•

(Left to right) Lloyd Culp, Vicky Chapman (YACC ) Cecile Davis, John Eadie and Dartha Pittma n (Staff )

•

(Left to right) William Kent, Terry Lindsay , Jim Burkhart and Tom Worthington . (Staff ) t N

(Left to right) Kneeling : Barcus Hamilton and Tony Gooch ; Standing : Omer Bowen, Ron Phernetton, Virgil Crews and Jay Burc h (Staff)

0

(Left to right) : Douglas Huss and Royce Hube r (Staff) •

(Left to right) Nell Snowden, Ralph Davi s and Vannie Hickox (Iva Chesser is not shown) . (Staff )

r

t

PERSONNE L

1 . John R. Eadie (EOD 08/07/72) Refuge Manager (GS 13/7, PFT )

2 . Timothy Wilkins (EOD 06/04/78 ) Asst . Refuge Manager transferred to Yazoo NWR (GS 11/3, PFT ) 12/28/80

3 . Lloyd A . Culp, Jr . (EOD 12/04/78) Asst . Refuge Manage r (GS 9/2, PFT )

4 . Royce R . Huber (EOD 12/30/79) Asst . Refuge Manage r (GS 9/2, PFT )

5 . Ronald A . Phernetton (EOD 01/09/74) Forester (CS 11/4, PFT )

6 . Tony R . Gooch (EOD 08/18/80) Forestry Technician (GS 4/1 , • Career-Seasonal )

7 . Steve Taylor (EOD 11/04/79 ) Forestry Technician (GS 4/1 , terminated 05/02/80 Temporary Appt . )

8 . James A. Burkhart (EOD 06/11/78) Chief Outdoor Recreation Planne r (GS 11/3, PFT )

9 . William C . Kent (EOD 06/03/79) Outdoor Recreation Planne r (GS 7/1, PFT )

10 . Norman T . Lindsay (EOD 04/23/79 Outdoor Recreation Planne r (GS 7/1, PFT )

11 . Thomas Worthington (EOD 10/07/79) Outdoor Recreation Planner (GS 7/1, PFT)

12 . Douglas E . Nuss (EOD 01/16/77) Biological Technician (GS 8/3, PFT )

13 . Augustus H . Saville (EOD 04/12/65 ) Biological Technician transferred from Lake Woodruff NW R (GS 7/7, PFT ) to Okefenokee NWR on 7/27/80

14 . Omer L . Bowen (EOD 03/11/63) Biological Technician (GS 8/6, PFT )

15 . Cecile Davis (EOD 10/16/72) Administrative Clerk (GS 6/4, PFT )

16 . Dortha Pittman (EOD 12/06/76) Clerk-Stenographe r (GS 5/2, PPT )

0 17 . Jay Burch (EOD 12/07/61) Maintenance Mechani c (WG 9/5, PFT) 18 . Virgil Crews (EOD 01/05/69) Engineering Equipment Operato r (WG 8/5, PFT )

19 . Barcus Hamilton (EOD 01/23/69) Maintenance Worke r (WG 6/2, PFT )

20 . James Dixon (EOD 07/15/79) Carpentry Worke r termination of appointment (WG 7/3, Temporary Appt . ) on 7/11/80

21 . Donald Phillips (EOD 07/15/79) Carpentry Worke r termination of appointment (WG 7/3, Temporary Appt . ) on 7/11/8 0

22 . Danny Bolt (EOD 04/23/79) Laborer termination of appointment (WG 2/2, Temporary Appt . ) on 4/18/80

23 . Iva Lee Chesser (EOD 10/08/79) Laborer (WG 2/1, Intermittent )

24 . Vannie Hickox (EOD 07/14/78) Labore r (WG 2/1, Intermittent )

25 . Ralph Davis (EOD 03/30/76) Laborer (WG 2/2, Intermittent )

26 . Nell Snowden (EOD 07/14/77) Laborer (WG 2/1, Intermittent )

YCC STAF F FOLKSTON CAMP June 16 - August 8, 1980 • 27 . Steven McQueen Camp Director (GS 7/1 )

28 . Irwin Grant, Jr . Environmental Awareness Coordinato r (GS 5/1 )

29 . Kara K . Bragg Group Aid (GS 4/1 ) 18 Enrollees YCC STAFF FARGO CAMP June 16 - August 8, 1980

30 . Norman J . Tillman Camp Director (GS 7/1 ) r 31 . George B . Wyne Environmental Awareness Coordinato (GS 5/1 ) • 10 Enrollees

NON-PAID RECREATION AND WILDLIFE INTERN S

32. Mark Modica Clemson University, South Carolin a

33. Roger Chapman Clemson University, South Carolina

REVIEW AND APPROVAL S

~~. k4`& M/i/ 96$4, . 6.‘1,, itted By Date Area Office ,om Dat e

Regional Office Date

TABLE OF CONTENTS •

I . GENERAL

Page

A . Introduction 1 B . Climatic and Habitat Conditions 1 C . Land Acquisition 4 D . Systems Status 4

II . CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

A . Construction 8 B . Maintenance 11 C . Wildfire 1 3

III . HABITAT MANAGEMENT

A . Croplands 1 6 B . Grasslands 16 C . Wetlands 16 D . Forestlands 16 E . Other Habitat 26 F . Wilderness and Special Areas 26 G . Easements for Waterfowl Management 2 7

IV . WILDLIFE

A. Endangered and/or Threatened Species 2 8 B . Migratory Birds 3 0 C . Mammals and Non-Migratory Birds and Others 31

V . INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION • A . Interpretation and Environmental Education 3 5 B . Recreation 5 3 C . Law Enforcement 5 5

VI . OTHER ITEMS

A . Field Investigations 5 7 B . Cooperative Programs 6 0 C . Items of Interest 6 2 D . Safety 6 3 E . Banks Lake 65

Appendix

A . Introductio n

Okefenokee has been introduced in many narrative reports since it s establishment as a National Wildlife Refuge in March 1937 . In 1980 , the refuge acreage remained unchanged at 396,315 acres (353,981 acre s in the National Wilderness Preservation System) . Approximatel y 15,500 acres of this great resource area remain in private ownership . The refuge is located in three Georgia counties, Ware, Charlton, Clinch , and one Florida county, Baker .

As has been the case since its establishment, the main headquarters fo r the refuge is in Waycross . Subheadquarters units are established a t Camp Cornelia 11 miles south of Folkston and on Jones Island (Stephe n C . Foster State Park) which is 18 miles northeast of Fargo .

A total of ten managers have enjoyed a tour of Okefenokee . The y include :

1. John M . Hopkins 1937-1945 (8 years ) 2. Walter P . Schaefer 1945-1946 (1 year ) 3. William R . Edwards (Acting ) 1946-1951 (5 years ) 4. Roy Moor e 1951-1955 (4 years ) 5. Verlon E . Carter (Acting ) 1955-1956 (1 year ) 6. Gerald D . Bake r 1956-1957 (1 year ) 7. Joe Morto n 1957-1965 (8 years ) 8. John P . Davi s 1965-1967 (2 years ) 9. Larry L . Calver t 1967-1972 (5 years ) 10. John R . Eadie 1972- ? (8 years )

The current manager intends to set a new tenure record so he has t o remain at Okefenokee at least one more year . S B . Climatic and Habitat Condition s 1 . Climat e

Generally dry weather, with short periods of wetness, continue d throughout 1980, and the year ended with only .04 of an inch o f rainfall in November and December .

Compared to the expected average, the average 1980 water level i n Okefenokee was twelve inches low . That is a huge deficit in a n area where a foot of water in the swamp would have the same impac t as five or more feet of water in a deep reservoir . It is interestin g to note that the twelve-inch water level deficit relates well to th e eleven-inch rainfall deficit .

•

2

The summer of 1980 was a very, very, hot, dry period . Maximum average temperatures ranged from 91 - 97 degrees in June, July , • August, September and October . The lowest average minimum wa s only 38 degrees recorded in February and December .

RAINFALL (Inches )

1980 20-year averag e

January 3 .88 2 .8 5 February 2 .62 3 .26 March 5 .87 3 .74 April 4 .68 4 .0 7 May 3 .9 7 3 .8 7 June 3 .65 5 .54 July 4 .10 8 .0 3 August 4 .40 6 .8 8 September 1 .9 7 6 .40 October 6 .64 3 .59 November .04 1 .7 2 December .00 2 .6 8 TOTAL 41 .82 52 .6 3

SUWANNEE CANAL WATER LEVEL S (feet M .S .L . )

1980 High Low 1966-1975 averag e

January 121 .49 121 .15 121 .3 1 February 120 .45 120 .28 121 .5 5 • March 120 .86 120 .41 121 .5 4 April 121 .05 120 .82 121 .4 8 May 120 .94 120 .76 121 .1 7 June 120 .80 120 .33 121 .1 6 July 120 .70 120 .14 121 .35 August 120 .55 119 .99 121 .7 1 September 120 .21 119 .77 121 .86 October 120 .08 119 .43 121 .55 November 120 .22 119 .90 121 .30 December 120 .19 120 .00 121 .44 AVERAGE 120 .63 120 .25 121 .45

O 3

Grand Prairie as it appeared in Apri l when water levels were normal . (LAC ) 1-OKE-8 0

2 . Habitat Condition s

Except for a short period in April, water levels in the swamp wer e below normal throughout 1980 . Are we rapidly heading towards a situation similar to that in 1954-55 when Okefenokee last burned ? We think we hope so because all authorities agree that hot wildfires have given life to Okefenokee throughout its history . It ' s extremel y difficult to hope for a wildfire ; but it is an obvious fact that th e swamp is rapidly growing up, and the open water area is becomin g smaller and smaller . The only problem is that no one wants to be here when the next fire comes because the last one was around fo r two long years . Why don ' t we set it on fire? I really don' t know except to express concern as to what people reaction migh t be . If it catches on fire, our fire management plan says to le t it burn provided private property isn't threatened .

As the vegetative patterns of the swamp change, wildlife us e patterns also change ; and in some cases, wildlife use decrease s substantially . Quite frankly, Okefenokee is such a complex eco- system that it is difficult to determine just what is going on . Habitat changes and wildlife changes are obvious, but little i s known about the good or the bad or the indifference of these changes . Most ideas and thoughts about Okefenokee are philosophical rathe r than being based on fact . We hope the University of Georgia ' s extensive research in Okefenokee will help to change this . 4

We are seeing more and more dry land animals (bear, deer) out i n the swamp for longer periods of time . This could well indicat e a change in habitat conditions, i .e ., a drying out of Okefenokee .

C . Land Acquisition

1. Fee Titl e

Union Camp Corporation donated 16,608 acres of swampland t o Okefenokee Refuge on March 14, 1978 . The donation added to th e refuge about one-half of the swampland in private ownership an d raised the acreage within the refuge to 396,315 acres .

For the past two years, we have been trying to survey and mark th e new refuge boundary which resulted from the donation . Mr . Phi l Curry, a surveyor from the Regional Office,initiated a survey of th e eastern portion of this donation and completed about 50% of th e survey . Work was suspended this fall because it appears that som e adjustments may be made in the donation boundary . The remainde r of the donation, lands on the southwest side of the swamp, i s being marked as the lines are located by refuge personnel .

J . R . Wood Surveyors and Planners, Inc ., of Peachtree City, Georgia , completed a survey of lands on the south end of the refuge . These lands were acquired several years ago .

2. Easement s

Not Applicable .

3. Other

Not Applicable .

D . Systems Status S 1. Objective s

We were able to adhere to our FY 1980 Annual Work Plan to a reason - able degree . The biggest obstacles to adhering to the work plan wer e unplanned details, special training assignments, and the unexpecte d addition of the Banks Lake Unit . However, these exceptions wer e handled without too much difficulty .

2. Fundin g

The Bicentennial Land Heritage Program was in its final phase a t Okefenokee Refuge during 1980 . Several BLHP contracts, which wer e awarded in 1979, were completed or nearly completed during 1980 . Construction of the Suwannee River Sill spillway ($607,010), boat - house construction at Kingfisher Landing ($64,988), boundary surve y ($32,288), and interpretive film production ($13,800) were completed 5

during 1980 . Construction of the shop/office complex at Cam p Cornelia and the auditorium at the Suwannee Canal Recreatio n Area ($902,127) was nearing completion at the end of the year .

Two BLHP-funded contracts were awarded during 1980 . These con- tracts provided for the construction of two residences at th e Pocket ($147,879) and for the purchase of lumber for rehabilitatio n of the Chesser Island boardwalk ($11,768) . Okefenokee Refuge als o received four force account job orders to assist with the imple- mentation of BLHP projects (see table, page 7 ) .

Okefenokee Refuge received a special appropriation of $218,00 0 during FY 1980 for the procurement of fire protection equipment . With these funds, we procured two dozers (Caterpillar D-6 an d D-4), a lowboy trailer, and a variety of fire safety equipment . In addition, we have ordered a new truck-tractor which we hop e to receive soon . A fire truck also was ordered .

The 0 & M budget for FY 1980 was a challenge to manage . We starte d the year with a relatively austere budget, but numerous addition s during the second half of the fiscal year allowed us to hav e generally adequate funding (see table, page 7 ) . FY 1980 was the first year in which we received funds in Subactivity 8340 (Develop- ment and Operation of Recreation Facilities) . These funds wer e used to defray the costs of implementing fee programs in ou r interpretation and recreation activities . However, the prospec t of receiving additional funds from this subactivity is uncertai n because Congress did not specifically appropriate funds for thi s program for FY 1981 .

We started FY 1981 with another austere budget and little hope o f additions to our budget (see table, page 7 ) . Perhaps th e biggest obstacle to effective budget planning is the annual pa y raise which is granted to Federal employees . The funds targe t advices for field stations are apparently derived without regar d to the salary increases . Unfortunately, the latest pay raise wil l cost Okefenokee Refuge an additional $35,000 in salaries . While we were happy to have the raise (and we deserved more than that) , we wish that the salary increases were implemented in a manner i n which we could plan better for them or be guaranteed of reimburse- ment for Pay Act funds later in the fiscal year .

Other funding during 1980 included $36,250 to administer the Yout h Conservation Corps Camps at Folkston and Fargo .

During 1980, there were relatively few vacancies at Okefenoke e Refuge . The forestry technician ' s position was vacant for severa l months, but it was finally filled with a career-seasonal employee . However, there were some significant changes in the refuge ' s staffing pattern during the year . Refuge operations suffered a blow at the end of the year when one assistant manager transferre d from the refuge and that position was taken from the refuge . 6

The four temporary laborers who interpret the Chesser Islan d • Homestead were converted to permanent intermittent positions . A biological technician was added to the staff in order to ma n the Banks Lake Unit . Thus, the following describes the refuge' s staffing pattern at the end of 1980 .

CALENDAR YEAR 198 0 PERMANENT STAFF (21 )

1 . Refuge Manager GS-13 2 . Assistant Refuge Manager GS-9 3 . Assistant Refuge Manager GS-9 4 . Outdoor Recreation Planner GS-1 1 5 . Outdoor Recreation Planner GS- 7 6 . Outdoor Recreation Planner GS- 7 7 . Outdoor Recreation Planner GS- 7 8 . Biological Technician GS- 8 9 . Biological Technician GS- 8 10 . Biological Technician GS- 7 11 . Administrative Clerk GS-6 12 . Clerk-Stenographer GS- 5 13 . Forester (Administration) GS-11 14 . Forestry Technician GS- 4 15 . Maintenance Mechanic WG-9 16 . Engineering Equipment Operator WG- 8 17 . Maintenance Worker WG- 6 18 . Laborers (4 positions) WG-2

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7

TABLE I 0 & M FUNDIN G

Subactivity FY 80 FY 81 1210 157,300 172,000 1220 20,000 40,000 1240 213,000 196,000 6822 42,000 42,000 8340 5,000 8722 4,000 441,000 450,000

TABLE I I JOB ORDERS (FORCE ACCOUNT) - FY 8 0

Job Order No . Project Amoun t 2821-897-T4 Boardwalk Spur Construction 5,000 2821-897-MC Water Level Monitorin g System 28,000 1210-897-LH** Boardwalk Rehabilitation 24,000 2821-897-N7* Fire Safety Equipment 3,76 5

* Special Congressional Appropriation

** Includes funds for contract procurement of lumber

•

8 0 II . CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANC E A . Construction

Construction of the new shop/office complex at Camp Cornelia and th e auditorium construction and information center remodeling at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area were in progress during the entire year . When the contract was awarded in late 1979 to the Richard B . Walker Construction Company, we had planned to be using these new facilitie s by the end of 1930 . Unfortunately, the contractors apparently hav e been in no hurry to complete the construction, and 1980 ended with th e new buildings essentially complete but with some significant constructio n flaws . The facilities will not be used until the contractors satisfac- torily complete every item in their contract . However, we will welcome these much needed facilities whenever they are turned over to us .

A contract was awarded in 1980 to Allied Builders of Valdosta, Georgia , to build two residences at the refuge's western entrance near th e Stephen C . Foster State Park . Construction was initiated in Septembe r and has progressed well . At the year ' s end, the new houses were nearly completed, and they will probably be occupied by refuge personnel i n February, 1981 .

Two major construction projects, which were started in 1979, were complete d in 1980 . Ed Waters and Sons Construction Company of Jacksonville, Florida , completed in June the construction of a replacement water control structur e at the Suwannee River Sill . It is believed that the facility will be con - siderably more durable than the previous water control structure which collapsed in 1977 . Construction of the boathouse at Kingfisher Landin g was completed in February . The Milton J . Wood Company of Brunswick , Georgia, was the contractor . The new boathouse will be a tremendous asset to refuge operations in the Kingfisher Landing area .

Refuge personnel and YACC enrollees completed several construction project s 0 during 1980 . A second 750-foot spur with photo-blind was added to th e Swamp Island Boardwalk . YCC labor was utilized to construct 500 fee t of the proposed 2,000-foot long fishing pier at the Suwannee River Sill . YCC also continued to construct the Ridley ' s Little Island Walking Trai l at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area . Finally, the construction o f twelve water level/rain gauge stations throughout the swamp was complete d during 1980 .

J . R . Wood Surveyors and Planners, Inc ., of Peachtree City, Georgi a completed their $32,288 contract to survey and paint 22 miles of th e southern refuge boundary .

Phil Curry, Regional Office Surveyor, completed 50% of the survey wor k along the Union Camp donated land . After many hours of survey work , Union Camp officials decided that they were giving away too much upland . A solution to this problem is being worked on, and hopefully things wil l be finalized in the near future .

Ul~t stt't c `` v-.os't w°ri ' 9

Refuge personnel began surveying donated land along the refuge' s southwest boundary . This effort included remarking some old refuge boundary lines and cutting, hacking and painting new boundary lines .

The special Congressional appropriation during FY 1980 made it possibl e to purchase several new pieces of equipment which will be used in fores t fire management . A Caterpillar D-4 and D-6 dozer, a lowboy trailer, an d a rotovator were delivered during 1980 as a result of those additiona l funds . The delivery of a new truck-tractor and fire truck is expecte d sometime in 1981 .

The new Suwannee Rive r water control structure . (Staff) 2-OKE-80 10

Boathouse at Kingfisher Landing . (Staff) 3-OKE-8 0

•

The nearly completed shop/offic e complex at Camp Cornelia . O (Staff) 4-OKE-80 1 1

New Caterpillar D-6 and D- 4 dozers -- a welcome additio n to our fire management equipment . (WK) 5-OKE-80

B . Maintenanc e

All of the refuge's 120 miles of canoe and boat trails were maintaine d during 1980 . All canoe trails, except the brown trail, require d maintenance with the refuge trailcutter . Mile marker signs and white - tipped guide marker posts were constantly being replaced due t o • deterioration or vandalism . Some vegetation control with approved herbicides was accomplished along some of the trails . The chemica l toilets at the various overnight camping sites along the canoe trail s had to be serviced regularly . During peak use periods, the toilet s had to be serviced every two weeks .

There were several other major maintenance projects which consume d much time . Approximately 600 feet of decking and runners along th e Swamp Island Boardwalk were replaced . The night tour boat was dry-docke d and painted . The fire tanker truck was painted yellow in order tha t it could be easily spotted during prescribed burning operations . The wood shingle roofs of the outbuildings at the Chesser Island Homestea d were replaced . The pumphouse at Camp Cornelia received a new roof . Extensive repair work was accomplished on the canoe camping shelte r and patrol cabin at Big Water Lake . A much needed floor was installe d at the camping shelter at the Suwannee Canal Run . A diesel irrigation pump was installed at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area to replace th e worn out gasoline powered pump . The walking trails required routin e maintenance such as trimming, grubbing, and replacement of the bark trai l covering . 12

The following is a summary of forestry-related maintenance projects whic h were performed in the various forest-wildlife management compartments :

COMPARTMENT 1 : Graded 5 miles of timber access roads . COMPARTMENT 2 : Graded 1/2 mile of timber access roads . COMPARTMENT 3 : Graded 3 1/2 miles of timber access and service roads . Maintained regularly selected firelines for wildfire control and prescribe d burning . COMPARTMENT 4 : Rehabilitated 1/2 mile of the Chesser Island timber acces s road . Constructed turn-arounds in existing road . Constructed new road s (1 mile) for timber access and access to the deer stand field . COMPARTMENT 8 : Maintained existing firelines . COMPARTMENT 9 : Laid out and constructed new firelines (1 mile) . COMPARTMENT 13 : Maintained 12 miles of firelines for FY 1981 prescribe d burning . Rehabilitated 3 miles of timber and fire access roads . • COMPARTMENT 14 : Maintained 3 miles of firelines .

