Founded in 1937, the Santee Experimental Forest (SEF) is comprised of 6,100 acres of sandy ridges, broad flats, and bottomlands within the Francis Marion National Forest on the lower coastal plain of South Carolina.
Climate is described as warm temperate and mild with snowfall and ice a rarity. The mean annual temperature is 18°C. June, July, and August are the wettest months, tropical storms are more likely from August to October, and the driest months are December, January, and April. The mean annual precipitation is 1220 mm.
The most common forest types are loblolly pine, longleaf pine and, mixed pine-hardwoods. These comprise nearly 2,300 acres of the SEF. Approximately 30% of the SEF is wetlands, with bottomland hardwoods in the riparian zones being the predominant type.
Hydrology on the SEF is characteristic of the lower coastal plain, typified by first, second, third, and fourth order low-gradient streams that drain to the East Branch Cooper River. The stream outlet from the SEF is tidal with the riparian zones being tidally influenced.
Research on the land that comprises the SEF began in 1905, predating its founding by 32 years. Publications resulting from that long history of forest research are summarized in the SEF bibliography. The SEF is also the foundation of numerous graduate research doctoral dissertations and master’s theses.
For more information on the Santee Experimental Forest please follow the links below:
