Ecology and Management of a Forested Landscape : Fifty Years On

183218_Cloth 5/25/05 6:10 PM Page 1 ... FORESTS / ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION KILGO Ecology and Advance praise for BLAKE Ecology and Management Management of a Forested Landscape Ecology “The history of ecological research at the Savannah River Site is testimony to the power of of a Forested of long-term studies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the application of basic science to land management challenges. This volume wonderfully documents that history and a provides a comprehensive review of our current understanding of the dynamics and Landscape functioning of this diverse landscape.” —Norman L. Christensen Jr., professor of ecology and founding dean, Forested Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, North Carolina and Fifty Years on the “Ecology and Management of a Forested Landscape is a unique chronicle of the successful ecological rehabilitation and restoration of a degraded, formerly agriculture-dominated system, starting with research and moving through adaptive natural resource manage- Savannah River Site ment. With a case-study approach containing applications and concepts extending beyond the southeastern United States, this book is invaluable to all ecologists—from Management the academic to the practicing land manager.” —W. Mark Ford, research wildlife biologist, USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Landscape Research Station, West Virginia “The Savannah River Site is a priceless model of ecological recovery and restoration. It provides hard evidence of how a mutually beneficial relationship between humankind and natural systems might develop. This book’s clearly stated goals and objectives are admirably supported by data that cover large temporal and spatial spans.” —John Cairns Jr., University Distinguished Professor of Environmental Biology Emeritus, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University JOHN C. KILGO is research wildlife biologist, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Center for Forested Wetlands Research. JOHN I. BLAKE is assistant manager of the research program with the USDA Forest Service, Savannah River. Edited by John C. Kilgo Washington • Covelo • London www.islandpress.org and John I. Blake All Island Press books are printed on recycled, acid-free paper. Cover design: Amy Stirnkorb Foreword by H. Ronald Pulliam Cover photo: John Kilgo About Island Press Island Press is the only nonprofit organization in the United States whose principal purpose is the publication of books on environmental issues and natural resource management. We provide solutions-oriented information to professionals, public officials, business and community leaders, and concerned citizens who are shaping responses to environmental problems. In 2005, Island Press celebrates its twenty-first anniversary as the leading provider of timely and practical books that take a multidisciplinary approach to critical environmental concerns. Our growing list of titles reflects our commitment to bringing the best of an expanding body of literature to the environmental community throughout North America and the world. Support for Island Press is provided by the Agua Fund, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Kendeda Sustainability Fund of the Tides Foundation, The Henry Luce Foundation, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation, The New-Land Foundation, The New York Community Trust, Oak Foundation, The Overbrook Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Winslow Foundation, and other generous donors. The opinions expressed in this book are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of these foundations. Ecology and Management of a Forested Landscape Ecology and Management of a Forested Landscape Fifty Years on the Savannahr River Site Edited by John C. Kilgo and John I. Blake Foreword by rH. Ronald Pulliam Washington • Covelo • London ip.kilgo.cx.i-400_436-482 6/23/05 2:20 PM Page vi Copyright (c) 2005 Island Press All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher: Island Press, 1718 Connecticut Ave., Suite 300, NW, Washington, DC 20009. ISLAND PRESS is a trademark of The Center for Resource Economics. Copyright is claimed in the work of I. Lehr Brisbin Jr., Kurt A. Buhlmann, William D. Carlisle, Michael B. Caudell, Brent J. Danielson, J. Whitfield Gibbons, Judith L. Greene, Nick M. Haddad, Charles H. Hunter Jr., Paul. E. Johns, Robert A. Kennamer, Yale Leiden, Barton C. Marcy Jr., John J. Mayer, Tony M. Mills, William F. Moore, Eric A. Nelson, Sean Poppy, Travis J. Ryan, David E. Scott, Barbara E. Taylor, Tracey D. Tuberville, Lynn D. Wike, Christopher T. Winne, in the foreword, and the index to the Island Press edition. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720- 5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Product or trade names may be registered trademarks, and are given only to identify materials used. Mention of specific products or trade names should not be considered an endorsement or recommendation by the authors. No claim to copyright can be made for original works produced by U.S. government employees as part of official duties. Original works by the U.S. government are in the public domain. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data. Ecology and management of a forested landscape : fifty years on the Savannah River Site / edited by John C. Kilgo and John I. Blake ; foreword by H. Ronald Pulliam. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-59726-010-X (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 1-59726-011-8 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Forest ecology—South Carolina—Savannah River Site. 2. Restoration ecology—South Carolina—Savannah River Site. I. Kilgo, John C. (John Carlisle), 1967– II. Blake, John Irvin. QH105.S6E28 2005 333.75′153′097577—dc22 2004025494 British Cataloguing-in-Publication data available. Printed on recycled, acid-free paper Design by Paul Hotvedt Manufactured in the United States of America 10987654321 Contents List of Figures and Tables ix Foreword xvii Preface xx Acknowledgments xxii Chapter 1 The Savannah River Site, Past and Present 1 Land-Use History 2 Industrial Operations and Current Land Use 12 Chapter 2 The Physical Environment 19 Climate and Air Quality 20 Soils and Geology 30 Water Resources 41 Chapter 3 SRS Forest Management 57 Silviculture and Harvesting Activities 59 Prescribed Fire Management 75 Ecological Restoration 84 Chapter 4 Biotic Communities 103 Plant Communities 106 Aquatic Invertebrates 161 Butterflies 175 Fishes 184 Amphibians and Reptiles 203 Nongame Birds 223 Nongame Mammals 253 viii Contents Chapter 5 Threatened and Endangered Species 264 Smooth Purple Coneflower 266 Sensitive Plants 275 Shortnose Sturgeon 282 American Alligator 285 Wood Stork 289 Bald Eagle 295 Red-Cockaded Woodpecker 301 Sensitive Animals 312 Chapter 6 Harvestable Natural Resources 323 Minerals 325 Commercial Forest Products 328 Fishery of the Savannah River 338 Small Game 341 Waterfowl 347 Wild Turkey 359 Furbearers 366 Wild Hog 374 White-Tailed Deer 380 Chapter 7 Conclusion 390 Appendix: Habitat Suitability Matrix for SRS Plants 401 Literature Cited 436 List of Reviewers 466 About the Authors 467 Index 469 List of Figures and Tables Figures Figure A. At the time of government acquisition, all towns and buildings were removed or demolished. xxi Figure 1.1. Streams and physiography of the Savannah River Site. 3 Figure 1.2. Pine savannas probably dominated most of the uplands in the area prior to European settlement. 4 Figure 1.3. Bottomland hardwood forests occurred on the floodplains of larger streams and rivers. 5 Figure 1.4. Pre-European vegetation types of the Savannah River Site. Color insert Figure 1.5. Cut-over condition of much of the Savannah River Site at the time of government acquisition. 11 Figure 1.6. Land use on the Savannah River Site in 1951. Color insert Figure 1.7. Satellite image of the Savannah River Site and surrounding region, March 1999. Color insert Figure 1.8. Land-use areas of the Savannah River Site. Color insert Figure 1.9. Aerial view of a developed area and surrounding forest on the Savannah River Site. 14 Figure 1.10. Size of the workforce on the Savannah River Site, 1987–2003. 16 Figure 2.1. Topographic relief on the Savannah River Site. 32 Figure 2.2. Geological stratigraphy and groundwater systems of the Savannah River Site. 34 Figure 2.3. General soil map of the Savannah River Site. Color insert Figure 2.4. Major streams, wetlands, and larger lakes of the Savannah River Site. 42 Figure 2.5. Relative mean monthly discharge for major streams on the Savannah River Site. 48 Figure 2.6. During reactor operations, the high flow rates and temperatures of reactor cooling water destroyed riparian vegetation in Fourmile Branch, Pen Branch, and Steel Creek. 51 ix x List of Figures and Tables Figure 2.7. Aerial view of Ellenton Bay, a large Carolina bay bisected by a utility right-of-way. 55 Figure 2.8. Hydroperiods for fifty-six Carolina bays on the Savannah River Site. 56 Figure 3.1. Longleaf pine planted in an old field on the Savannah River Site, early 1950s. 61 Figure 3.2. Net number of acres planted 1953–2003 or seeded successfully 1960–1971 at the Savannah River Site for slash pine, loblolly pine, longleaf pine, and various hardwood species including cypress. 62 Figure 3.3. Longleaf pine planted in cutover scrub oak on the Savannah River Site, early 1950s. 63 Figure 3.4.

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