Our JD 770 working on roads in Compartment 13 . This timber acces s road is also used as a fire break . (RP) 6-OKE-80 l 3

O

Timber access road in Compartment 13 . Five miles of road in this compartmen t were rehabilitated . (RP) 7-OKE-8 0

C . Wildfire

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has fire detection and suppressio n contracts with the states of Georgia and Florida, whereby, the stat e agencies provide fire detection services for the entire refuge and initial suppression services for the forest management areas . Fires occurring in other areas of the swamp, where access is limited, ar e suppressed by refuge personnel if suppression is desirable .

• Three wildfires occurred during 1980 :

80-1 : Garden Fire - January 17, 198 0

One of our neighbors was burning off her garden adjacent to th e refuge boundary when the fire escaped and burned into the refuge . The fire was quickly extinguished by the Georgia Forestr y Commission . About one-half acre was burned . No permanen t damage was done .

80-2 : Container Corporation Fire - June 13, 198 0

Container Corporation was burning slash on land adjacent to th e west side of the refuge when the fire jumped the road into heavy , brushy swampland on the refuge . Fast action by the company fir e crew held the fire to a two-acre area . Very little damage wa s • done ; however, the swamp was very dry, and it was necessary t o push a fireline to mineral soil to prevent the fire from spreadin g into the swamp . 14

80-3 : September 27, 1980

This fire was intentionally set on private land and burned onto the refuge . It burned about five acres of refuge land . It is suspected that this was a grudge fire set by an individual wh o was caught trespassing on a private hunting club .

The location of each fire is shown on the wildfire map (page 15 )

•

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•

LOCATION OF WILDFIRES - CY1980 OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 15

UNITED STATE S FLORIDA AND GEORGIA UNITED STATE S DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIO R FI8I4 AND WILDLIFE SERVICE stn. sno'

LEGEN D N. lk REFUGE BOUNDARY

. n ,t-

VICINITY MAP ° " V ..z e

80- 1

R 19 E R 20 E 20 COMPILED IN THE DIVISION OF REALT Y TALLAHASSEE MERIDIA N MEA N FROM SURVEYS BY F . AW .S. . O.L .O . AN D 0 FEET Z DECLINATIOee N U .S . ARMY 0 6000 12900 2 .0. 0600 e 0 1 2 4 6 8 MILES i ATLANTA, EIEORSIA JUNE . 1963 80-3 4R GA 213 405

16

III . HABITAT MANAGEMEN T

A. Cropland s

Not Applicable .

B. Grassland s

Not Applicable .

C. Wetlands

Approximately 90% of the Okefenokee Refuge is wetlands, and managemen t of the wetlands consists mainly of protection of the biota and coordinatio n of the public use in a way to avoid disruption of the natural cycles withi n the swamp . The ecological stability of the swamp is such that the bio - abundance and diversity could not be effectively enhanced throug h 410 habitat manipulation . The construction of the Suwannee River Sill durin g the early 1960's was the only major attempt to manipulate the water leve l of the swamp . The new sill water control structure which was complete d in 1980 will permit manipulation of swamp water down to the origina l bottom elevation of the Suwannee River where it leaves the Okefenoke e Swamp . This manipulation will take place only if research which i s currently underway indicates the need .

D. Forestland s

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has approximately 16,000 acres o f upland included in its forest-wildlife habitat management program . Much of the'upland area included in Union Camp Corporation ' s recen t donation is included in the forest management area . Until forest manage- ment prescriptions are completed, the exact acreage of these areas wil l not be known .

41, An additional 14,000 acres of upland forest are located on islands withi n the interior of the swamp . These forestlands are located within the National Wilderness Area boundaries and are unmanaged except as note d in the section Unmanaged Forestlands .

Managed forestlands are divided into 15 compartments ranging from 150 t o 1,850 acres in size (see map, page 17 ) .

Objectives of the forest-wildlife habitat management program are : To provide habitat beneficial to a wide variety of wildlife species nativ e to the area with special emphasis on threatened and endangered species ; to demonstrate the benefits of wildlife and forest management on the sam e lands ; to enhance forest-wildlife oriented recreation, appreciation and education opportunities ; to manage forest resources on a sustained yiel d basis ; and to preserve unique vegetation types for scientific study and enjoyment . •

OK I':I'h:NOK FI:E NATIONAL WILDLIFE IIEFLI ;E 1 7

UNITED STATE S 111111111/ \\11 1 .1,11111 .11 UNITED STATE S DOPAR1MtN1 OP THE INTERIOR FISH AND WIf DUFF SERVIC E FOREST_ MAN

VICINITY YA P 0 KW~ C___ N ~INII

N 'M

30'!0 ' 30

•

30' 10 ' W.0"

.n I .w 400 I..

4 . 4A v. IAA

..11 , „I R ,.,

r r----O 40s of " 1.p W M . .. .

I •- , II - ; - ; . . ,K If i t :r :fem . 1 .,, N Al N J. n Ir N ' i i' If ` H N . r I N l > 01' 0 RI8ER19 E R 20 E REALT Y V COMP .LED IN TnE DI .I81ON OF \II \s41•:I•. Ili..KI1)11 \ MEAT. SURVEYS BY PAWS Di O AN D I \I .I. i PROM MOOD FEE T DECLINA T G'v U S ARMY 1'.t; i t MILES r- ATLANTA SEOROIA JUNE 1960 try 4R GA 213 40 5 1 8

Tools used to accomplish these objectives include a long rotation (10 0 O years or more), thinning on an eight-year cycle, and prescribed burnin g on a three-year cycle . The end result of this management is a wid e variety of forest stands in many sizes, shapes, ages, and species . These stands, in combination with the unmanaged areas, provide th e wide variety of habitats necessary to meet the needs of an optimu m number of wildlife species as well as to provide an aesthetically pleasing variety of forestlands .

• Numerous hardwood hammocks are locate d throughout Okefenoke e ' s managed fores t compartments . (WK) 8-OKE-80

• 1 9

Gallberry, saw palmetto, and ground oak s are common understory species found i n these open, park-like longleaf pin e stands which are often inhabited b y red-cockaded woodpeckers . This stand was burned three months before thi s picture was taken . (WK) 9-OKE-80

The intersection of an opening, a hardwood stand, and a longleaf pin e stand helps to create more wildlif e habitat diversity . (WK) 10-OKE-80 20

S

Ron Phernetton and Doug Nuss working on annual red-cockaded woodpecker censu s at Fiddlers Island . (RH) 11-OKE-80

1. Timber Harves t

There were five active permits this year which included the sal e of pulpwood and stumpwood . Table No . 1 (page 22 ) shows a breakdown of timber receipts for CY 1980 . Table No . 2 (page 23 ) is a ten-yea r timber removal summary . S 2. Prescribed Burnin g Prescribed burning is one of the most useful silvicultural an d wildlife management tools utilized . When properly applied, som e of the many benefits of prescribed burning are : reduction of wildfir e hazard ; control of diseases, insects and parasites ; increase o f available wildlife food supply ; seedbed preparation for natura l forest regeneration ; improvement of access for forest and wildlif e management ; and enhancement of certain aesthetic qualities .

Prescribed burning is of particular importance in the managemen t of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker which is present i n Okefenokee ' s longleaf pine upland . Prescribed fire helps to maintai n the open park-like conditions necessary to meet the needs of thi s species .

In spite of the fact that Doug Nuss and Ron Phernetton each had t o spend part of the burning season at the Federal Law Enforcemen t Training Center, we still were able to burn 6,113 acres at an averag e cost of $1 .08 per acre . 2,783 acres were burned in forest managemen t compartments and 3,330 acres on wilderness islands . 2 1

Some particularly difficult burning was accomplished on a newly acquired plantation on Fiddlers Island . This stand had a 20-yea r S gallberry-palmetto rough . We accomplished an excellent burn i n these areas with practically no damage to the crowns .

Table No . 3 (page 24 ) shows the prescribed burning accomplishe d during the FY 1980 season . The FY 1981 burning season did no t begin until after January 1, 1981 . See the map on page 17 fo r the location of the compartments .

3 Timber Stand Improvement and Other Forestland Management Technique s

The principle objective of Okefenokee's forest habitat managemen t program is to provide the habitat diversity needed to meet the needs o f a wide spectrum of wildlife species, particularly threatened or endangered species . The types of timber stand improvement work o r other management techniques prescribed are those which will help t o meet this objective . i Timber marking has been completed in Compartment 4 (Chesser Island ) and harvesting operations are about 30% complete . The three remaining old-growth longleaf pine stands in the compartment are being manage d for the red-cockaded woodpecker (the timber on the remainder of the compartment was destroyed in the 1954 wildfire) . Several dense slash pine plantations are receiving a heavy thinning to open up the crown s and provide a little more sunlight and growing space for understor y species .

Some timber stand improvement work was completed on about five acre s of hardwood stands in Compartment 8 .

4 . Tree Plantin g

Plans for planting about 70 acres of longleaf and slash pine wer e cancelled this year because we received word that our longleaf pin e seedling order was not going to be filled .

7,000 mixed hardwoods were planted in the 14-acre plantation tha t was destroyed in the 1979 Pocket Fire . Forestry students fro m Waycross-Ware Tech helped refuge and YACC personnel hand plan t these seedlings .

Seventy acres were prepared for planting in January and February o f 1981 . Fifteen acres will be direct seeded to longleaf pine . Longleaf, slash and loblolly pine seedlings will be planted on th e remaining area .

• S

TABLE 1 TIMBER RECEIPTS - CY 198 0

SPECIAL USE PERMIT TOTAL TOTAL VALUE CREDITED f PERMIT NO . PERMITTEE DATES PRODUCT VALUE/UNIT VOLUME VALUE TO CY 1980 l

OKE 57 Hercules, Inc . 11/19/79- 12/31/79 Stumpwood $5 .50/ton 33 .97 tons $ 186 .84 186 .8 4 OKE 58 South Georgi a 01/01/80- (RO-468) Timber Co . 06/30/81 Pulpwood $18 .51/cd . 1,150 cds .* $ 21,286 .50* 5,987 .06

OKE-60 South Georgi a 02/20/80- Timber Co . 04/20/80 Pulpwood $12 .00/cd . 15 .98 cds . $ 191 .76 191 .7 6

OKE-62 Hercules, Inc . 07/28/80- 10/28/80 Stumpwood $6 .25/cd . 526 .28 tons $ 3,289 .25 3,289 .2 5

OKE-63 South Georgi a 09/10/80 - Timber Co . 12/11/81 Pulpwood $20 .00/cd . 540 cds .* $ 10,800 .00 3,714 .6 0

TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR CY 1980 $13,369 .51

* Estimated Value s

TABLE 2

TEN YEAR FOREST PRODUCTS REMOVAL SUMMARY

CY SAWTIMBER PULPWOOD STUMPWOOD POSTS TOTAL VALU E (MBF) (CDS) (TONS) (EA)

1971 - 3,421 - - $ 34,210

1972 - 3,421 - - 34,210

1973 - 295 - - 5,696

1974 - 18 357 - 3,637

1975 217 .4 296 - 1,400 21,988

1976 - 1,243 1,286 4,309 28,890

1977 - 83 430 20,184 4,76 1

1978 - 33 551 30,754 5,04 4

1979 - 743 - 46,964 12,42 8

1980 - 525 560 - 13,370

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TABLE 3

PRESCRIBED BURNING ACCOMPLISHED (FY 1980 SEASON )

COMPARTMENT ACRES BURNED MAN-HOURS COST PER ACRE

2 148 32 $ 2 .69

3 1,088 211 1 .80

4 589 172 2 .88

7 623 63 1 .84

8 335 83 2 .2 6

Billy's Island 3,330 100 .19

TOTALS 6,113 661 $ 1 .08 2 5

•

Hercules Inc . removed 150 tons of stump s from the 14-acre area to be replanted t o pines this winter . The timber on thi s recently acquired tract of land was destroye d by the 1954 fire and it was never replanted . Natural reproduction was practically non - existent . (TL) 12-OKE-80

5 Unmanaged Forestland s

Okefenokee National Widlife Refuge contains over 14,000 acres o f • upland forest located on islands within the swamp . These islands , as well as most of the swamp, are part of the National Wildernes s Area . These areas receive no management except as authorized b y wilderness management guidelines . Natural fire has played an important part in the history of these interior islands and i s responsible, in part, for the open park-like longleaf pine stand s found on most of them . Most of these islands contain red-cockade d woodpecker colonies . Although Billy ' s Island is the only wildernes s island where prescribed fire has been used, the remainder are eithe r scheduled for prescribed fire or are designated as prescribed natura l fire areas in Okefenokee ' s Fire Management Plan .

The only other management conducted in unmanaged forestlands ar e wildlife or wildlife habitat surveys .

These wilderness islands, along with thousands of acres of swamp forests , also provide large areas of unbroken forest beneficial to some wildlife species less adaptable to the more diversified habitat type s found in the managed forestlands O 6 . Benefits of Forest-Wildlife Management on Okefenokee Refug e

No formal research has been completed that would help assess th e benefits of the forest-wildlife management . However, periodi c observations in compartments which have received timber stan d improvement work, thinning, and prescribed fire show an increasin g abundance of grasses, legumes, berry and nut producing species .

Examination of areas which have not received recent management see m to show less wildlife activity . For example, red-cockaded woodpecke r colonies which have not received prescribed fire for several year s or which have midstory pines or hardwoods encroaching upon them sho w deteriorating activity . Improvement can generally be observed i n any neglected habitat after treatment .

Wildlife benefits of the forest management program also become mor e • apparent as compartment prescriptions are completed . Understor y species and wildlife observations are noted at each prescriptio n cruise plot . These observations are showing an increased abundanc e of game and non-game wildlife species on managed forestlands tha t contain well diversified habitat types .

E. Other Habitat

Not applicable .

F. Wilderness and Special Area s

In 1974, 353,981 acres of Okefenokee Refuge were designated for preservatio n under the Wilderness Act . Preservation consists mainly of regularl y enforcement and monitoring the biological and physical features withi n the swamp . Channelization of streams which drain into the swamp ha s caused some concern since the greater volume of water within the swam p could cause major ecological changes . The channelization has been don e by timber companies in order to drain surface water from managed pin e stands . Although refuge personnel and researchers periodically monito r the channelization, efforts to halt this work have been limited because th e Corps of Engineers has not made a definitive ruling on the legality o f the drainage operations .

Refuge personnel continued to maintain the wilderness canoe trails as pro- vided under the Okefenokee wilderness legislation . Wilderness signs ar e posted at access points into the area designated as wilderness . In 1980 , refuge personnel submitted a nomination to the Heritage Conservatio n and Recreation Service to place the canoe trail system in the Nationa l Recreation Trail System . The following areas have been designated for protection as natural area s on the refuge :

1. Threatened Community Research Natural Area s

Pond Cypress Research Natural Area -- 14,989 acres . Sweet Bay Research Natural Area -- 2,560 acres .

2. Research Natural Area s

Floyd's Island (swamp island) -- 160 acres . Pine Island (swamp island) -- 90 acres . Territory Prairie (marsh & bog) -- 1,450 acres . Blackjack Island (sphagnum bog) -- 15,027 acres . Cowhouse Island (hardwood hammock) -- 10 acres ,

3. Public Use Natural Area s

Chesser Island Bay (swamp forest) -- 100 acres . Chesser Island (hardwood hammock) -- 11 acres . Floyd's Island (swamp island) -- 575 acres . Chesser Prairie Rookery (wading bird colony) -- 3 acres . Chesser Prairie (marsh prairie) -- 800 acres .

G . Easements for Waterfowl Managemen t

Not Applicable .

IV, WILDLIFE

• A. Endangered and/or Threatened Specie s

1 . American Alligato r

The alligator population in Okefenokee is estimated at 6,000 - 10,00 0 animals . There has been no notable increase in population over th e past few years . A study of the nesting success of alligators in th e Okefenokee Swamp indicates that the black bear is exerting an effectiv e control on the alligator population through nest predation . This is probably indicative of a density-dependent relationship, and nes t predation is not resulting in a major reduction of the alligato r population below the carrying capacity of the habitat .

Three of Okefenokee's alligators were sent to the zoo in Peking , China, in May, 1980 . The zoo officials in Peking had requeste d three American alligators through the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago , and the Brookfield Zoo officials handled the transportation an d permit arrangements for the alligators . Refuge personnel capture d the animals . The last word that we heard from Peking indicate d that the alligators had arrived safely, and they were adapting wel l to their new home in China .

On July 31 - August 1, refuge personnel conducted alligator censuse s in conjunction with the 1980 Cooperative Alligator Survey . Twelve census routes which totalled 80 miles in length were surveyed, an d 1,156 alligators were counted .

. .1., Y

This hungry ' gator decided to have a turtl e for lunch . (TCW) 13-OKE-80 2 9

•

Assistant Manager Tim Wilkins wrestle s with one of the alligators which was sen t to Peking, China . (Staff) 14-OKE-80

2. Eastern Couga r

There were no reported sightings of the eastern cougar during 1980 . The last reported evidence was the discovery of a suspected sca t specimen on Craven's Hammock on November 12, 1976 . This scat was tentatively identified as being panther scat, but it was finall y identified as coming from a black bear .

3. Bald Eagl e

The Okefenokee does not have any known bald eagle nesting sites . Eagles are transient species in this area with an occasional sightin g reported during the winter months .

4. American Peregrine Falco n

Peregrine falcons are rarely observed in the Okefenokee Swamp, bu t a few probably pass through the area each year . They are more likely to be observed along Georgia ' s Sea Island Coast, which is about 5 0 miles east of the Okefenokee Swamp .

5. Florida Sandhill Cran e

The Okefenokee contains a resident population of approximately 25 0 Florida sandhill cranes . The population appears to be stable . Exac t reproduction during 1980 is unknown, but the stability of the tota l population indicates at least fair reproduction . 30

6. Red-Cockaded Woodpecke r

• The red-cockaded woodpecker inhabits the upland managed forest s which surround the swamp and several upland islands within th e Okefenokee .

The annual red-cockaded woodpecker survey was conducted in May an d June . Of the 165 known cavity trees in the census area, 124 wer e active . There are 53 known active colonies within the refuge .

7. Indigo Snak e

The indigo snake (Drymardon corals couperi) was designated as threatene d in 1978 . Little is known about this species on Okefenokee except that i t is present and an important target for "snake rustlers . "

8. Threatened Plants

Three plants within Okefenokee Refuge are included on Georgia' s endangered and threatened plant species list . These include hooded , parrot, and trumpet pitcher-plants (Sarracenia minor, psittacina , and flava) . All these species, except the trumpet pitcher-plant, ar e relatively common on the refuge .

B . Migratory Bird s

1 . Waterfow l

The Okefenokee Swamp does not retain a large population of waterfowl . Peak wintering populatins have usually numbered below 10,000 birds wit h wood ducks comprising about two-thirds of the total use . Wood ducks and mallards are the most abundant species that are found during the winte r months . A considerable amount of use by ring-necks occurs during th e spring and fall migration .

• Considerable effort was made to meet a pre-season banding quota o f 300 wood ducks . Unfortunately, the wood ducks could not be concentrate d in large numbers for trapping, and we did not quite reach our goa l although we did band 216 wood ducks . However, blue-winged teal wer e very cooperative about entering the duck traps near the end of th e banding season, and refuge personnel banded 106 blue-winged teal .

Wood duck production appeared to be good as most of the wood duc k nesting boxes were used and numerous wood duck broods were observe d by refuge personnel . Although these are about 140 wood duck nestin g boxes on the refuge, the abundance of natural nesting sites reduce s the need for the artificial structures .

During April, refuge personnel checked 89 of the 116 wood duck boxe s which are located on the west side of the refuge . At that time, the y found 58% of the boxes to be active, and 94% of the boxes had bee n used by wood ducks at some time during the 1980 nesting season . • 31

2. Marsh and Water Bird s

Wading bird use in the swamp amounted to nearly 4,000,000 use days . Nesting activity of wading birds was heavy -- especially on the wes t side of the swamp . The Mack's Island Rookery was very active . I t has been estimated that 15,000 nesting pairs of white ibis populate d this 200-acre rookery . The white ibis is Okefenokee's most common wading bird .

3. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Specie s

This category totalled 340,000 use days -- limited primarily to woodcock , snipe, and killdeer . Okefenokee does not have enough open water t o attract a variety or abundance of birds in this category .

4. Raptor s

Okefenokee Refuge has a stable raptor population . During the osprey nesting survey, which was conducted on April 23, a total of 19 youn g osprey was observed on 19 active nests .

Sightings of swallow-tailed kites are not uncommon . However, we hav e yet to find any of their nests after years of searching .

The turkey vulture, black vulture, red-shouldered hawk, and the barre d owl are Okefenokee's most common raptors . Peak populations for eac h of these species are estimated to number 400-500 during the year .

5. Other Migratory Bird s

The Okefenokee Swamp is home for over 225 bird species . During th e Christmas Bird Count which was conducted on December 20, some 79 specie s were observed in the swamp and surrounding upland .

C . Mammals and Non-Migratory Birds and Others

1 . Game Mammal s

Deer continued to be plentiful and are frequently observed along th e Swamp Island Drive . An estimated (very rough estimate) 1,000 dee r inhabit the approximately 28,000 acres of upland area within the refug e which are suitable for deer .

Okefenokee Refuge had its first hunt ever as an archery deer hunt wa s conducted on 1,500 acres at Cowhouse Island from September 20 - October 24, 1980, The hunters who participated in the hunt saw plent y of deer, but their overall lack of archery skill caused them to ba g only ten deer . It had been hoped that at least 50 deer would b e removed from the area . 32

Refuge personnel have been concerned for the past two years abou t the health of the refuge's deer population . Thus, in January o f 1980, refuge personnel took five deer from the Suwannee Cana l Recreation Area and five deer from the Pocket vicinity and sen t them to the Southeastern Disease Laboratory in Athens, Georgia , for necropsy . Unfortunately, our fears were confirmed . The analyses revealed that the deer had a relatively high abomasa l parasite count and the deer herd was susceptible to losse s due to parasitism . Therefore, refuge personnel are proposin g to expand the refuge deer hunt during the 1981 season by conducting hunts at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area and the Pocket as wel l as Cowhouse Island . In addition, shotguns with buckshot will b e allowed during the hunts at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area , the Pocket, and at Cowhouse Island .

