Lumber River Bottomlands
Location: Robeson and Columbus Counties
Total Size: 75,489 acres
Map
Site Description: Lumber River is a spectacular, winding blackwater river
that originates in the Sandhills region of North Carolina then flows freely
through the southern coastal plain and into the Pee Dee River in South Carolina,
eventually to the Atlantic. In 1989, the river was designated a State Natural
and Scenic River. In 1998, 81 miles of this North Carolina river system was
designated as a National Wild and Scenic River.
Lumber River has a long history of habitation by pre and
post-Columbian Native Americans who, apparently called the river "Lumbee."
It was not until 1809 that the river's name was officially changed to
"Lumber" likely reflecting the heavy use of the river for
transportation of timber products. Like many riverine forests in the coastal
plain of North Carolina, the forest along the Lumber River was heavily logged at
the turn of the Century. Nevertheless, the River's extensive second growth
forest is important to birds associated with the various habitat types within
the floodplain.
Habitats: Bottomland hardwood forest, cypress-tupelo-gum swamp forest, blackwater river
Land Use: wildlife conservation, other conservation, hunting, fishing, recreation
Primary Threats: Introduced species, logging
Protection Status: This sites includes the Lumber River State Park,
additional conservation lands and extensive private holdings.
Conservation Issues: The forest habitat along the Lumber River is critical
to birds, thus maintaining the integrity of the forest is essential. In
addition, it is important that water quality is maintained and that every effort
is made to reduce and/or eliminate point and non-point source inputs.
Birds: Very little quantitative data exists for birds in the Lumber River
bottomlands, but it is widely agreed upon that the site provides excellent
habitat for breeding and migrating songbirds, breeding wood ducks, and migratory
waterfowl. The bottomland hardwood forest and cypress-tupelo-gum swamp forest
are extensive and excellent examples of these habitat types (Criteria
3).
Key Bird Species
|
Criteria |
Season |
Number |
||
| Wood Duck | all | -- | ||
| Prothonotary Warbler | B | -- | ||
| Northern Parula | B | -- | ||
| Yellow-throated Warbler | B | -- | ||
| Pileated Woodpecker | B | -- | ||
| Anhinga | B? | -- | ||
| Blue Grosbeak | B | -- | ||
| Indigo Bunting | B | -- | ||
| Red-shouldered Hawk | B | -- | ||
B=Breeding FM=Fall Migration
SM=Spring Migration W=Winter
Sources: