Cataract National Park and State Conservation Area vegetation mapping was undertaken by Dr John T. Hunter in 2006 by contract for the NPWS Northern Tableland Region. Cataract NP and SCA are located approximately 20km north of Drake near Tenterfield and comprise around 4,000 ha of lands. The north eastern boundary of the study area is bordered by the Clarence River. The lands are mainly mountainous with many incised creeks and escarpment areas. The lands lie in the North Coast Botanical District.

The vegetation of Cataract National Park and State Conservation Area is described and mapped (scale 1:25 000). Seven communities are defined based on classification (Kulczynski association). These seven communities were mapped based on ground truthing, air photo interpretation and landform. Much of the reserve is dominated by grassy forests and woodlands usually with Allocasuarina torulosa (Forest Oak), Eucalytpus biturbinata (Grey Gum) and Eucalytpus crebra (Ironbark) with an understorey of Cymbopogon refractus (Barbed-wire Grass), Imperata cylindrical (Blady Grass) and Poa sieberiana (Tussock Grass). Much of the reserve has been disturbed in the past, particularly by clearing, logging and grazing. No listed threatened communities or flora species were noted. A total of 437 vascular plant taxa were found from 108 families and 285 genera.

VIS_ID 4722