Raccoon, otter, opossum, and bobcat populations remained stable . •

O

This bobcat at the Suwannee Cana l Recreation Area was a little camera-shy . (TCW) 15-OKE-8 0

• 33

Ten deer were taken from the refuge fo r necropsy at the Southeastern Diseas e Laboratory . (DEN) 16-OKE-80

2. Other Mammal s

The black bear population remained stable at an estimated 15 0 animals . Sightings of bear along the Swamp Island Drive are no t uncommon .

Other mammal populations on the refuge seemed to be stable .

3. Resident Birds

Bobwhite quail inhabit the forestlands around the swamp and the sand y • islands within the swamp, and the population appears to be stable a t an estimated 2,500 birds . Although we do not actively manage quai l habitat, our prescribed burning program promotes the growth of foo d plants which are preferred by quail .

The turkey population appears to be stable at an estimated 60 birds . Turkeys are observed frequently along the Swamp Island Drive .

4. Other Animal Lif e

All other animal populations appear to be stable . Different animal lists are included at the end of this report .

• 34

•

This turkey procession was observe d on the Swamp Island Drive . (WCK) 17-OKE-80

3 5

V . INTERPRETATION AND RECREATIO N

A . Interpretation and Environmental Educatio n

1 . Genera l

Interpretation and Environmental Education at Suwannee Cana l Recreation Area, Folkston, Georgia (No . of Visitors )

Activity CY 1980 CY 1979 % Chang e Guided Boat Tours 9,256 12,084 - 23% Wildlife Observation (Boat) 8,187 8,406 - 3% Interpretive Center 29,429 36,475 * 1 Interpretive Tram 10,922 15,343 * 2 Self- Guided Wildlife Drive 21,384 15,577 * 2 Swamp Boardwalk 22,183 25,182 * 3 Chesser Island Homestead 14,759 15,504 - 5 % Night Tour Boat 37 74 - 50 % Walking Trails 10,910 16,777 * 4 Total Visitors 91,724 88,497 * 5

* 1 . BLHP construction restricted visitor access for six months . 2. Tram operated six months in 1980 and eight months in 1979 . 3. Boardwalk closed at times due to construction and rehab . 4. Percent change figures would be meaningless due to mechanica l difficulties . 5. Total increase in visitation reflects a camper add count whic h compensates for wilderness canoers who are physically presen t more than one day in the swamp .

The Suwannee Canal Recreation Area is the primary Service entrance t o the refuge . A concessioner offers guided boat tours, boat and cano e rentals, canoe-camping supply rentals, snacks and souvenirs . The O Service provides an interpretive center, wildlife drive, restore d swamper's homestead, walking trails, and a boardwalk with an observatio n tower (two spurs off the boardwalk lead to photo-blinds) and a picni c area .

SUWANNEE CANAL RECREATION AREA CONCESSIO N GROSS INCOM E

Year (FY) Total Amoun t 1975 $ 96,595 1976 126,10 2 1977 141,639 1978 165,36 8 1979 133,00 1 S 1980 137,14 0

Interpretation at Stephen C . Foster State Park - Fargo, Georgi a (No . of Visitors )

Activity CY 1980 CY 1979 % Chang e

Guided Boat Tours 4,191 4,852 - 14% Wildlife Observation (Boat) 11,418 9,379 + 18% Museum 48,348 51,635 - 6 % Total Visits 89,287 101,987 - 12%

The State of Georgia operates this entrance on 135 acres of refug e land under a long-term permit agreement . The facilities include a 69-site campground, nine 2-bedroom cottages, a pioneer camping are a for youth groups, a picnic ground, a museum, and a boat launch . Th e State does offer some good programs and excellent wildlife-oriente d opportunities ; the addition of a fulltime park naturalist this yea r should improve these programs . In past years, the State has not main- • tained and operated this facility at Service standards . However , some improvement has been made this year in maintenance and operatin g procedures . We will continue to monitor their progress and sugges t methods of improvement when asked . Gross revenues for the State Par k totalled $158,939 .13 this year .

Interpretation and Environmental Education at Okefenokee Swamp Park - Waycross, Georgi a (No . of Visitors )

Activity CY 1980 CY 1979 % Chang e

Extended Boat Tours (2 hours) 6,527 3,577 + 45% Environmental Education Students 1,262 2,815 - 55% Teachers 185 231 - 20% Total Visits 73,268 *78,493 - 7%

* These figures also reflect visits to Swamp Park's interpretive exhibits and demonstrations .

This privately-owned, non-profit entrance into the refuge showed a seven precent decrease in visitation this year, with a 45 percen t increase in boat tours in spite of low water levels in their boa t runs . Environmental education suffered because gasoline price s forced school systems to severely reduce field trips .

i 3 7

The Swamp Park is strongly tourism oriented with a $4 .00 per perso n (adult) entrance fee . The Park caters primarily to visitors wh o • have little time to spend in the swamp . The Swamp Park offers excellen t interpretive exhibits, lectures, wildlife shows, trails, a pionee r homestead, and animals in captivity . A 90-foot metal observation tower was closed for safety reasons (structural weakness) thi s year, and a laminated wood structure is planned to replace it whe n funds are available .

The Park opened a new walking trail this year which takes visitor s past the ruins of a swamp family's homestead . The trail is presentl y open only to special groups (Audubon, Scouts, etc .) and is stil l under development for access to the general public .

2 . On-Refuge Programs

A total of 351,335 activity hours of interpretation and a total o f 6,464 activity hours of environmental education were recorded i n • CY 1980 .

This Audubon group from Alabama foun d the refuge a haven for bird watchers . (TCW) 18-OKE-80 38

A . WILDERNESSCANOETRAIL S

The popularity of the wilderness canoe-camping program continues t o rise . Even though low water conditions forced the closure of man y of the canoe trails during the fall and early winter, there wer e more canoe-campers (4,198) venturing into the Okefenokee durin g 1980 than in any prior year .

As mandated by the Land and Water Conservation Act, a user fe e collection system for the canoe-camping program was initiated in November, 1980 . A $1 .00 per canoeist per night fee is collecte d by refuge personnel before a camping permit is issued . Durin g the first two months of this program, $595 .00 had been collected . We hope to recover some of this money to help defray the cost o f maintaining the 102-mile long wilderness canoe trail system .

• Number of Canoeist s (Each spending from 2 to 6 days in the swamp )

STARTING POINT CY 1979 CY 198 0

Suwannee Canal Recreation Area 1,448 1,886 Stephen C . Foster State Park 554 87 3 Kingfisher Landing 1,595 1,439 Total 3,597 4,198

This Boy Scout group is one of many that visits th e refuge each year . This troop, from Winter Haven , Florida, has adopted Floyd ' s Island Cabin as a n annual maintenance project . (JAB) 19-OKE-8 0 39

The Wilderness Canoe Trail System also has been nominated fo r designation as a National Recreation Trail . The system certainl y meets and exceeds most of the requirements for this designation . Hopefully, the approval will be coming from the Heritage Conservatio n and Recreation Service early in 1981 .

B . TRAM OPERATIO N

The motorized interpretive tram operated for six months this yea r (March - September), transporting almost 11,000 visitors along the Swamp Island Drive . Interpretive programs given by the refuge' s YACC enrollees relate to passengers the natural history of the swamp , the mission and objectives of the Service, and also a brief lesso n on wildlife management .

On June 16, 1980, we began charging a $ .50 per person user fee to rid e O the tram in accordance with the Land and Water Conservation Act . Over $2,000 was deposited in the Land and Water Conservation Fund thi s year . As with the canoe-camping fee, we hope to recover some of th e money to defray maintenance costs .

YACC enrollees perform a valuable service to the refuge and the Servic e in operating the tram . We hope to be able to continue the program i n the future but only time will tell what the next four years will mea n to the YACC program at Okefenokee .

I

Among the prestigious visitors to enjoy ou r interpretive tram during the year was the Fish • and Wildlife Service Directorate who stoppe d off enroute to a Programmatic meeting i n Jacksonville . (TCV) 20-OKE-80 4 0

C . NIGHT TOUR BOAT

Public use of our electrically powered night tour boat was les s than satisfactory this year, to say the least . Our concessione r is not exactly enthusiastic about operating the vessel . Therefore , our plans are for the Interpretation and Recreation Staff to tak e over its operation in 1981 and to charge a Recreation User Fee .

We had a small public address system installed this year, and th e boat has received a new coat of green paint which blends into th e swamp background better than the old blue paint . Hopefully, with better publicity and a regular schedule for tours, the night tou r boat will become as popular as the interpretive tram .

D . CHESSER ISLAND HOMESTEA D

The Chesser Island Homestead remained a favorite stop on visitors ' tours of the Swamp Island Drive . Our interpretive family at th e Homestead continues to elicit highly favorable comments from visitor s as they explain what it was like living in and off of the swamp i n the early part of this century .

O

Cypress picket riving is one of the mor e popular interpretive demonstrations a t • the Chesser Island Homestead . (WCK) 21-OKE-80 4 1

•

A new demonstration instigated at the Homestead this year involved a step b y step procedure for "whittlin " ducks , geese and other birds . Expertise wa s provided by a local artisan . (WCK) 22-OKE-8 C

Continuing the tradition of the past few years, the Homestead wa s host to over 900 people this year on November 1 during Folkston ' s annual Okefenokee Festival . Various craft demonstrations wer e given by local citizens for visitors, as well as boiling dow n sugar cane juice for syrup, a practice very much a part of presen t life in the surrounding community . A "Gator Gallop " was held this year on the Swamp Island Drive to kick off the Festival Activities ; thirteen runners participated, including the wife of one of our Interpretation and Recreation Staff members .

0 4 2

Our interpretive message repeaters, located at various spots a t the Homestead, add a dimension to the Homestead that visitors seem to enjoy judging by the frequency with which we have to replace th e repeater batteries . We are trying to come up with some recording s of old radio shows for a unit to be used in an old console radi o inside the house .

The outbuildings at the Homestead received new shingle roofs this year . YACC labor was utilized for this project .

•

It Cyclical maintenance keeps the Chesse r Island Homestead a popular stop for ou r O interpretive visitors . (WCK) 23-OKE-80

E . INTERPRETIVE CENTER

The Suwannee Canal Recreation Area ' s Swamp ' s Edge Interpretive Cente r was the scene of a great deal of BLHP-funded construction, remodeling , and rehabilitation this year . The Interpretation and Recreatio n Staff attempted to carry on "business as usual " while the work wa s (and still is) going on .

S 43

The new auditorium will allow us to upgrade and expand ou r O interpretive efforts by giving us a place to work with th e many large groups which visit Okefenokee . In the past, thes e groups were crowding into a small room for orientation talks , movies and slide shows . The new auditorium, with its built-in sound system, will become a valuable and welcome addition to th e present facilities .

i

The auditorium addition to the Swam p ' s Edge Interpretive Center will provid e the high quality atmosphere for ou r interpretive programs that the visitin g public has come to expect . (WCK) 24-OKE-80

The cooperative association bookstore also benefited from th e BLHP construction with a new sales area . The number of title s on sale has increased, and total sales for the Calendar Year 198 0 totalled nearly $1,500 . The association (Eastern National Park and Monument Association) also helped us this year by reprintin g the Chesser Island Homestead interpretive brochure . • 44

•

BLHP funding included remodeling th e interior of the interpretive center , construction of a new information des k y i and cooperating bookstore sales displa area . (NTL) 25-OKE-8 0

In November, Dan Rhymer of the Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission refurbished the many Center exhibits whic h had become dirty and in disarray due to the construction activities .

The parking area at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area also was redesigned and repaved . The tram now has a separate loading are a and the overall capacity of the lot now totals 183 spaces and 1 5 spaces for trailers and "RV ' s " .

i 4 5

I

O

A redesigned parking lot at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area was also BLHP funded . (WCK) 26-OKE-80

0 F . WALKING TRAILS

The Swamp ' s Edge Foot Trail System gained a section this year . Our YCC crew constructed an addition to the bank fishing are a (for children under 13) across the Suwannee Canal from th e interpretive center .

• 46

S

O

Expansion of our existing bank fishing area to both sides of the Suwannee Canal has double d the size of the fishing area available fo r children under 13 years of age . (WCK) 27-OKE-80

S

The children's bank fishing area yield s several " trophies " each year . More importantly, i t provides a hig h quality experienc e for introducing ou r young visitors to fun in the out-of-doors . (NTL) 28-OKE-8 0

0 4 7

The YCC enrollees continued work on "Ridley's Little Island Trai l" • again achieving excellent results on this project this year . YCC enrollees on the west side of the refuge completed over 500 fee t of a fishing pier along the Suwannee River Sill . The pier will allow visitors to fish along the Sill without causing erosion problems .

O

Our Fargo YCC Camp performed admirably i n providing the refuge with several hundre d feet of fishing pier . (RRH) 29-OKE-8 0

G . BOARDWALK AND PHOTOGRAPHIC SPURS

YACC staff and enrollees completed the second boardwalk spu r and photo-blind this year . YACC also completed renovation o f over 600 feet of the Swamp Walk Boardwalk .

i 4 8

The YACC program was responsible for assisting i n the completion of the second of our 700-foot spurs and photo-blind additions to the Chesser Islan d Boardwalk . (TCW) 30-OKE-80

A spotting scope was installed at the Ow l ' s Roost Tower this year enhancing wildlife viewing opportunities at this extremely popular facility .

S

The Georgia Outdoor Writers Association visited the refuge in April . They found our Owl ' s Roos t Tower and the newly installed spotting scope much to their liking . (TCW) 31-OKE-80

49

H . PLANNING

Okefenokee's Public Use Management Plan and the Wilderness Managemen t Plan were submitted for approval this year . The Public Use Managemen t Plan sets out the structure and framework of the Interpretation an d Recreation Program and provides guidance and direction for the thrus t of the program in the future . The Interpretation and Recreation Staf f already has found the plan to be a useful tool in the daily operatio n of the program . The Wilderness Management Plan, also developed b y the Interpretation and Recreation Staff, sets out carrying capacitie s which assist the entire refuge staff in making decisions concernin g resource management . These decisions directly relate to public us e management decisions concerning the quality of recreational experiences , mainly the Wilderness Canoe Trail Program . Both plans will be reviewe d and updated continually as conditions require .

O I . VIP GUESTS ON THE REFUGE

-- Inspection of the refuge was accomplished by Jim Tisdale and Phil Van Dyck of the Regional Office and Sam Drake, John Oberhe u and Peggy Dixon of the Area Office during January 8-10 .

-- Mr . Will Eddington, Administrative Assistant for Congressma n "Bo " Ginn, visited the refuge on January 2 .

-- The entire Service Directorate, along with other Washington , Regional, and Area Offices Personnel, visited the refuge o n February 27 in conjunction with their meeting in Jacksonville , Florida .

-- Dr . Frank Bellrose of Illinois Natural History Survey, and note d author of Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America, visited the refuge in March .

-- The Georgia Outdoor Writers Association conducted workshops an d meetings at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area April 25-26 . Don Pfitzer and Craig Rieben from the Regional Office were amon g the fifteen members in attendance .

-- Mr . Ray Pawley, of the Brookfield, Illinois Zoo, assisted refug e personnel with the capture and shipment of three Okefenoke e alligators to the Peking, China Zoo, on May 8-9 .

-- Keith Chapman and Mark Modica were two hardworking Clemso n University interns who performed their work/study program wit h the Interpretation and Recreation Staff from May - July .

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-- BLHP coordinators Phil Morgan (Atlanta) and John Carlse n • (Washington) visited the refuge on July 30-31, in order t o inspect the progress of various BLHP-funded projects .

-- Dr . Curtis Freese of the Office of International Affair s accompanied three Latin American wildlife managers on a visi t to Okefenokee September 20-23 . In addition to a tour of th e refuge, they had sessions with the managers and the Interpretation and Recreation Staff in order to better understand the managemen t and public use practices at a high public use refuge .

• Dr . Curtis Freese of the International Affair s Office visited the refuge with three Lati n American wildlife managers who were tourin g several refuges in the country on a trainin g mission . (TCW) 32-OKE-80

-- Mrs . Norman Havanio of the Division of Public Involvemen t visited the refuge in October .

-- Bill Weems, a National Geographic Society photographer, conducte d a photography workshop at the refuge in November .

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-- Bill Johnson of the U . S . Forest Service and a governmen t official from the Natural Resources Agency of Argentina toure d the refuge on November 25 for an orientation to our forestry / wildlife management practices .

-- A review of the guest register in the interpretive center a t the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area revealed that refuge visitor s represented all fifty states and twenty-four foreign countrie s during the period January - October .

-- Interpretive staff members at Cumberland Island National Seashor e visited the refuge for an orientation in May . Okefenokee YACC enrollees returned the visit in October .

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The Interpretation and Recreation Staf f was happy to have two hardworking Clemso n University interns on board for a ten wee k training period during May, June and July . (WCK) 33-OKE-80 52

J . TELEVISION PROGRAM S

• -- ABC's Jacksonville affiliate filmed our first attempts t o capture alligators for the Peking Zoo . These scenes wer e televised on the "ABC Evening News " and "Good Morning America " national programs .

-- CBS News visited the refuge twice this year in order to film swamp scenes and wildlife activities for their national new s program, " Sunday Morning . "

3 . Off-Refuge Programs

A. There were 89 news articles concerning the refuge this year .

B. Outdoor Recreation Planner Tom Worthington taught a wildlif e ecology course during a Natural Resources Conservation Worksho p • at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia , on June 9-11 .

C. Chief Outdoor Recreation Planner Jim Burkhart was in Washington , D. C ., during November 3-7 continuing his work on the Revie w Team's efforts with environmental education packages .

D . Refuge Manager John Eadie and Assistant Managers Tim Wilkins , Lloyd Culp, and Royce Huber attended the Area Conference i n Savannah, Georgia, October 21-23 .

E. Refuge Manager John Eadie was detailed to the Area Office durin g the week of November 17-21 to assist with their overload o f administrative work .

F. A picture of wilderness canoeing in the swamp was on the cove r of the December issue of Adventure/Travel Magazine ; an 0 accompanying story about canoe trips also was in the issue . G. Many publishers, authors, and other Service offices requeste d pictures and information throughout the year .

H. Training sessions attended by refuge personnel :

1. Federal Law Enforcement Training, Glynco, Georgia, 4 weeks , January 14 - February 8, 1980 -- Jim Burkhart and Bill Kent .

2. Federal Law Enforcement Training, Glynco, Georgia, 4 weeks , February 4-29, 1980 -- Douglas Nuss .

3. Basic Refuge Academy, Beckley, West Virginia, 4 weeks , March 3-28, 1980 -- Terry Lindsay and Bill Kent . • 5 3

4. Federal Law Enforcement Training, Glynco, Georgia, 4 weeks , February 25 - March 21, 1980 -- John Eadie and Ron Phernetton .

5. Mid-Level Refuge Academy, Beckley, West Virginia, 3 weeks , April 14 - May 12, 1980 -- Jim Burkhart .

6. Defensive Driving, on refuge, taught by the Georgia Stat e Patrol, June 12, 1980 -- 20 refuge and YCC staff and YAC C enrollees .

7. Multi-Media First Aid, on refuge, taught by American Red Cross , June 11, 1980 -- 26 refuge and YCC staff and YACC enrollees .

8. Government Property, Recordkeeping and Procedures (40 hours) , Atlanta, Georgia, taught by Office of Personnel Management , August 25-29, 1980 -- Cecile Davis .

9. Basic Federal Law Enforcement Training, Glynco, Georgia, 9 weeks, October 15 - December 19, 1980 -- Tom Worthington .

10. Introduction to Fire Behavior (S-190), on refuge, taught by refuge forester Ron Phernetton, November 19, 1980 -- 3 refug e personnel and 8 YACC enrollees . An 8-hour practical was given on December 30, 1980, to all refuge and YACC personnel .

B . Recreation

1 . Wildlife Oriented

Fishing and wildlife observation were popular activites for refug e visitors again this year . We recorded some 253,432 activity hour s . i of fishing and wildlife observation, a 15% increase over 1979 The Suwannee Canal Recreation Area, Stephen C . Foster State Park , and Kingfisher Landing all showed significant increases in fisherme n this year . However, the Suwannee River Sill, an extremely popular fishing spot in this area, was closed for almost seven months due t o construction .

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Fishing in the swamp was good most of the year . (NTL) 34-OKE-80

The big news in this category was Okefenokee's first legal dee r hunt in refuge history . The archery hunt was conducted for 15 days on 1,500 acres of Cowhouse Island, at the northern par t of the refuge . Hunters were allowed two days before the hun t began to scout the area . Hunt statistics are as follows :

-- 447 Permits Issued -- 1,094 Hunter Visit s -- 3,931 Hunter Hours • 47 Scouting Hours 988 Deer Sighted and Reported (896 unantlered/92 antlered ) 299 Hunters Commented on Register Sheet s 10 Deer Were Taken (8 Does/2 Bucks ) 17 Deer Wounded and Not Recovere d

As this was the first hunt ever on the refuge, we made mistakes i n conducting the program . However, we did learn from the experience , and any future hunts will be better for the hunters and refuge personnel . We will make sure to include such things as stand hours, use of dog s for tracking wounded deer, and other items in the hunt regulations . All in all, our first hunt was a good start and we look forward t o future hunts .

