tidal hardwood swamps - Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Marshyhope Creek Dorchester County, Maryland
USGS QUAD
Rhodesdale, MD
PRIMARY REASON FOR SELECTION
Marshyhope Creek contains high quality occurrences and one of Maryland’s best examples of the
Fraxinus profunda - Nyssa biflora / Ilex verticillata / Polygonum arifolium Tidal Woodland
(CEGL006287).
The term high quality occurrence is defined by four factors: 1) the site includes a highly
representative example of the vegetation type as defined in the Maryland Vegetation
Classification, 2) the occurrence is in good to excellent condition -- the habitat supporting this
community type is less degraded than other known occurrences --, 3) the occurrence has a good
to excellent viability -- long term prospects for the continued existence of this occurrence are high
-- and 4) the occurrence has good to excellent defensibility -- this occurrence can be protected
from extrinsic human factors.
SITE DESCRIPTION
Marshyhope Creek contains a large occurrence (>40 hectares) of Fraxinus profunda - Nyssa
biflora / Ilex verticillata / Polygonum arifolium tidal woodland community bordering the main
channel of Marshyhope Creek. This site is located from just north of Harrison Ferry Bridge to just
south of Mill Creek and includes the lower portion of Puckum Branch. Mean salinity at time of
study was 0.0 ppt. The Fraxinus profunda - Nyssa biflora / Ilex verticillata / Polygonum arifolium
tidal woodland is expansive, often forming discontinuous linear tracts along the main channel of
Marshyhope Creek, from below the town of Federalsburg to the creek’s confluence with the
Nanticoke River. This community type extends towards creek adjoining tidal herbaceous
communities containing emergent species such as Pontederia cordata, Zizania aquatica,
Impatiens capensis, and Nuphar lutea var. advena. Occasionally, tidal shrublands dominated by
Alnus maritima occur along ecotones between tidal woodland and open marsh habitats. These
shrublands are densely vegetated (often monotypic) and form a physiognomically distinct zone
between woodland and marsh vegetation. At this site, the canopy structure is poorly developed
contributing to a very diverse shrub and herbaceous layer. Hummock-and-hollow
microtopography is also a contributing factor with species richness and is very pronounced at this
site. Hollows consist of tidal muck and receive regular tidal inundation, while hummocks are
elevated and may receive irregular flooding (less often than daily). Along Marshyhope Creek, this
community type is bordered by and transitional to dry, sand ridges in the uplands that are
comprised of oaks, pines, and hickories. Although natural sand ridge vegetation exists along
Marshyhope Creek much of the surrounding land-use is agricultural or has been converted to
pine plantations. Light residential development is sparse however, is more frequent along the
creek near the city of Federalsburg.
Within the Fraxinus profunda - Nyssa biflora / Ilex verticillata / Polygonum arifolium tidal
woodlands, invasive species such as Lonicera japonica and Clematis terniflora are minor
components of the total vegetation composition.
At least 12 plant species considered rare, threatened or endangered in Maryland are known to
occur within the tidal regions of the Marshyhope Creek. Furthermore, this community occurrence
falls entirely within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and is subject to additional protection
regulations.
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