Jocassee Journal Information and News about the Jocassee Gorges www.dnr.sc.gov

Fall/Winter 2010 Volume 11, Number 2

The new Jocassee Gorges Map and Driving Tour was funded by the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, a nonprofit conservation organization that supports many education and outreach programs. (Photo by Dave Fletcher) Jocassee Gorges map, driving tour published by DNR, Harry Hampton Publication features sections on botanical areas, access and overlooks, educational opportunities and resource management. numerous recreational activities Funding for publication of the map A long-awaited map and driving tour and driving tour was provided by the Harry of Jocassee Gorges has been published by the Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, a private, S.C. Department of Natural Resources, with non-profit corporation that partners with the funding provided by the Harry Hampton S.C. Department of Natural Resources for the Memorial Wildlife Fund. promotion of education, research, management The 38-inch-by-27-inch map is the and the administration of game and fish laws, to most comprehensive map available for the benefit conservation of wildlife, marine and other natural 33,500-acre Jim Timmerman Natural Resources Area resources in . Funding for exhibits at the at Jocassee Gorges in northern Pickens and Oconee Jocassee Gorges Visitor Center at Keowee-Toxaway State counties. The map also shows portions or all of Table Natural Area was provided by the Hampton Fund, as Rock, Devils Fork and Keowee-Toxaway state parks in well as publication and mailing of the Jocassee Journal South Carolina, and game lands and newsletter for the last 11 years. For more information on in . the Hampton Fund, visit www.hamptonfund.org. On the flip side of the map is “Driving the Copies of the new Jocassee Gorges map and Jocassee Gorges,” an 18-stop driving tour beginning at driving tour are available at the Clemson DNR office, the Jocassee Gorges Visitor Center at Keowee-Toxaway Jocassee Gorges Visitor Center, Table Rock State Park, State Natural Area on SC 11 in Pickens County. Also , at DNR’s Columbia headquarters featured in the publication are sections on fishing, at the Rembert Dennis Building, 1000 Assembly St., and hunting, hiking, bird-watching, wildlife, camping, at Gorges State Park in Sapphire, N.C. Living fossil located in Jocassee Gorges:

Rare harvestman last collected in 1967 included what is now North America and the on rediscovered by African continent. When (over millions of years) Harvard scientists the continental plates drifted apart, it separated the animals into widely disjunct populations, thousands By Dennis Chastain of miles and an ocean apart. A sister species in West Just when it seemed that all the rare natural Africa is nearly identical to the one last seen here and cultural treasures of the Jocassee Gorges property in the Jocassee Gorges in 1967. Since the mite had been identified, along came a spider—an itsy- harvestman is pretty much a homebody (home bitsy spider, so rare that it has been collected at range is typically about 50 miles) and is not capable only three locations in North of crossing large bodies of America, a spider whose water, the two species must ancestors have been living in have originally occurred as these Southern Appalachian one population on Pangea. woods since the Jurassic Period, The big question, the reason a spider so small that it is not Ron Clouse needed to easily seen with the naked eye, collect living specimens, was but one that has a big, big story to find through morphologic to tell. and DNA analysis whether Back in the late winter the North American of 2009, I received a phone populations had evolved call from Ron Clouse, a into separate species, or had doctoral candidate at Harvard retained enough diversity University’s Giribet Laboratory. in their genetic toolkit to Clouse said he was looking survive as a single species in for a little creature known as a Jocassee Gorges, Sassafras Mt., Pickens Co. Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, Jasper Co. profoundly diverse habitats. mite harvestman that had been The other two known collected in 1967 at a site on locations for the species are Sassafras Mountain, the state’s These photos compare the mite harvestmen the Savannah River Wildlife highest peak. He explained that collected near Sassafras Mountain in Jocassee Refuge in the lowcounty while the tiny mite harvestman Gorges and the ones collected from Savannah of South Carolina and the was related to the familiar River National Wildlife Refuge in Jasper panhandle region of Florida. daddy longlegs “spider,” County. Showers of big fluffy (also known as harvestman), they are actually not snowflakes were drifting around on the top of spiders at all. In fact, harvestmen have their own Sassafras when I arrived several weeks later to meet taxonomic classification, the order Opiliones. This Clouse and Prashant Sharma, a fellow Harvard species of mite harvestman, he explained, was only graduate student in the Giribet Lab. The pair had about the size of a flea and only lives in deep, moist, already found a likely looking site along the Foothills undisturbed leaf litter. Locating the rare insect, he Trail and were sifting through the leaf litter when I said, was important to his department’s worldwide found them. After several quick