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The first legal deer taken on Okefenokee NWR during the new archery hunt . (WCK) 35-OKE-80

2 . Non-Wildlife Oriente d

Picnicking and camping accounted for 224,091 activity hours this year . Facilities for picnicking are provided at the Suwannee Canal Recreatio n Area and Stephen C . Foster State Park . Youth group campsites ar e available by advance registration at the Suwannee Canal Recreatio n Area, Stephen C . Foster State Park, and at Mixon's Hammock . Canoe - camping also is included in this non-wildlife category, which we do not agree with, as canoe-campers probably have the best opportunitie s for wildlife observation of any refuge visitors .

C . Law Enforcement

Site of Apprehension *CY 1980 CY 1979 CY 197 8 Stephen C . Foster State Park 56/51% 49/57% 109/89 % Suwannee Canal Recreation Area 53/49% 28/43% 13/11% Total Refuge Cases 109 77 122

* Represents number of cases made and percent of total .

A total of 109 cases was made during 1980 . As of this writing, twenty - • eight cases have been disposed of with fines ranging from $25 to $150 . Six cases were not prosecuted ; and the rest are still pending . Violation s 56

of Federal regulations were : trespassing (36 cases) ; possession o f firearms (13 cases) ; exceeding the speed limit (7 cases) ; litterin g (5 cases) ; feeding wildlife (4 cases) ; operation of motor vehicles i n closed area (4 cases) ; and possession of a weapon other than a fire - arm (1 case) . There were 11 cases made for no fishing license and 1 1 cases made for under legal size (12 inches) bass, all at the Suwanne e Canal Recreation Area .

Biological Technician Douglas Nuss spent several days at Harris Nec k NWR in October and November on law enforcement details . He also helpe d during Blackbeard Island NWR's deer hunt .

Nuss and ORP Bill Kent assisted Special Agents and State Personnel durin g the opening days of dove hunting season in the northern district of th e state .

Okefenokee experienced a rash of vehicle break-ins during the first thre e months of 1980 at Kingfisher Landing and at the Suwannee Canal Recreatio n 0 Area . Cooperative efforts between the county sheriff and refuge personne l resulted in the arrest of five individuals (two for property thefts an d three for attempted car theft) in the Kingfisher Landing area . The Suwannee Canal break-ins remain unsolved .

Vandals made off with some interpretive signs from the Peckerwood Trai l in December . It seems they were after the handpainted pictures o f woodpeckers on the signs . Investigations are continuing .

After 2'2 years of trying, a case made by Douglas Nuss in 1978 was settle d in December of this year . A man who was shooting vultures along th e Suwannee River Sill was apprehended by Nuss and his pistol seized i n April of 1978 . Finally, after eight court appearances by Nuss, in two different judicial districts, the case was settled with the man payin g $200 in fines, receiving six months' probation, and forfeiting his weapon . We are glad all the cases we make are not so difficult to close .

As in past years, large groups of trainees from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center at Glynco, Georgia, visited the refuge on weekends an d holidays .

Everyone at this station who has law enforcement responsibilities has bee n through training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center . While we feel that some of the training is not really suited to refuge situations , we do feel that the training is sound and of a high quality and will b e valuable to all who participated .

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VI . OTHER ITEM S O A . Field Investigation s

Okefenokee Refuge has a very active research program involving man y different aspects of ecological study . Much of the research during the past few years is now in the process of being published . Much of the research data, such as the effect of the Sill on the swamp , has management implications .

Most of the refuge research which is currently underway is directe d by various universities . Because extensive research is being conducte d by other groups, refuge personnel have been involved primarily wit h various wildlife censuses and ecological monitoring projects . However , refuge personnel initiated during 1980 a new water level/rainfal l monitoring project . Twelve water level/rainfall recorders were place d • at various locations within the swamp . It is hoped that the data whic h are obtained from these recorders will eventually allow us to bette r understand the hydrological characteristics of the Okefenokee Swamp .

The following is a listing of the research projects being conducted o n the refuge :

UNIVERSITYOF GEORGI A

1. "Okefenokee Swamp Ecosystem Study" . The goal of this research program , which is directed by Dr . Bernard Patten, is to understand the structure and functions of the Okefenokee ecosystem and those factors essentia l to its maintenance . This involves the collection of comprehensive , fundamental data on the effects of fire, drought, the Suwannee Rive r Sill, upland stream channelization, visitor use development, waterways , pollution, and habitat and species protection .

2. "Biotic Survey" . Dr . Joshua Laerm of the Museum of Natural Histor y is the leader of this research project which was initiated during 1979 . The purpose of the survey is to provide information on the distributio n and densities of the vertebrate fauna of the Okefenokee Swamp an d surrounding uplands . A systematic collection of representativ e specimens of all nominal taxa is being retained by the Museum of Natura l History .

3. "Archaeological Survey " . The objective of this study, which is directe d by Dr . David J . Hally, is to search for and study the archaeologica l resources of the entire refuge . This program was initiated durin g 1980, and the researchers have spent some time conducting field survey s and reviewing the literature on past Okefenokee archaeological studies . Since this program is in its initial stages, nothing has been publishe d at this time . 5 8

NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIET Y

1 . "Tree Ring and Hydroperiod Studies " . Dr . Michael Duever is th e project leader for this study which was begun in 1977 in cooperatio n with the University of Georgia's swamp ecosystem studies . This serie s of studies is designed to gather data on successional processes an d microhydrology-vegetation relationships to test the generality o f swamp ecology and management theories developed through previou s research .

ATLANTA ZOOLOGICAL PAR K

1 . "Ecology and Natural History of the American Alligator . " Mr . Howard Hunt, Curator of Herpetology at the Atlanta Zoological Park, initiate d this study in 1975 . The main objective of this study is to recor d factors which influence nesting success, hatchling survival, and juvenile dispersal of the alligator . During his field studies, Mr . Hunt has been successful in photographing bears raiding an alligato r e • nest, and a female alligator removing hatchling alligators from th nest .

EXXON PRODUCTION RESEARC H

1 . "Organic Geochemical Studies in the Okefenokee and Everglades Peat - Forming System" . Dr . Dan Casagrande is the project leader for thi s research which is largely a biochemical study of the sulphur, metals , and chemical changes which occur within the peat as a result o f bacterial oxidation . Dr . Casagrande initiated this study while h e was working at Governors State University in Illinois and continue d his work at the refuge after his transfer to Exxon in 1979 .

GOVERNORS STATEUNIVERSITY,ILLINOIS

1 . "Ecological Factors Affecting Plant Distribution " . Dr . Peter Gunthe r initiated this project during 1974 to determine interactions controllin g the distribution of dominant plants in the Okefenokee Swamp . The work is specifically centered on seed ecology, dispersal and distribution , physical conditions required for germination, dormancy requirements , allelochemical effects, and factors affecting the survival of seed s and seedlings .

ILLINOIS NATURALHISTORYSURVEY

1 . "Investigations of Fungi in Freshwater Environments " . The main objectiv e of this study, which is headed by Dr . J . L . Crane, is to record th e environmental factors that may determine or limit the growth o f Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes fungi, emphasizing the requirement s for ascocarp formation and conidation . This study will provide taxonomic and ecological information on tWo groups of fungi in a specialized ecological niche that have not been studied intensively .

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GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCE S

O 1 . "Bear Population Dynamics in Southeast Georgia " . Mr . Larry Niles i s coordinating this project, which is being conducted within refug e boundaries and lands adjacent to Okefenokee Refuge . The objective o f this study is to determine critical population parameters of south - eastern Georgia bears ; including estimates of density, age structure , sex ratio, and reproductive rate . The methods used in this study includ e an intensive capture/recapture program using box traps and leg snare s and an evaluation of track count and scent post index techniques . The study was initiated in 1979 and will continue for several years .

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLIN A

1 . Dr . Arthur Cohen has been studying the geophysical properties of the peat in Okefenokee since 1970 . His studies have added significan t knowledge about the origin and age of the modern peat deposits in th e swamp, regularity of fire occurrence, importance of fire in shapin g • and controlling the swamp environments, and the botanical an d mineralogical composition of peat within the Okefenokee Swamp .

No, she isn ' t eating her babies . She very carefully dug them out and gently carried them to the water in her mouth . (Myrna Watanabe , private collection, refuge researcher) 36-OKE-80

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B . Cooperative Programs

0 Okefenokee's Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) continued to surviv e another year under a "continuing resolution ." The year began with eigh t enrollees and no staff . In February, the hiring freeze was lifted, an d we continued to hire new enrollees through April . Then, another hiring freeze was imposed, and we ceased our hiring until the freeze was lifte d in November . By that time, our enrollee complement had dwindled fro m 21 in April to just 9 enrollees . As the year ended, we were allowed t o maintain a complement of 16 YACC enrollees . Thus, it is safe to say tha t the YACC program had its "ups and downs " during 1980 .

There were 18 general projects set up for YACC with 8 dream projects whic h were never initiated . A total of 14 general projects was undertaken . First aid training and safety orientation were provided for all enrollees . Area maintenance included things such as litter patrol, assistance wit h equipment repair, mowing grass, canoe and walking trail maintenance , toilet pumping, installation of chemical toilets in the swamp, rehabilita- s tion of canoe shelters, and completion of the second 750-foot boardwal k spur with photo-blind .

YACC enrollees were a tremendous asset to the interpretation and recreatio n program . Enrollees operated the tram along the Swamp Island Drive an d provided to the public an excellent presentation on refuge responsibilitie s and opportunities . They assisted in the information center where the y gave helpful information and direction to visitors . One enrollee wa s assigned to the refuge's administrative headquarters in Waycross i n order to handle the reservations for canoe trails .

The refuge forestry program also benefited from YACC assistance . Enrollees accomplished timber stand improvement, marked timber, constructed firelines , marked boundary lines, maintained roads and ditches, installed and sand - bagged culverts, assisted with road layout and construction, planted trees , completed hardwood nursery work, prescribed burn, and accomplished man y 0 other routine forestry management chores . Other YACC duties included maintaining wood duck nesting boxes, assistin g with the wood duck banding program, and recording wildlife sightings fo r the University of Georgia . YACC enrollees also provided clerical assistanc e for the Camp Cornelia office .

In short, our YACC enrollees provided a great service to Okefenokee Refuge .

Okefenokee Refuge hosted two excellent Youth Conservation Corps camp s during 1980 with the enrollees working from June 16 through August 8 . The Camp Cornelia staff consisted of a camp director, environmenta l awareness coordinator, a crew leader and 18 YCC enrollees . The Jone s Island staff consisted of a camp director, environmental awarenes s coordinator, and 10 enrollees . The Camp Cornelia YCC enrollees concentrate d most of their efforts on the construction of the Ridley ' s Little Islan d Trail . When this trail is completed, refuge visitors will be able t o S travel from the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area to Chesser Island via 6 1

walking trails . The Jones Island YCC enrollees spent much of thei r time constructing a fishing pier at the Suwannee River Sill . The YCC enrollees received assistance from YACC enrollees in this effort . Other projects in which both YCC camps participated included timbe r stand improvement, assisting with the wood duck banding program, sig n maintenance, litter patrol, and maintenance of refuge building an d facilities .

Two student interns, who major in Outdoor Recreation at Clemso n University, worked with the Interpretation and Recreation Staf f during the summer . Interns Mark Modica and Keith Chapman devote d many hours of work to the refuge as they passed this phase of thei r education .

Stephen C . Foster State Park personnel made some progress towar d improving their operation, but it still has a way to go . Monthly refuge inspections list those areas which need attention .

Refuge personnel delivered checks which were authorized by the Refug e Revenue Sharing Act to four counties . The following counties received revenue sharing funds :

COUNTY AMOUN T

Baker County, Florid a $ 2,09 2 Charlton County, Georgi a 102,13 7 Clinch County, Georgi a 16,47 3 Ware County, Georgia 104,55 1

Forester Ron Phernetton and YACC enrollee s S marked the southwestern refuge boundary . (TG) 37-OKE-80

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YCC enrollees worked on the Ridle y ' s Little Island Trail . (NTL) 38-OKE-8 0

C . Items of Interes t

Yep! I ' m still here much to the consternation of several of my manage r friends . Lusting after this job is sinful I tell you . Oh, well!! I can understand because it is the place to be -- as are most field station s in the Fish' and Wildlife Service . Some are just more attractive tha n others .

Assistant Manager Tim Wilkins became his own boss on December 19 as he took over the manager's job at Yazoo Refuge in Mississippi . Tim did a good job , and it is anticipated that he will continue to do so in the land of gumb o and Johnson grass and irate cooperative farmers .

Except for Tim's move and Forestry Technician Tony Gooch coming on boar d August 18, there were no other permanent staff changes during 1980, an d this is unusual in itself . We ' re usually calling Personnel Management t o see what happened to the SF-52 we submitted two months previously . It ' s a real pleasure to go through an entire year without major changes . Mobility is n ' t always what it is cracked up to be particularly when ther e is work to be done .

YACC and YCC was with us throughout 1980 although in diminished numbers . We will miss these programs when they go, but then we miss all dying pro - grams that have given us additional bodies and dollars . S 63

Okefenokee has a well-trained but poorly paid police force (10 employees ) -- compliments of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center . We still get the hours and the responsibility and the hazards, but premium pay appears to remain the province of the "real " Fish and Wildlife Servic e cops in Law Enforcement . This is not bitterness but fair is fair : :

The addition of Banks Lake near Lakeland to Okefenokee's responsibilit y came somewhat unexpectedly . However, the huge budget of zero dollar s makes custodial maintenance of the area appear to be a cinch . A . H . " Gus" Saville moved from Lake Woodruff Refuge to Banks Lake to get thing s started there . Gus is an acknowledged expert in excess and surplus propert y and also in "getting the blood out of the turnip " so he doesn't nee d much wherewithal to do the job . One of Gus' first jobs is to clean up after Burt Reynold's movie making crew . The movie "Gator " was made o n Banks Lake, and thus its claim to fame at this time .

Everyone on the refuge assisted in the preparation of this document . Culp supervised the overall effort and wrote several sections . Eadie , • Huber, Phernetton, Gooch, Burkhart, Kent, Worthington, and Lindsay adde d their two cents worth . Dartha Pittman did the typing and compiling an d Cecile Davis proofread every word .

D . Safety

With a continuing concern for employee safety on the job, Okefenokee Refug e resuned its efforts for an effective safety program during 1980 . At each monthly safety/staff meeting, films were shown which provided basic revie w for such areas as defensive driving, first aid, and overall safety awarenes s on and off the job . In addition, safety inspections were made periodicall y at each refuge work project site .

Several special safety programs were presented during 1980 . In July, bot h first aid training and defensive driving courses were presented to refug e personnel, YACC enrollees, and the YCC staff . In November, an introductory fire behavior course (S-190) was given to those YACC enrollees and refug e personnel who were involved in prescribed burning operations .

It is the policy at Okefenokee Refuge to report all known accidents, an d the following is a summary of those reported accidents :

REFUGE VISITORS

1. February 16, 1980 . Judy Canaday was driving to work in sprinklin g rain and struck a burned tree that had fallen across the rural road .

2. March 18, 1980 ; Hans Beck, 7-year old child, was eating lunch and wa s scratched on the hand by a raccoon .

3. April 6, 1980 ; Mrs . Mary Jackie Soles slipped on log steps on a natur e trail resulting in a bruise . • 6 4

4. May 23, 1980 ; Joseph Meyers, a researcher from the University o f Georgia, fell from a tree and stuck his climbing spike into hi s left heel causing a puncture wound .

5. July 17, 1980 ; Herman Story, while attempting to remove a hook fro m a fish, stuck the dorsal fin of the fish into his left middle finger . Mr . Story fell out of the boat and was rescued by his father .

YCC

1. July 8, 1980 ; Linda Diane Altman was stung by an insect on the left hand .

2. July 15, 1980 ; Cathy Peach was stung inside her mouth three times by a n insect .

YACC • 1. February 20, 1980 ; Lynetta Berry was raking grass and strained her back .

2. May 9, 1980 ; John McCullough fell from the rear of a pickup truck .

3. June 3, 1980 ; John McCullough, while working with creosoted lumber , accidentally rubbed his eye with his glove resulting in eye irritation .

4. December 17, 1980 ; Willie LaShore -- This accident is still bein g investigated .

REFUGE PERSONNEL

1. March 28, 1980 ; Douglas E . Nuss slipped and struck a metal pin whic h punctured his right leg .

2. September 18, 1980 ; Royce R . Huber came into contact with some typ e of poisonous vegetation, i .e ., poison oak or ivy .

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E . Banks Lak e

Banks Lake Unit of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was establishe d in April 16, 1980, when the U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service entered int o a 2-year lease agreement with The Nature Conservancy to manage a 3,450 - acre portion of Banks Lake .

Banks Lake is located in Lanier and Lowndes Counties in southeastern Georgia . The largest city in Lanier County -- Lakeland, Georgia -- i s situated on the northeast edge of the lake . Banks Lake's curren t acreage includes the northern half of the lake and 17 acres of uplan d adjacent to the lake in the northeast corner . Efforts are being mad e by Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire approximately 10,000 additiona l acres, which would include the remainder of Banks Lake and surroundin g land known as Grand Bay -- one of the largest examples of the Carolin a Bay habitat type located in the Coastal Plains of Georgia .

Present day Banks Lake was at one time a natural depression with extensiv e pond cypress stands . During the early 1900's, cypress was logged fro m the lake, and a shallow dam was constructed to operate a grist mill . This shallow dam structure was elevated slightly in the 1930's to for m the existing Banks Lake . The water control structure for Banks Lake i s located on State Road 122 and drains to the northeast into a tributar y of the Alapaha River . Precipitation is the primary source of water fo r the lake .

The proposal to establish Banks Lake as a National Wildlife Refuge ha s been submitted to the Director of Fish and Wildlife Service for hi s approval .

A typical scene at Banks Lake -- one of th e newest members of the refuge system . (WCK) 39 -OKE-80 6 6

Climate and Habitat Conditions

Banks Lake enjoys a moderate climate with a 30-year average temperatur e recorded from 50 .8 degrees in January to 80 .9 degrees in July . Average annual rainfall over a 30-year period was 48 .6 inches .

Dry conditions were experienced from April to October which reduced th e water level in the lake and as a result increased the growth of vegetatio n such as water hyacinth and coontail . Dense growths of these aquatic plants make outboard boat passage difficult during summer months . The water level in the lake began to return to normal in November and December whe n much needed moisture was received in the form of early winter rainfall .

Land Acquisition

At the present time, no land is owned in fee title . However, future plans of the U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service include the purchase o f 3,450 acres now being leased from The Nature Conservancy . In addition , efforts are underway to transfer 9,340 acres of land, which is adjacen t to Banks Lake, from the U . S . Forest Service to the U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service .

Fundin g

In FY 1980, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge received an additiona l $10,000 to staff one Biological Technician at Banks Lake . (A . H . "Gus " Saville transferred from Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge to Bank s Lake on July 25, 1980, to fill this position .) No other monies have bee n designated for the management of this area .

Construction and Maintenanc e

On September 10, 1980 a house trailer, which was listed as surplus property , was moved from Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge to the Banks Lake Uni t where it is being used as a Visitors Contact Station/Office .

A boat ramp was constructed in October to facilitate the movement o f fishermen from Georgia State Road No . 122 into the lake proper . Thi s ramp was constructed by refuge personnel with the use of force accoun t funds from Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge .

A 2-year lease was granted Mr . Jim White of Lakeland, Georgia, for th e construction of a concession stand and boat docking facility on Banks Lak e with the stipulation that both be functional by February 1, 1981 . Con- struction of a 40' x 20' concession stand began on November 3, 1980 .

A water level and rainfall recording station was installed at Banks Lak e in August . The station was constructed in an effort to gain accurat e data on the interactions of the lake ' s drainage system and rainfall .

Refuge boundary signs were posted at all access points and along Georgi a State Road No . 122 . 6 7

Since Banks Lake was newly acquired, a majority of time was spen t cleaning up the area to meet Service standards . In addition, many • man-hours were spent in the removal of undesirable vegetation at th e headquarters and public access points, general maintenance of refuge equipment, and the removal of illegal fish traps, trot lines, set hooks , and nets from the lake . Marking of boundary was also carried out wher e the location of the boundary was known .

Habitat Management

The majority of the current refuge acreage is wetland and can be classifie d as pond cypress . In the deeper parts of Banks Lake, pond cypress are the only trees that are found . Pond cypress, black gum, slash pine, swee t gum and red maple can be found in the shallower portions of Banks Lake . Shrubs and small trees which are found around the periphery of the lake include swamp red bay, fetterbush, pond pine, sweet bay, loblolly bay , red maple, and titi .

Endangered and/or Threatened Specie s

1. American Alligato r The alligator, threatened in this geographical location, is found i n Banks Lake and Grand Bay . The large amount of open water and swam p area together with an abundant food supply provide excellent habita t for this species .

2. Indigo Snak e The indigo snake is threatened throughout its range, which include s the Banks Lake area . It favors dry, sandy ridges but may also be foun d in stream bottoms and thickets in longleaf/slash pine forests east an d south df Banks Lake .

3. Eastern Couga r Sightings of the cougar have been reported every year in the vicinit y of Banks Lake . This area is one of the few sites in Georgia where th e O cougar may be maintaining a breeding population .

4. Red-Cockaded Woodpecke r The red-cockaded woodpecker may be present on the older tracts of pin e forests adjacent to the south side of Banks Lake .

Migratory Birds

As one of the largest freshwater lake and swamp systems in the Coasta l Plains of Georgia, Banks Lake is important to a variety of waterfowl . Th e wood duck is the only species of waterfowl which regularly breeds in Georgi a and is abundant in the lowland areas of Banks Lake . The open wate r marshes and hardwood swamps are important as migratory stops and winterin g areas for other waterfowl including the mallard, scaup, ringneck and teal . S 6 8

Wading birds are abundant and include white ibis, wood ibis, great blu e heron and green heron . A nesting rookery containing little blue herons , i snowy egrets, and cattle egrets is located on Banks Lake . Ospreys are seen regularly and nest in the tall cypress stands on Bank s Lake . Other species of raptors commonly seen are the barred owl, red - shouldered hawk, kestrel and merlin . Red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures are common in the winter .

