Roanoke River: Devil's Gut Preserve

LOCATION:
Coastal Plain
Martin County

SIZE IN ACRES:
1,046

INVOLVEMENT IN ACRES:
NA

Back swamp, Devil's Gut Preserve, Roanoke River (© Harold Malde)

Giant old-growth bald cypress, Devil's Gut Preserve (© Harold Malde)

TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP:
Jamesville

Topographical maps are available by contacting:
NC Geographical Survey.
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1612.
(919) 715-9718
www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/

ACTIVITIES & AMENITIES:
Hiking / Birding / Small boats

OWNERSHIP & ACCESS:
This Nature Conservancy preserve is only accessible through the North Carolina Chapter's field trip program.

SITE INFORMATION:
Located near the town of Jamesville in the lower Roanoke River floodplain, Devil's Gut Preserve consists of a relatively undisturbed, old-growth bottomland hardwood and swamp forest.  This area encompasses a broad diversity of landforms created by the migrating channel of the Roanoke River thousands of years ago. Long, narrow sand or loamy ridges alternate with parallel bands of cypress-gum sloughs, forming a ridge and swale topography. Periodic flooding by the river and its companion, Devil's Gut, formed these features by depositing sediment. The low, flat ridges are probably ancient relics of natural levees, formed during floods when the river dumped huge amounts of sediment on its banks. The intermittently flooded cypress-gum sloughs probably occupy ancient filled river channels.

The preserve contains an old-growth water tupelo stand that is regarded as one of the best examples of this community type in North Carolina. Devil's Gut also contains several old-growth bald cypress that reach 130 feet in height and are six feet in diameter. Devil's Gut is an important refuge for many species of wildlife including waterfowl, wild turkey, bobcat, river otter, and black bear. The area is known to support the rare Swainson's warbler and 54 other species of breeding birds. Devil's Gut is a wonderful destination for canoeing or kayaking.

CONSERVATION HIGHLIGHTS:
In 1989, The Nature Conservancy purchased the property through a tax-free exchange from Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Hayes.

DIRECTIONS:
Not available