attempts to find the search for populations of this and other relict species tiny insect had turned up nothing, I remembered that of mite harvestman, and he only had three days Clouse had said in our original conversation that the during his spring break to find this biological needle 1967 collection had been at or near the 2,500 foot in the proverbial haystack. He wanted to know if I elevation. That would be somewhere down around could help locate the site of the original collection, Chimneytop Gap where the crosses F. or perhaps find another likely spot to check. I replied Van Clayton road. We packed up and headed down that while it would be a challenge to find a spot the mountain. anywhere in the Jocassee Gorges property that had Our initial survey of the woods around not been disturbed in modern times, I would give it Chimneytop Gap was not promising. There were the old college try. monocultural stands of yellow poplar everywhere we This particular species of mite harvestman looked, and large even-aged stands of yellow poplar (Metasiro americanus) is thought to have originally mean that the area has been logged. As luck would evolved in the eastern United States at a time in prehistory when the mega-continent, Pangea, Continued on page 3 2 An intriguing tale of scientific discovery Continued from page 2 Antartica, don’t disperse very well, and date back to have it, I recalled that the year before, (while trailing the earliest beginnings of terrestrial life, they would a wounded deer), I had run across an extremely steep be ideal organisms by which to study how animals slope nearby that was dominated by older age-class have become dispersed and evolved in response oaks and appeared relatively undisturbed. The pair to the changing conditions brought about by the settled on a likely site, but after nearly a half-hour of drifting continents. Professor Giribet’s quest is to carefully sifting through the leaf litter, they came up eventually construct an evolutionary tree of life dating empty handed. So I left them to their work. back 450 million years, a taxonomic tool that would The next day I returned to Chimneytop help scientists literally trace the history of life on the Gap with Greg Lucas of the planet. S.C. Department of Natural The theory is that when Resources and Jocassee Pangea began to break apart Journal editor. We found that and form the various continents the intrepid graduate students around the world, the had moved to another and animals had to evolve to location on the other side of meet the changing conditions, the steep ridge. It was here and that phenomenon accounts that they found the mother- for much of the incredible lode. There in the deep leaf diversity we see today all litter on the upslope side across the spectrum of living of an old rotting log, they organisms. It also accounts for collected more than enough the fact that we have plants of the rare mite harvestman here in South Carolina— plants for both their morphologic such as Oconee bells, native analyses and their DNA azaleas, hemlocks, poplars and studies (16 specimens to a grand total of 60 genera of be exact). Clouse recently other plants that all have their reported that the preliminary near relative counterparts in gene sequencing data indicate Asia. For example, we have that all three populations one species of (S. in the Southeast are nearly galactifolia, Oconee bells) here identical and almost certainly in North America, while eight the same species. species of Shortia are found in So, where does all this Asia. fit into the large scheme of Granted this whole Ron Clouse of Harvard University sifts things? Let me see if I can put concept of continent drift seems through forest duff near Chimneytop Gap it into perspective. Without a bit surreal. Nevertheless, the and Sassafras Mountain looking for the rare getting too heavy into plate evidence is mounting. It is one mite harvestman spider. (DNR photo by tectonics, continental drift thing to watch a show on the Greg Lucas) and the whole subject of History Channel that features biogeography, suffice it to say that there was a time computer graphics of the proto-continents drifting in the big blue planet’s history when all the world’s around the globe like globs of goo in a lava lamp. It land mass was located in one super-continent— is another thing altogether to find a living breathing Pangea. For millions of years, all the world’s plants organism right here in the Jocassee Gorges that you and animals were found either in the ocean or on this can actually hold in your hands that was living here gigantic land mass. The mite harvestman is in the when the earth was young, and whose nearly identical suborder Cyphophthalmi, and creatures in that class sister species is a world away in West Africa. And it are thought to have been among the very earliest is very gratifying to think that this little harvestman’s living organisms to crawl out of the ocean depths and genetic blueprint may one day help scientists learn to make a living on dry land. construct the ultimate tree of life. Somewhere Charles And by the way, it was Dr. Gonzolo Giribet, Darwin is smiling. a colleague of Clouse and Sharma at Harvard, who (Dennis Chastain is a Pickens County naturalist and first recognized that since the various species of outdoors writer who has been hunting, hiking and harvestmen are located on every continent, except fishing in Jocassee Gorges for more than 30 years.) 