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