Species Richness and Wetland Status of Different Shoreline Elements at Cave Run Lake, Kentucky

ABSTRACT
During late summer 1998, we studied 30 plots at sites on the previously inundated shoreline of Cave Run Lake, a flood-control reservoir in east-central Kentucky. Among the sites, four shoreline elements were identified: riparian forests (n = 4), sheltered banks (n = 6), flats (n = 8), and exposed banks (n = 12). Of the 167 plant species collected, 14% were Obligate Wetland species, 21% were Facultative Wetland species, 22% were Facultative species, 27% were Facultative Upland species, 5% were Obligate Upland species, and 11% were Not Categorized. Thirteen species (8%) occurred in 15 or more of the plots and 62 species (37%) were single-plot occurrences. Riparian forests had the highest representation of Obligate and Facultative Wetland species; Obligate Upland and Not Categorized species occurred most frequently on exposed banks. Flats had highest species richness and exposed banks had lowest species richness. Among all sites, increasing slope was associated with decreasing species richness. Maintenance or loss of the soil profile as influenced by slope and exposure clearly established the relative conservation value of different shoreline elements. Optimal management of these sites in the future will require consideration of flood schedules and site-specific trends (e.g., tree invasion).