Substrate and Hydrology: The substrate is like that of the communities the ROW crosses: railroad, red maple-hardwood swamp, hemlock-northern hardwood forest, cliff, chestnut oak forest, deep emergent marsh, unpaved road/path, rich mesophytic forest.

Biota: Shrubs and young trees are numerous, but scattered.  Some are left undisturbed, others are cut regularly. The dominant woody plants are Hamamelis virginiana L., Carpinus caroliniana Walter, Salix discolor Muhl. and Juniperus virginiana L. var. virginiana. Various species of Lespedeza, Rubus and Solidago dominate the upper herbaceous layer. The threatened Pycnanthemum verticillatum (Michx.) Pers. var. verticillatum is only found in this habitat at Ice Pond. The spectacular Lilium canadense L. grows along the trail that passes between the Deep emergent marsh and the Successional shrubland community, directly under the powerline.

Cultural: Prior to construction of this line, this habitat, which now supports numerous species not found elsewhere at Ice Pond, would not have existed. It is periodically bushwacked and sprayed with herbicides to control woody plants, thereby maintaining suitable habitat for early and mid-successional herbs and shrubs.