Habitat Types
The Roanoke River is a typical
southeastern United States alluvial system that has formed forested swamps in
the Coastal Plain region. In the upper reach from Weldon to Scotland Neck, the Roanoke River floodplain
is relatively narrow with some locations only a mile wide. The natural levees
and ridges alternate with sloughs and backswamps in rapid succession. The
floodplain becomes flatter and broader in the middle section. Widths of 2 to 3
miles, with 1,000-acre cypress-gum backswamps, are not uncommon. The continued
presence of levees and ridges makes the middle section the most diverse and
productive. The river is essentially at sea level below Jamesville and broad
expanses of cypress-gum swamp as much as 5 miles wide dominate. As described in the NC Natural Heritage Program, there are six
natural communities within the Refuge boundary: coastal plain levee forest
(brownwater subtype), cypress-gum swamp (blackwater subtype), cypress-gum swamp
(brownwater subtype), coastal plain bottomland hardwoods (brownwater subtype),
coastal plain semi-permanent impoundment, and mesic mixed hardwood forest
(coastal plain)
The
National Wetlands Inventory described the entire Refuge as a palustrine,
forested wetland with deciduous or broad-leafed deciduous vegetation and a
water regime ranging from temporarily flooded to semi-permanently flooded.
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Coastal Plain Levee Forest (Brownwater Subtype
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Coastal Plain Bottomland Hardwood Forest (Brownwater Subtype)
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Cypress-Gum Swamps (Brownwater Subtype).
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Cypress-Gum Swamps (Blackwater Subtype)
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Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest (Coastal Plain Subtype)
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Coastal Plain Semi-permanent Impoundment
Page Photo Credits – Broadneck Swamp and other habitats by FWS/Bob Glennon, Coastal Plain Levee b y Bob Glennon, Coastal Plain Levee by Bob Glennon, Coastal Plain Levee by Bob Glennon
Last Updated: Nov 28, 2014