saplings of the canopy species, the understory contains flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), red bud (Cercis canadensis), silverbell (Halesia tetraptera), yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava), slippery elm (Ulmus rubra), white ash (Fraxinus americana), and sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua). The shrub layer is sparse, with scattered spicebush (Lindera benzoin), sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus), and rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum). Thin patches of cane (Arundinaria gigantea) occur in some areas. The dense herb layer contains abundant bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), false Solomon's-seal (Maianthemum racemosum), black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), white heartleaf aster (Aster divaricatus), and the rare sweet white trillium (Trillium simile). Many other herbs are present, including the uncommon ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and roundleaf ragwort (Packera obovata), as well as birdfoot violet (Viola pedata), dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), Canada richweed (Collinsonia canadensis), early meadowrue (Thalictrum dioicum), jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), blunt-leaf waterleaf (Hydrophyllum canadense), yellow mandarin (Prosartes lanuginosa), spikenard (Aralia racemosa), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), great indian-plantain (Arnoglossum muhlenbergii), maidenhair fern (Adiatum pedatum), wood nettle (Laportea canadensis), Canada leafcup (Polymnia canadensis), and many others.

South-facing upper slopes on the ridge north of Lane Branch support a small, but good quality example of the rare Low Elevation Rocky Summit community with probable influence by a high pH mafic rock type. The dry, moderately sloping outcrops are uneven and undulating. Although bare rock is predominant, shallow soil pockets of various sizes are scattered on the outcrops. Larger soil accumulations support trees such as Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana), chestnut oak, hickory (Carya sp.), Georgia hackberry (Celtis tenuifolia), hawthorn (Crataegus sp.), fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus), smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana), and shrubs such as Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), St. John's-wort (Hypericum sp.), and the rare yellow honeysuckle (Lonicera flava). Thin soils support herbs such as wooly lipfern (Cheilanthes tomentosa), woodland sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus), Carolina golden-aster (Pityopsis aspera var. adenolepis), flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata), evening primrose

174 (Oenothera sp.), Appalachian bellflower (Campanula divaricata), greater coreopsis (Coreopsis major), Appalachian ragwort (Packera anonyma), blackseed needlegrass (Piptochaetium avenaceum), and the uncommon false aloe (Manfreda virginica).

Areas on ridgetops and middle to upper slopes, including extensive areas west of Hall Creek, support fairly good examples of Chestnut Oak Forest and Montane Oak--Hickory Forest. The Chestnut Oak Forests have canopies dominated by chestnut oak, with a mixture of red maple, scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), Virginia pine, and occasional pitch pine (Pinus rigida). Understory species, in addition to canopy species, include sassafras (Sassafras albidum), mockernut hickory (Carya alba), and sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum). Sprouts of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) are infrequent. Shrubs are sparse though patches of mountain laurel, black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum), dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), and others are present. Herbs are sparse and include trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens), partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), galax (Galax urceolata), greater coreopsis, yellow stargrass (Hypoxis hirsuta), asters (Aster spp.), Curtis' goldenrod (Solidago curtissii), turpentineroot (Aristolochia serpentaria), bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), and other typical species as well as vines such as Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). One example of this type near the rocky summit community supports many young Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) and rare yellow honeysuckle, indicating high pH soils.

Montane Oak--Hickory Forest also occur in various slope and crest areas, often in ridgetop saddles with gentle topography. They support mixed canopies of chestnut oak, white oak (Quercus alba), scarlet oak, mockernut hickory (Carya alba), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), red maple, yellow poplar, Virginia pine, and white pine (Pinus strobus). Understory species, in addition to canopy species, include sourwood, witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), American holly (Ilex opaca), silverbell, and flowering dogwood. Shrubs are sparse to moderately dense, with mountain laurel, hazelnut (Corylus sp.), mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), dryland blueberry, and flame azalea. Herbs are moderately dense and include typical species such as galax, dwarf crested iris, bloodroot, white heartleaf aster, squirrel-corn (Conopholis americana), devil's-bit (Chamelirium luteum), and others.

