Jocassee Journal Information and News About the Jocassee Gorges
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Jocassee Journal Information and News about the Jocassee Gorges www.dnr.sc.gov Fall/Winter 2020 Volume 21, Number 2 Wildflower sites in Jocassee Gorges were made possible by special funding from Duke Energy’s Habitat Enhancement Program. (SCDNR photo by Greg Lucas) Duke Energy funds colorful Jocassee pollinator plants Insects and hummingbirds South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Jocassee Gorges Project Manager Mark Hall flocked to wildflower sites approached the HEP committee in 2019 with a proposal Several places within the Jocassee Gorges received a to establish wildflower patches throughout Jocassee Gorges colorful “facelift” in 2020, thanks to special funding through to benefit “pollinator species.” Pollinator species include Duke Energy’s Habitat Enhancement Program (HEP). bats, hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and As part of the Keowee-Toxaway relicensing other invertebrates that visit wildflowers and agreement related to Lakes Jocassee and Keowee, subsequently distribute pollen among a wide Duke Energy collects fees associated with docks range of fruit-bearing and seed-bearing plants. and distributes the monies each year for projects The fruits and seeds produced are eventually consumed within the respective watersheds to promote wildlife habitat by a host of game and non-game animals. Pollinator species improvements. Continued on page 2 Mark Hall, Jocassee Gorges Project land manager, admires some of the pollinator species that were planted in Jocassee Gorges earlier this year. (SCDNR photo by Cindy Thompson) Jocassee wildflower sites buzzing with life Continued from page 1 play a key role in the complex, ecological chain that is the is a very important endeavor. Several additional miles of foundation for diverse vegetation within Jocassee Gorges. roadsides will be treated in the spring of 2021. In early 2020, undesirable vegetation was eliminated on During late Summer 2020 the new wildflower patches were several unproductive, open fields within Jocassee. A special inspected. The sites were literally buzzing with life! Bees of mix of native wildflowers was planted in early May and luckily, all descriptions, hummingbirds and hundreds of butterflies mother nature provided the summer rains to nurture the bounced among the new, colorful foliage gathering nectar wildflower crop. Several miles of roadsides were also hydro- and doing their job—spreading pollen. Such spectacles of seeded with the wildflower mixture to further promote the nature are adding a new dimension to an already amazing benefits associated with pollinator species throughout the Wildlife Management Area. Visitors, new and old, are bound property. to appreciate those new diamonds in the rough of the Jocassee The special seed mixture carries a hefty price tag of more Gorges. than $45 per pound, as compared to a standard seed mix that runs a few dollars per unit. The HEP provided the funding required for the more expensive planting. Jocassee Gorges supports an incredible and diverse landscape. However, nearly 99 percent of the area is totally forested and thus, heavily shaded. Roadsides and some small, scattered fields represent the few places where sunlight The Franklin Gravely Monument site on Camp Adger penetrates to allow herbaceous, flowering plants to flourish. Road in northern Pickens County was covered with Intensive management of the small percentage of open areas wildflowers in September. (SCDNR photo by Greg Lucas) 2 2020 mountain bear season third-highest on record Hunters harvested 116 bears during two-week season Hunters in Regions One and Two killed a total of 116 hunt accounted for six bears. Five were killed in Pickens bears during South Carolina’s 2020 mountain bear season. County: three males and two females. Spartanburg County “This year’s bear harvest was the third-highest on record,” hunters killed one bear, a male. This is the second year that said Tammy Region 2 has been included in the fall Upstate bear hunt. Waldrop, The largest Upstate black bear of the bear biologist season came for the South from Pickens Carolina County and Department was taken of Natural during the Resources still hunt on (SCDNR). private land. In Region The black 1, hunters bear weighed harvested 110 445 pounds. bears. Fifty- A large three were crop of acorns taken during helped kept the still hunt, the bears which is the close to their first week of home ranges, the season. according Pickens to Waldrop. County “The acorn hunters crop was accounted good for for 20 bears A large crop of acorns helped kept the bears close to their home ranges, according to most oak during the SCDNR. (SCDNR photo) species this still hunt year,” she season, 14 males and six females. Greenville County hunters said. “White oaks were really good, and it was a bumper harvested 20 bears during the still hunt season, with an even