3 State’s highest peak is protected from development North Carolina side of Sassafras Mountain part of 8,000-acre tract known as ‘Land of the Waterfalls’ All of South Carolina’s highest peak, Sassafras Mountain, will now be protected from development, thanks to the planned sale of an 8,000-acre tract known as the “Land of the Waterfalls” to a North Carolina conservancy group. Former U.S. Rep. Charleston Taylor is selling the land, which runs along the South Carolina border, in a $33 million deal with the Carolina Mountain Conservancy and The Conservation Fund. Announcement of the sale marks the group’s acquisition of the largest privately-owned block of land remaining in the southern . While the South Carolina side of Sassafras Mountain was already protected, there were concerns that Taylor’s portion could be developed and obstruct the view from the peak, which reaches 3,560 feet, the highest point in South Carolina. Protection of the 8,000-acre tract in North “The Taylor family has offered the opportunity Carolina known as “Land of the Waterfalls” to add another jewel to the crown of conserved land in will also protect a spur of the Foothills Trail western North Carolina,” said Kieran Roe, executive that runs between Sassafras Mountain and director of CMLC. “The conservation of the East Caesars Head State Park. Fork Headwaters tract will yield many public benefits: permanent protection of a clean water supply, extensive in importance as a public water supply as regional hunting and fishing opportunities, a new driver for population grows in coming decades. the local recreation and tourism economy, and the The acquisition project will open up over 50 preservation of habitat for some of North Carolina’s miles of streams teeming with rainbow, brown and the rarest and animal species.” elusive Southern Appalachian-strain of brook trout, the Conservation of the East Fork Headwaters tract region’s only native trout. Coldwater sport fishing is a will have a regional impact. The tract is bounded by the key driver in western North Carolina’s tourism industry. North Carolina/South Carolina state line for over eight The NC Wildlife Resources Commission calculates that miles. Nine miles of the Foothills Trail, a major east- trout fishing generated $147 million in revenue for the west hiking path, winds through the tract creating a link area in 2008. The conservationists are seeking to open between Caesars Head State Park in South Carolina and the land for public game hunting as well. Because East North Carolina’s Gorges State Park. The Foothills Trail Fork Headwaters sits squarely in the middle of existing Conference, which maintains the trail, has operated vast acreages of publicly conserved land, the forested under a year-to-year lease on the Taylor property, slopes and drainages provide a critical wildlife migration but public ownership would allow this section of the corridor. Foothills Trail network to remain permanently intact. For decades, Champion Cattle and Tree Farms The acquisition will also protect the North Carolina and preceding landowners have managed the land section of the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest for multiple uses, including forestry, hunting, fishing, peak in South Carolina. hiking and wildlife habitat. The tract is home to rare The East Fork is classified as “Outstanding plant communities, including pockets of Southern Resource Waters” by the N.C. Division of Water Appalachian bog. The project lies atop the Blue Ridge Quality, a designation reserved for rivers and streams escarpment, one of the most important biodiversity of the highest quality and ecological significance. The hotspots in world. This transition zone between the East Fork flows to the French Broad River, which serves and the Blue Ridge Mountains is rife with as a back-up drinking water source for the Asheville micro-climates and micro-habitats such as spray cliffs Regional Water Authority and is expected to increase near waterfalls and deep gorges. 4 Ultimate DNR 'team player' retires Holbrooks had coordinated youth Cherokee, Edgefield, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, fishing rodeo for two decades McCormick, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and Union counties, Holbrooks was coordinator of the Captain Larry Holbrooks, a 36-year veteran Oconee County Fishing Rodeo for almost 20 years, an with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) event attended by about 15,000 children. He forged and the law enforcement captain over 12 Upstate partnerships with many groups to make the rodeo counties, recently retired from the state agency. a success. Holbrooks is an active member of many Colleagues referred to Holbrooks as the conservation organizations, including the ultimate "team player." Whitewater River Corridor Committee, Holbrooks, of Westminster, started Upstate Environmental Enforcement his career with the DNR in 1974. Group and Keep Oconee County Beautiful "Larry Holbrooks is first and foremost Association. He was also the DNR a team player," said Dan Rankin, DNR representative on WGOG radio in Walhalla Upstate regional fisheries biologist. "He and WRIX in Anderson, answering has a great appreciation for all of our questions about laws and ethics on a call-in natural resources, and