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• <br /> 126 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY NATURAL AREAS SURVEY. SITE DESCRIPTION. <br /> • <br /> Site name: Bald Mountain Gabbro Depression <br /> site: number: NO2 <br /> significance: 4 - county Medium Integrity: 4 - Moderately <br /> Good <br /> Threat Status: 4 - Slight <br /> Location: Flats located west of Old NC 86 (CR 1009) and • <br /> Meadow Flats; halfway between Calvander Crossroad and <br /> intersection of Old NC 86 and Arthur Minnis Road (CR 1113) . <br /> • USGS Quad: Chapel Hill <br /> Approx. acreage: 60 <br /> • <br /> Jurisdiction: Duke University; Rural Buffer <br /> Reasons for significance: This site is one of only two upland <br /> depression swamp forests' located over an extensive gabbro <br /> area weathered to Iredell soil. <br /> General description: This site, along with Meadow Flats, <br /> occupies the largest expanse of Iredell soil in Orange <br /> County. The presence of this soil series is due in turn to <br /> an underlying gabbro sill, which likewise is the largest <br /> within the county. This type of geological formation is <br /> circumneutral in pH and is, extremely poorly drained, covered' <br /> with standing water in the spring but bone-dry in the summer: <br /> Consequently, the forest growing on this site .is unusual for <br /> an upland area, and is dominated by willow oaks (Ouercus <br /> phellos) , winged elm (Ulmus elate) , sweetgum (Liquidambar <br /> stvraciflua) , and spicebush (Lindera benzoin) . Unusual <br /> species in the herb layer include.Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium <br /> fistulosum) , partridge, berry (Mitchella repens) , and rock <br /> spikemoss (Selaginell_a, apoda) . <br /> This site is more disturbed by forestry practices <br /> (including ditching) than is the nearby Meadow Flats, part of <br /> the same soil and geological formation. Probably for this <br /> reason fewer animal .species were observed here than at the <br /> nearby Flats, but given the recovery of the forest the same <br /> species could be expected. <br /> Protection Status: Duke Forest multiple use lands <br /> • <br /> Surrounding land use: <br /> N: Forest. <br /> ' E: Old NC 86 <br /> ' S: Forest, residential <br /> W: Forest <br /> Threats: <br /> Immediate: Timbering <br /> ; Potential: Same <br /> Recommendations for management or protection: Forestry <br /> 147 <br />