crop. The natural food availability was widespread across the split between males and females. Oconee County’s hunters Upstate, so the bears did not have to move around much to killed 13 bears during the still find food.” hunt—five males and eight Waldrop said many females. “White oaks were really abundant, and it was a hunters complained that During the party dog bumper crop. The natural food availability was the abundance of wild hogs hunt, the second week of caused dogs to lose track the bear season, hunters widespread across the Upstate, so the bears did of bears, and to get on the killed 57 bears. Oconee not have to move around much to find food.” trail of hogs instead, often County led the way with a “baying up” the hogs and total of 35 bears—17 males --Tammy Waldrop, SCDNR wildlife biologist getting injured. and 18 females. Pickens “Hogs are a nuisance County accounted for 15 wildlife species that do a lot bears during the dog season, eight males and seven females. of damage to the habitat,” she said. “They out-compete native Greenville County hunters killed seven bears during the dog wildlife species for the natural food supply. They can also season—six males and one female. interfere with dog hunting.” In Region 2, which is considered the Piedmont, the still 3 The Sassafras Mountain Overlook in northern Pickens County, the highest point in South Carolina at 3,553 feet, offers the perfect jumping-off point for Geocaching adventures. (SCDNR photo by Danielle Kent) Rocky Bottom High! Try Geocaching at Sassafras Mountain as weather? A cool “Virtual Cache” leads you to discover a your next adventure in Jocassee Gorges “secret” QR code that reveals the area’s meteorological mysteries in real time. By Tony McDade Finding all five stages of the Adventure Lab Cache On your next visit to the spectacular new Overlook means grabbing a selfie astride the stunning Compass atop Sassafras Mountain, why not take time for a Rose at the center of the Sassafras Overlook, and then Geocaching adventure? trekking over to the nearby tripoint—a geographical Geocaching is a captivating hobby for everyone, from rarity where three major watersheds converge. families and scout troops to clubs of all sorts. It’s like Breathtaking panoramic vistas make majestic Sassafras a high-tech treasure hunt. Mountain truly one of the Geographical coordinates ‘Geocaching is a captivating hobby for treasures of our state. Whether are used to find camouflaged you’re a veteran or newbie containers that are secreted everyone, from families and scout troops Geocacher, come find elevation away…sometimes hidden in to clubs of all sorts. It’s like a high-tech with elation as you explore plain sight. Some specialized the geo-wonders of South types of geocaches focus on treasure hunt.’ Carolina’s highest place! sites with natural or historical significance (but don’t involve (Tony McDade (also known as finding a container). Use a handheld GPS device, or just OconeeBell) recently retired following a career in ministry and your smartphone (for iPhone or Android, free apps to non-profit service, including at First Baptist Church in Clemson make Geocaching adventures fun: https://www.cgeo. and United Ministries in Greenville. He and his wife, Cam org/ or visit Geocaching.com) to home in on these (aka OconeeBelle), enjoy hiking, geocaching, and especially being hidden gems…and voila! Ainsley's grandparents. From Tony: “I borrowed the title for this Geocaching at Sassafras has something for everyone. article from the name of a perplexing hide on the Foothills Trail, Hiking the Foothills Trail? Don’t miss the six classic just west of the Chimneytop Gap access point. Glenn Allen, hides among the crags and crevices near Chimneytop aka rods&ropes, was a primo ‘cacher who devised some of the Gap. Fascinated by geology? The “Sassafras Mountain Upstate’s most diabolical…I mean, delightful! …geocaches.”) Earthcache” is perfect for you! Wondering about the 4 Hagood Mill hosts Our Native Roots Interpretive Trail Petroglyph Site one of many stops the wealth of knowledge in the donated library. looking at Native American life The Hagood Creek Petroglyph Site is just one stop on Our Native Roots Interpretive Trail, the latest By Katie Mann installment at the Hagood Mill Historic Site. Our The Hagood Creek Petroglyph Site is located a stone’s Native Roots Interpretive Trail includes many stops throw from the Historic Hagood Mill. The Petroglyph where visitors can learn about different aspects of Native Site is a museum that boasts the most accessible American life, including, but not limited to, a sacred petroglyphs in the state fire circle, a medicine of South Carolina. wheel garden, a dugout The site houses a canoe (burned out large boulder with 32 on a Third Saturday), distinct petroglyphs; 18 and a prehistoric represent people, and stone mortar. You several are abstracts, but can see a replica of an they all have one thing earthen oven being in common – THEY built by Eagle Scouts ARE AWESOME.