always made a show. point to work in partnership with DNR Holbrooks was promoted to first staff from all divisions to protect and sergeant in 1994, and was then promoted promote our natural resources. Larry's to captain in 2002. Holbrooks was Officer efficient approach, unending dedication, of the Year for DNR's District One professional demeanor and staunch moral in 1977 and in 1992. He received the character define the qualities of a perfect Capt. Larry Holbrooks Communications Conservation Award law enforcement captain. Larry is a very from the S.C. Wildlife Federation in personable and likeable person who genuinely cares 2002 and was the Outstanding State Employee for the about others on both a professional and personal basis. Oconee State Employees Association in 1999. Despite his tremendous responsibility, and I'm sure Holbrooks is married to Wanda W. Holbrooks, high stress position, Larry always took time to smile, and they have two daughters and six grandchildren. laugh and share a kind word with co-workers." He is a member and deacon at First Baptist Church of Responsible for Abbeville, Anderson, Westminster. Key milestone reached for recreational improvements at Keowee, Jocassee As part of the Keowee-Toxaway access area users’ experiences at the lakes whether relicensing, numerous projects scheduled they are in a boat or on the shore.” The plan was developed based on results from to be completed by Duke Energy Duke Energy’s Recreation Use Needs Study with input from many agencies and recreation users. The The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission plan prioritizes facility improvements based on the approved Duke Energy’s Keowee-Toxaway most immediate needs. Detailed site planning and Recreation Management Plan on July 19. This permitting for specific projects will begin soon. allows Duke Energy and its partners to begin the Among the planned improvements by Duke process for improving public recreation areas on Energy at Devils Fork State Park include additional lakes Jocassee and Keowee. The improvements will restrooms and ramp extensions. At Keowee-Toxaway be developed between now and August 2016. State Natural Area, scheduled improvements include “These lakes are terrific amenities for Upstate a canoe/kayak access area at the old boat ramp, residents and visitors,” said Scott Jolley, Duke with parking and shoreline stabilization for the Energy recreation planning project manager. “With access area, and additional parking at the park’s this approval in hand, we can begin the final detailed Jocassee Gorges Visitor Center. Other improvements planning for improvements such as walking trails, scheduled are at Cane Creek Access Area, Fall Creek restrooms, picnic areas, fishing piers and parking Access Area, South Cove County Park and several lot lighting. These improvements will enhance the other access areas and parks. 5 ‘Expeditions with Patrick McMillan’ explores Jocassee Gorges Telegenic Clemson University naturalist explores hidden side of Table Rock "Expeditions with Patrick McMillan," a public- television nature series produced by Clemson University video productions that has built a national following, recently featured an episode that explored some of the Jim Timmerman Natural Resources Area at Jocassee Gorges. The episode, from the show’s fourth season, is called “Table Rock: The Hidden Side.” For more information on the show, or to purchase DVDs of episodes from any of the show’s four seasons, visit www. clemson.edu/public/expeditions. “Table Rock is one of the most popular state parks in South Carolina,” said McMillan, a Clemson University professor and naturalist. “The rugged cliffs would seem to expose most of the nature of the place, but if you’re willing to venture a little farther afield, out on the trails that are less traveled, really, just slow down and take the time to look around, you’ll find out there’s a lot more there than initially meets the eye. Even this place, a place we think we know, has a hidden side.” The half-hour show visited several sites on Pinnacle Mountain, including a petroglyph (rock carving) site and a mafic Southern Appalachian cataract fen, where high magnesium and calcium levels and high pH contribute to plant communities that are found nowhere else in South Carolina. McMillan said that his favorite gateway to “this Clemson naturalist Patrick McMillan takes a look at a milkweed flower along the Foothills Trail during filming of enchanting landscape” is the Foothills Trail, which "Expeditions with Patrick McMillan" in Jocassee Gorges. (DNR photo by Greg Lucas) extends 77 miles between Table Rock and Oconee state parks. Among the many plants featured by McMillan leaf groundsel, tall meadow rue, Indian pink, white during the show are Vasey’s trillium, Blue Ridge milkweed, four-leaf milkweed, red Canada lily, Biltmore bindweed, Indian paintbrush, grass of Parnassus, sedge and shortleaf sneezeweed. ninebark, smooth indigobush, racemed milkwort, bog “No matter the season and no matter where oatgrass, grass pink orchid, round leaf sundew, divided- you venture in this landscape, there are amazing natural treasures under every stone and around every corner,” McMillan said. “This place has been drawing humans to its majesty for thousands of years, and if you get a chance to visit, I hope you’ll take the time to stroll, to slow down and reflect, and leave with a sense of the sacredness of this incredible place.” “Expeditions with Patrick McMillan” debuted in 2006 on South Carolina ETV. In 2009, the weekly series expanded to PBS stations that reach more than 54 million television households coast-to-coast, including “Expeditions with Patrick McMillan” debuted in seven of the nation’s top 10 markets. 