Mammals and Non-Migratory Birds and Other s

The varied habitat of Banks Lake -- open water, flatwoods, hammocks an d creek swamps -- is an excellent environment for most species in thi s category . Adjacent upland and swamps support good populations of deer , squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, gray fox and bobcat .

Very little information is currently available on the fishery resource s of Banks Lake . Any estimates of fish productivity, angler use and yield s must be made by a comparison of Banks Lake to other similar water bodies o f • this region of Georgia . Current fish standing stock can be estimated a t about 100 pounds per acre . Of this amount, game fish species account fo r 25-30% of the fish biomass . A list of fish species taken by electro-fishing in December of 1979 is given in Appendix "A" .

Interpretation and Recreation

The Flatlanders Frolic, an annual event sponsored by the Lions Club o f Lakeland, Georgia, held a portion of its festivities on Banks Lak e September 2, 1980 . The Labor Day celebration provided enjoyment for 3,000-4,000 people .

Sport fishing has been the primary recreational activity on Banks Lake . It is estimated that Banks Lake is producing 50 angler trips per acre pe r year . The primary sport fishes are largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish , black crappie, and warmouth . Ohter fish which may be taken occasionally include flier, spotted sunfish, chain pickerel and brown bullhead .

Waterfowl hunting had occurred on Banks Lake prior to the lease to th e Fish and Wildlife Service . However, data is not available to illustrat e the importance of this activity to the recreational values of the area .

There is potential for non-consumptive public use at Banks Lake such a s bird watching, photography and canoeing .

To insure a smooth transition from private to public lands, law enforcemen t for the most part has consisted of informing those people using the are a of Fish and Wildlife Service regulations . Reaction to the management o f Banks Lake by the Fish and Wildlife Service has been favorable and few case s have been made .

Safety

O Refuge personnel at Banks Lake often attend monthly safety meeting s conducted by Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge . No accidents hav e occurred to date . 6 9

Biological Technician Gus Saville - the first employee at Banks Lake . (WCK) 40-0KE-80

S APPENDIX"A"

FISH BANKS LAK E FIS H

Bowfin Amia calva Chain pickere l Esox nige r Bluegill sunfis h Lepomis macrochiru s Warmouth Lepomis gulosu s Black Crappi e Pomoxis nigromaculatu s Flie r Centrarchus macropteru s Spotted Sunfis h Lepomis punctatus Golden Shine r Notemigonous crysoleuca s Florida ga r Lepisosteus platyrhincus Brook silvers ides Labidesthes sicculu s Mosquito fis h Gambusia affini s Lake chubsucker Erimyzon sucett a Brown bullhea d Ictalurus nebulosu s Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoide s

S OKEFENOKE E 0 0 NATIONAL WILDLIF E REFUG E

0

9 S 0

0

ST . MARYS RIVER

0 JACKSONVILL E

10 r

OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SUWANNEE CANAL RECREATION ARE A ACCESS FROM FOLKSTON, GEORGI A PRICES EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 197 9

ACCESS : From Folkston, Georgia, on Route 121 - 8 miles south, then 4½ miles fro m refuge entrance sign . CONCESSIONER : Mr . Harry Johnson, Route 2, Box 336, Folkston, Georgia 31537 ; telephon e 912/496-7156 . MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT : 1 . Canoe & paddles : a . $5 .00 per day d . 4 day trip - $30 .00 b. 2 day trip - $15 .00 e . 5 day trip - $37 .50 c. 3 day trip - $22 .50 f . 6 day trip - $45 .00 2 . Boat (14 ft .) & paddles - $5 .00 per da y 3 . Family boat (16 ft .) & paddles - $6 .50 per da y 4 . Excursion boat (20 ft .) & paddles - $7 .50 per da y 5 . Outboard motor w/gas - $12 .00 per day 6 . Life jackets (required by State Law) - $ .40 per day 7 . Launching fee - $1 .50 per boa t 8 . Camping supplies for canoe trips - Prices Availabl e SIGHTSEEING TRIPS (w/guide, boat, motor, life jacket) : For photography, bird watching, nature study, etc . 1. 1 hr . trip - $3 .25 person ; $1 .75 child 5-11 years ; Pre-school 50 C 2. 2 hr . trip - $6 .50 person ; $3 .25 child 5-11 years ; Pre-school $1 .25 NIGHT TOUR BOAT : Reservation basis only . (DOES NOT OPERATE ON MAJOR HOLIDAYS OR SUNDAYS ) ADDITIONALSERVICES : A . Single Bicycles $1 .00 per hour B . Double Bicycles $2 .00 per hour * Bicycle renters will be required to deposit (a) $3 .00 per single bicycle and (b) $6 .00 per double bicycle . When the bicycle is returned, the renter will b e given a refund for any unused rental time or will be charged for the time tha t exceeded three hours .

C . Canoe Shuttling (Price is the same for 1-10 canoes . ) 1. Trips Nos . 1, 2, 3, -, hi 4 . Trip No . 8 - O If shuttle is required to return 5 . Trip No . 9 - No Charg e customers to their cars at Kingfisher 6 . Trip No . 10 - gelP Landing - tea 7 . Trip Nos . 11, 12, 13 - A 2. Trip No . 4 - No Charg e 3 . Trips Nos . 5, 6, 7 - nOMMIIO ~r-, (..,f„5 aQ)Q, 1.c b1 e_ C.i

ADDITIONAL FACILITIES : Public boat launching ramp - $1 .50 per boat Concession buildin g Swamp ' s Edge Information Center Picnicking are a Public restrooms Nature trail s Observation tower Boardwal k Interpretive Tram Restored Swamp Homestead Canoe trails (by reservation only ; made through refuge office : Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, P . O . Box 117, Waycross, Georgia 31501 . Phone : 912/283-2580 ) All per day prices based on Posted Concession Hours unless stipulated otherwise . NOTE : No overnight facilities at this entrance . CONCESSION HOURS : September 11 - February 28 8 AM - 6 PM March 1 - September 10 7 AM - 7 :30 PM

"DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS - THEY WILL BITE " OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUG E STEPHEN C . FOSTER STATE PARK ACCESS FROM FARGO, GEORGI A January 1, 198 1

Access : From Fargo, Georgia, at Junction at U .S . 441 and State Routes 89 and 94 , take State Route 177 - 17 miles . Concessioner : Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Historic Sites Division , Mr . Bill Thomas, Park Superintendent, Fargo, Georgia 31631, telephon e 912/637-5274 . Miscellaneous Equipment : 1. Boat - $8 .00 per da y 2. Boat & motor - ½ day (4 hrs .) - $12 .00 (1 tank of gas ) 1 day {8 hrs .) - $20 .00 (1 tank of gas ) 3. $1 .00 deposit on each paddle, cushion and trash ca n 4. Launching fee - $1 .00 per boat or cano e 5. Canoe - $2 .00 per hour or $8 .00 for 8 hours (DAY USE ONLY ) 6. Overnight dock - $1 .00 per boa t 7. ALL BOATS AND CANOES ENTERING OKEFENOKEE ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY ALONG A TRASH CAN . Sightseeing Trips (w/guide, boat, motor, life jacket) : For photography, bird watching, nature study, etc . 1 . 1 hr . trip - $3 .00 person, $1 .50 child 8 through 11 (free under 8) Additional Facilities : Public boat launching ramp (fee charged ) Concession building - interpretive display s Picnicking are a Public restroom s Campsites : Recreational Vehicle, $6 .00 per night ; Tent and Pop-up Trailers , $5 .00 per night Cottages (2 bedroom) $30 .00 per da y Pioneer camping area (no fee) - Organized youth groups, i .e ., scouts, churc h groups, school group s Nature trail with boardwal k

NOTE : Park Hours : 6 :30 a .m . to 8 :30 p .m . - March 1 to September 1 4 7 :00 a .m . to 7 :00 p .m . - September 15 to February 2 8

STRICTLY ENFORCED HOURS CONFORM TO FEDERAL REGULATION S

DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS - THEY WILL BIT E

PLEASE NOTE - Stephen C . Foster State Park is located on lands o f Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge . All State an d Federal rules and regulations apply . BE CERTAIN YOU KNOW WHAT THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE :! OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUG E OKEFENOKEE SWAMP PARK ACCESS FROM WAYCROSS, GEORGI A

ACCe,54 : From Waycross, Georgia, south 8 miles on U . S . 1 and 2 3 to entrance at Vereen Bell Memorial Highway (State Road 177) . Conces4ionen : Okefenokee Swamp Park, Mr . Jimmy Walker, Par k Manager, Okefenokee, Georgia 31501 ; telephone 912/283-0583 . Adm.iaa .ion Ratea : $4 .00 per adult ; $2 .50 child under 12 ; pre-school children fre e if accompanied by parent . Group rate : $3 .00 per adult ; $2 .00 per child . Admission covers all features of park (shows, exhibits, 24-minute boat ride) . S.ightaeei.ng Tn. p.o : (w/guide, boat, motor, life jacket ) For photography, bird watching, nature study, etc . 2 hr . trip - $3 .00 person . 1 day (8 hrs .) - $35 .00 1st person, $15 second person . F A ing Rate4: (by reservation and with guide only) . (Guide, boat, motor, life jacket furnished ) 1 day (8 hrs .) - $35 .00 1st person, $15 second person . Add c.ti.onat Fac,c ~i t%e~5 : Wilderness walkway s Observation towe r Serpentarium and alligator pool s Animal and bird exhibits and observatorie s Museum and Ecology Cente r Concession Picnic facilitie s

Note : Park hours are variable depending on season of the year . Exact hours may be determined by contacting the Park Manager .

PRICES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 1978 United States Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVIC E REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO PUBLIC USE OF TH E OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUG E

1. Firearms, other weapons, and hunting are not permitted on the refuge .

2. Travel within the refuge is permissible only on designated, established trails . Outboard motors in excess of 10 horsepower are not allowed . Each occupant of a boat is required by Georgia Law to have a Coast Guard approve d life preserver with him .

3. The collecting or disturbing of wildlife, plants, minerals or artifacts i s prohibited except as noted in the next item .

4. Sport fishing is allowed on designated areas in accordance with Georgi a State Laws . The only methods allowed are fishing with pole and line o r rod and reel . The use of live minnors as bait is prohibited .

5. Camping, (other than that associated with overnight canoe trips) on th e refuge is allowed only in the established campground at Stephen C . Foste r State Park .

6. Campfires (other than those associated with island overnight canoe trip cam p sites) may be used only in the established campgrounds at Stephen C . Foste r State Park . Such fires must be tended at all times and completel y extinguished when left . Consult the Park Superintendent about fuel .

7. Pets must be kept in cars or on a leash . Pets are not permitted in boat s or in buildings .

8. Swimming and wading are not allowed due to the danger involved from alligator s and poisonous snakes .

9. Visitor use is permitted only during specific times posted at refuge entrances .

10. Littering on a national wildlife refuge is against Federal regulations . Leave no litter on the refuge except in designated litter barrels .

11. Neither the Government nor its agents are responsible for the safety o f persons permitted on the refuge .

12. Intoxicated or disorderly individuals are not allowed on the refuge and ar e subject to immediate arrest .

KEEP OKEFENOKEE BEAUTIFU L BRING YOUR LITTER BACK TO DOCK

FEEDING OF ANIMALS IS ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED .

April - 1978 READ CAREFULL Y United States Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVIC E OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUG E P . O . BOX 11 7 WAYCROSS, GEORGIA 3150 1

GENERAL TRIP CANOEING REGULATION S

1. Overnight canoeing trips by reservation and permit only . 2. Canoeists must camp only at assigned camp sites and only on assigned dates . Canoeists must remain at camp sites between sunset and sunrise . 3. Canoeists must use only assigned trails and must travel only in assigne d directions . 4. Canoeists must sign in and out of the refuge and in and out of each overnigh t stop . 5. All camp sites and trails must be maintained litter free . Litter may b e disposed of at exits . 6. Portable toilets are still required . Chemical toilets at overnight stop s must be kept clean and used according to posted instructions . Advise ranger if toilet is inoperable or out of supplies . 7. Human waste materials from portable toilets must be disposed of off th e refuge . Do not use garbage cans, chemical toilets or the swamp for disposal . 8. Maximum canoe party size is 10 canoes and/or 20 people . Minimum canoe party size is 2 people . 9. Pets are not allowed under any circumstances . 10. Each canoeist must have a Coast Guard approved life saving device . 11. Each canoe must contain a compass and flashlight . 12. No swimming . 13. All launches must be prior to 10 A .M . 14. Use no nails on camping platforms and cut no vegetation . Platforms, all o f which are half covered, are suitable for popup tents . 15. Open fires are limited to island stops and at certain locations at thes e stops . Gasoline stoves are recommended . 16. Vehicles parked overnight at entrances or exits are left at owner's ris k and must display a parking placard issued with canoeing permit . Vehicle s must be parked in designated area at each entrance or exit . 17. No motors permitted on reserved canoe trips . 18. Equipment reservations, rentals, and canoe shuttles must be made directl y with concessionaires . Equipment must be picked up from and returned to concessionaires . 19. Color coded markers designate specific trails . and white-topped posts provid e guidance between markers .

DON'T BEGIN OR END YOUR TRI P ON AN UNHAPPY NOTE! KNOW , UNDERSTAND, AND FOLLOW ALL REFUGE REGULATIONS . REGULATION S ARE ENFORCED STRICTLY! !

Issued April-1978 20. COMMERCIAL GUIDING IS ABSOLUTELY ILLEGAL UNLESS CARRIED OUT BY SUWANNE E CANAL RECREATION AREA, STEPHEN C . FOSTER STATE PARK, AND OKEFENOKEE SWAM P PARK PERSONNEL . REFUGE VISITORS SHOULD REQUIRE GUIDES TO DISPLAY APPROVE D GUIDE LICENSES . 21. Day-use only canoeing is allowed without a permit but only to those point s marked " Permit Required Beyond This Point" . 22. Vehicle shuttle is not provided by refuge personnel and must be arranged b y canoeists . 23. Know and understand all refuge regulations . Violators will be cited without warning .

For canoeing reservations, write or call well in advance of planned trip . Call s are recommended if at all possible . After making a reservation, a list of parti- cipants and their addresses must be mailed to the Waycross Office at . least two weeks before the trip is scheduled so that a permit can be issued .

Refuge Manage r Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge P . O . Box 11 7 Waycross, Georgia 3150 1 Phone : 912/283-258 0

Distances between overnight stops (Islands or dry land underlined - Platform s not underlined) over approved routes of travel .

1. Kingfisher Landing to Maul Hammock - 12 Miles

2. Maul Hammock to Big Water - 11 Mile s

3. Big Water to Stephen Foster - 8 Miles (Fees charged to camp, dock, launch, o r take-out at Stephen Foster State Park )

4. Stephen Foster Park to Floyds Island - 8 Mile s

5. FloydsIsland to Bluff Lake - 9 Mile s

6. Bluff Lake to Kingfisher Landing - 8 Mile s

7. Big Water to Floyds Island - 4 Miles

8. Stephen Foster to Cravens Hammock - 9 Mile s

9. Suwannee Canal Recreation Area to Cedar Hammock - 7 Miles (Launching fee at Suwannee Canal Recreation Area )

10. Suwannee Canal Recreation Area to Canal Run Shelter - 10 Mile s

11. Canal Run Shelter to Stephen Foster Park - 7 Miles

12. Cedar Hammock to Floyds Island - 9 Miles

13. Floyds Island to Suwannee Canal Recreation Area - 13 Mile s

PLEASE NOTE CAREFULLY - Summer temperatures and humidity on Okefenokee National Wildlif e Refuge are usually very high and oppressive . Mosquitoes are bad at night from May through September and often at other times depending upon weather conditions . Yellow (Deer) and black flies are numerous during the Summer months and can inflict painfu l bites . YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THESE DISCOMFORTS WHEN PLANNING SUMMER CANOE TRIPS THROUGH OKEFENOKEE . United States Department of the Interio r

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVIC E

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refug e Waycross, Georgia

SPORT FISHING REGULATION S

Sport fishing on the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Waycross , Georgia, is permitted in the open water areas connected by establishe d boat runs . Sport fishing shall be in accordance with all applicabl e State regulations subject to the following special conditions :

(1) Fishing permitted during posted hours only .

(2) Boats with motors not larger than 10 h .p ., canoes and rowboat s permitted .

(3) Artificial and live bait (except live minnows) permitted .

(4) Trotlines, limb lines, nets, or other set tackle prohibited .

(5) Persons entering refuge from main access points must registe r with the respective concessioner or at a registration station .

(6) Persons using the sill access ramp on the pocket are require d to sign the register when they enter the swamp and again whe n they leave . Use of launching facilities is permitted as long a s parking regulations are not violated . Park regulations are posted at registration station .

(7) Persons using the Kingfisher Landing access ramp are required to sign the register when they enter the swamp and again when they leave .

(8) All persons will comply with the regulatory signs posted in al l areas .

OKEFENOKE E a~~ooa~d 'oEL©LE FLE QEIFUc ,

0 2 4 SCALE IN MILE S KINGFISHE R LANDING NOTE : FISHING PERMITTED ON LAKES, CANALS, Doubl e AND BOAT TRAILS SHOWN Lakes 0

Kings Canal U.S . 8/G WATE R LAKE

Durde n Lake * Bluff Lake*"

—LEGEND * REFUGE HEADQUARTER S A SHELTER S

q FISHING ACCES S DOUBL E L --- BOAT TRAIL LAKES L /:\ G A N N E T., LAKE BUZZARDS /ROOST LAKE United States Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVIC E OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUG E FEDERAL BUILDING - ROOM 10 9 601 TEBEAU STREET P . 0 . BOX 11 7 WAYCROSS, GEORGIA 3150 1

ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS O F OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUG E

The 435,000 acre Okefenokee Swamp is situated in Ware, Clinch, an d Charlton Counties, Georgia and Baker County, Florida . Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has direct ownership and control ove r 379,302 acres of this magnificent, primeval swamp . The entire refuge is administered and managed by the United States Departmen t of the Interior, United States Fish and Wildlife Service .

There are three primary entrances and one secondary entrance int o Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge .

The Suwannee Canal Recreation Area (locally Camp Cornelia), a pri - mary entrance 12 miles southwest of Folkston, Georgia, is controlle d entirely by the U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service . This entrance i s staffed by U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service personnel . A full servic e concession located at this entrance is operated by a private individ - ual and his staff working under the provisions of a contract betwee n the concessioner and the U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service .

The second primary entrance, which is located 18 miles northeast o f Fargo, Georgia, is known as Stephen C . Foster State Park . This state park is located on Federally-owned refuge lands under the provision s of a long-term permit agreement between the U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Parks an d Recreation Division . State Park personnel administer the park subjec t to existing rules and regulations governing Okefenokee National Wild - life Refuge .

The third primary entrance into Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge i s the Okefenokee Swamp Park . This park is located 13 miles south o f Waycross, Georgia and is established on lands and waters of Okefenoke e National Wildlife Refuge and the Waycross State Forest . The Okefenoke e Swamp Park Association, Inc ., a private, non-profit organization of Waycross, Georgia, administers this entrance . Use of Federally-owned refuge lands and boat trails by the Okefenokee Swamp Park Association is carried out under the provisions of a permit between the Okefenoke e Swamp Park Association and the U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service .

The secondary entrance into Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge i s known as Kingfisher Landing and is located approximately 12 mile s north of Folkston 1 mile off U . S . Highway 1 . This entrance i s not developed, and access is controlled by U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service personnel .

In addition to being a National Wildlife Refuge, Okefenokee also enjoy s the protection provided a unit of the National Wilderness Preservatio n System .

The main office for Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is i n Waycross, Georgia with the sub-headquarters office being situate d at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area near Folkston . United States Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE P . O . BOX 11 7 WAYCROSS, GEORGIA 3150 1

ORIGIN OF OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

During Pleistocene times, estimated to have been between 500,000 and 1,250,000 years ago, there was a period when the coastal region of what is now th e Southwestern United States was about 150 feet lower in relation to sea leve l than at the present time . As a consequence, the Atlantic Ocean extende d inland over southeast Georgia to a coast line that was about 75 miles west o f the present Georgia sea coast . The Gulf of Mexico reached up past th e Georgia-Florida State line .

There was a group of four islands in what is now northern Florida . Ocean currents flowing northward past these islands, together with wave action , built up a narrow sandbar more than 100 miles long .

Later on this coastal region emerged as the ocean receded, and the shorelin e as it is today was established . The long and narrow sandbar became Trail Ridge . Behind Trail Ridge a body of shallow water was caught in what had been a depression in the ocean bottom . Rains soon washed out the sea water and th e depression became a fresh water lake . Sandbars now became islands in the lake . The main drainage from the lake was toward the southwest forming the Suwanne e River . The smaller St . Mary ' s River flowed from the southeast corner throug h a gap in Trail Ridge .

Aquatic plants grew in the shallow waters and graaually through the centurie s filled the lake with an accumulation of partially decayed vegetative material . As these vast peat deposits approached the lake surface, other plants took roo t and grew . First there were sedges and other marsh plants, but eventually there emerged cypress, gum, and all the other trees and shrubs found today in th e Okefenokee Swamp . Animal life also changed with the gradual transition from lake to swamp with each kind and species seeking out its preferred habitat .

The story of the origin and development of the Okefenokee Swamp has been hal f a million years, perhaps longer, in the writing, and it is not yet finished .

