Also, a series of springs and seeps originate on Yorktown Battlefield. Numerous ephemeral ponded sinkholes occur in the Yorktown Battlefield and along the Parkway between Yorktown and College Creek. Wetlands Wetlands in the park include forested freshwater communities, emergent freshwater communities and emergent tidal communities. Most park wetlands are connected to larger adjacent wetland areas. Park wetlands contribute to species diversity because they support many park rare species and serve as nurseries for many different species of fish.
Preliminary findings indicate generally good water quality in most surface waters within the park.
Most of the water bodies and wetlands in the park have major portions of their drainage basin upstream and outside of park boundaries. Erosion and Sedimentation Erosion is a significant process along the river shorelines of the park. Much of the erosion results from normal and storm induced wave activity yet impacts resulting from recreational use are also a concern. Shoreline recession threatens the cultural resources of Jamestown Island, Glasshouse Point and Yorktown. The park in cooperation with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and the US Army Corp of Engineers is conducting a shoreline conservation study of the 17 miles of park shoreline along the James River.