2006 on South Carolina ETV and it now reaches “Our goal in producing ‘Expeditions’ is more than 54 million television households coast-to- to increase awareness of the critical importance of coast, including seven of the nation’s top 10 markets. environmental issues, their global interconnections 6 ‘Expeditions with Patrick McMillan’ explores Jocassee Gorges biology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and his doctorate degree in biological sciences from Clemson University. McMillan’s research has been featured in both National Wildlife and South Carolina Wildlife magazines, as well as in numerous articles in The State, Greenville News and other local and regional newspapers. In addition to hosting Expeditions, McMillan spends his time at Clemson University fulfilling teaching and outreach duties. He is also a frequent guest on “Your Day” and the ETV Roadshow on SCETV radio. He is in high demand as a speaker and has given hundreds of public presentations, including the prestigious Calhoun Lecture in January 2009, the first Clemson faculty member invited to present this address. He has also given dozens of departmental seminars at universities throughout the region. McMillan is active member of several organizations including the South Carolina Association of Naturalists, the Southern Appalachian Botanical Society, the South Carolina Native Plant Society and the South Carolina Entomological Society. He is a member of the board of trustees of Upstate Forever and the South Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and is on the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Heritage Trust Advisory Board Natural Areas Committee and the Craigs Pond Eco-education Committee. During and after college McMillan worked as an environmental consultant and field ecologist for Clemson naturalist Patrick McMillan takes a look at a milkweed flower along the Foothills Trail during filming of UNC-Chapel Hill, Fairchild Tropical Gardens, KCI "Expeditions with Patrick McMillan" in Jocassee Gorges. (DNR photo by Greg Lucas) Technologies and R.J. Goldstein & Associates, curator at the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences and eighth grade math and science teacher. He moved and the need to develop a sustainable balance between to and joined the faculty of Clemson University in 2000. nature and mankind,” McMillan said. “There’s a His research has taken him around the world in pursuit growing disconnect with the natural world in this age of new species of plants, and his areas of expertise are of video games and cell phones. The intricacy and in sedge and Begonia , natural community interactions of the tremendous and valuable biodiversity ecology and conservation biology. that exist in South Carolina and the Southeast are often underappreciated and misunderstood.” McMillan is the host, co-creator and writer of the popular and award- winning nature program. Over the past 15 years, McMillan has worked as a professional naturalist, biologist and educator. His range of experience has concentrated on , though he is also well-respected through his work in ichthyology, herpetology and mammalogy. McMillan is a professional naturalist, lecturer and served as curator of the Campbell Museum of Natural History at Clemson University from 2006 until August 2009, Clemson naturalist Patrick McMillan traces a when he became director of natural resources programs petroglyph on the Long Ridge of Pinnacle Mountain for Clemson University’s Youth Learning Institute. during filming for "Expeditions." (DNR photo by He received his bachelor of science degree in Greg Lucas) 7 Visitor center planned at Gorges in N.C. Building at Grassy Ridge access all of its approximately 20 waterfalls are accessible to area may be completed in 2013 visitors, but everyone will be able to see all the waterfalls in a photo gallery in the visitor center. In addition, a Plans are underway for a new visitor center at floor-to-ceiling model of a waterfall will bring a little bit Gorges State Park that will be beautiful, environmentally of waterfall magic indoors. responsible, and full of fun and educational exhibits. Visitors to the center will also learn about Located atop Grassy Ridge, the building will feature lots the park’s flora and fauna, including rare ferns and of windows and outdoor decking to allow visitors to mosses that thrive in the wet and humid conditions feast their eyes on views of the park and—on clear days— around waterfalls. Some of the plant species in the see all the way to and South Carolina. park, including Oconee bells (Shortia galacifolia), The Gorges State Park visitor center will be bid for have extremely limited ranges and are vulnerable to construction later this year, with completion estimated disturbance. Visitors will learn tips for protecting plants around spring 2013. and animals both in The visitor center the park and at home, is being made possible including keeping by the North Carolina natural waters clean and Parks and Recreation protecting habitats