Dense vegetation provides good cover and food sources. Wildlife species
 include:

 MAMMALS Black bear, bobcat, deer, gray squirrel, mink, otter, raccoon

 BIRDS Barred owl, hawks, horned owl, pileated woodpecker, turkey,
 wood duck, various songbirds

 REPTILES Turtles, various snakes

 Information on animals known to occur in specific ecological communities
 is in Appendix C.

LAND USE INTERPRETATIONS

1. Environmental Value as a Natural System

 Periodic flooding is essential to maintain this ecosystem and is the
 dominant factor for providing needed nutrients. If the system is drained
 or flooded for an extended length of time, a new community will result.

 Swamp hardwood areas are of great value for maintaining good water
 quality and quantity and for wildlife and wilderness values. Water plays
 an important part in this community. If the water cycle is maintained,
 the community will tolerate disturbance, but if the water table is
 lowered or periodic water is not available, the system will change. the
 community is highly endangered due to its sensitivity to changes in the
 water cycle. Practices such as improper channelization, drainage and
 impoundment are especially damaging. Swamp hardwood forests are natural
 storage areas for floodwater. They slow the flow of water, improve water
 quality and gradually feed water to the rivers. These areas also
 assimilate inorganic and organic waste and reduce pollution levels.
 Oxygen diffusion is great in the swamp forest because of the large air-
 to-water surface area. The slow movement of the rivers and obstructions
 also help with the diffusion. Downstream systems, including estuaries,
 receive energy through detritus from this system.

 The swamp forest is not a prime area for intensive agricultural or
 residential development. Costly water management facilities are needed
 for any use that modifies the existing natural vegetation. Development
 would destroy the important wildlife and environmental values of this
 community. Wildlife often use swamp forests for food and cover and for
 travel lanes between developed areas.

 2. Rangeland

 This community has little or no use as rangeland.

 3. Wildlifeland

 This community hosts a large variety of wildlife. It is especially well
 suited for waterfowl, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. Animals found
 in this community must withstand the flooding which occurs periodically.
 Gray squirrel, mink, raccoon, and river otter are the most commonly found
 mammals. Many birds inhabit this area including chickadees and titmice,