Other rare plant species include the rare Appalachian cliff fern (Woodsia appalachiana), reported from steep slopes south of Lane Branch, presumably in clifflike habitats and shale- barren blazing star (Liatris turgida), documented from dry forests northeast of Sisk Gap.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: About 250 acres at the northern end of the site, including areas around Lane Branch, is managed by N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission as part of the South Mountains Game Land. The publicly-owned part of the site is intended for protection as a Dedicated State Nature Preserve. Other parts of the site are without protection. The site is vulnerable to logging in the future. Areas on the west side of Hall Creek, from the

175 north end of Shaft Ridge to near US Highway 64 were clearcut in 2000. The western two-thirds of the site are in the same ownership. Due to the proximity of logged areas, monitoring of the site for non-native species may be needed. An old network of dirt roads on Shaft Ridge had been maintained in 2000, perhaps in preparation for logging of development. Although the extensive forests described here are well-suited for protection by a public agency, the current extent of logging should be assessed before protection actions are initiated.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Low Elevation Rocky Summit, Chestnut Oak Forest, Montane Oak--Hickory Forest, Rich Cove Forest.

RARE PLANTS: shale-barren blazing star (Liatris turgida), yellow honeysuckle (Lonicera flava), Appalachian cliff fern (Woodsia appalachiana), sweet white trillium (Trillium simile).

REFERENCES: Moye, W.S. 1994. Inventory of the South Mountains, North Carolina. Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Raleigh. NC Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Brindletown Forests. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

176 177

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

JIMMY KNOB Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: County Size: 163 acres Quadrangle: Morganton South Ownership: Private

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: Of primary significance are good examples of Rich Cove Forests on Jimmy Knob, with the Significantly Rare sweet white trillium (Trillium simile) and a large population of Carolina saxifrage (Saxifraga caroliniana), a State Candidate and Federal Species of Concern. The presence of two Watch List plant species, wafer-ash (Ptelea trifoliata) and roundleaf ragwort (Packera obovata), indicate the presence of mafic rock and rich soils. From a landscape perspective, the site is well-embedded in the largest wildland area in the North Carolina Piedmont and it is significant as one in the cluster of standard sites that compose the larger South Mountains Macrosite and Foothills Megasite. With additional study, the site might be found to merit regional significance.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site is well connected to extensive forests which form the wildland core of the South Mountains. It is bordered on the west by recently-acquired lands in South Mountains State Park. The southern tip of the site is connected to the South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed. On the east, it is bordered by extensive forested lands that are largely unfragmented. The northern end of the site borders on forests of lower quality, small clearings, and scattered residences along the Henry Fork River.

SITE DESCRIPTION: Jimmy Knob is a small knob in the remote highlands of the South Mountains, just north of South Mountains State Park. Its east flank contains very steep, dissected slopes and coves. It is bordered on the west by recently-acquired lands in South Mountains State Park. The site includes areas of gentler slope and cove topography that extend to the north from Jimmy Knob as well as steep north-facing slopes above the Henry Fork River. Jimmy Knob itself supports good, nutrient-rich examples of Rich Cove Forest, which are uncommon in the Piedmont region. Small outcrops on steeper slopes are examples of the rare Low Elevation Rocky Summit community type. Areas north of Jimmy Knob support fairly good quality examples of Acidic Cove Forest, Rich Cove Forest, and Chestnut Oak Forest communities. Because access was limited on most of Jimmy Knob proper, where plant species indicators of uncommon rock types and soils are present, it is in need of subsequent survey.

The Rich Cove Forests on the eastern flank of Jimmy Knob support very mature canopy hardwoods such as red oak (Quercus rubra), basswood (Tilia heterophylla), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), cucumber-tree (Magnolia acuminata), red maple (Acer rubrum), black walnut (Juglans nigra), and others. Dutchman's-pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla), a temperate