from Trust Fund, funded from invasive plant and animals a partition of an excise species. tax on real estate sales in The area’s rich North Carolina. Funds are cultural history is also used for major state park covered in the exhibits, capital improvements, land which focus on ways acquisition and a matching people used the resources grant program for local of the land, from plants parks and recreation and animals to the beauty departments. of the scenery itself. The visitor center Architect’s rendering shows planned visitor center at Early Native Americans, and its exhibits are Gorges State Park in North Carolina. and later the Cherokee, intended to be accessible lived lightly on the land, to all. Visitors will be able to learn about the park and leaving few traces besides stone tools, arrowheads and have a great experience even on days when weather or foot paths. In the late 1700s, European immigrants other circumstances prevent an on-foot exploration of and their descendents farmed, hunted and harvested the park. A comfortable fireside seating area amongst timber. Around the turn of the last century, the area the exhibits will make a cozy place for people to relax or was a popular vacation destination, offering both rustic wait for other members of their group. The building will summer camps and luxurious accommodations. The also include a classroom and an auditorium for group ritzy Toxaway Inn drew guests from New York City, programs. Philadelphia and other cities until the flood of 1916 Outside exhibits will include a sculptural burst the Toxaway dam, drained the lake and left the Inn depiction of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, a manmade high and dry. waterfall, a rain gauge, a rain garden and general park As the park and the visitor center itself illustrate, information and maps. On nice days, a portable cart will the area is still a popular tourist attraction, and, to allow children to experiment with rocks and running emphasize that point, visitors will be able to make and water to create mini-waterfalls. send their own postcards. Inside, visitors will be able to explore exhibits to learn The building will be built to the LEED standards all about the park and its waterfalls. The park contains of the U.S. Green Building Council, meaning that a multitude of waterfalls because of its wet climate and various aspects of its design and use will save energy and steep slopes. About 90 inches of rain fall in Gorges State be environmentally friendly. For example, the building Park each year—almost twice as much as in Greenville, will be heated and cooled with an energy efficient S.C.! The steepness is due to the fact that the park is geothermal heat pump. A solar water heater will heat located on the Blue Ridge escarpment, an area between water for the bathrooms. Extra insulation will keep the the piedmont and the Blue Ridge where elevations inside of the building comfortable with less energy. Rain abruptly rise 1,000-2,000 feet. cisterns will capture water for reuse, and rain gardens will Because of the rugged nature of the park, not prevent stormwater runoff. 8 Jocassee writers celebrated

Dot Jackson and Ron Rash inducted Greenville News, the North Carolina Independent and into Academy of Authors was a stringer for The New York Times. She also edited or co–edited regional weekly newspapers. Her stories The South Carolina Academy of Authors and articles have appeared in magazines, journals and celebrated writers Dot Jackson, Ron anthologies. Jackson is the co-founder Rash, William Price Fox and George and site manager of the Birchwood Singleton during a ceremony in Center for Arts and Folklife in northern Spartanburg, inducting the four into Pickens County. the state’s literary hall of fame. • Ron Rash, born in 1953, is Dot Jackson and Ron the author of four novels: One Foot Rash have close connections with in Eden (set in the Jocassee Gorges the Jocassee Gorges region. The region), Saints at the River, The World induction ceremony was held April Made Straight, and Serena, a best seller 17 in the Campus Life Center named to many best–books lists and a Ballroom at the University of South Pen–Faulkner Award finalist. Rash, who Carolina Upstate. Writers Ron Rash (left) and Dot teaches at Western Carolina University • Dorothea “Dot” Jackson, Jackson (seated, right) share a and lives in Clemson, is also author of born in 1932, published Refuge, light-hearted moment with fellow four collections of short stories and three her first novel, in 2006 through the author Debbie Fletcher (center). collections of poems. Novello Festival Press of Charlotte. Founded at Anderson College in (Refuge is set in the Southern Appalachians.) She is the 1986, the South Carolina Academy of Authors identifies co-author of Keowee with Michael Hembree. A career and recognizes the state’s distinguished writers, living journalist, Jackson wrote for The Charlotte Observer , The and deceased. Lake Jocassee paddling trip makes for memorable day Palmetto Conservation Foundation’ group finds great way to cool down By Dan Whitten On a July morning, the Senior Explorers of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation assembled at the remote boat ramp ready for a Jocassee paddling trip. Twenty-one boats launched with the destination of Wright Creek Falls. By the time Double Springs campground was reached, lunch