Chapman Forest covers 2,200 acres, joins the tidal Potomac River on its north, and reaches south to the Mattawoman Creek floodplain. Chapman Forest sequesters an amazing variety of habitat types within its boundaries. The map below illustrates the locations of the various habitats and surrounding features. Underneath the map is a chart describing each habitat including photographs.
| Habitat[1] | What Does It Look Like? | What Is It? |
|---|
| Shell-marl ravine forest |
 |
A shell-marl ravine forest is a rare, coastal-plain habitat. The soil is rich in calcium which attracts a variety of plants and animals that are absent from other areas in Maryland outside of Chapman Forest. Veins of calcium rich marl (crushed shells from ancient ocean animals) are uncovered when ravines form by water erosion. This type of forest is considered globally uncommon. Many rare state plants live here along with the globally rare snail and many 'disjunct' calcium-loving species - species that are normally found north of Chapman Forest. Huge, old trees of all different varieties live in this over 100 acre old growth forest. |
| Terrace-gravel forest |
 |
Elevated tables with gravelly, acidic soils leached of nutrients. Oak-hickory association, open understory, and an herb layer sprinkled with low bush blueberry and huckleberry. Includes vary mature examples. |
| Mesic forest, alluvial slopes |
 |
richer soils; greater nesting densities on slopes |
| Steeply sloped ravines |
 |
old growth aspects; cool & moist; seeps; nesting density |
| Sandy lenses |
 |
cactus; special habitat where intersects Potomac |
| Floodplain forest |
 |
sensitive; wetland function; stream interactions |
| Vernal pools |
 |
critical for some amphibians; spotted salamander |
| Potomac swamp |
 |
parallels river ~1 mi.; non-tidal perpetually flooded; scrub-shrub & emergent wetland; diverse; water birds |
| Successional beaver meadows |
 |
old pond bottoms; diverse flora; rare species |
| Streamside riparian woods |
|
wood ducks; specialized wildlife |
| Potomac riparian woods |
 |
nesting eagles; herons etc |
| Potomac banks |
|
high bluffs to low sandy banks; geologically rich; tiger beetles |
| Freshwater estuarine (Potomac River) |
|
globally uncommon tidal freshwater; anadromous fish; vulnerable freshwater mussels; submerged aquatic vegetation; diverse |
| Perennial streams |
 |
8 miles, 6 feed Mattawoman Creek; River Herring spawning; benthic invertebrates; native fish; amhibians |
| Intermittent streams |
|
storm surge control; water conditioning; moist conditions |
| Old fields (recovering forest) |
|
successional plant communities |
| Maintained meadow |
|
Utility rights-of-way; diverse plants; meadow/edge wildlife |
| Pasture |
|
Around Mount Aventine |
