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9 <br /> NATURAL AREAS <br /> Naturals areas usually include wildlife and botanical habitats identified in the Inventory of the <br /> Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats of Orange County, N.C. Although no natural areas were <br /> identified in that study for the University Station site, three types of natural areas were identified <br /> in the Inventory which occur on the project site. These include beaver ponds, bottomland <br /> hardwood forest, and beech bluffs. General descriptions of these areas as identified in the <br /> Preliminary Evaluation of Ecological and Archaeological Resources at the Universiry Station Site <br /> are provided below. <br /> Beaver Ponds Beaver dams along Stoney Creek have created <br /> impoundments throughout the center of the University <br /> Station tract. Most of these areas appear to have been <br /> ponded for many years, long enough for wetland vegetation <br /> to become dominant and hydric soils to develop. Little <br /> canopy is left in these areas - a few sycamores survive in <br /> sparse areas, but most trees have died or are long decayed. <br /> Along the shores on the impoundments, a sparse shrubby <br /> layer of black willow and buttonbush grows. Both species <br /> are adapted to wet environments. <br /> The most northern impoundment on the tract, on the <br /> property of the old dairy farm, appears to be rather old, <br /> with several successive dams built across the creek. One <br /> dam, now breached, has almost completely grown over <br /> with vegetation. The breached impoundment is slowly <br /> reverting back to bottomland forest. The remaining <br /> impoundments in this area, however, are lush wetlands <br /> with diverse emergent vegetation, supporting a variety of <br /> fauna. <br /> One beaver dam appears to have been made more recently <br /> than the others. It is located approximately in the center of <br /> the tract, just west of a large, man-made pond. <br /> Immediately north of the dam, Stoney Creek flows <br /> unobstructed toward Old N.C. Highway 10. Only sparse <br /> emergent vegetation has developed in this impoundment, <br /> and soils have not yet become hydric. <br /> The area occupied by beaver ponds within the project <br /> boundaries is 25.5 acres. <br /> f Bottomland Hardwood This community type is found in low-lying or damp areas <br /> Forest along creeks, drains, draws, and impounded areas. The <br /> dominant trees are tulip poplar, red maple, sweet gum, but <br /> also include beech, willow oak, hickory, and black walnut. <br /> The subcanopy contains many of the species found in the <br /> canopy, as well as dogwood, alder, red cedar, winged elm, <br />