O *AYCROSS 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i , , Tra 1 1 11 TRAIL RIDG E alb— Lt. ~~~Jr!'l-ii :1 1 Jam% i - - 41 1

/ it

--• I I -x/% 1 :4 1 ~i _ GEORGIA %1t _ FLo • : yf= 11 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1

THE ORIGIN OF OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

Rey Moore

THE OKEFENOKEE SWAMP PARK, a non-profit development operating under a long-term lease, no w makes this awesome and mysterious swamplan d accessible to you where for many generations only stouthearted adventurers and trappers dared to go . The park is easy to reach from anywhere in the South, located 8 miles south of WAYCROSS . GEORGIA on highways U .S . #1 and U .S . #23 . There are no night activities or overnight accom- modations in the park, a wildlife sanctuary . but admirable facilities are available in the Waycros s area, including camping facilities at nearby Laura S . Walke r State Park— A nominal admission charge goes toward operating and developing the park . Special rates for educational group s can be made upon application . Deep swamp excursions availabl e on request depending upon guide availability and water level . For more information write or phone : OKEFENOKEE SWAMP PAR K WAYCROSS, GEORGIA 31501 . Telephone (912) 283-0583 .

Ser~aertl~rrtun u WiNliie(Rnc~nratrrc Okefenokee provides protection for many forms of plant and animal life, some of whic h are bordering on extinction in a modern world. Mammals, reptiles and birds abound under a program of rigid federal protection i n Okefenokee's expansive area of more than a half million acres. Alligators, otters, birds o f prey, migratory birds of many species, wildcats.

bears. deer, many species of turtles an d frogs, small furry animals and a wid e variety of reptiles in habit the land whic h the Indians calle d "Trembling Earth ." Plant life is unbeliev- ably abundant and Okefenokee has bee n appropriately called "America 's greatest natural botanical Living Swamp Center, " spotlighting the flora an d fauna of Okefenokee, with a live deer observatory, Pioneer Island with an original swamp homestead , demonstrating the self-sufficiency of pioneer swam p families and exhibiting rare artifax and relics of th e Okefenokee wilderness islands . The Wonderworld of Okefenokee is a significan t part of America's heritage, a beautifully preserved seg- ment of what was here when America began . Head- waters of the Suwannee and St . Mary's Rivers , Okefenokee is a National Wildlife Refuge and an impres- sive recent addition to the National Wilderness System . Okefenokee Swamp Park is a convenient point of entry Recent developments i n and a magnificent show-window for this natural wonder - land the Park, designed to . From the park lily-decked water trails, with thei r provide historical an d miraculously reflective waters mirroring overhangin g environmental back - beauty, lead to all points in this vast wilderness o f ground, include : a new islands, lakes, jungles, forests and prairies. Serpentarium and Wild - Okefenokee Swamp Park is a rare experience fo r life Observatory, which every member of the family . The swamp itself, extrava - features native bears i n gantly beautiful, carries you back into the world 's pre- history their natural environmen t . Interpretative exhibits, lectures, wildlife shows , and an interpretive boat tours on original Indian Waterways, wildernes s walkways. observation tower, Pioneer Island, nativ e animals in their own habitat, all combine to weave a spell of pioneer American life. You witness in real lif e the place where primitive man ruled the wilds, wher e Indians hunted and fished, where early settlers sough t

HOURS: Spring an d Summer—9-6:30 P.M. Fall and Winter—9-5 :30 P.M. peace and communed with nature . You see, for real , how nature still controls the environment and nature' s balance assure the perpetuation of the flora an d fauna and the swamp itself . Since accessibility has been provided through Okefenokee Swamp Park, providing regulated visitation , exhibit of Okefenokee the "Land of Trembling Earth " has become one of the reptiles, as well as a year - most acclaimed wilderness areas in the United States . round lecture auditorium ; It has been the locale of many Hollywood motion pic- a "Swamp Creation Cen- tures, and has been featured on television and radio, i n ter" highlighting the his- newspapers and magazines, the Pogo comic strip, i n tory and pertinent infor- documentary and fictional books, in song and art . Its mation on the "Land o f glory is its pristine beauty, making it a photographer 's Trembling Earth" ; "The dream . PLEASE READ CAREFULLY PERMITS : Canoe trips into the Okefenokee wilderness may be arrange d in advance or on a first-come basis. For drew reservations write o r phone well in advance of planned trip to : QUALITY CONTROL : Each canoe trail will be limited to one part y Refuge Manage r daily, and each party will be limited to a maximum of 10 canoe s Okefenokee Notional Wildlife Refug e tend/ or 20 persons . Canoeists are responsible for keeping trails free P.O. Box 11 7 from litter . This means that litter must be held until after you leav e Waycross, Georgia 3150 1 the swamp ; litter left by previous parties should be retrieved . Motors Phone :912/283-2580 are not permitted on canoe trips . The following information should be submitted with your written reques t WILDLIFE : Wildlife abound in the Okefenokee every month of th e for a permit: dear. Sandhill cranes, ducks and other migratory birds are mos t 1. Data trip is planned. tumorous from November through March . Otter ore commonly see n 2. Choices of canoe trails. wring cold weather when alligators are relatively inactive. Alliga- 3. Expected number of canoes in party (a maximum of 1 0 on are active in the summer and ore observed sunning on bank s canoes— 20 persons— is permitted) . mostly during spring and fall. 4. Name of person in charge . It general, mosquitoes are no problem except after dark from April 5. Names and addresses of all participants. #rough October . They are rarely encountered during the daytime . )eerflies, although a biting menace at times during the summer . are PHYSICAL CONDITIONS: The swamp terrain is flat ; there is no fast tot os bad deep in the swamp . There is no need to fear snakes o r water and very little dry land . Your paddle will be used every inch o f alligators as long as normal precautions are taken and animals o r the way as you wind through cypress forests or cross open "prairies " tests are not molested . exposed to the sun and wind . You may have to getout of your canoe and_push_across_peat blowups or shallow water. Water levels in the ISHING : Sport fishing is permitted during posted hours in accord - Okefenokee Swamp sometimes become too low to permit use of certai n Inc* with Georgia State Low and refuge regulations . Live minnow s trails ; when this occurs, parties holding reservations will be notified . Ire not permitted as boil in Okefenokee waters . Boss fishing is best WEATHER : Daytime temperatures are mostly mild . However, durin g n early spring and late fall, but a lot depends upon water levels, June, July, August and September the swamp con be hot and humi d noon phase, weather, and the skill of the fisherman . with temperatures ranging above 90 '. Winter days range from below iUGGESTED SUPPLIES : I) Rape for pulling canoe ; 2) Drinking water; 40- to 80`, but much of the time temperatures are in the fifties an d I) Insect repellent; 4) Mosquito netting ; 5) Rain gear; 6) First ai d sixties . Summer nights are worm, and winter nighttime temperatures it; 7) Snake bit kit; B) Extra batteries ; 9) Litter bags ; 10) Pop ten t can be near or below freezing . Record lows have dipped to 18". The Ind/er jungle hammock and sleeping bag . Canoes, other camping rainy season is normally from June through September . Many summe r tquipment, and services ore available for rent from the concessioner, afternoons are drenched with localized thundershowers . Lightning is iuwonnee Canal Recreation Area, Folkston, Georgia 31537, Phon e probably the most dangerous feature of on Okefenokee experience . q 2/496-7156. SAFETY: Each traveler is required by law to have a Coast Guar d approved life preserver in his possession . Each canoe must contain a )ESIGNATED CANOE TRIPS : compass and a flashlight. Each canoeist must register when enterin g 1. Kingfisher—Maul Hammock—Big Water—Stephen Foster— 3 and leaving the swamp . Due to danger from alligators, pets may no t days (31 miles) be taken into the swamp . For the same reason, swimming is not per- 2. Kingfisher—Bluff L'oke—Floyd's Island—Stephen Foster (via mitted . Minimum party size for safety is two persons. yP will not be Floyda Prairie) — 3 days (24 miles ) yermitted to launch later than 10 :00 a .m . to insure thattha t theovernLt 3. Kingfisher—Bluff Lake—Floyd 's Island—Stephen Foster (via ' stop is reached before dark . Suwannee Canal Run) -3 days (27 miles ) CAMPING : Overnight camping is permitted only at designated over- 4. Suwannee Canal—Cedar Hammack—Suwannee Canal— 2 night stops. You must register at each stop . Since firm land is not avail - days (12 miles ) able at all overnight stops, a 20 ' x 28 ' wooden platform is provided . 5. Suwannee Canal—Suwonnee Canal Run—Stephen Foster— 2 Pop tents are recommended . No nails should be used and no trees o r days (17 miles ) limbs should be cut . Open fires are not permitted except at specifie d 6. *5uwannee Canal—Cedar Hammock—Floyd's Island—Stephe n areas, so gasoline, bottle gas or similar types of stoves will be require d Faster (via Floyd' Prairie) — 3 days (24 miles ) if you plan to cook meals . You must remain at the designated over- 7. Suwannee Canal — Cedar Hammock — Floyd 's Island — Stephe n night area between sunset and sunrise . You may camp only one nigh t Foster (via Suwannee Canal Run) — 3 days (27 miles per rest slop . Portable toilets with disposable bogs are required eve n ) though overnight camp sites are outfitted with chemical toilets . 8. Stephen Foster—Cravens Hummock—Stephen Foster—2 day s (18 miles) DO NOT FEED WILD ANIMALS 9. Suwannee Canal—Cedar Hammock — Floyd's Island—Suwan- THEY WILL BITE nee Canal -3 days (29 miles ) 10. Suwannee Canal—Cedar Hammock—Floyd's Island—Bluf f Lake — Kingfisher — 4 days (32 miles) 11. Kingfisher—Maul Hammock—Big Water—Floyd's Island — ',,fry s rhr ,f Bluff Lake— Kingfisher — S days (43 miles ) 12. Kingfisher— Bluff Lake— Kingfisher—2 days (I5 miles) 13. Kingfisher—Maul Hammock—Big Water—Stephen Foster Floyd's Island — Bluff Lake — Kingfisher — 6 days (55 miles ) Note : Short portage across Floyd's Island required on al l trips crossing this island . Please note—The state charges a camping foe at Stephe n Foster State Park and there are boat launching fees a t Stephen Foster and the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area . U . S. Department of the Interio r 'Starting point and destination may be reversed, but onl y Fish and Wildlife Servic e by permit . Mileages shown ore total for each trip 5-10-78 Natianal Wilgife ;eft+

Okef¢nQkee (a,tieitn trails

Legend Ov.rnight Stops Y.Ilow Trai l Mtd Trol l Orton Trai l W brown Trol l M. blue Trol l Orange Trai l Markers tens plated one mil• apart wills mlleaga flguras shown on th e elan . Numbering begins of Kin fisher Landing for the red and green trails , of th. Suwannee Canal for the yellow trail and orongs troll, and a t Stephen Fosf.r for the brown trail . Whit. posts without signs are installe d where additional guidons* Is needed, Ovid.* ore not required or needed .

DI~RDEND DEN LAK E TERRITORY i PRAIRIE BLUFF HALF MOON LAKE The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge exists fo r the maintenance and protection of its plant and anima l OKEFENOKE E life . Please respect the area by observing the followin g NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUG E regulations : Natural Features- To help preserve the na- tural beauty and the historic and scienti- fic values of the refuge, please leave all plants, flowers, treesandanimalsundisturb- ed. • Driving vehicles off established roadway s Suwannee Cana l is strictly forbidden. • Keep trails, roadsides and other areasclean , and use trash receptacles for all wastes . Recreation Area Hunting is Not Permitted . Firearms are Folkston, Georgia Not Permitted on Refuge.

Wildlife- Wild animals are unpredictable and can be dangerous. All wild animal s will protect themselves, their young an d defend their territories. Potential conflict s can he reduced if you take the following precautions: When photographing wild animals, use a telephoto lens instead of trying to ge t close . • Never feed any wild animals . Fishing- Okefenokee's many lakes offe r many opportunities to fish . A Georgia fish- ing license is required .Neitherlive minnows or trot lines are allowed . Outboard motors must be under 10 H.P. Swimming- Swimming or wading is not allowed due to the danger from poisonou s snakes and alligators . Visitor Hours- Visitor use is permitte d during posted hours only. March 1-September 10, 7 :00 A.M . - 7 :30 P.M . September 11 - February 28,8 :00 A.M. - 6 :00 P.M. Closed Christmas Day. Refuge Managers, who are responsible for enforcin g regulations, will give information and assistance to help make your visit more rewarding . Report all accidents , injuries or other emergencies to the nearest refuge em- ployee . All other regulations pertaining to National Wildlife Refuges are listed in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations and will be enforced . Land of Trembling Earth Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge emcompasse s Also at Suwannee Canal, the refuge operates a rub- 396,000 acres of the Okefenokee Swamp, one of th e ber-tired tram along the 4 .5 mile Swamp Island Drive . most primitive areas in America . Public access is pro- This tram provides access to the re-created Chesser Is- vided at three primary and one secondary entrance , land Homestead and to the 4,000 foot Swamp Board - with each entrance providing the public with uniqu e walk and Owl's Roost observation tower . Tram guide s opportunities to view and enjoy the everchanging an d provide information on wildlife and wildlife manage- truly magnificent swamp . ment. Hikers and bicyclists are welcome on the driv e and several interpretive walking trails may be taken a - long the way. Private motor vehicles are prohibited.

The Suwannee Canal Recreation Area is the primary U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service entrance and is locate d twelve miles south of Folkston, Georgia . Here visitors are invited to take time to get back in touch with th e natural world around them . The Okefenokee's vas t open prairies, cypress bays, lakes, and pine island s are home to over 390 species of wildlife . Suwannee Canal visitors may explore over twent y miles of marked waterways by motor boat or canoe . For the more adventurous, overnight canoe trips int o the swamp interior are available by advance reservation. A concessionaire offers guided boat tours, motors , boats, canoe and bicycle rentals as well as supplie s and souvenirs. OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Suwannee Canal Recreation Area

LEGEN D

ROAD S """ WALKING TRAILS = CANOES/ DAY USE ONL Y [ -I SWAMP ARE A BOAT TRAIL S

A - INTERPRETIVE CENTE R B - CONCESSION CENTER AND BOAT LAUNCHIN G C - PICNIC ARE A D - CANAL DIGGER'S TRAIL ( .75 mile ) E - SONGBIRD TRAIL (1 .2 miles ) F - VISTA TOWE R G - PECKERWOOD TRAIL ( .2 mile ) II - PRESCRIBED BURNING EXHIBI T I - CHESSER ISLAND HOMESTEAD / TRAIL ( .5 mile ) 1- DEERSTAND TRAIL AND TOWER ( .3 mile ) K- BOARDWALK TO TOWER (1 .5 miles round trip 1 L - RESTR(X)M S M - DAY-USE SHELTER WITH RESTROO M N - OVERNIGHT SHELTER

FOLKSTON

4 v . ^ _ _ _ w

CHESSE R . Monkey - --- ISLAN D -Lakes M .-,,

w `- . ... Buzzard 3 . Roost- Gannet Lake - 4 • .. .._ Lake; .-- . -

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U .S . FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

GENERAL INFORMATION : Telephone : (912) 637-527 4 Address : Fargo, Georgia 3163 1 Location : 18 miles Northeast o f Stephen C. Fargo via Georgia 177 . Size of Park : 80 acre s Altitude : 119 feet Foster HOURS : Stephen C . Foster State Park operates from 6:30 a.m. to 8 :30 p .m ., March 1 through September 14 and from 7 a.m . to 7 p .m., Septem- ber 15 through February 28 . This is an exceptio n State Park to other Georgia State Parks which operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m . NOTE : Automatic Gates at Refuge houndry are 7 miles from park entrance.

MILEAGE TO S. C . FOSTER FROM : Albany 145 Columbus 23 1 Atlanta 299 Macon 21 3 Augusta 281 Savannah 23 2 Valdosta 65

BIBLIOGRAPH Y McQueen, A .S . and Mizell, !lamp, History of Oke- fenokee Swamp (Jacobs and Company . 1926).

Polseno, Jo, Secrets ofa Cypress Swamp ; The Nat- ural History of Okefenokee, (Golden Press 1976) .

Russell, Franklin . 77w Okefenokee Swamp (Time- Life Inc ., 1973) .

Walker. Laura S. and King, Sara S.. About Old Okefenoke (privately published 1947) .

The Department of Natural Resources is an equal oppor- tunity employer and makes all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national ori- gin, age, physical, or mental handicap or other non-meri t factors . Cost $1390 .00, Quantity 80,000 .

For more information about any of Georgia's State Park s and Historic Sites please contact :

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Office of Information and Educatio n 270 Washington Street, S.W . Atlanta, Georgia 30334 (404) 656-3530

•

I NOTE El.clronic Gel. Refuge Entran t seven 171 mile s Park Enlranc•

Shower Sanilar e Feclhlte e I PIONEE R ShNtn CAMPING 0 AREA

Tr•mbline Eart h Mature Tal l

Comfort Station

WILDLIFE : All wildlife and plant life are protect- RESTRICTED AREA : Foot traffic a ed in all state parks and especially here at S .C . traffic BETWEEN S . C. Foster State I Foster State Park located well within a Nationa l and the Okefenokee National Wildl Wildlife Refuge . Feeding of wildlife is STRICTLY GATE is permitted only during establ i PROHIBITED and ENFORCED . All speed limit s of operation . (Please note hours of o p within the Wildlife Refuge as well as the park ar e listed in this brochure) , strictly enforced .

PETS: Domestic pets are allowed on State Parks ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES : Alcoholi c only if kept on a leash not longer than 6 feet and are prohibited in public use areas accompanied by their owner at all times . Pets are Georgia's State Parks and Historic Sites . not allowed in cottages or any other site buildings or swimming area . Owners are responsible for con - duct of pets and must clean up after them . WEAPONS : Firearms, bow and arrows , fireworks, slingshots, fishing spears, or MOTOR BIKES : All motorized bikes are restricted that discharges projectiles by any mean s to park roads . They must comply with all stat e ted. Federal Law at S .C. Foster State I regulations governing registration and safety equip- bits even the possession of firearms wit h men t . uge boundry . FISHING : Fishing in park waters is open to legal fishing thorughout the year . Persons age 16 or older must have a valid State Fishing License . Non -residents age 16 or older must have a valid non- Stepheq C. resident license . Bank fishermen not registered as overnight visitors must be off park premises no Foster later than park closing time. (Note : Please see Park Hours).

State Park For your use and convenience a fishing dock and boat launching area are provided . Fishing supplies can be purchased at the Park Office — Concession Area.

No natural fishing bait is available at the park con- cession area . Stephen C. Foster State Park, situated on Jone s Island well within the Okefenokee National Wild - life Refuge, offers a large cypress and black gu m BOATING: Private boats are permitted on park forest as a majestic background for one of th e waters but motors are restricted to electric o r thickest growths of vegetation in the southeastern maximum 10 h .p. A boat launching area and boat United States. This lush vegetation and the mirro r dock is provided . All boaters must check with park -like black water of the swamp provide at least a office on park rules concerning boating hours . All part-time home for more than 225 species of birds , boat use must be done in conformance with the 41 species of mammals, 54 species of reptiles, 3 2 Georgia Boating Safety Law . All boaters must reg. species of amphibians and 37 species of fish . ister at park office prior to entering waterway . A minimal registration fee is charged . The dark water of the Okefenokee offers excellen t fishing, especially in the spring . Typical catche s include largemouth bass, chain pickerel, brim, an d CAMPING: The camping area offers 69 combina- the famed warmouth perch. tion tent and trailer sites . All sites have water and electrical hookups, picnic tables, and grills. There While the cypress and black gum trees are the are 2 comfort stations providing hot showers, flush dominate form of plant life within the swamp, a toilets, electrical outlets and automatic laundry . stroll along the nature trail provides an ever chang- One dump station is provided . ing view which includes such varieties as slash an d loblolly pine, sweetgum, magnolia, live oak, bay , sphagnum moss, water lily, duckweed and jasmine , NO RESERVATIONS accepted, all campsites rent- holly and palmetto, to name a few . ed on a first-come, first-served basis. Organized groups not eligible to occupy camping area. All A few of the common species of animals are white- campers must register for sites at the Park Office . tail deer, raccons, pileated woodpeckers . America n Campers under age 18 must be accompanied by an alligators, egrets, herons, ibis, anhingas, woo d adult . ducks, fox squirrels, and otters . The otters, inci- dentally, are not usually seen until the colder win - Maximum stay is 14 days. Dishwashing PROHIBI- ter months after the alligators have become dor- TED at all drinking faucets and comfort stations. mant . Please be considerate of other campers . Trash and garbage receptacles are available in all camping Stephen C. Foster State Park beckons visitors to areas, USE THEM. explore one of the most primitive wilderness area s in the United States. See map for location of Camping Area. Reservations are accepted for a 2 week ma) and a 2 day minimum . Contact Park Offi reservations, check in times and rates. One occupancy allowed, if a cottage is availa b reservations will be accepted for one night s t deposit equalling a I day rental charge is re ( Cancellations accepted and deposit refu n Park Office is notified 48 hours in advance . vations for all cottages can be accepted o f month maximum advance notice .

NO PETS allowed in cottages or cottage ar kennels are provided .

Organized groups not eligible to rent cottage

Please register at Park Office upon arrival al full amount of cottage rental fee . PIONEER CAMPING : The Pioneer Camping Are a The Trembling Earth is completely separate from all other activity areas NATURE TRAIL: Trail starts near the boat basin . This bo a in the park . This allows the group to camp an d visitors an opportunity ti follow a program of activities without disturbanc e and trail offers many of the swamp animals & plants in thei from other park visitors . Refer to map for loca- ral habitats . A printed interpretive guide i tion . The area is available at NO CHARGE to any . organized youth groups such as Boy Scouts, Girl able at the park office Scouts, etc . PLAYGROUND : A children's playground vetuently located in the day-use area of thi Facilities provided are a cleared area for tents , water (by faucet), primitive-type sanitary facilit y Playground equipment is also located in th (pit privy), and a shelter for inclement weathe r use areas of the park . and to store camping equipment .

