Carolina Bays FS
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Fact Sheet
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DEFINITION CAROLINA BAY WILDLIFE water; as adults, they de- Carolina bays are isolated Although many Carolina pend on Carolina bays as wetlands in natural shallow bays are temporary ponds breeding sites where they depressions that are that hold water only part lay their eggs. largely fed by rain and of the year, these wetlands shallow groundwater. host a variety of wildlife, PLANT LIFE IN BAYS These bays have an ellipti- providing valuable habitat Average water depth and cal shape and generally a for such animals as frogs, soil type have a large influ- northwest to southeast salamanders, turtles, ence on the types of plants orientation. They are found snakes and alligators. found in and around Caro- primarily in Georgia and Many birds, such as her- lina bays. Many bays con- the Carolinas, but range ons, egrets and migratory tain trees such as black from Florida to Delaware. waterfowl, live in Carolina gum, sweet gum, magnolia, As many as 300 Carolina bays. Also mammals, such bald cypress and maple, bays exist on the Savannah as deer, raccoons, skunks and shrubs such as sumac, River Site. and opossums get food button bush, gallberry and and water from Carolina red bay. Also common in HABITAT DESCRIPTION bays. In addition, micro- Carolina bays are water Carolina bays vary in size scopic organisms called lilies, sedges and various from less than an acre to zooplankton live in Caro- grasses. On the SRS, 60 many acres. Water levels lina bays. Salamanders and percent of the rare and are normally lowest in frogs are among the most threatened plant species autumn and highest in abundant wildlife found in are found in Carolina bays. early spring. Some Carolina Carolina bays. As amphib- bays are wet all year, while ians, these animals spend WETLAND FUNCTIONS
others fill with water, then part of their lives in the Although different types ○○○○○○○○○○○○ dry up, depending on the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ season. The amount of of wetlands vary, some of the most important and most time a typical bay holds common functions of wetlands are: water can vary greatly 1. Flood control and water availability. from year to year depend- 2. Water quality — they purify water by processing ing upon rainfall. For ex- nutrients, suspended materials and other pollutants. ample, during a 13-year 3. Erosion control. period, Rainbow Bay on the 4. Wildlife habitat. Savannah River Site held 5. Recreation. water only five days one year and about 280 days another year. DID YOU KNOW? ■ Researchers believe Carolina bays are 30,000 to 100,000 years old or older, yet scientists are not certain of their origins. ■ One theory of the origin of Carolina bays suggests that a me- teor hit Earth thousands of years ago, breaking into pieces that made dents as they skipped across the planet’s surface. One legend even has it that Carolina bays are dinosaur footprints (not true). ■ Some people consider Carolina bays to be annoying wet spots. Farmers commonly plowed through them and builders filled and paved over them until federal wetlands regulations began pro- tecting them in the mid-1970s. Still, Carolina bays and other wetlands continue to be lost to agriculture and commercial devel- opment. ■ More than 97 percent of the Carolina bays once found in South Carolina have been destroyed or severely altered. More protected Carolina bays are found on the SRS than in the remainder of South Carolina. ■ The United States has lost more than half of its original wet-
land areas. More than 400,000 acres are lost annually.
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BAY RESEARCH WETLANDS PROTECTION Standard Time, on week- Water levels vary greatly The Environmental Protec- days. The phone number is from one Carolina bay to tion Agency offers a toll- 1-800-832-7828. the next and from one year free hotline that is respon- to the next even at a single sive to public interest, MORE INFORMATION bay. Given the variations, questions and requests for For more information on ecologists at the Savannah information about the Carolina bays, please call River Ecology Laboratory values and functions of the Savannah River Ecology are studying how amphib- wetlands and options for Laboratory, Outreach (803) ians, plants and zooplank- their protection. The 725-0156 or Public Rela- ton (near-microscopic hotline operates from 9 tions (803) 725-2473.
organisms totally depen- a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern ○○○○○○○○○○○○ dent on water to survive) ○○○○○○○○ adapt to such extreme change. Scientists are developing a computer- based model that could predict the effects of cli- This fact card is a publication of the University of Georgia’s matic change — particu- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. The Laboratory is operated by the University of Georgia under a cooperative agreement with larly global warming — on the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct ecological research on the zooplankton and other the Savannah River Site, a nuclear materials processing facility animals and plants of on the Georgia/South Carolina border near Aiken, S.C. Carolina bays.