Jan 29 Congaree

 

For 2 days we were immersed in Congaree National Park. The first day was an almost all day tour of just 4 miles. Yes, we stopped often to admire the trees. The second day was spent indoors at the University of South Carolina listening all day to lectures on 50 years of research in the Congaree. 

Here we are at the National Champion Loblolly. It is also the tallest Loblolly at 169 feet and growing. There is a faint trail leading to it off the Weston Lake Trail leading to it.

A dead feral pig can be seen from the boardwalk. Apparently, feral hogs are a huge issue for the park. The non-native hogs churn the earth looking for grubs, insects, eggs,  roots, tubers, bulbs and almost anything else. An eradication program within the park utilizes mainly two ways to control hog populations. Trapping involves the use of large traps which can close on an entire sounder of hogs rather than just an individual. Traps are often triggered remotely once an entire group is in the trap.  Aerial gunning from helicopters has also been effective but requires a park closure. 

Back at that National Champion again

Congaree is considered the largest old growth bottomland forest in the eastern US. Although, it is not a virgin forest due to selective Bald Cypress harvesting prior to 1976 when it became a National Monument. Jess Riddle from Atlanta gave a presentation on where there might be other Congarees in the east. Where are there other old growth bottomlands that might measure up? Jess gave up a dozen places to consider.

Fontenelle Forest

Long Cane Creek

Steven Creek Heritage Preserve

James Webb Wildlife Center

Moody Forest, GA

Murder Creek GA

Green Ash Research Natural Area

Red Gum Research

Lewis Island GA

Ebenezer Creek

Noxubee River

Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park

Sugarberry Natural Area

The last two seem to have the best chance of joining Congaree as top old growth bottomland forests.  

Although, not a champ, this former champion is actually a more impressive looking tree and it is right along the trail. This tree makes its way into a lot of photos including park brochures. 

One puzzle had everyone stumped for years. There are many giant Loblollies and Sweetgum trees in the Congaree but not any young ones. Then on September 21, 1989, Hurricane Hugo blew through causing widespread tree damage. The storm took down a number of large canopy trees leaving many large holes in the canopy. Within a few years, Loblolly and Sweetgum seedlings appeared in those canopy holes. Thus, the next set of champions began growing.