OR/14/043 Site description - Moel Gornach

Farr, G, Graham, J, and Stratford, C. 2014. Survey, characterisation and condition assessment of Palustriella dominated springs 'H7220 Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion)' in Wales. British Geological Survey Internal Report, OR/14/043.

Table 18    Moel Gornach water quality.

Figure 22    Moel Gornach Vegetation map (note central runnel with a high water level at the time of survey).

Vegetation (spring) of Moel Gornach

Palustriella falcata dominated short vegetation between 1–3 cm height. Palustriella commutata forms locally dominant patches around the upper rocky spring heads and Scorpidium cossonii locally dominates the margins of runnels (or hollows where there is movement of water) lower down the slope. Hymenostylium recurvirostrum forms occasional cushions associated with exposed tufa and Leicolea bantriensis occurs locally.

Table 19    Moel Gornach Species list — Palustriella dominated vegetation

Agrostis stolonifera	R (<1%)
Anagallis tenella	R
Aneura pinguis	F
Bellis perennis	R
Bryum pseudotriquetrum	R
Calliergonella cuspidata	R
Campylium stellatum	O
Cardamine pratensis	R
Carex demissa	O
Carex flacca	O
Carex nigra	R
Cirsium palustre	R
Cratoneuron filicinum	O
Ctenidium molluscum	R
Dicranella varia (spor.)	O
Eriophorum angustifolium	O
Festuca ovina	F
filamentous algae (Chlorophyta)	F
Fissidens adianthoides	O
Hymenostylium recurvirostrum	O
Juncus acutiflorus	F
Juncus effusus	O
Leicolea badensis	O
Leicolea bantriensis	R
Nostoc sp.	O
Palustriella commutata	O
Palustriella falcata	A
Philonotis calcarea	R
Philonotis fontana	O
Plantago lanceolata	R
Pressia quadrata	O
Prunella vulgaris	R
Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus	R (<1%)
Scorpidium cossonii	F
Scorzoneroides autumnalis	R
Trifolium repens	R (<1%)

A mixture of calcareous and acidic rocks within the area of flush/spring but above level of seepage water supporting a small number of acrocarpous calcareous and calcifuges bryophyte species.

Table 20    Moel Gornach Species list — Rocks within area of flush/spring but above level of seepage water

Agrostis stolonifera	R (<1%)
Schistidium sp.	R
Tortella tortuosa	R

Vegetation adjoining spring

Upland acid grassland to 30 cm height (Nardus stricta, Hylocomium splendens, Juncus squarrosos, occasional Vaccinium myrtillus). There are ocassional small areas of rush pasture (Juncus effusus) as well as regular boggy areas with Polytrichum commune, Eriophorum angustifolium and Sphagnum species.

Table 21    Moel Gornach Species list — Acid grassland
and bog

Eriophorum angustifolium	O
Hylocomium splendens	O
Juncus effusus	O
Juncus squarrosus	R
Nardus stricta	F
Polytrichum commune	O
Sphagnum fallax	O
Sphagnum inundatum	O
Vaccinium myrtillus	R

Figure 23    Moel Gornach Transect vegetation and chemistry data.

Figure 24    Moel Gornach photographs.

Condition assessment

The overall assessment is that Moel Gornach should be classified as being in favourable ecological and hydrogeological condition.