owned and managed by agencies of the states of NorthCarolina and South Carolina and the U.S. Forest Service.In the heart of the wilderness lies Lake Jocassee, a 7,500-acre turquoise jewel of clear, pure water of remarkablebeauty. Duke continues to own and operate this lake aspart of its hydroelectric pumped storage complex.

Jocassee Gorges is one of the most biologically diverseand important landscapes in the eastern United States.This extraordinary wilderness resource, standing alone,was a compelling cause for preservation. But the JocasseeGorges does not stand alone. Like the keystone of a greatarch, this 50,000-acre tract links two other large naturalpreserves of the Blue Ridge Escarpment to form a167,000-acre unspoiled natural area. On the east, SouthCarolina’s Table Rock State Park and the MountainBridge Wilderness Area encompass some 47,000 acres;and on the west, more than 70,000 acres of Sumter,Nantahala, and Chatahoochee National Forests, stretchalong the Blue Ridge Escarpment. Together, these landscomprise a wilderness area of truly national significance –

Spring/Summer, 2002 Volume 3, Number 1

��������������Information and News about the Jocassee Gorges

Jocassee Gorges included in new book�Mosaic: 21 Special Places in the Carolinas�

By Tommy Wyche

(Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of installmentsfrom Tommy Wyche’s new book, “Mosaic: 21 Special Placesin the Carolinas,” published in 2002 by WestcliffePublishers. Thirty-eight pages of photos and text in the bookare devoted to Jocassee Gorges. Text and photos reprintedwith permission. To order the book, call Westcliffe Publishersat 1-800-523-3692.)

Nine separate areas comprise the parks, wildlifemanagement areas, and preserves of Jocassee Gorges, asthis area on the North Carolina-South Carolina borderhas come to be known. Seven of the areas, about 39,000acres, are in South Carolina, and three, about 11,000acres, are in North Carolina.

Superlatives cannot be avoided when describing thisspectacular wilderness of nearly 50,000 acres of mountainlands, cut by steep ravines, rushing streams, and scores ofwaterfalls, and abundant plant and animal life. Thesewilderness properties, once owned by Duke, are now

The Toxaway River spills downstream in North Carolina�s Gorges State Park.(Reprinted from �Mosaic: 21 Special Places in the Carolinas, copyright 2002,by permission of Westcliffe Publishers Inc., Englewood, Colo., and TommyWyche, the photographer.)

(See New Book on Page 2)

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New Book

Where Eastatoee Creek enters the Eastatoee Narrows, theentire flow of the creek passes through a 5-foot-wide channelin bedrock. (Reprinted from �Mosaic: 21 Special Places inthe Carolinas, copyright 2002, by permission of WestcliffePublishers Inc., Englewood, Colo., and Tommy Wyche, thephotographer.)

(Continued from Page 1)

especially important todayin view of the fact that it islocated within one of thefastest growing regions inthe country.

Recorded history of thispart of what are now theCarolinas dates back to theexplorations by De Soto in1589 in the vicinity of theKeowee River. The capitalof the Lower CherokeeIndian Nation was locatedon the Keowee at KeoweeTown, a short distancedownstream from where theJocassee Dam now stands.The Keowee flows throughOconee County, and thecounty’s name derives fromUk-Oo-Na, meaning“watery eyes of the hills,”doubtless referring to themyriad springs, streams andcreeks of the Blue RidgeEscarpment. The Cherokeecalled the escarpment theBlue Wall, an apt phrase forthe nearly verticalmountainsides that risemore than 4,000 verticalfeet within three or four miles.

By the late 1700s trade routes between the Cherokeesand the English had become well established, withKeowee Town the hub along the trading path thatextended into Tennessee. Eventually, relations betweenthe Indians and the English became tense and hostilitieserupted. The Governor of South Carolina had FortPrince George constructed on the bank of the Keoweeopposite the Indian capital. A war ensued; in November1785, at a meeting on the banks of the Keowee, Indianchiefs signed a treaty with General Andrew Pickens,surrendering all of what is now the area of the JocasseeGorges to the United States.