Reservations must be made by contacting the Par k Office. Please make reservations so as to insure a n available site.

Adult leader of organized group must register a t Park Office .

PICNICKING : Picnicking permitted only in desig- nated areas throughout the park . Tables and shel- ters available on a first-come, first-served basis . Trash and garbage receptacles are located in al l picnicking areas, USE THEM.

COTTAGES: The park provides 9 two bedroo m cottages fully equipped with electric stove, refrig- erator, and all necessary cooking and food servin g facilities . Towels and linens are provided . All cot- tages are heated and air conditioned . NOTE 2EPT ILEe tames of reptiles and amphibians token from "A Field Guide t o NOTE S eptiles and Amphibians of Eastern North America" by Roger Conan t -loughton Mifflin Company, Boston 19581. Nome : of fishes token fro m AMP+f113PN5 A List of Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United totes and Canada" (American Fisheries Society, Box 483, McLean, rirginia, 1960) .

)kefenokee Swamp, a 412,000-acre peat-filled bog in Ware, Chad - AN~ FIS+iE5 5n, and Clinch Counties, Georgia, and Baker County, Florida, is one the notion's great unspoiled areas . Although a considerable mount of timber has been harvested here in past years, most of thi s treat swamp is still little different from what it was when first seen b y OF OKEFENOKEE +hire men . About four-fifths of the swamp is included in the Okefeno- ee Notional Wildlife Refuge, which is administered by the Bureau of (port Fisheries and Wildlife, U .S . Fish and Wildlife Service, in the )epartment of the Interior.

.xcept for some fifty islands which total about 25,000 acres, Okefeno- ee Swamp is usually shallowly flooded. Most of the flooded area is pore or less densely forested with cypress, blackgum, bay, and maple , vith an understory and interspersal of a variety of heaths, smilax , iti, and cassene. About 60,000 acres is flooded marshland o r 'prairie," which is covered principally with waterlilies, n wet, Iipewort, ferns, maidencane, and a variety of sedges and grasses .

Open water areas are the water courses, the prairie lakes, smalle r ie ponds known as 'gator holes, the twelve-mile-long Suwanne e :anal which was dug in 1891-2, and the borrow pit of the Suwannee fiver Sill, which was constructed in 1958. the islands and the adjacent upland on the periphery of the swam p Ire usually covered by pine forests. this variety of wooded swamp, prairies, lakes, water courses, islands , Ind pine barrens supports a varied fauna . The following list of rep- iles, amphibians, and fishes is based on specimens collected o r .eliably reported.

Nost of the species listed ore supported by specimens which are now n the United States National Museum or in the museums at Cornel l Jniversity and the University of Michigan . 'or further information write Refuge Manager, Okefenokee Nationa l Wildlife Refuge, Box 117, Waycross, Georgia 31501 .

INTERIO R DEPARTMENT OF THE A CHECK LIST OF ANIMALS LIVIN G U .S . FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVIC E IN AND AROUND THE OKEFENOKE E RE 41590-5 NOVEMBER 1979 SWAMP ON THE OKEFENOKE E IJATIrs LIAI Wll ril icc acct ir_c REPTILES Eastern Coral Snak e Micrurus fulvius fulviu s Eastern Cottonmout h Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivoru s scodilians Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius barbour i American Alligator Alligator mississipiensi s Canebrake Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus atricaudatus rile s Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnak e Crotalus adamanteus Snapping Turtles Chelydra serpentina serpentina Alligator Snapping Turtl e Macroclemys temminck i AMPHIBIANS loggerhead Musk Turtl e Sternothoerus minor mino r Striped Mud Turtl e Kinosternon bauri palmaru m Salamanders Eastern Mud Turtl e Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum Greater Siren Siren lacertina Spotted Turtle Clemmys guttata Eastern Lesser Sire n Siren intermedia Intermedics Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina carolin a Broad-striped Dwarf Siren Pseudobranchus striatus striatus Gulf Coast Box Turtl e Terrapene carolina major Two-toed Amphium a Amphiuma means mean s Yellow-bellied Turtle Pseudemys scripts scripta Frosted Flatwoods Salamande r Ambystoma cingulatum cingulatum Florida Coote r Pseudemys floridana floridana Central Newt Diemictylus viridescens louisianensis Eastern Chicken Turtle Dierochelys reticularia reticularia Striped Newt Diemictylus perstriatu s Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus Southern Dusky Salamande r Desmognathus fuscus auriculatus Florida Softshell Turtle Trionyx ferox Slimy Salamande r Plethodon glutinosus glutinosus Rusty Mud Salamande r Pseudotriton montanus floridanu s ards Dwarf Salamander Manculus quadridigitatu s Green Anole Anolis carolinensis carolinensi s Southern Fence Lizar d Sceloporus undulatus undulatus Frogs and Toad s Six-lined Racerunner Cnemidophorus sexlineatu s Eastern Spadefood Toa d Scaphiopus holbrook i Ground Skin k Lygosoma laterale Southern Toad Bufo terrestri s Five-lined Skin k Eumeces fasciatu s Oak Toad Bufo quercicus Broad-headed Skin k Eumeces laticeps Southern Cricket Frog Acris gryllus gryllus FISHES Southeastern Five-lined Skin k Eumeces inexpectatu s Southern Spring Peeper Hyla crucifer bartramian a Georgia Red-tailed Skink Eumeces egregius simili s Green Treefrog Hyla cinerea cinerea Florida Gar Lepisosteus platyrhincus Eastern Glass Snak e Ophisaurus ventrali s Pine Woods Treefro g Hyla femorali s Bowfi n Amia colv a Island Glass Snak e Ophisau rus compresses Squirrel Treefrog Hyla squirella Eastern Mudmin no w Umbra pygmaea Eastern Gray Treefro g Hyla versicolor versicolor " Redfsn Pickerel Esox amen okes canes a m erica nus Barking Treefro g Hyla gratiosa Chain Pickerel Esox niger Florida Green Water Snak e Natrix cyclopion floridana Little Grass Frog Hyla ocularis Lake Chubsucke r Eri m yzon socett a Brown Water Snake Natrix taxispiloto Southern Chorus Frog Pseudacris nigrita nigrita Spotted Sucke r Minytrema melanop s Red-bellied Water Snake Natrix erythrogaster erythrogaste r Ornate Chorus Fro g Pseudacris ornate " Yellow Bullhead Idol urns natalis Banded Water Snak e Natrix sipedon fasciata Eastern Narrow-mouthed Frog Gastrophryne carolinensis Brown Bullhea d Ictalurus nebulosu s Florida Water Snak e Natrix sipedon pictiventri s Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana " Tadpole Madtorn Notur us gyrin Glossy Water Snak e Notrix rigid a River Fro g Rana heckscheri American Ee l Anguilla rostrot a North Florida Swamp Snake Seminatrix pygaea pygae a Pig Fro g Rana gryli o Golden Topminnow Fundulus chrysotus Florida Brown Snake Storeria dekayi vict a Carpenter Frog Rana virgatipes Bonded Topminnow Fundulus cingulotu s Florida Red-bellied Snake Storeria occipitomaculata obscur e Bronze Frog Rana clamitans clamitans Starhead Topminnow Fundulus nott i Eastern Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis Southern Leopard Fro g Rana pipiens sphenocephala Mosquitofis h Gombusia affsnis Southern Ribbon Snak e Thamnophis sauritus sackeni Florida Gopher Frog Rana areolata oesopus Pygmy Killifis h Leptoluconia ommata Rough Earth Snake Haldea striatula Pirate Perc h Aph redoder us sayanu s Eastern Earth Snak e Haldea valeriae valeriae* * Mud Sunfis h Acantharchus pomotis Striped Swamp Snake Liodytes allen i Flie r Centrarchus macropterus Eastern Hognose Snak e Heterodon platyrhino s War mout h Chaenobryttus gulosu s Southern Ringneck Snake Diadophis punctatus punctatu s Everglades Pygmy Sunfish Elossoma everglade i Rainbow Snak e Abastor erythrogrammus* * Okefenokee Pygmy Sunfish Elossoma okefenokee Mud Snake Faroncia abacura Blackbanded Sunfish En neacontbus choetodo n Southern Black Racer Coluber constrictor priapus Bluespotted Sunfish En neocenthus gloriosu s Eastern Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum flagellu m Banded Sunfis h En neacanthus obesu s Rough Green Snake Opheodrys aestivus Redbreast Sunfish Lepomis ouritu s Eastern Indigo Snake Drymarchon corals couper i Bluegil l Lepomis macrochirus Corn Snake Elaphe guttata guttata Dollar Sunfis h Lepomis marginatus Yellow Rat Snak e Elophe obsoleta quadrivittat a Spotted Sunfis h Lepomis punctatu s Gray Rat Snak e Elophe obsoleta spiloides Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoide s Florida Pine Snake Pituophis melonoleucus mugitu s Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus Eastern Kingsnak e Lampropeltis getulus getulu s Scolyheod Darter Etheostorna barratti Scarlet Kingsnake Lampropeltis doliata doliat a Swamp Darte r Ethesotama fusiform e Scarlet Snake Cemophora coccinea Brook Silverside La bidesthes sicculus

5 S F W OKEFENOKEE SWAMP . a huge, shallow, peat-fille d depression of flooded and semi-flooded forests and prairies . Mouse Sparrow' o 0 o 0 located in southeastern Georgia and a small part of adjacen t _Bobolink r r Florida, is one of the most primitive wilderness areas in th e Eastern Meadowlark ' c c c c Nation . This swamp covers approximately 435,000 acres . Red.winged Blackbird ' c c c c About 177,528 acres of this area with 12.000 acres of periph- Orchard Oriole * u u u eral upland are included in the Okrjenokee National Wildlif e Northern Oriol e r r r Refuge. Rusty Blackbir d u u u _B rewer ' s Blackbir d o o 0 Most of the swamp is covered with cypress, black gum , Boot-tailed Grackl e r r r and bay forests . About 15 percent is flooded or semi-flooded _Common Grackle ' c c c c prairie, and islands make up another 6 percent . The prairie s Brown .heoded Cowbir d o o o o are dotted with little lakes and ponds and various size d Scarlet Tanager r r clumps of trees and shrubs, locally called houses. Th e Summer Tanager ' u u u peripheral upland and the islands within the swamp ar e forested with pine interspersed with hardwood" hammocks" . Cardinal ' c c c c Rose•breasted Grosbea k r r This diversified habitat is attractive to a wide variety o Blue Grosbea k r r r r f birds. The following list contains 210 species recorded fro m Indigo Buntin g u o u the swamp and surrounding uplands by visiting ornithologist Painted Buntin g o s and refuge personnel. Those species denoted with an * nest in Purple Finc h u u u r. _Pine Siski n r r r the area, or have been known to do so . Abundance symbol s _America n Goldfinc h c c c are coded as follows : Rufous-sided Towhe e c c c c _Savannah Sparro w u u u S—March-May a—abundan t S—June-August c—common _Grasshoppe r Sparro w o o 0 v- _L e Conte ' s Sparro w r r r F—September-November u—uncommo n W —December-February o—occasiona l Henslow's Sparrow o 0 o or- _Vesper Sparro w u u u r—rare _Bachman ' s Sparrow ' c c c c Dark-eyed Junco 3 r r Chipping Sparro w u u u _Fiel d Sparro w u u u White-throated Sparro w c c c _Fox Sparro w u u u _Swamp Sparro w c c c _Song Sparro w c c c

These additional 22 species are of ver y rare or acciden,al occurrence : White Pelica n Arctic Ter n Roseate Spoonbil l Barn Ow l Whistling Swa n Ivory-killed Woodpecke r Snow Goose (formerly ) Vermilion Flycatche r Gray Kingbird European Wigeon Western Kingbird Golden Eagl e Bachma n s Warble r I.impki n Lark Sparrow Semipalmated Plove r Tree Sparro' w Whimbre l Connecticut Warble r Laughing Gul l Clapper Rai l Forster's Tern DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIO R U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ` - RF-41590-2 NOVEMBER 1979 1:!,,

A CHECK-LIST OF BIRDS LIVING ON THE OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE S S F W S S F W S S F W Common Loon r r r Purple Gallinule' u u u u House Wren u u u J-lorned Grebe u u u Common Gallinule ' u u u u Winter Wren u u u - Pied-billed Grebe c r c c American Coo t c c c Bewick ' s Wre n r r _Double-crested Cormoran t r a o 0 Killdeer c c c Carolina Wren ' c c c c - Anhingo ' e c c c American Woodcoc k u r u u Long-billed Marsh Wren o o 0 _Groot Blue Moron * c c c c Common Snipe c c c Short-billed Marsh Wre n u u u ,Green Heron • c c c o _Spotte d Sandpipe r u u Mockingbird ' c c c c .Little Blue Moron ' c c c c Solitary Sandpipe r o o Catbird ' c c c c .Cattle Egret * c c c Wille r r r Brown Thrasher * c c c c .Great Egret * c c c c Greater Yellowleg s u u American Robin c a a -Snowy Egret * u u u o Lesser Yellowleg s u u Wood Thrush * u u u - Louisiana Heron ' 0 0 0 0 Least Sandpipe r o 0 o _Hermit Thrus h u u u _Black-crowned Night Hero n c o c c _Dunli n r r Swainson ' sThrus h r r Yellow•crowned Night Hero n u u u u powitcher (species? ) 0 0 o Gray-cheeked Thrus h r r * Least Bittern o o r Semipalmated Sandpipe r o 0 a Veer y u American Bittern u u u c Western Sandpipe r r r r Eastern Bluebird ' c c c c Sander lin g Wood Stork ' o c c o o 0 0 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher' u u u o _Herring Gul l ,Glossy Ibi s r r r r r r - Golden-crowned Kingle t u u o White Ibis' c a a c Black Tern r r r Ruby-crowned Kingle t c c c Canada Goos e o o 0 Mourning Dove* c c c c __Water Pipit o o 0 Mallar d c c c Ground Dove ' c c c c Cedar Waxwing c u c .Block Duc k c c c Yellow-billed Cuckoo' c c c Loggerhead Shrike* c Godwol l o o o c c c Black-billed Cucko o r r Pintai l u u u Starling o o o 0 Screech Owl' u Green-winged Tea l c c c u u u White-eyed Vireo' c c c u Great Horned Ow l u u u u Blue-winged Tea l u u u Yellow-throated Vireo ' r r r Barred Owl * c c c c American Wigeo n u u u Solitary Vireo o a o Northern Shovele r u u u Chuck•will ' s-widow' c c c Red-eyed Vireo ' u u u Whip-poor-wi I I o o r Wood Duck • c c c c Black-and•white Warbler u o u o Common Nighthawk * c c c Redhea d o o 0 Prothonotary Warbler * c c c Chimney Swif t Ring-necked Duc k c c c c c c $wainson ' s Warbler * r r r Ruby-throated Hummingbird * u u u Convosboc k r r r Worm-eating Warble r u u r Greater Scau p r r r Belted Kingfisher' c u c c Golden-winged Warble r o 0 Lesser Scoo p u u u Common Flicker* c c c c Blue-winged Warble r o 0 Common Goldeney e r r r Pileated Woodpecker ' c c c c Orange-crowned Warble r u u u Buffleheo d r r r Red-bellied Woodpecker * c c c c Northern Porula Warbler * c c c o Ruddy Duc k o 0 o Red-headed Woodpecker ' c u c u _Yellow Warble r u u Hooded Merganser ' c r c c Yellow-bellied Sapsucke r c c c Magnolia Warble r r u Red-breasted Merganser r r r Hairy Woodpecker ' o 0 0 o Cope May Warble r u u Turkey Vulture * c c c c Downy Woodpecker ' c c c c Black•throated Blue Warble r u u Black Vulture ' c c c c Red-cockaded Woodpecker ' u u u u Yellow-rumped Warble r a o a Swallow-toiled Kite r r r Eastern Kingbird' c c c Block-throated Green Warble r r r Sharp-shinned Haw k r r Great Crested Flycatcher ' c c c Cerulean Warble r r r Cooper's Haw k o r o 0 _Easter n Phoeb e c c c _Blackburnian Warble r u u Red-tailed Hawk ' u r u u Acadian Flycatcher • u u u Yellow-throated Warbler * c c c o Red-shouldered Hawk ' c c c c Eastern Wood Pewee * c c c Chestnut-sided Warble r r Broad-winged Haw k Blockpoll Warble r o 0 __Tree Swallo w c a c u u Pine Warbler ' Bald Eagl e r r r Barn Swallo w c c c c u c c Marsh Haw k Prairie Warble r o o 0 __Purple Martin ' r u c o u u o Osprey ' u u r u Palm Warble r c c c Blue Jay' c c c c Peregrine Falco n r r r Ovenbird u u Common Crow * o o o 0 Merli n r r r Northern Waterthrus h r r Fish Crow ' c c c c kmerican Kestrel* c o c c Louisiana Waterthrus h o r o Carolina Chickadee* Bobwhite ' c c c c u u u u Kentucky Warble r o o Tufted Titmouse ' c Turkey ' r r r r c c c Connecticut Warble r o 0 White-breasted Nuthatch r r r r Common Yellowthroat Sondhill Crane ' c c c c ' c u c c King Rail ' r r r r Red-breasted Nuthatc h r r Yellow-breasted Cha t r r Virginia Rai l r r Brown-headed Nuthatch ' c c c c Hooded Warbler ' u u u )Ora r r Brown Creeper o o 0 _Canada Warble r r r American Redstar t c r c Okefenokee National Wildlife Refug e

As you travel through this country , NATIONA L W I L O L I r t you may see the sign of the flyin g REFUGE goose—emblem of the National Wild - life Refuges . Wherever you meet thi s sign, respect it, for it means tha t those lands and waters have been dedicated to preserving as much o f our native wildlife as can be retaine d along with our modern civilization .

WARE COUF

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Block Jack Island

~rcMlli kl,,,, Travel on the refuge is restricted to areas designated b y the officer in charge . All visitors should register with th e concessionaire before leaving the boat clock to enter refug e waters .

Visitors must he accompanied by a licensed guide whe n going into the more remote parts of the swamp .

Visitors are allowed to he on the refuge only during posted hours, except where specified overnight accommodation s are available.

Fires are prohibited on the refuge except in specially des- ignated places .

Firearms are not allowed on the refuge .

Outboard motors larger than 11) horsepower are prohibited . Each occupant of a boat is required to have a Coast Guar d approved life preserver with him .

Fishing is permitted in accordance with Georgia State fishin g laws, except that no live fish may he used as bait .

Swimming is not permitted in refuge waters .

Pets must be kept in cars or on a leash not exceeding 6 fee t in length . They are not permitted in boats or public us e buildings.

Molestation or destruction of plants and animals on the refug e is prohibited .

RF 41590 I , July 1978 OKEFENOKEE 6 AMP in southeastern Georgia near th e stained the color of tea from the tannic acid of swamp vegeta- Florida bomulry, is one of the oldest and most primitiv e tion . The principal outlet of the swamp is the Suwannee swamps in America . It extends about 38 miles front nort h River, which starts deep in the heart of Okefenokee and flow s to south and about 25 miles across at its widest part and southwest into the Gulf of Mexico . The St . Marys Rive r contains some 412,0(X) acres . Okefenokee National Wildlife emeties some of the swamp water into the Atlantic Ocean . Refuge, established in 1937, occupies over nine-tenths o f Okefenokee 's natural beauty was threatened in 1889 whe n this fascinating region of water, woods, and wildlife . attempts were made to drain the swamp to facilitate timber Okefenokee is actually a vast peat bog, unique in geologi c removal . Millions of hoard feet of cypress, pine, red bay, origin and history, with many unusual forms of animal and and gum were removed . Not until the best timber had bee n plant life . Once a part of the ocean, it is now more than a cut were the region's other values given much consideration . hundred feet above sea level . Okefenokee as a wildlife refuge is an attempt to preserv e an area of primitive America ; to protect fragile strands of The variety of life, as seen by a visitor to Okefenokee, change s the web of life against encroachment by the sprawl of eco- throughout the day . Except during the quietness of noonday , nomic progress : to hold a unique region in trust for the peopl e the squealing cries of wood ducks and the discordant squawk s who need peace, beauty, and quietness sometime durin g of herons and egrets are heard repeatedly as you move along their lifetime . the glassy waterways . High overhead a turkey vulture ma y he soaring, while a flock of white ibis glides at tree top level . In its management of the swamp, the Fish and Wildlife The persistent song of the Carolina wren and hammering o f Service plans no development that might mar inherent woodpeckers on shells of dead trees are most evident whil e attractions . Nature itself is the landscaper . Already stand s you listen for rolling guttural notes of the Florida sandhil l of young cypress have hidden the stumps left by early logger s crane . In the spring the bellowing of the old hull alligator s and eventually will rear a new generation of bearded giant s furnishers a background for amazing frog choruses . to replace the old .

In the tangled forest of cypress, hay, and guns—with hangin g There are three puhlis cntranceS. At each entrance guide d streamers of Spanish moss—are raccoons, bobcats, opossums , boat tours, walking trails, swamp exhibits, and picnic facilitie s and otter . There are also abundant signs of hear and white - are available . Inforunation on tour rates and other detail s tailed deer . may be obtained from the concessionaires . Besides guided tours : boat rentals and launching, and fishin g The waters of Okefenokee move slowly, and as they mak e facilities are available at Stephen Foster State Park and th e their lazy- way through the cypress forests, they become Suwannee Canal Recreation Area.

