4.3 Wetland Natural Communities
Te 2005 WAP describes tidal swamp forest and wetland communities as a priority habitat (see Chapter 5) (NCWRC 2005) .
4.3.6.2 Location of Habitat Tese habitats occur along rivers or sounds in areas where fooding is infuenced by lunar or wind tides. Fresh water input may heavily infuence the salt content ( NCWRC 2005 ). Tidal cypress–gum swamps are extensive along shorelines and along drowned river valleys (e.g . Cape Fear, Neuse, and Chowan rivers). Te most extensive examples can be found around Albemarle Sound areas, Alligator River, and at the mouths of the Cape Fear, Neuse, Tar, and Roanoke rivers. Tidal freshwater marshes are common around the margins of Currituck Sound, and occur in smaller areas, such as in the Cape Fear River just west of Wilmington. 4.3.6.3 Problems Affecting Habitats Erosion . Erosion control measures may help protect these communities, but measures that alter the shoreline, whether sea walls, “soft” structures, or planting of-site species, are potentially destructive to these communities. Shoreline armoring and hardening to protect infrastructure will prevent ecosystems such as tidal marshes from migrating inland (DeWan et al. 2010) . As development continues inland, water demandsin the Piedmont will afect freshwater fows from the major rivers that feed this system through water removals. Flooding. Alteration of food regimes in rivers may afect these systems. Some areas are fresh largely, or at least partly, because of the dilution of sea water by river input. Increased water withdrawal or interbasin transfer may increase this problem in the future. Te efects are local, afecting primarily the mouth of the altered rivers, but could be important cumu- latively. Existing drainage ditches and canals bringing saltwater into wetlands is a serious threat. Saltwater intrusion is already impacting former forests in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge near the intersection of US 64 and US 264, and in the lowest portion of the Scuppernong River at Columbia. Tide gates or blocking ditches are needed to slow, if not eliminate, some saltwater intrusion. However, saltwater intrusion into Albemarle Sound and into the Scuppernong River cannot be controlled by tide gates or blocking ditches. Logging. Tis ecosystem group is likely to experience drastic changes in extent and signif- icant movement of communities that are logged. Logging is a threat to some tidal cypress– gum swamps, while others are in protected status or are too wet for logging equipment. Drying may create opportunities for logging these wet areas. Small plants of low interior marshes appear to need fre to maintain their habitat. Lack of fre allows unnatural vegetation succession in some freshwater marshes. Common Reed, Chinese Tallow Tree, Alligator Weed, and Nutria are primary invasive species concerns.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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