The Cherokee called the area Jocassee, which means“Place of the Lost One,” a phrase derived from a legendof a princess named Jocassee whose lover was killed in atribal battle her brother. Upon seeing the severed head ofher lover, the princess slipped away in a canoe; she thenstepped into the river, but instead of sinking, she walkedacross it to meet the ghost of her lover and disappeared.

The fertile valleys of the Horsepasture, Laurel Fork,Toxaway and Eastatoe Rivers attracted greater and

greater numbers of Europeansettlers, even while the landwas under Indian control.Land grants in this area wererecorded as early as 1791.

Horsepasture became acommon name used bysettlers for the Jocassee areaduring the Civil War. Whenword spread that Shermanand his troops were on theirway into upper SouthCarolina on their march fromSavannah, the settlers, whoselivelihood depended on theirlivestock, herded theiranimals into this “pasture forhorses,” to hide them in thisremote, secluded valley. Therugged terrain provided anatural barrier to Sherman’sadvance. Unfortunately, thevalley was inundated inAugust 1916, when the damon Lake Toxaway broke,flooding out residents anddepositing a three-foot layerof sand in the once fertilevale.

In addition to fur tradingand agriculture, the JocasseeGorges incubated an industrynew to the mountains. In theearly 1900s logging virgintimber emerged as a major

source of employment. Various timber companies wereformed, a sawmill was built in Pickens, South Carolina,and the Pickens Railroad became an important link tothe Southern Railway for loggers. By 1927, however,timber had to be cut in increasingly remote and steepmountains, and hauling it out by horse and mule-drawnwagons was no longer practicable. The easy days oftimber harvesting had passed.

In January 1927, three New York capitalists formedthe Appalachian Lumber Company, a New Yorkcorporation, and easily raised $1.6 million with a stockoffering. (This equates to approximately $10 millionadjusted for inflation today!) With these funds, theCompany constructed a huge, triple-band sawmill nearPickens large enough to handle trees sixty inches indiameter. It then purchased the Pickens Railroad andbuilt logging railroads and spurs along the creeks, withtrestles spanning deep ravines to reach the most remoteareas where the “big ‘uns” grew.(Next installment: Appalachian Lumber Company goesbankrupt in 1929 after a torrential rainstorm washes outmany of the train trestles in Jocassee Gorges.)

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By Sharon Dobbs, Angela Smith and Pamela Youngblood

Kayaking on Lake Jocassee sounded like heaven. Soearly one misty October morning wegathered our duds, met at a friend’shouse, and sped toward our adventure.We envisioned sparkling blue waterlapping gently against our boats, crispautumn air, and glorious foliage in thedistance. One problem - heaven wasextremely cold and windy thatmorning. The whitecaps on LakeJocassee were visible from the DevilsFork State Park visitor’s center as ourshivering hands clutched our coffeecups: No way would we be allowed tokayak that bitter day.

Our spirit for adventure, however,was undampened. Instead of calling ita wash, our gracious Becoming anOutdoors-Woman leaders offered us ahealthy mountain hike instead. Theday was saved! We waved goodbye toBecoming an Outdoors-Womaninstructor (and DNR FreshwaterFisheries Section assistant chief) RossSelf as he took the kayaks and droveaway into the mist.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman grouptours Jocassee Gorges

Instead of battling whitecaps, we posed for pictures infront of cascading waterfalls. Whitewater Falls was

breathtaking in the crisp autumn air. Sobreathtaking, in fact that Pamela had towait behind while others completed thehike. From Whitewater Falls weventured on to tour the Walhalla StateFish Hatchery before enjoying a heartylunch of hot homemade soup,compliments again of our creativeBecoming an Outdoors-Woman staff.