179 liana common in rich coves of the Blue Ridge but very rare in the Piedmont, clings to canopy trees in some areas. Silverbell (Halesia tetraptera), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), and red bud (Cercis canadensis) occur as understory trees. Shrubs are sparse, but include smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), strawberry-bush (Euonymus americanus), common elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), and the uncommon wafer-ash (Ptelea trifoliata). The wafer ash is a good indicator of rich rock and soil types which often support uncommon and rare plant species. A dense, diverse collection of early spring cove herbs are present, such as bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), marginal wood fern (Dryopteris marginalis), violets (Viola spp.), an alumroot (Heuchera sp.), wide-leaved spiderwort (Tradescantia subaspera), meadowrue (Thalictrum sp.), black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), false Solomon's-seal (Maianthemum racemosum), Canada richweed (Collinsonia canadensis), great indian-plantain (Arnoglossum muhlenbergii), black snakeroot (Ageratina altissima), and Canada leaf-cup (Polymnia canadensis). Other species such as cove bladder fern (Cystopteris protrusa), dutchman's-breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), yellow fumewort (Corydalis flavula), the rare sweet white trillium (Trillium simile), and the uncommon roundleaf ragwort (Packera obovata) indicate rich soil conditions in these coves. The uncommon southern horsebalm (Collinsonia serotina), a species largely restricted to the Coastal Plain, was previously reported from this site but is in need of verification.

At least two small examples of the rare Low Elevation Rocky Summit community occur on the steep slopes of Jimmy Knob. These steep, seepy exposures are surrounded by Rich Cove Forest. They support large numbers of the rare Carolina saxifrage (Saxifraga caroliniana) with jewelweed (Impatiens sp.), blunt-lobed cliff fern (Woodsia obtusa), and near rock margins, the rare sweet white trillium. Since no access was obtained to these interesting outcrops in this survey, further study of them is needed.

Areas north of Jimmy Knob proper support more typical examples Rich Cove Forest, as well as Acidic Cove Forest and Chestnut Oak Forest communities. Rich Cove Forest occurs as small patches on the lower slopes of the north-facing slopes above the Henry Fork River. These forests are more heavily dominated by yellow poplar, with several other cove hardwoods in lesser numbers, and understory and herb layers with collections of typical herbs. An abundance of roundleaf ragwort and red bud (Cercis canadensis) in certain areas indicates a rich nutrient status. Acidic Cove Forests occur over a wider area on these slopes. They support a canopy of red maple, red oak, other oaks, sweet birch, Fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri), and Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), over a dense shrub layer of mountain laurel on upper slopes and rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) and occasional dense patches of dog-hobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana) on middle and lower slopes. Drier crest and upper slope areas support examples of fairly good quality Chestnut Oak Forest, dominated by chestnut oak (Quercus montana), scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), and other trees over dense patches of mountain laurel and typical understory and herb species.

180 MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site has no formal protection, but it is very suitable for inclusion in South Mountains State Park. No active management is needed. Management should focus on maintaining natural forest dynamics and maturation to older growth forests. The outcrop areas in particular are in need of further study. The flora of outcrop areas is probably sensitive to disturbance from visitation, which could crush or dislodge plants. Periodic monitoring for non-native species is recommended, especially in the nutrient-rich forests on the east face of Jimmy Knob. Adjacent areas that were recently clearcut contain an abundance of the non-native Japanese grass (Microstegium vimineum). Rare species populations should also be monitored periodically. A previous report on this site indicates that wild boars may have disturbed some areas around Jimmy Knob in the past.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Low Elevation Rocky Summit, Rich Cove Forest, Acidic Cove Forest, Chestnut Oak Forest.

RARE PLANTS: Carolina saxifrage (Saxifraga caroliniana), sweet white trillium (Trillium simile).

REFERENCES: Moye, W.S. 1994. Inventory of the South Mountains, North Carolina. Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Raleigh. NC Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Jimmy Knob. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

181

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

BURKEMONT MOUNTAIN Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: County Size: 133 acres Quadrangle: Morganton South Ownership: Private

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site derives significance from fairly good quality examples of Chestnut Oak Forest and Montane Oak--Hickory Forest communities well as an example of Rich Cove Forest, which is uncommon in the Piedmont. Augmenting its significance are its position in the South Mountains Macrosite and its contiguity with two publicly-owned significant sites in the South Mountains cluster: Deaf School Watershed and Broughton Hospital/Keller Knob. From an esthetic standpoint, the site is a part of the prominent line of sparsely-developed mountains visible from Morganton. Small numbers of the Significantly Rare smooth sunflower (Helianthus laevigatus) are reported from openings at the edge of the site.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site is almost connected with Deaf School Watershed on the west and Broughton Hospital/Keller Knob is within one-half mile to the east. To the south are mostly unfragmented forest lands, some of which have been logged in the last couple of decades. Sites comprising the core of the South Mountains, namely South Mountains Henry Fork Watershed, South Mountains Jacob Fork Watershed, and Clear Creek Watershed Natural Area lie within a few air miles of the site across primarily forested lands.

