Ebenezer Swamp

Ebenezer Swamp is located on Spring Creek, approximately 6 miles northeast of Montevallo in central Alabama. The University of Montevallo owns approximately sixty acres (ca. 1/3) of Ebenezer Swamp. Ebenezer Swamp is a quintessential upland hardwood swamp and is home to numerous species. The forest is dominated for the most part by Tupelo Gum (Nyssa aquatica), with occasional Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda), Sweet Bay (Magnolia virginiana), Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), and Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). The dominant animal life form is the Beaver (Castor canadensis); water impounded behind several beaver dams along Spring Creek has a pronounced effect on the ecology of the preserve. Other animal inhabitants include the American Woodcock (Philohela minor), Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodia), Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus), Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) Raccoon (Procyon lotor), Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis virginiana), and numerous species of freshwater invertebrates. Ebenezer Swamp is also home to many herbaceous plant species, including four species of orchids (Ponthieva racemosa, Platanthera flava, P. clavellata, and Tipularia discolor), a rare species of cone-flower (Rudbeckia auriculata), and the endangered Tennessee Yellow-Eyed Grass (Xyris tennesseensis). Spring Creek and Ebenezer Swamp form a portion of the headwaters for the ecologically diverse and environmentally sensitive Cahaba River Watershed. The Cahaba is the longest remaining free-flowing river, has more species of fish per mile than any river in North America, and is one of eight river biodiversity hotspots in the U.S. The University of Montevallo recently completed a 675' boardwalk that permits visitors to enter the heart of the swamp with relative ease and safety. Future plans call for interpretive plaques and an additional 1000' feet of boardwalk. For more information please feel free to contact the Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics, University of Montevallo, 205.665.6463.