Small Stream Forest

These communities found within wooded areas are perennially damp. They tend to surround small streams fed by a mosaic of seeps and springs that emanate from the porous sandy-gravelly soils of slopes along the stream valleys. The trees are typical of moist conditions, but heavy concentrations of New York and other ferns are characteristic.

Table of Contents:

An excellent narrative and historical explanation of these communities is found in: https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/recreation/parks/Flora%20of%20Coastal%20Plain%20Stream%20Valleys.pdf by Rod Simmons

Identification

Dominant and Common Species

Sparse Species

Restricted Species

Downloadable Files

This document contains the images found above and additional information that makes it a stand-alone resource. It is intended to be used to help guide restoration efforts in this community.

Small Stream Forest 4418 NOVA Description.pdf

This Excel document contains extensive data related to the community. In addition to the Dominant, Common, Sparse, and Restricted Species listed in the charts above, it also contains information about the Rare Species. This file will address many needs for the most detailed user of the data. In the data, one can:

  • Compare species abundance in Northern Virginia to the State-wide level.

  • Sort or filter by species, common name, form, abundance category, constancy, and multiple other metrics and measures

  • Compare "Mean Cover" score to "Mean Cover when Present Score" across species.

Small Stream Forest 4418 NOVA Data.xlsx