The Blackwater River watershed lies in the Coastal Plain of Virginia, which is between the foothills of the Piedmont and the Atlantic Ocean. In prehistory, oceanic water covered much of the Coastal Plain, resulting in a soil composition of sand and mineral not compacted into bedrock. The soil is generally very acidic and requires extensive […]
Beginning in low swampy terrain in eastern Prince George County, VA, the Blackwater River moves slowly southward. Its confluence with the Nottoway River forms the Chowan River at the Virginia – North Carolina border. Named for the appearance of dark slow moving water, the Blackwater River gets this color from an abundance of submerged organic
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The following field cards offer an overview to a few of the most important tree species of the Blackwater River watershed. .pdf: Blackwater River Dendrology References: Taxodium distichum, [map], [1], [2], [3] Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Taxodium distichum var. distichum. Missouri Botanical Garden. retrieved November 24, 2024. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=m510 Nyssa sylvatica, [map], [4]. [5] Missouri Botanical Garden.
The United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) Streamer app allows users to trace a body of water either upstream or down stream, connecting it to its broader watershed. Cross referencing this information with the elevations provided in Google My Maps creates a fairly accurate depiction of a watershed. The Blackwater River has a few challenges when delineating its
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Above: Bald cypress along a lake shore in Florida; Left: Bald cypress core sampling in Congaree National Park, S.C.; Right: Rings from a bald cypress along the Black River in N.C. (NG, 2023) Old Growth Bald Cypress – Tupelo Forest “Old growth” forests are characterized by the accumulation of rich species diversity, multiple canopy levels, and
Swamps and Flooding Throughout the Blackwater River watershed are numerous permanent swamp habitats that maintain inundation year round. These swampy wetlands act as sponges absorbing precipitation but also advancing floods. This retention capability is crucial to the resiliency of watersheds with wetland habitats. Wetland conservation can even replace the need for dredging and levee systems
The Nature Conservancy Mission: “To conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.” (TNC) Vision: “A world where the diversity of life thrives, and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and its ability to fulfill our needs and enrich our lives” (TNC) Born out of a void in organized ecological
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Remains of a cypress forest, surrounded by a salt marsh. Sampit River, South Carolina (NGM, 2023) The Blackwater River watershed sits in the Southern end of Virginia’s Coastal Plain, and depends on the Potomac Aquifer formation to supply freshwater (USGS, 2022). The Hampton Roads metro region just to the east of the watershed is one
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(Escherichia coli) The slow moving water of the Blackwater River, surrounded by agriculture, can encourage the possibility of E. Coli contamination downstream. Water quality professionals, landowners and conservationists can employ rapid result test kits to determine the presence of harmful microbial life in waterways. There are several manufacturers of test kits each with certain characteristics
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Murdannia keisak (Marsh Dayflower) Characteristics This nonnative, invasive species forms dense mats low to the ground in freshwater and low-salinity tidal marshes, swamps, ditches and other disturbed wetlands. It is characterized by prostrate stems that creep along at ground level, often rooting at lower nodes. Its leaves are lance-shaped and range from 2.5-7cm long and
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