SITE DESCRIPTION: Burkemont Mountain is part of the north-facing front of the South Mountains which rises where slopes steepen about three miles south of Interstate 40 at Morganton. This front contains several other significant sites, including Broughton Hospital/Keller Knob, Deaf School Watershed, Clear Creek (Broughton) Watershed Natural Area, and others. Very steep slopes with mature Chestnut Oak Forest occupy the southern fourth of the site, while fairly good quality Montane Oak--Hickory Forest and Rich Cove Forest cover gentler slopes on the remainder of the site.

The Chestnut Oak Forest occurs on dry upper slopes. It is dominated by chestnut oak (Quercus montana), with lesser amounts of other oaks, red maple (Acer rubrum), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), and mockernut hickory (Carya alba). The understory contains canopy saplings and understory trees such as witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) and occasional sprouts of American chestnut (Castanea dentata). Dense patches of mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) and frequent dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum) form a dense shrub layer in many areas. Flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) is also present. Herbs are typically sparse and include galax (Galax urceolata), lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria

183 montana), greater coreopsis (Coreopsis major), asters (Aster spp.), false foxglove (Aureolaria sp.), and other plants from surrounding forests. Rockcap fern (Polypodium virginianum) is occasional in rocky areas.

Montane Oak--Hickory Forest occupies slope areas that are less dry. A canopy of yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), red oak (Quercus rubra), chestnut oak, white oak (Quercus alba), and red maple occurs over a moderately open understory of those species, with occasional silverbell (Halesia tetraptera), black cherry (Prunus serotina), and flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). Shrubs are notably sparser than in the adjacent Chestnut Oak Forest, limited to mountain laurel, sweet shrub (Calycanthus floridus), flame azalea, and maple-leaved viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium). Herbs are sparse to moderately dense and include bear corn (Conopholis americana), false foxglove, basil bergamot (Monarda clinopodia), Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), and others. Vines such as poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolius) are fairly frequent in some areas.

A fair quality example of Rich Cove Forest occurs on lower slopes around a tributary of Bailey Fork. Canopy dominance by mature yellow poplar indicates previous logging in the forest. Other cove hardwoods such as red oak, basswood (Tilia heterophylla), black cherry, and sweet birch (Betula lenta) are less abundant. Understory trees such as silverbell and flowering dogwood are occasional among saplings of the canopy and shrubs such as smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), sweet shrub, and maple-leaved viburnum are infrequent. The herb layer is well developed and includes a fairly diverse collection of cove species including Solomon's-seal (Polygonatum biflorum), false Solomon's-seal (Maianthemum racemosum), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum), Christmas fern, marginal wood fern (Dryopteris marginalis), black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), spikenard (Aralia racemosa), wood nettle (Laportea canadensis), sedges (Carex spp.), and others.

A report of a single individual of rare smooth sunflower was previously reported from road edges at this site, but the record remains to be confirmed. Only the more common small-headed sunflower (Helianthus microcephalus) was noted during the inventory, and many road edges have recently been scraped during road maintenance work.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site has no formal protection. Little in terms of active management is needed. Natural forest dynamics should be allowed to operate as the forest matures to older growth. The site is best suited to conservation by a local land trust. Invasive species are not abundant, though Japanese grass (Microstegium vimineum) is present near site edges and along a few old road beds. All-terrain vehicle use on lower slope areas could degrade cove areas. The report of smooth sunflower from road edges is certainly possible at this site, but road maintenance activities may have extirpated it.

184 NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Chestnut Oak Forest, Montane Oak--Hickory Forest, Rich Cove Forest.

RARE PLANTS: smooth sunflower (Helianthus laevigatus).

REFERENCES: Moye, W.S. 1994. Inventory of the South Mountains, North Carolina. Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Raleigh. NC Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh. Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Burkemont Mountain. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

185

Burke County Natural Areas Inventory

HALL KNOB Significant Natural Heritage Area

Site Significance: County Size: 152 acres Quadrangle: Glen Alpine; Dysartsville Ownership: Private

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site is significant for fairly good examples of Chestnut Oak Forest and Montane Oak--Hickory Forest and for its position near the core of the South Mountains. It is one of the standard sites nested within the South Mountains Macrosite and the Foothills Megasite.

LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: Although the site is in a primarily undeveloped landscape, it suffers from reduced connection to the core of the South Mountains, primarily due to logging. The site is bordered on the south by a several-hundred acre area that was clearcut in 2000. The Brindletown Forests site lies across the clearcut, about one mile to the south with the publicly- owned lands in the Rollins/South Mountains Natural Area beyond. It is bordered on the west by young forests that were heavily logged in the last decade or so. To the east, young forests along Chestnut Flats Branch separate it from the Shoal Creek Watershed site and public lands in the Clear Creek Watershed Natural Area site, both of which lie within one-half mile.

SITE DESCRIPTION: Hall Knob lies is a small crest at the northern edge of the South Mountains, within one mile of US Highway 64. The site includes the knob and ridgetops, slopes, and a cove which descend to the south. These areas drain to Hall Creek on the west and to Chestnut Flats Branch on the east. The site supports mature, fairly good examples of Chestnut Oak Forest and Montane Oak--Hickory Forest communities, both of which are widespread in the county. A few very small clearings exist between forested areas.

The Chestnut Oak Forest community occurs on crests, higher ridgetops, and upper slopes. It has a semi-open canopy of chestnut oak (Quercus montana), with substantial scarlet oak (Q. coccinea), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), red maple (Acer rubrum), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), mockernut hickory (Carya alba), and others. The understory contains sassafras (Sassafras albidum), pines (Pinus spp.), saplings of the canopy, and infrequent sprouts of American chestnut (Castanea dentata), as well as occasional patches of common heaths such as mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) and dryland blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum). Herbs are typically sparse, and include pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), witch-grasses (Dichanthelium spp.), greater coreopsis (Coreopsis major), kidneyleaf rosinweed (Silphium compositum var. reniforme), Appalachian sunflower (Helianthus atrorubens), galax (Galax urceolata), downy rattlesnake-plantain (Goodyera pubescens), white-

187 bracted thoroughwort (Eupatorium album), rabbit-tobacco (Gnaphalium sp.), and blackberry (Rubus sp.). One forest margin near a clearing supports wild quinine (Parthenium sp.), which could be the rare glade wild quinine (P. auriculatum).

Montane Oak--Hickory Forests are most common on slopes and lower ridgetops. Its canopy is dominated by a mixture of chestnut oak, yellow poplar, red maple, white oak (Quercus alba), black gum, scarlet oak, mockernut hickory, pignut hickory (Carya glabra), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), white pine (Pinus strobus), and Virginia pine (P. virginiana). The moderately dense understory supports saplings of the canopy, and also occasional sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), and others. Shrubs are fairly sparse. Mountain laurel is present, but less abundant than in the adjacent Chestnut Oak Forests. Other shrubs include sweet shrub (Calycanthus floridus), dryland blueberry, deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), St. John's-wort (Hypericum stragulum), and others. Herbs are sparse to moderately dense and include false Solomon's-seal (Mainthemum racemosum), bear corn (Conopholis americana), New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), cucmber-root (Medeola virginiana), and others. A milkvine (Matelea sp.) which is present in several areas could be the rare glade milkvine (M. decipiens).

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The site has no formal protection. The site is most suitable for conservation by a local land trust. It has no need for active management. It should be managed for older growth forest communities.

NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Chestnut Oak Forest, Montane Oak--Hickory Forest.

REFERENCES: Oakley, S.C. 2000. Site Survey Report: Hall Knob. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, DPR, DENR, Raleigh.

188 APPENDIX I. EXPLANATION OF STATUS AND RANK CODES FOR RARE PLANTS

N.C. Status: E = Endangered, T = Threatened, SC = Special Concern, C = Candidate, SR = Significantly Rare. Plant statuses are determined by the Plant Conservation Program, N.C. Department of Agriculture, and the NC NHP. Collection from the wild of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern species is regulated by state law. The Candidate and Significantly Rare statuses are NC NHP designations indicating the need for population monitoring and possible conservation action for species not currently listed as Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern.

U.S. Status: E = Endangered. A plant that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. T = Threatened. A plant that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. FSC = Federal Species of Concern. This status replaces the former "Category 2" Candidate status used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Category 2 plants were those for which there was some evidence of vulnerability, but for which there were not enough data to support listing as Endangered or Threatened. The FSC code has no official status.

