Piney Point Tract Woodland

Two woodlands are present in Piney Point Tract (Figure 1, Table 1).  Both were not present in 1937 and have since populated the area.  Both also have declined in the 2007-2012.  This uniform decline appears to point to a storm event such Hurricane Irene, which happened just before the time of aerial imagery.  Loblolly Pine/Wax-myrtle/Salt Meadow Cordgrass Woodland is the most common and is present at the edges of the marsh.  Maritime Red Cedar Woodland is adjacent to the marsh edge as well.  The decline in the area for both is likely the result of sea level rise.

                                           Figure 1.  Piney Point Tract Woodland

Overview of Woodland Communities

     Loblolly Pine/Wax-myrtle/Salt Meadow                Cordgrass Woodland (file photo)

Loblolly Pine/Wax-myrtle/Salt Meadow Cordgrass Woodland (CEGL006849)

This woodland is located at the marsh and is a transition community between landward forest communities and the marsh.  Salt meadow cordgrass from the adjacent marsh is present in this community. Eventually, the pine (Pinus sp.) dies leaving just the marsh and few wax-myrtle. However, this community has been declining in recent years (2002-2012), likely due to storm events flooding the forest with saline water.  Some of the former areas are labeled as transitional land in the 2012 maps.

  Maritime Red Cedar Woodland (file photo)

Maritime Red Cedar Woodland (CEGL006212)

This woodland is located in scattered areas around the coast of Delaware.  Often it is in sandy dune areas that are very dry.  It is exposed, however, to salt spray from the adjacent coastal water.  Like its fellow woodland, it has declined in the 2007-2012 period.