Things don’t always turn out asexpected, but with the Becoming anOutdoors-Woman program, it’sguaranteed to be an adventure filledwith friends, fun and frivolity!(Sharon Dobbs, Angela Smith and PamelaYoungblood are teachers at Pickens HighSchool. After their first Becoming anOutdoors-Woman experience in 2000, theyformed their own group called theOutdoors Women Leaders or OWL’s. Formore information on the Becoming anOutdoors-Woman program, call (803)734-3624, e-mail kendrab@scdnr.state.sc.usor visit the DNR Web site at http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/cec/ow.html.)

Whitewater Falls

A Becoming an Outdoors-Woman group toured Jocassee Gorges during peak leaf season.Pictured (standing, from left) are Lisa Dalton, Ineke Powers, Jill Denton, Chris Worthy, AngelaSmith, Sharon Wright and Susan Dickerson. Kneeling (from left) are Susan Dalton and JerriChannell. (Photos courtesy of Susan Dalton)

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Jocassee has great potential to become the Cinderellastory of modern wildlife management, but to get there,it must be diversified to give both late-successional andearly-successional species a place within the landscape.(Succession refers to the growth stages of a forest.)

The 43,500-acre Jocassee tract is large enough toprovide a variety of habitat types for populations ofplants and animals that require such areas in their lifecycles. Mature cove hardwood and upland oak com-munities are protected and maintained for area-sensitive,forest-interior species. However, the need also exists forexpanses of grassland-shrubland communities to supportthe plants and animals that occur in this different seralstage. “Seral” means age of a forest. There are usuallyfour seral stages in forest regeneration: bare ground/grass, shrub/scrub, poletimber and sawtimber (mature).

Upland grasslands-shrublands have declined in size,frequency of occurrence. The S.C. Department ofNatural Resources (DNR) is faced with not only pro-tecting those remnant communities, but also withrestoration of these communities in selected areas forplants and animals. The Cherokees and early white set-tlers burned the land, created small gardens, and fosteredthe existence of grassland-shrubland communities. Ex-clusion of fire beginning in the 1900s and resultantclosure of the forest canopy as patchwork farmsdwindled started the decline of grassland-shrublandbirds. According to the Breeding Bird Survey, even our

Diversifying Jocassee Gorgesto include grasslands-shrublands for wildlife

By Anna E. Huckabee

South Carolina DNR

most common species such as the Eastern towhee andAmerican goldfinch have experienced significantdeclines in the last 35 years, some as much as 20 percentsince 1966.

In keeping with the spirit of Partners in Flight, whosepremise is to “keep common birds common,” tracts ofunfragmented, quality grassland-shrubland habitat

should be established in Jocassee and existing onesmaintained. The plants that typically grow in suchopenings would provide nesting substrates for birds,attract insects for fledglings, and provide seeds andberries for winter food. These areas would help maintainpopulations of Northern cardinal and other common

Even common species such as the Eastern towhee haveexperienced significant declines in the last 35 years.

‘The Cherokees and early whitesettlers burned the land and fosteredthe existence of grassland-shrublandcommunities. Exclusion of firebeginning in the 1900s and theresulting forest canopy closure startedthe decline of grassland-shrublandbirds.’

Hawks and owls scour mountain openings in search of rodentsand rabbits.

5

Early successional growth like this hardwood regeneration site at Tater Hill Forestry and Wildlife Demonstration Area providemany benefits for wildlife.

species, but it might also establish breeding groundsand/or foraging sites for important Watch List speciessuch as chestnut-sided warbler. Even species that havealmost disappeared from our state recently, such as theBewick’s wren, may find refuge in these suitablehabitats we have cared enough to create and maintainfor them.

Other wildlife need these mountain openingsbecause of the herbaceous forage such areas provide.Hawks and owls scour the openings in search ofrodents and rabbits attracted to the new green shoots,while black bear nibble late-summer blackberries.Ruffed grouse, attracted to the insects in theseopenings, bring their chicks to forage. What awonderful sight that would be to see while on a familyhike, and the picturesque view of the surroundingmountains from such a vantage point would bespectacular!