was in order. After munching down and a quick dip in the lake, it was back in the boats and up the north shore of Whitewater Bay. We had our eyes on the sky. Not only was a dark cloud coming over the mountains, but we hoped to spot a bald eagle I had seen on my last trip. Waterfall jumping is a sure-fire summer cool-me- Fifteen minutes of rain made us remember the down during a paddling trip on Lake Jocassee. last month of scorching days and grateful for the cool- (Photo by Dan Whitten) down. Then a large bird appeared overhead with wings bent at the wrist. Not a bald eagle this time, but rather a falls, rock jumping, waterfall shoulder massages and just “grand ole osprey”! taking it all in. After a rewarding renewal experience, After turning up Thompson fork and taking we turned around and took the shortest return route to anther swim, we soon entered Wright Creek cove. The complete what is normally a four-hour paddle. falls could only be heard. But after another sharp turn (Dan Whitten is a graduate of the Upstate and the triple waterfall was right there bouncing from rock Catawba Master Naturalist programs who lives in to rock to lake. Activities included paddling behind the Spartanburg County.) 9 Drawing of Fort Prince George Fort Prince George could be resurrected Pickens County Historical Society bordering and fronting on the vale…There are several looks into reconstruction of fort that Indian mounds or tumuli and terraces, monuments of the ancients, at the old site of Keowee, near Fort Prince could provide a major tourist attraction George, but no Indian habitations are present…the old Fort Prince George now bears no marks of a fortress but A group led by the Pickens County Historical serves for a trading house.” Society hopes to bring back to life one of the great The reconstruction effort would be a living landmarks of the mountain region’s history—Fort history project that will be educational from start to Prince George. finish and is expected to be a major tourism draw for A renewed effort to rebuild historic Fort Prince Pickens County and the Upcountry region. The Pickens George is now underway, and the hope is that once County Historical Society is partnering with individuals completed, the fort will serve as a tourist attraction for and other interested groups in the region to make the the area. construction project a reality. The plan is to rebuild the Royal Governor James Glen constructed the fort fort in its entirety based on period drawings and the in the Keowee Valley in 1753 in what is now northern documented archaeological footprint, and, true to the Pickens County. He built the fort at the request of original, it would include a Cherokee village outside the members of the Cherokee Nation, who were trading walls. partners with South Carolina colonists. The group is scouting for potential locations The fort, named for the Prince of Wales, played for the fort and hopes to find one close to the original an important role in the state’s trading history, and it site, which was flooded when the Keowee River was was a key military site during the French and Indian dammed to create Lake Keowee. Prior to the flooding War. During the fort’s 15-year existence, it served as a in 1971, the fort site was excavated and many relics were vital link between Charleston, Ninety Six and the Upper found, including three presumed Cherokee skeletons Cherokee lands, and during the French and Indian War, and musket and cannon balls. it was a staging point for assaults. The same colonists who built Fort Prince The “Big Four” Revolutionary War generals George also built its sister, Fort Loudoun, three years of South Carolina—Andrew Pickens, Thomas Sumter, later in what is now , and that fort met Francis Marion and William Moultrie—all spent time at a similar fate when the Tennessee Valley Authority Fort Prince George as young soldiers. flooded the Little Tennessee River basin. But in 1980, Fort Prince George was abandoned in 1768, Fort Loudoun was reconstructed on the banks of the 100 years before the present-day town of Pickens was TVA’s Tellico Reservoir for about $140,000. That fort established. American botanist William Bartram traveled is maintained by a private foundation and the State of to the area around Fort Prince George in 1775, and Tennessee. And the Ninety Six Historic Site, location he described it this way: “The vestiges of the ancient of a second sister fort, is a property of the National Park Indian dwellings are yet visible on the feet of the hills Service. 10 Bear tags debut in South Carolina mountains All hunters harvesting a bear must now Another change brought about by the new possess a bear tag law is that during the party dog hunt, the limit was raised to five bears per party per season. All persons The South Carolina General Assembly wishing to register for the party hunt must register recently passed a new law that affects bear hunting in by Sept.1 each year and must provide a valid hunting the Upstate, and the law brings some changes that license number. "It will be more important than hunters will need to know before the bear season ever that hunters get their application in on time and begins in October. that they be accurate," Morton said. "The DNR will A two-week black bear season is held not substitute members of a party after Sept. 1." only in Game The application Zone 1, which for