ECOLOGY & SIGNIFICANCE Located between two major cities in North Carolina in the Cape Fear River Basin, a wild wonder awaits avid paddlers, wildlife enthusiasts and ancient tree lovers. The Black River Swamp floodplains are home to the oldest trees east of the Rocky Mountains. These wetlands are characterized by tall, flat-topped bald cypress with massive buttresses completely dominating the open canopy in the old-growth stands. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has purchased critical sections of the floodplain and acquired conservation easements on privately owned natural areas in Bladen and Pender Counties. Approximately 9,140 acres lands along the floodplains of the 60-mile long Black River are in preservation and another 487 acres are in conservation easement in Bladen, Pender and Sampson Counties.

FLORA & FAUNA This site is inhabited by towering bald cypress, pond cypress, black gum, and tupelo gum (water tupelo), and includes species such as American elm, water hickory and several oaks in higher elevation sites of the floodplain. The inundated cove areas adjacent to the river have a limited understory that can include swamp rose, showy common buttonbush, and water elm. Lizard’s tail, spider lilies, knotweeds, and sedges, are commonly found in the floodplains. A carpet of cypress

knees, hanging Spanish moss and epiphytic ferns found throughout the canopy make these swamps magical. Many wildlife species inhabit the floodplains including bobcat, river otter, black bear, wild turkeys, wood ducks, yellow-bellied sliders, the occasional American alligator and neotropical songbirds like the prothonotary warbler and yellow-throated vireo.

THREATSThreats include polluted runoff from adjacent agriculture and development that could negatively affect water chemistry (low oxygen and pH), plant and animal life. However TNC, working with partners over the past 30 years, has protected 9,140 acres containing 7,211 acres of these special floodplain wetlands. Additional critical conservation is necessary and work continues.

ACCESSPublic access is limited to bridges and Wildlife Resources Commission public boat access sites in Ivanhoe (34.60500 /-78.24278) and at Hunts Bluff (34.46583 /-78.18083) in Bladen County. The “three sisters” area, known for the oldest trees in the Black River Swamp, is best accessed by boat. The best access is to put in at Henry’s Landing (34.53944/-78.27185), a private site open to the public for nominal launching fees, and taking out at the private Newby’s Landing (34.47447

Wood storks—photo by Angie Carl

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carolinawetlands.org

Photo by Andrew KornylakBLACK RIVER SWAMP WETLAND TYPES:

Riverine swamp forest, bottomland hardwood forest, pine flat, pocosin and seep

/-78.19874) just below the NC 11/53 bridge.

SOURCES The Nature Conservancy