Many areas would function more effectively asearly-successional communities than in their currentcondition. These areas include planted white pine

stands. These stands are currently functioning as nomore than “biological deserts” (or at least poor-qualityhabitat) and possibly barriers to dispersal due to the factthat they have not been maintained properly in the past.Such areas could be converted to grassland-shrublandand therefore be more productive for wildlife andcertain plant communities that require these openings.

According to research cited by the North AmericanBird Conservation Initiative, if we allow bird species tobecome scarce, the economic costs of trying to recoverthem would be far greater than had we made an effortto stabilize their populations with sound conservationpractices while we still had the chance.

The DNR has options to consider in restoring uniquecommunities and providing for all species. It will be achallenge to create a mosaic of habitat and seral stagesthat will support a diversity of life.

(Anna E. Huckabee is the DNR’s Forest Stewardshipbiologist and did her master’s work at ClemsonUniversity in the Jocassee Gorges.)

6

Working Group guides research at Jocassee Gorges

Soilborne plant pathogen may pose threat to Jocassee trees

Species of the soilborne, plant pathogenic fungusPhytophthora pose a threat to natural areas. These fungi,if present or introduced, may attack and devastate sus-ceptible plant species. Phytophthora species are known toattack more than a thousand plant species worldwide.

Symptoms of Phytophthora in trees and shrubs includesparse new growth, yellowish leaves, and thinning cano-pies. Some infected trees grow basal cankers that are ac-companied by a reddish to dark brown or black oozecalled “bleeding” cankers. Cankers usually enlarge slowlyover time and are restricted to the lower trunk area andmay persist for several years. However, some trees maysuddenly wilt and die if the infection spreads rapidly andgirdles large scaffold branches or the trunk.

To determine the occurrence of Phytophthora specieswithin the Jocassee Gorges, 22 randomly located plotswere established to test soil samples for Phytophthoraspecies. Two species were found: P. heveae and P.cinnamomi, which were recovered from 23 percent and55 percent, respectively, of the samples collected. P. heveaeoriginally was isolated from rubber trees in Malaysia and

since then has been found only infrequently in otherlocations around the world, including soils in old-growthhardwood and hemlock forests at elevations above 1,065meters in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Phytophthora cinnamomi is a serious pathogen ofmany plants native to this area, including a number ofthose in pine, oak, rhododendron and blueberry. Forexample, P. cinnamomi is the primary cause of littleleafdisease of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) and loblollypine (Pinus teada). This disease causes yellowing ofcurrent season needles, a reduction in shoot growth andeventual death.

Also, P. cinnamomi is suspected to be a causal agent ofdecline and premature mortality of oaks. It recently wasisolated from cankers on the stem of bur oak (Quercusmacrocarpa) in South Carolina and from basal cankers onlaurel oak (Q. laurifolia) in central Florida.

It is important to understand the role Phytophthoraspecies play in forest ecosystems. The presence of P.cinnamomi and P. heveae in the Upstate of SouthCarolina poses a potential threat to plant biodiversity.

The 43,500-acre Jocassee Gorgesprovides opportunities for scientificresearch on many aspects of the fauna,flora and general ecological processes ofthe mountainous Blue Ridge Escarpement.The Jocassee Gorges Professional Manage-ment and Research Working Group servesas the clearinghouse for research proposedand conducted on the property.

The Working Group is a joint venturebetween the S.C. Department of NaturalResources, Clemson University, the SouthCarolina Department of Parks, Recreationand Tourism, and the S.C. Forestry Com-mission. The role of the Working Group isto insure that the most complete scientificdata available are considered in makingmanagement decisions, the mostappropriate strategies are used forsurveying, inventorying and monitoringon the property, and to develop fundingproposals and seek funding sources for research atJocassee.

