2022 Wetland Treasures

West Branch Nature Preserve

  • Location: Mecklenburg County, NC
  • Site Owner: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation 
  • Wetland Types: river floodplain (due to beaver activity) 
  • Unique Feature: Possibly the most ecologically important wetland in the county. Rich plant diversity with 114 species identified. Habitat to numerous species of salamanders, frogs, toads and turtles. Home to beavers, birds, as well as the eastern ribbon snake. 
  • Wetland Treasure Factsheet 
  • More Information: 
  • Carolina Thread Trail
  • Davidson Land Conservancy
  • Mecklenburg County Nature Preserves (Scroll to #23)


Wambaw Swamp Wilderness

  • Location: Charleston County, SC (located in Francis Marion National Forest) 
  • Site Owner: U.S. Forest Service 
  • Wetland Types: river-bottom land of hardwoods & sloughs 
  • Unique Feature: Thick with wild orchids, pickerel weed, sedges, carnivorous pitcher plants, and epiphytes. The wilderness is comprised of bottomland hardwood forest and is edged with small pine stands. Also, home to mature cypress and tupelo trees. 
  • Wetland Treasure Factsheet 
  • More Information: 
  • US Forest Service


Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge

  • Location: Bertie County, NC 
  • Site Owner: US Fish and Wildlife Service 
  • Wetland Types: Protected forested wetlands consisting of bottomland hardwoods and swamps 
  • Unique Feature: Home to over 200 species of birds, including 88 breeding resident species and a diversity of fish species, including the endangered Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum), all connected to each other through the shallow water tables and refuge flooding frequency. 
  • Wetland Treasure Factsheet 
  • More Information: 
  • US Fish and Wildlife Services 
  • Roanoke/Cashie River Center 
  • Roanoke River Partners


Theodore Roosevelt State Natural Area

  • Location: Carteret County, NC 
  • Site Owner: North Carolina State Parks 
  • Wetland Types: brackish salt marsh, freshwater pond, tidal flat 
  • Unique Feature: This 292-acre preserve was donated to the state of North Carolina by the Roosevelt family in 1971 and is one of the few remaining tracts of old-growth maritime forests along the North Carolina coast. Its hiking trails feature views of Bogue Sound, maritime forest, salt marsh and an ancient dune ridge. 
  • Wetland Treasure Factsheet 
  • More Information: 
  • Fort Macon State Park


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