party dog consists of the hunts is available northern sections online at www. of Greenville, dnr.sc.gov/ Oconee, and bearhunting/ Pickens counties. Bearpartyhunt.pdf. Still hunt season Additional for bear is Oct. changes in the 17-23, and party new law include: dog season is Oct. * Archery hunting 24-30. for deer will be One of allowed during the main changes the bear season. in the bear * DNR will be hunting law is allowed to set the requirement bear hunting that all persons seasons in other harvesting bears game zones as in South Carolina bear populations during both the increase. still and party * The harvest of dog seasons must an undersized possess a bear bear is now a tag and must magistrate court tag the animal case, which means before moving it DNR officers can from the point of issue a courtesy kill, according to summons for Richard Morton, this violation. S.C. Department Hunters are required to report a bear harvest within 24 hours, and Previously, an of Natural DNR biologists say this information should include a tooth from undersized bear Resources (DNR) each bear, along with an accurate weight, county of kill, sex of charge resulted wildlife biologist animal and the hunter's bear permit number. in the violator based in Clemson. being taken to jail. This tag will cost $25 for residents and $100 for Other bear law violations will remain circuit court non-residents and will be issued in the name of the cases. individual hunter. Youth under the age of 16 can Hunters who have additional questions about obtain tags at no charge. Bear tags will be available the new bear law are urged to contact their nearest online, by mail and at DNR regional offices. The DNR enforcement officer or wildlife biologist. revenue generated from these bear tags will go to The new bear hunting law can be viewed at www. bear research and management and to administer the scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/bills/3541.htm. tag system. More information on black bears in South Purchase a bear tag online at www.dnr.sc.gov/ Carolina can be found at www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/ purchase.html. bear/index.html. 11 Jocassee Journal Jocassee Project Partners Information and News about the Jocassee Gorges S.C. Department of Natural Resources John E. Frampton, Director Editor: Greg Lucas Funding for this publication provided by: Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund For information on subscribing to the Jocassee Journal contact: THE CONSERVATION FUND Greg Lucas, DNR 311 Natural Resources Drive Clemson, SC 29631-3253 Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund NONPROFIT ORG. Phone: (864) 654-1671, ext. 22 P.O. Box 2641 US POSTAGE Fax: (864) 654-9168 Columbia, SC 29202 PAID e-mail: [email protected] SPARTANBURG SC Web site: PERMIT #529 www.dnr.sc.gov/managed/wild/jocassee/index.htm The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, disability, religion or age. Direct all inquiries to the Office of Human Resources, PO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202.

Total cost: $1291.00 Total copies: 3,000 Printed on Recycled Paper Cost per copy: $0.43 10-7202 Jocassee Hydro Station adds 50 megawatts with turbine upgrades Duke Energy’s Jocassee Pumped-Storage the life of the station and helps our system respond to Hydroelectric Station will install two new turbines peak customer demands with a fast, flexible, clean and for units 1 and 2 this fall, upgrading the station and efficient energy resource.” increasing capacity by 50 megawatts. These will be the first upgrades to The turbines, Jocassee units 1 and 2 since manufactured by Voith ‘Essentially, we’re improving the output of they began commercial Hydro in York, Pa., represent the facility and making it more efficient operation in 1973. Replacing state-of-the-art design for with state-of-the-art design technology. This the turbines will enhance hydro greater efficiency. The generation for units 1 and 2 turbines—about 24.5 feet in extends the life of the station and helps our at the Jocassee station from diameter and weighing nearly system respond to peak customer demands the current maximum capacity 150 tons each—are being with a fast, flexible, clean and efficient of 170 megawatts per unit to transported via interstate energy resource.’ a maximum capacity of 195 highways on trailers about megawatts per unit. Each turbine 250 feet long. –Greg Lewis, Duke Energy also will increase pumping Following a seven- capacity by 37 megawatts. Units day trek, the first turbine arrived near Salem in early 3 and 4 were upgraded in 2006 and 2007. August. The second turbine is expected to arrive at this When generating electricity, the Jocassee location in early September. Once the second turbine pumped-storage facility works as a conventional arrives, both will make the slow and winding seven-mile hydroelectric station. However, the facility also can journey to the facility on a hydraulic platform trailer. reverse its turbines and pump back previously used “Essentially, we’re improving the output of water from Lake Keowee into Lake Jocassee. This the facility and making it more efficient with state-of- allows Duke Energy to reuse the water to generate the-art design technology,” said Greg Lewis, Duke electricity for customers during periods of highest Energy technical manager-Hydro Fleet. “This extends demand.