The Working Group will evaluate research proposals todetermine relevance to the long-range research issues ofimportance for the Jocassee Gorges. Once the evaluationprocess has been completed, prospective researchers willcoordinate with DNR to obtain appropriate permits.

Some of the recent and current research at JocasseeGorges includes:• “The Small Mammal Population of the Jocassee

Dr. Vic Shelburne (left) and ScottAbella work on a research projectin Jocassee Gorges. (Photo by GregLucas)

Gorges of South Carolina: BroadPatterns and Effects of White PineManagement,” Christine Lewis and Dr.David Tonkyn, Clemson University,principal investigators• “A Floristic Study of the Cane CreekDrainage Area in Jocassee Gorges,” LaylaWaldrop and Dr. Robert Ballard,Clemson University principalinvestigators• “Breeding Ecology of Swainson’sWarblers in the Jocassee Gorges Regionof South Carolina,” Dr. Drew Lanham,Clemson University, principalinvestigator• “Avian Diversity in the JocasseeGorges and Ellicott Rock Wilderness inSouth Carolina as a Result of HistoricalHabitat Management and Ecological SiteTypes,” Scott Abella, Julia Camp and Dr.Vic Shelburne, Clemson University,

principal investigatorsInstitutions, organizations or individuals with a desire to

conduct research on the Jocassee Gorges should contact theWorking Group, by providing a research proposal to either ofthe Working Group co-chairs:

Dr. Vic Shelburne Breck CarmichaelClemson University DNR - PO Box 167Clemson, SC 29634 Columbia, SC 29202864-656-4855 803-734-3941vshlbrn@clemson.edu breckc@scdnr.state.sc.us

By Alicia K. Wood, Steven N. Jeffers and F.H. Tainter

Clemson University

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Regulations were recently approved by the S.C.General Assembly for many DNR lands including the JimTimmerman Natural Resources Area at Jocassee Gorges.Camping

• Backcountry camping by permit will be allowed atany time during the year that the main roads allowingaccess to the Jocassee Gorges are not opened inconnection with big game hunting. Backcountrycamping is allowed by permit only at any location withinthe Jocassee Gorges, except for any area closed forcamping by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources(DNR). Backcountry camping is defined as minimalimpact camping. No fires are allowed, and eachpermitted camper is responsible for camping in a mannerthat results in no trace of the camping activity being leftafter breaking camp. The DNR may condition permits toprotect, preserve, or maintain the property. Backcountrycampers must apply for camping permits over the DNRInternet site. No camping is permitted within 50 feet of astream, lake, or as posted by the DNR.

• The Foothills Trail passes through portions of theJocassee Gorges. Use of the Foothills Trail shall belimited to hiking and primitive camping. Camping isallowed at any point along the trail and within onehundred feet of either side of the trail. Camping alongthe Foothills Trail is restricted to hikers while engaged inbackpacking.Operation of motorized, non-motorized, all-terrainand off-road vehicles

Motorized and non-motorized vehicle access to theJocassee Gorges is limited. S.C. Highway 178 and CleoChapman Road (county road 143) are the only pavedroads that access the property. Access by the generalpublic to the Jocassee Gorges by motorized vehicles willfollow a seasonal schedule. Road opening and closingschedules written below are given as general information.The DNR may open and close any road at any time andfor such duration as deemed necessary by the DNR tomanage the property.

• The operation of a motorized vehicle behind anyclosed gate is prohibited.

• Roads open to year-round public access include asection of Horsepasture to Laurel Fork Gap (from SC178 only).

• All roads with green gates are seasonally open fromMarch 20 - May 10 and Sept. 15 - Jan. 1. All roads withred gates are closed to vehicular traffic. This informationwill be posted at all major entrances. Gate color may bechanged at discretion of DNR.

• Motorized vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, and off-roadvehicles may be operated only on open maintained roadsand parking areas except as otherwise established byposted notice or as approved by the DNR.

