Santee
Experimental Forest
Introduction:
The Santee Experimental Forest provides a hydrologic laboratory, long-term studies, experimental facilities, diverse forest types, and demonstration areas that are designed to provide a basis for enhancing the management, restoration and conservation of the south Atlantic coastal plain forested landscape.
Located in Berkley County, South Carolina, the Santee Experimental Forest encompasses some of the oldest colonized lands in the United States. The land was originally granted to Thomas Colleton in 1683 by King Charles II, and subsequently it became part of the early, large plantations. Much of the upland land was cleared for agriculture and used for naval stores production, and the bottomlands were used for rice cultivation. Following the end of the plantation-era, the area was heavily logged between 1897 and late 1920’s. In 1933, the land was acquired by the US Government and the Francis Marion National Forest was formed. The Santee Experimental Forest was established in 1937.
The early research program addressed thinning and fire management in loblolly pine stands. Building on that base, it evolved to include silviculture, soil-site relationships, and forest hydrology. Presently the Forest encompasses 6,100 acres, containing all the major forest types in the lower coastal plain, three gauged watersheds, a hydroedaphytron facility, and laboratory and housing facilities. The Santee Experimental Forest is managed by the Center for Forested Wetlands Research (SRS-4353), Charleston, South Carolina, in cooperation with the Francis Marion National Forest.
To learn more about the Santee Expreimental Forest and other experimental forest: Experimental Forests and Ranges of the USDA Forest Service click book cover
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Climate:
The climate is warm-temperate, with average daily maximum and minimum temperatures of 75° and 53°F, respectively. The average annual rainfall is 48 inches, with approximately 40% occurring between June – August. December, January and April are the driest months. Snowfall and ice storms are extremely rare. However, hurricanes are a common hazard between August and October.
Soils:
The soils on the Santee Experimental Forest have been developed in marine sediments and fluvial deposits, at elevations between 12 and 42 feet above sea level. The soils can be grouped into three principal associations (1) poorly drained, loamy surface clayey subsoil, (2) somewhat poorly to moderately well drained, loamy surface clayey subsoil, and (3) poorly – moderately well drained, sandy. The soils are generally high in organic matter, and relatively fertile. A recent detailed soil survey is available.
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Vegetation:
The loblolly pine, longleaf pine, mixed pine, mixed-pine hardwood, and hardwood forests are characteristic of the lower coastal plain, occurring on three general land types: sandy ridges, broad flats, and bottomlands. Despite the long land use history, and repeated devastation by hurricanes, the composition and productivity of the forest suggests dynamic and resilient ecosystems. Ninety percent of the forest was severely impacted by hurricane Hugo in 1989.
Wildlife:
The Forest contains fauna typical of the coastal plain, and it provides habitat for the red cocated woodpecker, an endangered species. Approximately 70% of the Forest is included in the Habitat Management Area for the woodpecker.
Archeology / Historical / Cultural Resources:
An archeological survey of the Forest has been conducted, and the plantation sites have been inventoried and mapped. Sites include a mill location, rice dikes and canals, and naval stores production areas. A complete record of ownership and land use history also exists.
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Research:
The Santee Experimental Forest has been used principally for loblolly pine silviculture and fire research. Studies encompassing all aspects of silviculture, including harvesting, regeneration, thinning and fertilization were conducted. Numerous fire studies were conducted to assess the effects of prescribed fire on forest growth, forest composition and soil properties. With the establishment of the gauged watershed in the 1960’s, the fire and silviculture work could be conducted at a larger scale. Three watersheds, two first-order and one second-order, were developed, and the gauging is ongoing. The long-term silvicultural studies were destroyed by hurricane Hugo. Presently ongoing research involves succession following disturbance, forest hydrology, carbon cycling, and wildlife.
The Forest also has a hydroedaphytron facility, which is a mesocosm structure allowing the manipulation of soil and water regimes. The facility has been used in ecophysiology research to consider plant adaptations to flooding, and is presently being used to study carbon sequestration.
Accomplishments:
The fire research conducted at the Santee Experimental Forest has provided much of the basis for fire prescriptions in the coastal region. The fire-effects studies in the 1970’s, conducted on the watershed, was published in a seminal article in Science. The soil fertility research pioneered the application of phosphorus for successful loblolly management on marine sediments. Those finding are still used, and were instrumental to realizing improving loblolly production in the coastal plain. Research on the use of artificial nesting cavities, was critical to the re-establishment of the red cocated woodpecker following hurricane Hugo; that work has since provided the basis for reintroduction of the endangered species into other areas of its former range.
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Long-term databases:
An inventory of completed studies and long-term data bases are available at Center for Forested Wetlands Research website: www.srs.fs.fed.us/charleston. The most notable include:
- The Santee Watersheds: The hydrologic and climatological records from the three gauged watersheds, 35+ years of record. Those data are available at: www.fsl.orst.edu/hydrodb/harvest/harvest.htm.
- Meteorological records since 1946.
- The Santee Fire Plots – A year fire-effects study with 40 years of treatment history.
- Loblolly pine spacing studies – growth response.
Collaborators:
Collaborators include faculty and graduate students from the College of Charleston, Clemson University, University of South Carolina, Virginia Tech. University, scientists and staff from MeadWestvaco, International Paper, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the Native Plant Society, and staff from the Francis Marion National Forest.
Research Opportunities:
The Santee Experimental Forest offers considerable capability to support research related to any aspect of the ecology and management of either upland or wetland coastal plain forests. It’s hydrologic laboratory and database provides unique opportunities for both process-level research and modeling. There is opportunity to enhance ongoing hydrology, forest succession, carbon cycling, and wildlife research, as well as to establish new studies on the Forest or adjoining areas in the Francis Marion National Forest.
Facilities:
Facilities include laboratory space (instrumentation: AA, IRGA, micro-GC), greenhouse, offices, meeting room, and fabrication shop. There is also a four bedroom guest house that is available for visiting researchers.
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For more information contact:
Carl C. Trettin, Project Leader
Center for Forested Wetlands Research
USDA Forest Service
2730 Savannah Hwy.
Charleston, South Carolina 29414
Phone: 843-769-7002
fax: 843-766-8734
email: ctrettin@fs.fed.us
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