SUMMARY OF MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

Zone 4

G E N E R A L D E S C R I P T I O N O F A R E A / P R O F I L E

Confined to the northern extent of the eastern tract and the area in between the tributary streams on the homesite tract, mature forests exist that have natural vegetative structure and generally lack invasive plants.

RECOMMENDATIONS

This Zone requires minimal management at best. To maintain the natural composition of these forests create small to medium sized canopy gaps by selectively removing individual, lower quality trees. Beneficial downed woody debris exists already in this area; remove only if they pose a safety hazard.

TA R G E T P L A N T C O M M U N I T Y/ L A N D S C A P E C H A R A C T E R

The target of this plant community is to maintain it as a mature forest devoid of invasive plants. The existing natural forest communities of Zone 4 include Chestnut Oak Forest and Montane Oak-Hickory Forest (mix of oak and hickory). Together these forests contain a wide diversity of upland oak species that are important to the ecosystem, including white, northern and southern red, black, scarlet, and chestnut oaks. Mockernut and pignut hickories are also important mast-producing species. The overall lack of disturbance, especially in the Chestnut Oak forest, has helped the community to maintain vegetative integrity.