An inventory of significant natural areas in Wake County, North Carolina - Page 101 |
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93
Wake County Natural Areas Inventory
LITTLE BEAVERDAM CREEK SLOPES
Site Number: 11 Size: about 55 acres
Site Significance: County Quadrangle: Creedmoor
Ownership: U. S. Army Corps of Engineers – Falls Lake, private
SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site contains one of the largest populations of the
Significantly Rare Douglass’s bittercress ( Cardamine douglassii) in the state. The natural area
at the site is a fairly mature hardwood forest, both in the uplands and floodplains.
LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site is located 1- 2 miles northeast of Old Weaver Trail
Slopes natural area, and several miles to the northwest of additional Falls Lake natural areas –
New Light Creek Slopes and Great Bend of the Neuse Natural Area.
SITE DESCRIPTION: Little Beaverdam Creek flows westward into Falls Lake, in extreme
northern Wake County. Before construction of Falls Lake, the spring ephemeral Douglass’s
bittercress ( Cardamine douglassii) grew abundantly in several bottomlands in extreme northern
Wake County. However, the lake flooded most of those populations. Fortunately, many
thousands of this plant survive in the narrow bottomland and gentle slopes along Little
Beaverdam Creek and along an unnamed tributary flowing northwestward into it. This is the one
of the largest populations of Douglass’s bittercress known in the state. It blooms during March
and by late spring has already set seed, withered, and is no longer visible. This northern species
occurs at scattered sites in extreme north- central North Carolina, with most sites in the Falls
Lake vicinity.
The hardwood forest at this site is a good example of Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest natural
community. A few of the steeper slopes contain American beech ( Fagus grandifolia) as the
canopy dominant tree, whereas the more gentle slopes contain a variety of oaks and other
hardwoods. Painted buckeye ( Aesculus sylvatica) is locally abundant in the shrub layer. The
herb layer contains a spring flora dominated by Douglass’s bittercress, spring beauty ( Claytonia
virginica), and mayapple ( Podophyllum peltatum).
PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT: About half of the site is owned by the U. S. Army
Corps of Engineers ( Falls Lake) and managed by the N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission as
part of the Butner - Falls of Neuse Game Land. The southeastern portion of the site lies on
unprotected private land. Little or no management is needed.
NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest
RARE PLANTS: Douglass’s bittercress ( Cardamine douglassii)
Object Description
Description
| Title | An inventory of significant natural areas in Wake County, North Carolina - Page 101 |
| Full Text | 93 Wake County Natural Areas Inventory LITTLE BEAVERDAM CREEK SLOPES Site Number: 11 Size: about 55 acres Site Significance: County Quadrangle: Creedmoor Ownership: U. S. Army Corps of Engineers – Falls Lake, private SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site contains one of the largest populations of the Significantly Rare Douglass’s bittercress ( Cardamine douglassii) in the state. The natural area at the site is a fairly mature hardwood forest, both in the uplands and floodplains. LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site is located 1- 2 miles northeast of Old Weaver Trail Slopes natural area, and several miles to the northwest of additional Falls Lake natural areas – New Light Creek Slopes and Great Bend of the Neuse Natural Area. SITE DESCRIPTION: Little Beaverdam Creek flows westward into Falls Lake, in extreme northern Wake County. Before construction of Falls Lake, the spring ephemeral Douglass’s bittercress ( Cardamine douglassii) grew abundantly in several bottomlands in extreme northern Wake County. However, the lake flooded most of those populations. Fortunately, many thousands of this plant survive in the narrow bottomland and gentle slopes along Little Beaverdam Creek and along an unnamed tributary flowing northwestward into it. This is the one of the largest populations of Douglass’s bittercress known in the state. It blooms during March and by late spring has already set seed, withered, and is no longer visible. This northern species occurs at scattered sites in extreme north- central North Carolina, with most sites in the Falls Lake vicinity. The hardwood forest at this site is a good example of Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest natural community. A few of the steeper slopes contain American beech ( Fagus grandifolia) as the canopy dominant tree, whereas the more gentle slopes contain a variety of oaks and other hardwoods. Painted buckeye ( Aesculus sylvatica) is locally abundant in the shrub layer. The herb layer contains a spring flora dominated by Douglass’s bittercress, spring beauty ( Claytonia virginica), and mayapple ( Podophyllum peltatum). PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT: About half of the site is owned by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers ( Falls Lake) and managed by the N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission as part of the Butner - Falls of Neuse Game Land. The southeastern portion of the site lies on unprotected private land. Little or no management is needed. NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest RARE PLANTS: Douglass’s bittercress ( Cardamine douglassii) |