N.C. Rank: S1 = Critically imperilled in North Carolina because of extreme rarity or because of some factor making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from the state. Typically 1-5 populations. S2 = Imperilled in North Carolina because of rarity or because of some factor making it very vulnerable to extirpation from the state. Typically 6-20 populations. S3 = Rare or uncommon in North Carolina. Typically 21-100 populations. SH = Of historical occurrence in North Carolina, not having been verified in more than 20 years, and suspected to be still extant.

Global Rank: G1 = Critically imperiled globally because of extreme rarity or because of some factor making it especially vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. Typically 5 or fewer occurrences globally. G2 = Imperiled globally because of rarity or because of some factor making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. Typically 6-20 occurrences globally. G3 = Either very rare and local throughout its range or found locally (even abundantly at some of its locations) in a restricted range or because of other factors making it vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. Typically 21-100 occurrences globally. G4 = Apparently secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

189 G5 = Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Q = Questionable taxonomic assignment. T = The rank of a subspecies or variety. For example, G4T1 would apply to a subspecies or variety of a species with an overally rank of G4, but with the subspecies or variety warranting a rank of G1. ? = Unranked, or rank uncertain. U= Possibly in peril range-wide, but status uncertain.

An S or G rank involving two numbers indicates uncertainty of rank. For instance, a G2G3 rank indicates that the species appears to warrant either a G2 or a G3 ranking, but that existing data do not allow that determination to be made.

190 APPENDIX II. EXPLANATION OF STATUS AND RANK CODES FOR RARE ANIMALS

N.C. Status: E = Endangered, T = Threatened, SC = Special Concern, SR = Significantly Rare. Animal statuses are determined by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the NC NHP. Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern species are afforded some protection by state law (the Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Wildlife Species of Special Concern act, 1987). The Significantly Rare status is a NC NHP designation indicating rarity and the need for population monitoring and possible conservation action for species not currently listed as Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern.

U.S. Status: E = Endangered. An amimal that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. T = Threatened. An animal that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. FSC = Federal Species of Concern. This status replaces the former "Category 2" Candidate status used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Category 2 animals were those for which there was some evidence of vulnerability, but for which there were not enough data to support listing as Endangered or Threatened. The FSC code has no official status.

N.C. Rank: S1 = Critically imperilled in North Carolina because of extreme rarity or because of some factor making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from the state. Typically 1-5 populations. S2 = Imperilled in North Carolina because of rarity or because of some factor making it very vulnerable to extirpation from the state. Typically 6-20 populations. S3 = Rare or uncommon in North Carolina. Typically 21-100 populations. SH = Of historical occurrence in North Carolina, not having been verified in more than 20 years, and suspected to be still extant. S_B (e.g., S2B) = Rank of the breeding population in the state (for migratory species only). In the example provided, "S2B", the breeding population has a state rank of S2, regardless of the rank of the non-breeding population. S_N = Rank of the non-breeding population in the state (for migratory species only). _Z_ (e.g., SZN) = Population is not of significant conservation concern. In the example provided, "SZN", the non-breeding population is not of significant conservation concern.

Global Rank: G1 = Critically imperiled globally because of extreme rarity or because of some factor making it especially vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. Typically 5 or fewer occurrences globally.

191 G2 = Imperiled globally because of rarity or because of some factor making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. Typically 6-20 occurrences globally. G3 = Either very rare and local throughout its range or found locally (even abundantly at some of its locations) in a restricted range or because of other factors making it vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. Typically 21-100 occurrences globally. G4 = Apparently secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. G5 = Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. T = The rank of a subspecies or variety. For example, G4T1 would apply to a subspecies or variety of a species with an overall rank of G4, but with the subspecies or variety warranting a rank of G1. GH or TH = Historical occurrences only through its range, with the expectation that it may be rediscovered (GH for a species, TH for a subspecies or variety). GU = Possibly in peril range-wide, but status uncertain; more information is needed. ? = Unranked, or rank uncertain.

An S or G rank involving two numbers indicates uncertainty of rank. For instance, a G2G3 rank indicates that the species appears to warrant either a G2 or a G3 ranking, but that existing data do not allow that determination to be made.

192