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Home My WebLink AboutUnique Natural Area Map-102.pdf- .. ---------------------------------------- UNA-l 03 TOWN OF LANSING TOWN OF ITHACA UNA-102 TOWN OF ITHACA CITY OF ITHACA UNA-102 UNA-I02 Renwick Slope Tompkins County Environmental Management Council Inventory of Unique Natural Areas in Tompkins County Last Updated: September 1999 UNA bOlmdaries were delineated by field biologists based on a review of air photographs, digital GIS base map data (roads, building footprints, 20 foot contours and streams) and field visits. UNA boundaries are approximate and should be used for general planning purposes only. As a practical matter the county does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the intormation portrayed. The end user of this map agrees to accept the data "as is" with full knowledge that errors and ommissions may exist, and to hold harmless the County for any damages that may result from an inappropriate use of this map. N ~Unique Natural Area UNA-I02 Other Unique Natural Area(s) ..Building Footprint IV 20 Foot Contour /\/Road /\/Cayuga Lake N Municipal Boundary 1:12000 1000 0 1000 Feet EF=····==~I=... ====EI========~ - SITE NAME: Renwick Slope SITEeODE: UNA-102 DATALASTUPDATED: 1/3/00 OLD SITE CODE: IT-29 LOCATION Municipality: T. of Ithaca, Lansing; V. of Cayuga Heights, Lansing Latitude: 422930 N USGS Quad: Ithaca West, Ithaca East Longitude: 763014 W Tax Parcel Numbers Included in this Site: Latitude: 422805 N Longitude: 763053 W Tax parcel data is accurate as ofJuly /. i 999. For up-to-date inj{mnation on tax parcel descriptions and ownership. contact the Tompkins County Assessment Department. When a UNA covered less than 0.025 ac. ola parcel. the parcel was excluded from this list. IT 1.-1-1.10 IT 1.-1-1.1 I IT 1.-1-1.2 IT 1.-1-1.5 IT 1.-1-1.6 IT 1.-\-1.7 IT 1.-1-1.8 IT 1.-1-\.9 IT 1.-1-2 IT 1.-1-3 IT 1.-1-4 IT 1.-1-5 IT 19.-1-1 IT 19.-1-2.1 IT 19.-1-2.2 IT 19.-1-3 IT 19.-1-5 IT 19.-2-4 IT 7.-2-1 IT 7.-2-10 IT 7.-2-11 IT 7.-2-2 IT 7.-2-3 IT 7.-2-4 IT 7.-2-5.1 IT 7.-2-5.2 IT 7.-2-6.1 IT 7.-2-6.2 IT 7.-2-7 IT 7.-2-8 IT 7.-2-9 IT 8.-1-1 IT 8.-1-10 IT 8.-1-11 IT 8.-1-12.1 IT 8.-1-13.2 IT 8.-1-14 IT 8.-1-15 IT 8.-1-16 IT 8.-1-17 IT 8.-1-2 IT 8.-1-3 IT 8.-1-4 IT 8.-1-5 IT 8.-1-6 ITS.-J-7 IT 8.-1-8 IT 8.-1-9 LA 48.-2-32 LA 48.-2-33 LA 48.1-2-41 LA 48.1-2-42 LA 48.1-2-43 LA 48.1-2-49 LA 48.1-2-62 LA 48.1-2-63 SITE AND VEGETATION DESCRIPTION This site is largely lake cliffs and dry oakwood above the east shore of Cayuga Lake. Small ravines cut across the slope into the cliffs. The forest canopy is fairly open in places near the cliffedge and where rock outcrops are present. Common species include black, red, chestnut, and white oaks, hickories. Pitch pine (Pinus rigida), a locally scarce species, is found near the cliff tops with oaks and red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) common. Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), a 10caJJy scarce species, is found here, sheltered near the base of the cliffs. Further from the cliff edge, more mesic forests are found. These are dominated by sugar maple, basswood, and white ash. Spring wildflowers are abundant. Some very rare species have been reported here, however major development along the lake is affecting the probability oftheir survival. REASONS FOR SELECTION • Rare or scaree plants • Scenic! Aesthetic value • Rare or scarcc community types • Old-growth forest • Quality example of plant community SPECIAL LAND-USE INFORMATION Special Land-Use Designations and Features • The Tompkins County Greenway Coalition has identified a biological corridor which includes this site. • A mature forest stand with trees over 150 years old is found on this site. • This site has views which are considered locally important. There are distant landscape views from the site. Water Resources • All or some of a lake or pond is found on this site. • A stream runs through this site. • All or some of this site lies within Flood Zone A (IOO-year flood) as identified by FEMA. • A NYS protected stream runs through this site. CONSERVATION OF THE SITE Adjacent Land-Use: Residential. Sensitivity of Site to Visitors: The site is considered fairly vulnerable to disturbance by visitors in the sections near the shale outcrops. Evidence of Disturbance and Threats to Site: Houses and road have been built, a railroad cut has been made, and sections ofthis sites have been cleared. The main threats to the site are continued building of houses, and clearing of vegetation for views, roads and gardens. Special ConservationiManagement Needs: The site does not have an adequate protective buffer. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SITE Slope % Topographic Position Size (acres): 73.787 Elevation (ft.): 398 to 701 Aspect: west Flat Crest Topographic Features 3 to ]5 1,,1 Upper Slope Lake cliffs and small ravines. ]5 to 25 i~ Mid Slope Geological Features Over 25 ';z] Lower Slope Lake cliffs. Bottom Soils Present on the Site Soil characteristics C?f the site were determined manually and are approximate. in the future. digital soil data will provide more accurate information. Soil Name Hydric (Wet) Erodibility Drainage Page 276 ---------------------- I Renwick Slope T. of Ithaca, Lansing; V. of Cayuga Heights, Lansing UNA-1021 Unmapped Area BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SITE General Cover Types Old-field forest Rock outcrops and gravel banks Open water Ecological Communities Detailed information regarding each community type's rareness may befound in Appendix F. For up-to-date information on ecological communities, contact the NY Natural Heritage Program (518-783-3932). Rarity: (Key: No checkmarks indicate that no communities fall within those categories.) ~ Global -At least one community designated as rare or scarce at the global level by The Nature Conservancy is found on this site. ~ State -At least one community designated as rare or scarce at the state level by The Nature Conservancy and the New York Natural Heritage Program is found on this site. ~ Local -At least one community designated as rare or scarce at the local level by the Tompkins County EMC and the Cornell Plantations is found on this site. Ecological Communities Inventoried on this Site: Community Name Rocky headwater stream Beech-maple mesic forest Appalachian oak-hickory forest Intennittent stream Shale cliff and talus community Shale talus slope woodland Successional red cedar woodland Description The aquatic community of a small to moderate sized rocky stream with a moderate to steep gradient that lacks persistent emergent vegetation. The cold water stream flows over eroded bedrock near the stream origin and contains alternating riffle and pool sections. These streams typically have mosses and algae present, but few larger rooted plants. _ _ _ _ _ _ A hardwood forest with sugar maple and beech co-dominant. Found on moist, well-drained soils, on north and east facing slopes, and on gently sloping hilltops of any aspect, this ecological community type rarely occurs in ravines. Common associates are basswood, American elm, white ash, yellow birch, hop hornbeam, and red maple. Characteristic species in the sub-canopy are musclewood, striped maple, witch hazel, hobblebush, and alternate leaved dogwood. There typically are few herbs and shrubs, but tree seedlings may be abundant.:.....!here are many spring ephemerals. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A hardwood forest with more than 60% canopy cover of trees that occurs on well-drained sites, usually on flat hilltops, upper slopes, or south and west facing slopes. Dominant trees include one or more of red oak, white oak, and black oak. Mixed with oaks, are one or more of pignut, shagbark, and sweet pignut hickory. Common associates are white ash, red maple, and hop hornbeam. Small trees include flowering dogwood, witch hazel, shadbush, and choke cherry. Shrubs and groundlayer flora are diverse. Shrubs include maple-leaved viburnum, blueberries, red raspberry,~ray dogwoo~and beaked hazelnut. ________ _ The aquatic community of a small ephemeral streambed with a moderate to steep gradient where the water flows only during the spring or after a heavy rain. The streambed may be covered with mosses such as Bryhnia novae-anglia~ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A community with sparse vegetation that occurs on nearly vertical exposures of shale bedrock, ledges, and talus. The talus is unstable, there is little soil. Characteristic species include blunt lobed woodsia, rusty woodsia, hairy penstemon, herb-Robert, panic grass, Carex pensylvanica, and eastern red cedar. An open to closed canopy woodland that occurs on talus slopes composed of shale. Slopes are unstable and very well drained. Soils are shallow and dry. Canopy cover is less than 50%. Characteristics trees include chestnut oak, pignut hickory, red oak, white oak, white pine, white ash, and eastern white cedar. Characteristic shrubs include smooth sumac, poison ivy, hairy penstemon, everlastin~nd Pennsylvani~edge. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A woodland community that commonly occurs on abandoned agricultural fields and pastures, particularly on fertile, calcareous soils, on slopes along the lakes and, occasionally, on well drained soils of alluvial valleys. The dominant tree is usually red cedar. Gray birch, hawthorn, buckthorn, white ash, and black walnut are common associates. Shrubs and ground layers are similar to that of successional old field. GlobaUStatelLocal Rarity G4 S4 L4 G4 S4 L4 G4G5 S4 L4 G4 S4 L4 G4 S3? L3 G3G4 S3 L3 G5 S5 L3 Plant Species Although substantial effort was made to identify significant plant species on this site, it is possible that additional rare or scarce species exist that do not show up in this report. Afield check is always recommended prior to modifYing the landscape. Detailed information regarding each species' rareness and status may befound in Appendix D. For up-to-date information on species, contact the NY Natural Heritage Program (518-783 Rarity: (Key: No checkmarks indicate that no species fall within those categories.) lJ Global -At least one plant species designated as rare or scarce at the global level by The Nature Conservancy is found on this site. LJ State -At least one plant species designated as rare or scarce at the state level by The Nature Conservancy and the New York Natural Heritage Program is found on this site. ~ Local -At least one plant species designated as rare or scarce at the local level by the Tompkins County EMC and the Cornell Plantations is found on this site. Legal Status: [1 Federal -At least one Dlant sDecies desi!mated as threatened or endan!!ered bv the U.S. DeDartment of the Interior is found on this site. LJ State -At least one plant species designated in New York State as endangered, threatened, rare or exploitably vulnerable is found on this site. Pa e2 7 i Significant Plant Species Inventoried on this Site: Scientific Name Common Name GloballStatelLocal Rarity Local Comments State Legal Status Paronychia canadensis forked chickweed L3 Scarce None Celtis occidentalis hackberry L3 Scarce None Zizia aptera heart-leaved alexanders L3 Scarce None Pycnanthemum incanum hoary mountain-mint L3 Scarce None Phlox subulata moss phlox L3 Scarce None Viola palmata palmate violet L3 Scarce None Pinus rigida pitch pine L3 Scarce None Animal Species The UNA Inven/ory currently does not con/ain much specific data regarding animal species (and very little regarding rare or scarce species) on UNA sites. Therefore, this data should be viewed as preliminary and incomplete. A field check is always recommended prior to modifYing the landscape. Detailed information regarding each species' rareness and status may befound in Appendix E. For up-to-date in/ormation on species, con/act the NY Natural Heritage Program (518-783-3932). Animal Description: - - - - Rarity: (Key: No checkmarks indicate that no species fall within those categories.) Global -At least one animal species designated as rare or scarce at the global level by The Nature Conservancy is found on this site. State -At least one animal species designated as rare or scarce at the state level by The Nature Conservancy and the New York Natural Heritage Program is found on this site. Legal Status: Federal At least one animal species designated as threatened or endangered by the U.s. Department of the Interior is found on this site. State -At least one animal spccies designated by NYS as threatened or endangered is found on this site. Animal Species Inventoried on this Site: Federal/State Scientific Name Common Name Global/State Rarity l~el:al Status Comments No data Page 278