Privately owned or rented outboard motors of 10 horsepowe r or less may he used on either private or rented boats . Trave l in the swamp is permitted during posted hours .

Fishing may be clone throughout the year with a Georgi a State fishing license and in accordance with Georgia fishin g regulations. No live fish may be used as bait . Large- mouth bass, hlurgill, warmouth, catfish, and pickerel are the fish most commonly taken .

Hunting and firearms are not allowed on the refuge . Dogs are permitted only at public entrances and must be kep t on a leash . Collection or molesting wildlife or plants i s prohibited .

6T FEEN C F05 TER STATE PARK — This area on Jones Island, managed by the Georgia Park and Historic Site s Division under a cooperative agreement with the U .S . Fish and Wildlife Service, is the west entrance to the swamp . I t is from here that Billy's Lake, Minnie 's Lake, and Big Water are most easily accessible . A trip through the windin g Many swamp stories are told on the boat tours and along th e watercourses connecting these lakes is a never-to-be for- walks, trails, and drives . gotten experience . This entrance may be reached by traveling State Highway 2 3 The visitor may stop at Billy's Island, named for Chief Bill y about? miles southwest of Folkston, Georgia, and proceedin g Bowlegs, a distinguished leader in the Seminole Wars . H e west about 4 miles . For further information visit th e may try his luck as a photographer, or relax and enjoy th e Swamp ' s Edge Information Center located at the Recreatio n solitude and beauty of the swamp . Area or write the U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service, P . O . Bo x 117, Waycross, Georgia :31501 (Telephone 283-2580 AC 912) . This is the only entrance where overnight facilities are avail - For information dealing with guided tours, boat and cano e able . There are camp sites for tents, trailers, or campers a s rentals, or fishing, contact the Concessionaire, Suwanne e well as cottages for rent . Canal Recreation Area, Folkston, Georgia :315:37 (Telephon e 496-7156 AC 912) . The Park may be reached by leaving U .S . Highway 44 1 about half a mile southeast of Fargo, Georgia, and followin g OKEFENOKEE SWAMP PARK — This park, the north en - state road 177 northeast for about 18 miles . For informatio n trance to the swamp, is managed by the Okefenokee Swam p on rates and reservations, write Stephen C . Foster State Park, Park Association, inc ., a nonprofit private organization . Th e Fargo, Georgia 31631 . (Telephone 0196-7509 AC 912 ) park is distinct from the Okefenokee National Wildlif e Refuge, and most of it is located outside the refuge boundary . CANAL This, the eas t 5'IAWANNEE RECREATION AREA— Here the visitor can take guided tours by boat along windin g entrance, is operated cooperatively by the U .S . Fish an d watercourses through part of the swamp ' s most beautifu l Wildlife Service and a concessionaire . Here the visitor may cypress forest . follow the Suwannee Canal for 11 miles into the heart of th e swamp . From the canal he may enter Chesser, Grand, an d There is much to see during a stroll through the park grounds . Mizell Prairies, the swamp ' s most extensive open areas . Th e The boardwalk, museum, animal habitats, serpentarium , little lakes and ' gator holes that dot the prairies offer some o f botanical gardens, and the observation tower, which is hig h the Nation ' s finest fresh water sport fishing . The prairies are in the cypress trees, put a lot of Okefenokee in a compac t also favorite areas for bird watching and are the home of th e package for all to see . rare Florida sandhill crane .

Canoeing may also he enjoyed in Okefenokee . Six wilder- Wildlife-oriented facilities include a wildlife drive, a rubber- ness trails permit one- to six-day trips through the swamp . tired interpretive train, walking trails, a 4,000-foot boardwal k More canoeing information may be obtained by contactin g over the swamp, observation towers from which wildlife ma y the refuge manager . be observed in the scenic wilderness of the Okefenokee, a night tour boat, and a restored homestead . The park is open at variable hours throughout the year an d is located about 8 miles south of Waycross, Georgia, and 5 miles off U . S . Highway 1 and 23 . For further informatio n write, wire, or call Okefenokee Swamp Park, Waycross , Georgia 31501, telephone 283-058:3 AC 912 .

Department of the Interio r U .S . Fish and Wildlife Service ROUND-TAILED MUSKRAT (Neofiber alleni nigrescens) . Common in the prairies .

HOUSE MOUSE (Mus musculus musculus). Formerly common around habitations but now that few people live Mammals within the swamp, it has probably disappeared from the area . Very likely it is still common around human habita- tions in the vicinity of the swamp . of the

NORWAY RAT (Rattus norvegicus) . Like the above Okefenokee species, this mammal has probably disappeared from th e area with the cessation of human habitation . National Wildlife Refuge BLACK RAT (Rattus rattus rattus). This and the follow- ing subspecies were the common barn rats when farmin g was practiced on some of the islands within the swamp . It probably occurs now and farmsteads in the vicinity o f the swamp but not on the refuge .

ROOF RAT (Rattus rattus alexandrinus) . See above .

EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus mal- lurus). Common around clearings and in the more sparse pinewoods on the uplands surrounding the swamp an d on some of the islands .

MARSH RABBIT (Sylvilagus palustris palustris) . Fairly common on the swamp edge .

WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus). These deer are to be found on the upland entirely around th e swamp and on the islands within the swamp . Occasional - ly they may be seen from the Deer Stand observation plat - form, and in the time of low water they may be seen i n the prairies.

ARMADILLO (Dasypus novemcinctus mexicanus). This unusual "armored" mammal was first seen on the refug e DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR in 1963. Since then it has become more numerous and i s U.S . FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVIC E commonly seen along roadways and trails. RF-41590-3 NOVEMBER 197 9 The varied hab ita t ofOkefenokee Swamp forest an dprairie, BIG BROWN BAT (Eplesicus fuscus fuscus) . An uncom- RED WOLF (Canis niger niger) . Formerly this was the of swamp edge and of moist and dry upland affords a hom e mon species in the area . species of wolf native to this area . It is believed not to be for most mammalian species that are known to the south - present here now . eastern coastal plain . NORTHERN RED BAT (Lasiurus borealis borealis). An uncommon species in the area . FLORIDA BOBCAT (Lynx rufus floridanus). Common Most mammals are night prowlers and difficult to observe. throughout the swamp and on the surrounding upland . Sometimes their tracks, or other signs of activity, are all SEMINOLE RED BAT (Lasiurus borealis seminolus). A Occasionally seen along the nature drive . that is visible to remind us that they do exist . A few kinds common bat of the Okefenokee . such as squirrels, otters, deer, rabbits, bobcats and bear s FLORIDA PUMA (Fells concolorcoryi). Apparently this are often or sometimes seen during daytime . However, FLORIDA YELLOW BAT (Dasypterus floridanus) . Ap- species was never more than of rare occurrence in the vi- early morning and late afternoon arethe best times to ob- parently a rare species in the area . Two specimens were cinity of the swamp . serve mammals. collected at King's Canal . SOUTHERN GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus carolinensis The following list includes 42 species that now live or hav e RAFINESQUE'S BIG-EARED BAT (Corynorhinus rail- carolinensis). Abundant in the blackgum-bay forests in recently lived in, or in the immediate vicinity of, Okefe- nesquii) . A rather uncommon species in the area. the swamp and in the oak woodlands on the upland . nokee Swamp. This list is based upon specimens and sub- stantiated evidence collected by Dr . Francis Harper an d FREE-TAILED BAT (Tadarida brasiliensis cynocephala) . SOUTHERN FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus niger niger). Un- refuge personnel . Most of the species listed are supporte d An uncommon species in this area although it has bee n common in the pine forests surrounding the swamp . by specimens that are preserved in the Cornell University collected at Camp Cornelia . Museum and in the U .S. National Museum. FLORIDA FLYING SQUIRREL (Glaucomys volansquer- FLORIDA BLACK BEAR (Ursus floridanus). Bears range ceti). This species is rarely seen but is probably fairl y Mammals to look for in or near Okefenokee are : throughout the refuge . While they are rarely seen, thei r common. It has been collected on Floyd's and Billy's Is- signs are found in all habitats . lands and Chesser Island . FLORIDA OPOSSUM (Didelphis marsupialis pigra). Common on the swamp edge and on the islands withi n FLORIDA RACCOON (Procyon lotor elucus). The mos t GEORGIA POCKET GOPHER (Geomys pinetis pinetis). the swamp. A night prowler, "Pogo" is often seen by abundant large mammal on the refuge . It is found in all Uncommon on dry, sandy sites on the east side of the campers at Stephen C. Foster State Park . habitats but is most numerous on the swamp edge . They swamp . are commonly seen at the Stephen C. Foster State Par k STAR-NOSED MOLE (Condylura cristata) . Apparentl y camping area and occasionally along boat trails . CAROLINA BEAVER (Castor canadensis carolinensis). rare. Has been collected in the swamp near Mixon's Ferr y The first record of beavers actually in the swamp was i n and on Chesser Island . LONG-TAILED WEASEL (Mustela frenata olivacea). This 1969. Apparently they have disappeared since then, pro- species is probably more common than the few observa- bably because of alligators. FLORIDA MOLE (Scalopus aqualicus australis). General - tions would indicate. Specimens have been collected on ly distributed on the upland adjacent to the swamp and Billy's Island and on Chesser Island . COTTON MOUSE (Peromyscus gossypinus gossypinus). has been found on some of the islands within the swamp . Common throughout the area. LEAST SHREW (Cryptotus parva parva). Rarely seen but FLORIDA RIVER OTTER (Lutra canadensis vega). Oc- SOUTHERN GOLDEN MOUSE (Peromyscus nu ttalli au- probably fairly common . Specimens have been collecte d casionally observed along the water courses, especiall y reolus). This species is probably rare . It has been found i n on several of the islands, on the swamp edge and in the during the winter. hammocks on the islands. pine woods around the swamp . FLORIDA STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis elon- CAROLINA SHORT-TAILED SHREW (Blaring breui- gala). This species is generally distrubuted on the uplan d SWAMP RICE RAT (Oryzomys palustris palustris). A cauda carolinensis). A specimen was collected on Floyd's surrounding the swamp and is found occasionally on th e fairly common mammal throughout the swamp . Island June 12, 1921 . islands. HISPID COTTON RAT (Sigmodon hispidus hispidus) . A EVENING BAT (Nycticeius humeralis) . One of the most RED FOX (Vulpes fulea fulua). This species is rare but common mammal in the pine woods and old fields on th e common bats of the Okefenokee . This and other bats ar e occurs occasionally on the upland in the vicinity of th e upland around the swamp. seen at dusk on warm nights in search of flying insects . swamp . FLORIDA WOOD RAT (Neotoma floridana floridana) . GEORGIAN BAT (Pipistrellus subflavus subflavus) . A FLORIDA GRAY FOX (Urocyon cinereoargenteus flori- Fairly common throughout the swamp and in the ham- MIXON'S HAMMOCK

- REGULATIONS -

Use is by organized youth groups only . • Use by reservation and permit only . • Report and show permits to Refuge personne l on arrival. • Group leader is responsible for signing in an d out and for all group actions . Make sure you r group has been read a copy of the rules an d regulations . • Fires are restricted to the fire ring at the cam p site. • Everything brought in must be taken ou t when you leave . • To help preserve the beauty, scientific and historic values of Mixon's Hammock, please leave all plants, flowers, trees, and animal s undisturbed . • Feeding wildlife is strictly prohibited . Wild animals are unpredictable and can be dangerous . All wild animals will protect them- selves, their young, and their territories. • Swimming or wading is not allowed due to the danger from poisonous snakes and alliga- tors.

Report all accidents, injuries, or emergencies to the nearest Refuge employee. All other re- gulations pertaining to National Wildlife Re- fuges are listed in the U. S. Code of Federal Regulations CFR 50, and will be strictly en- forced. Other pertinent information is includ . ed in several other refuge brochures. Okefenokee DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIO R U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVIC E National Wildlife RE-41590-1A NOVEMBER 1979 Refine Mixon's Hammock has been used by man since end of the Suwannee River, close to where the pine, and bay stands, as well as other species o f its formation as an island in the swamp over 4,000 Suwannee River Sill is today. For almost 30 years, trees, were felled and then hauled out on a rail years ago. Archeological evidence indicates that the brothers operated this business at Mixon's tram set on pilings driven into the swamp's sandy the earliest Indians on the Hammock came here Ferry. The Mixon's existence on this Hammock floor . In many places in the swamp you may still about 2000 B.C. It continued to be used from was a pleasant one . Crops of corn, collards, and see the old pilings . On several of the islands an d time to time for the next 3,000 years by Indians potatoes and the abundant game helped to pro- hammocks, particularly Mixon's Hammock, ol d on hunting and fishing trips. Sometime between vide a self-sufficient lifestyle. rail beds and cross ties are still visible. By the 600 A.D. and 1200 A.D., the swamp was settle d time the last log was removed in the late 1920' s by Indians of the Weeden Island Culture . Arche- The late 1800 's saw the beginning of a logging over four hundred million board feet of lumbe r ological evidence suggests that this culture used bonanza in the Okefenokee . The great cypress, had been taken from the swamp . the Hammock as either a village or a sacred cer- emonial center. The Weeden Island Indians pos- sessed one of the most interesting cultures in American prehistory with powerful chiefdoms , large villages, beautiful art works and elaborate tribal rituals . These Indians vanished about 1200 A.D. for reasons unknown at this time . Perhaps , OKEFENOKEE

further archeological studies will reveal some an- NATIONAL swers. MIXON'S .ir WILDLIFE HAMMOCK

REYUGE The Seminoles are the best known group of In- dians to use the Okefenokee . These Indians would raid areas outside the swamp and then retreat into the virtually impregnable vegetation . The mili- tary did not actively pursue the Seminoles unti l the late 1830's . By the time General Floyd's soldiers found their camps on the larger islands, the Seminoles had fled to Florida . LEGEND: The first permanent white settler on the west- ++++ OLD LOGGING TRAM ern side of the swamp was Josiah Mixon, who 0 CAMP SITE settled the area in the 1850's. He made use o f ® OLD CROP ROWS lands previously cleared by the Indians man y years before . When Josiah's brother arrived around 1863, the two men operated a ferry at the north CHESSER ISLAN D HOMESTEAD

A PIONEER FAMILY'S PRODUCTIVE WAY OF LIVIN G

OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUG E

FOLKSTON,GEORGIA

-.

2. MAIN HOUS E 3. CLEAN YARD 4. HOLLOW LOG WELL 5. SMOKE HOUSE AND STORAGE SHE D 6. GRIND STON E 7. BEEHIVE S ` '/` . ~ ~ . ~ INDIAN MOUND EXHIB T 13 . SUGAR CANE MILL xxxxx x 9. SYRUP SHED m BOARDWALK ,---,$) /o .*oo p s w II. CHICKEN YARD AND COO P 2. CORN CRIB AND STALL pA....\\\\\\ CHESSER ISLAND HOMESTEA D

Welcome to the Chesser Island Homestead, a historic place where you can learn a great deal about typical pioneer life that once unfolded along the periphery of the great Okefenokee Swamp . The Chesse r family settled Chesser Island in 1858; and from that date until a very few years ago, much of the history you will see and enjoy today was taking place . In addition to the features described in some detail in thi s booklet, take sufficient time and enjoy the sheltered exhibits that tel l about early Indian life in the swamp, the wilderness values o f Okefenokee, the utilization of the swamp's vast wildlife resources b y early pioneers, and a naval stores operation (commonly referred to a s "turpentining") . We hope you will enjoy your visit, and we will appreciate an y suggestions that you may wish to make . Please leave everything as you find it so that others who follow may share your experience . 1 PURPLE MARTIN NESTING GOURD S

Few people who visited this homestead have escaped without being bitten by a mosquito . These numerous insects were a continual discomfort to th e early swamp settlers . In an effort to reduce the population of this pest, the pioneer "swampers " erected bird nesting structures to attract th e mosquito devouring purple martin, the largest member of the swallow family. These nestin g structures were made from dried gourds, a cu - cumber type plant and were hung in clusters from a tall pole. Not only do the adult purple martin s consume large numbers of mosquitoes, they als o feed them to their young, making the purple marti n an excellent natural control for mosquitoes . 2 MAIN HOUS E During the years that have passed since th e Chesser family first settled the island in 1858, severa l houses were built at various locations . The existin g main house was built by the family in the late 1920's . Heart pine and cypress lumber were the basi c building materials. Additions to the house were made at various times as the family grew in size . Five bedrooms are included in the house attesting to the large size of many families that were raised aroun d the edge of the Okefenokee.

Before the days of window screens, mosquitoe s often were controlled in some swamp homes by smoking the rooms with a small fire using oak bark ignited in a bucket . The bucket was carried fro m room to room, and the smoke would drive th e mosquitoes away. Sometimes the process had to b e repeated several times during the night.

3 CLEAN YARD You will note as you tour the homestead that there is no grass or lawn around the house . There was a time when a well kept yard was one that wa s completely bare of vegetation and swept clean . The yard was often "scraped" with a hoe to remove an y grass or weeds which might sprout . With several children playing in the yard and chickens pecking a t the blades, grass would have had very little chanc e of growing anyway .

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~ .~ —"- — __ 3_ __ _ 4 HOLLOW LOG WELL

Cypress, because of its durability, was used liberally by swampers in construction projects . Its use in a well was imperative since the wood i s continuously wet. Without the hollowed log, freshl y dug wells were apt to immediately cave in and refil l with the sandy soil that is so common in upland s adjacent the swamp . A rope and pulley, as you see here, was on e common way of drawing water from the well . Sometimes a long weighted lever or sweep was used to lift the heavy bucket of water . 5 SMOKEHOUSE AND STORAGE SHE D The wonderfully odorous smokehouse was usually located close to th e main house since the family's meat supply was stored there . Fresh meat , usually pork hams, bacon, sausage and venison, was first cured with salt . Next it was hung from wooden ceiling beams or poles . Fires made of green oak smoldered and smoked to further preserve and flavor the meat. Once cured and smoked, the meat was usually cut into portion-size d chunks and packed in cans of lard . The lard sealed the meat from moisture which could have caused it to mold in the very humid climate.

_4 1 This shed could have contained dried beans, peas, apples, figs, peaches, or huckleberries . The floor may have been covered with red potatoes . Onions an d dried peppers may have hung from the ceiling . By the end of the growin g season, this shed would have contained enough food to last until the nex t spring . 6 GRINDSTON E

Two people are required to operate this implement and often it was th e children who turned the stone while their father sharpened his axe, knife, hoe , or other tool . Dripping water kept the pores of the sandstone open for faster sharpening . 7 BEEHIVES

The Okefenokee area is well-known for its fine quality gall-berry honey . Swamp families, dependent upon honey as a sweetener, frequently estab- lished homemade beehives in hollow cypress logs . A hole was notched nea r the base for access by the bees . Nectar gathered from swamp flowers mad e honey production excellent and the supply quite plentiful . One drawback t o beekeeping in this region was the occasional robbing of the hives by a hungr y black bear. Bears, of course, are more than fond of honey . $ SUGAR CANE MIL L

As the mule pulled the sweep around the grinding mill, an operator woul d feed two stalks of sugar cane through the rollers in order to squeeze the juice from the cane. The juice was strained through clean burlap or other simila r coarse material as it was being collected in a tub or wooden barrel . The juice was then carried in buckets to the syrup-making shed for boiling. Sometimes the children would push the sweep by hand just to squeeze some juice to drink . 9 SYRUP SHED Evaporating the water and concentrating the sugar content of the cane Juice was and still is the principal involved in making sugar cane syrup . The 60- gallon boiler in this shed was filled with raw sugar cane juice, and a roaring fir e of fat lighter pine was built beneath the boiler . The juice was boiled and continually strained, skimmed and clarified for 3 or 4 hours, and finally yielde d only 7 or 8 gallons of finished syrup . In addition to providing food for the home, some of the syrup was sold to provide an income. Cane syrup from Chesser Island was prized highly in South Georgia for its fine flavor .

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In some cases, the early settlers made their own sugar from the can e juice. To do this, the juice had to be boiled longer to further concentrat e the sugar . A big wooden barrel was filled with the very thick syrup and was inverted on a table which was grooved to fit the barrel rim tightly . One smal l notch was provided to drain off the molasses leaving the raw sugar crystal s in the drain . 10 HOG PEN

The hog pen was located as far away from the main house as possible t o avoid the anticipated odor and was yet close enough for the family to keep a watchful eye out for predators. Black bears, which sometimes made unwante d but not unexpected appearances at the hog pen, were chased from th e property by swampers who had been awakened earlier by squealing pigs . 9 Hogs that were to be fattened for slaughter were put into a separate pen an d generously fed selected grain . 1 1 CHICKEN YARD AND COO P . . . "When the Chickens Come Home to Roost " Despite their wandering nature, chickens and other fowl almost alway s returned at night to the same area to roost . The spread of corn and an echoing man-created chicken call summoned browsing chickens to the yard and t o the coop where they spent the night relativly safe from predators such as foxes and bobcats . The small coop was for the old hen and her biddies .

12 CORN CRIB AND STALL

Corn was the principal cultivated crop of the earl y swamp settlers . After the corn had dried on the stalk s in the fall, it was gathered and heaped into the cor n crib. As it was needed, the corn was removed from the crib, husked, and then .shelled using a hand- cranked sheller. The shelled corn was used to fee d livestock and for family meals . .,

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White corn was grown abundantly in the Okefe- nokee Swamp and was utilized in making grits an d corn meal . More often than not, the corn was groun d at home with a hand-cranked mill . The remainder of this building served as stalls i n which to store the wagon and the buggy . The homestead mule also enjoyed the comfort of th e stalls. The loft was used as a storehouse for fodde r and hay which was needed to feed the mule an d other livestock that may have been present.

United States Department of the Interio r Fish and Wildlife Servic e

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