May 22 Sparkleberry Swamp

 

We set out into Sparkleberry Swamp, the upper reaches of Lake Marion. The lake was created in the 1940's by an 8 mile long dam with 62 gates. It backs up the Santee River which is formed at the confluence of the Congaree and Wateree Rivers, now underwater. At 110,000 acres, it is the largest lake in the state. We put in at the Sparkleberry landing into the area called Sparkleberry. 

Of course you are wondering about the name. John Cely tells us the blueberry like shrub grows nearby but not in the swamp. 

We paddle in and out of open water. The boat ramp also attracts a few dozen pickups hauling jon boats. We can hear them coming for a half mile away. Most slow down but a few want to "wake" us.

Soon, we are tucked away in a maze of Swamp Tupelos. The water is brown. John tells us it is usually black but the recent weeks of little or no rain have settled the water. Swamp Cottonwood seeds float in the water everywhere. The windborne seeds are contained in what looks like natural cotton balls.

This swamp changes. There can be times during little rain that you can walk through here. There have been yearlong droughts with no water. The Swamp Tupelos need about four years to grow high enough to survive in the water. So a four year long drought could create conditions that would close up this swamp.

That looks like a cabin out here. It is actually a house boat. John says there are a couple dozen out here, permanently anchored. They are frowned upon and efforts have been made to remove them. Authorities have threatened to burn them but they are still here. 

The Swampmaster

Swamp Cottonwood seeds

When the 110,000 acre was created, the land had to be cleared. Some of the old growth trees were not cut, for various reasons. We saw a few of them. They dwarfed the second growth forest we paddled through. 

Our route was a 5 mile loop which took about 3 hours to complete. On our final leg, we saw a very large group of kayaks. They were from Charleston area - the Low Country Paddlers. 

About 1pm, we paddled to the boat ramp, pulled the boats out of the water and began to drive home. It was a very special paddle in this swamp today.