Hardeeville in Jasper County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Managing Water for Wildlife
Moist Soil Management
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, September 28, 2015
1. Managing Water for Wildlife Marker
Inscription.
Managing Water for Wildlife. Moist Soil Management. Nearly three thousand acres of former rice fields are managed to benefit wildlife on Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge provides 18 impoundments (reservoirs) with nearly 50 miles of earthen dikes and a variety of trunks (floodgates). Similar to the way water was controlled in plantation fields, freshwater from the Little Black River is raised and lowered in these impoundments to produce diverse habitats. The managed wetlands benefit fish, shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl – including nearly 25,000 ducks annually., Aquatic management keeps wetlands flooded for several years to encourage plants with high food value and cover for wildlife. Aquatic impoundments also provide breeding habitat for birds, amphibians and fish. These animals, in turn are prey for alligators, river otter, ospreys, and bald eagles., Moist soil management produces shallow water and mudflat habitats. Water is drained during the growing season to promote plants preferred by wintering waterfowl, breeding birds, and other wildlife. Countless invertebrates that thrive within decaying plant litter provide valuable sources of protein for migrating shorebirds and ducks.
Nearly three thousand acres of former rice fields are managed to benefit wildlife on Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge provides 18 impoundments (reservoirs) with nearly 50 miles of earthen dikes and a variety of trunks (floodgates). Similar to the way water was controlled in plantation fields, freshwater from the Little Black River is raised and lowered in these impoundments to produce diverse habitats. The managed wetlands benefit fish, shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl – including nearly 25,000 ducks annually.
Aquatic management keeps wetlands flooded for several years to encourage plants with high food value and cover for wildlife. Aquatic impoundments also provide breeding habitat for birds, amphibians and fish. These animals, in turn are prey for alligators, river otter, ospreys, and bald eagles.
Moist soil management produces shallow water and mudflat habitats. Water is drained during the growing season to promote plants preferred by wintering waterfowl, breeding birds, and other wildlife. Countless invertebrates that thrive within decaying plant litter provide valuable sources of protein for migrating shorebirds and ducks.
Erected by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.
Location. 32° 10.125′ N, 81° 6.792′ W. Marker is in Hardeeville, South Carolina, in Jasper County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive and Alligator Alley (South Carolina Highway 170). Located in the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hardeeville SC 29927, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2015, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 251 times since then and 2 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on October 30, 2015, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.