 |
||||||||||||
 |
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
At more than 18,000 acres, The Emily Richardson Preyer Buckridge component is both the largest single property in the Coastal Reserve and its first inland site. Located approximately 15 miles south of Columbia in Tyrrell County, the site is situated between the Alligator River and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuges. The Reserve site is part of the East Dismal Swamp, a wetlands complex that encompasses more than 320,000 acres in Dare, Tyrrell and Washington counties. The majority of the site contains non-riverine swamp forest with patches of peatland, Atlantic white cedar forests and pond pine woodlands. The canopy of the site is dominated by swamp black gum and red maple. Scattered remnant bald cypress and Atlantic white cedar stands occur in deep organic soils, while sweet gum grows in the rare mineral soils. While most of the Atlantic white cedar has been cut in recent years, there is a large area present that may be the most extensive contiguous example in the state. Black needle rush is found along the river. This site also maintains habitat for special concern, rare threatened or endangered species. They include the red wolf, bald eagle, red-cockaded woodpecker, Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons and American alligator. High priority neotropical migrants that are dependent on southeastern-forested wetlands of the coastal plain are the black-throated green warbler, Swainson’s warbler and prothonotary warbler.
Getting to the site The Emily Richardson Preyer Buckridge site may be accessed by U.S. 64, which connects with N.C. 94 in Columbia. Traveling south on N. C. 94, there are three routes that will give a visitor access to different portions of the site, each terminating in a boat landing. Approximately 10 miles down N.C. 94 is the intersection with Frying Pan Road that leads to Frying Pan Landing. Five miles farther on N.C. 94 the intersection with Gum Neck Road leads to a series of local roads. The western-most terminus of this network is Grapevine Landing while the southern end is Gum Neck Landing. There is no formal facility at Grapevine Landing. The site may also be visited by boat from the Alligator River.
Visiting the site The site is very remote and no public facilities currently exist. Hiking along the existing roads and boating along the shoreline are the best ways to observe the natural features. Insect repellant is recommended during the warm months. The site is closed to hiking during the hunting season – mid October through December.
Management Partners
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
