Habitats: coniferous forests, deciduous forests, impoundments, brackish marsh

Coniferous: The topography is fairly lever (0-2% slope) with the higher elevations comprised of sandier loams dominated by longleaf and loblolly pines. In the surrounding lower elevation areas where the soils contain more organics pond pines dominate the plant communities.

Deciduous: Again the topography is nearly level (0-2% slope) with the higher elevated loams being dominated by mostly water and willow oaks while red maple and black gum dominate in those areas which have a high water table.

Impoundments: These areas are approximately 75% open water when flooded with the remaining 25% comprised of various emergents including black needle rush, Spartina, phragmites, bacopa, spikerush and aquatics such as wigeongrass and muskgrass.

Brackish Marsh: The main Plant species found in the marsh were black needlerush, Spartina, grounsel bush, wax myrtle and glasswort.

Land Use: wildlife conservation, recreation, hunting, forestry

Primary Threats: introduced plants, water pollution, residential/commercial development

Protection Status: The NCWRC protects and manages approximately half of the site. The remainder is privately owned, most of which is managed waterfowl impoundments and adjacent forest land. 

Conservation Issues: Invading plants especially Phragmites are a serious threat to the impoundments and marsh as they out compete other native plant species that provide important food and shelter benefits to waterfowl and other shorebirds. A second conservation issue is a great potential for the occurrence of water quality degradation from nearby phosphate mining, agricultural uses, and residential development (e.g., septic systems). As residential development increases in areas adjacent to the Game Land, some management activities (e.g., prescribed burning) will become more difficult to implement.

Birds:  The site is a key area for migrating and wintering waterfowl, especially the managed impoundments. Shorebirds utilize the impoundments when water levels are low or exposed bottom is present. Very few bird surveys have been conducted during spring and summer, thus breeding birds are poorly understood.  It is likely that the site is significant for additional species, but spring and summer surveys need to be conducted.