• Motorized vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, and off-roadvehicles shall not exceed speed limits posted on DNR

Regulations approved for Jim Timmerman NaturalResources Area at Jocassee Gorges

signs. On any land where no speed limit signs are postedthe speed limit shall be 15 miles per hour.

• The operation of all-terrain vehicles is restricted asfollows: Operation of all terrain vehicles is restricted toone hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset each daybeginning on Monday and continuing through thefollowing Friday. A person may use an all-terrain vehiclewhile actually engaged in hunting at any time hunting isallowed; provided, however, the operation of an all-terrain vehicle is restricted to one hour before sunrise toone hour after sunset with the exception of gameretrieval, and an all-terrain vehicle may be used only onopen roads.

• All-terrain vehicles having three (3) wheels andmotorcycles constructed or intended primarily for offroad use, such as dirt bikes and motocross bikes, areprohibited within the Jim Timmerman NaturalResources Area at all times.

• Bicycles may be ridden on any road or area that is notposted as closed to bicycles.

• Horses may be ridden on any road that is not postedas closed to horse riding. Horses or packanimals may not be used in connection with camping.

• The use of hang gliders, parachutes, or similar devices isnot allowed and may be deemed abuse of DNR land.

Camping is allowed at any point along the Foothills Trail inJocassee Gorges. (Reprinted from �Mosaic: 21 Special Placesin the Carolinas, copyright 2002, by permission of WestcliffePublishers Inc., Englewood, Colo., and Tommy Wyche, thephotographer.)

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�����������������Information and News about the Jocassee Gorges

S.C. Department of Natural ResourcesDr. Paul A. Sandifer, Director

Editor: Greg LucasFunding for this publication provided by:

Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund

For information on subscribing to the Jocassee Journal contact:

Greg Lucas, DNRPO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202

Phone: (803) 734-3911Fax: (803) 734-3951

email: glucas@scdnr.state.sc.usWebsite: www.dnr.state.sc.us/wild/jocassee/index.htm

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resourcesprohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color,gender, national origin, disability, religion or age.Direct all inquiries to the Office of Human Resources,PO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202.

S.C. Department of Natural Resources1000 Assembly Street • PO Box 167Columbia, SC 29202-0167

02CE3816

Jocassee Project Sponsors

THE CONSERVATION FUND

Eastatoee Valley survey yields 14 species new to South Carolina

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAID

COLUMBIA SCPERMIT #535

A botanical survey of the Eastatoee Valley in PickensCounty has turned up 14 plant species never found beforein South Carolina, including at least one kind of goldenrodthat may be new to science.

“It’s a place of unparalleled botanical diversity,” says BertPittman, botanist with the S.C. Department of NaturalResources (DNR) Heritage Trust Program. Much of theland being surveyed is in the Jocassee Gorges.

Patrick McMillan, curator of the herbarium at ClemsonUniversity, Pittman and Katherine Boyle, also of DNR,began studying the property for the DNR in the summer of2001. So far, they have found more than 600 species ofvascular plants, including 14 uncommon to rare plantspecies never found before in South Carolina, among thosebroad-leaved tickseed, a species of federal concern.

Of particular interest is the discovery by McMillan ofwhat may prove to be a new species of goldenrod knownonly from Eastatoee Valley and similar habitats in Virginia.Scientific documentation is being prepared to describe itsmorphological variation and delimit its ecological andgeographic range.

The diversity of the area is attributed to weather andgeology, according to McMillan. The area of EastatoeeValley gets more rain that any place in the state, and much

A Clemson University botanist has discovered in the EastatoeeValley what may prove to be a new species of goldenrod. (Photo

by Patrick McMillan)

of the underlying rock is amphibolite instead of thetraditional granite. Amphibolite is high in magnesium, andwhen it breaks down, it creates a more alkaline or basic soil;most soils in the mountains of South Carolina are veryacidic or “sour” and nutrient poor. These richer or“sweeter” soils provide a nurturing environment for manytypes of rare plants more common in the Midwest or valleysof Tennessee.