1

been geographically rare, conservation concerns heightenedwhen the creation of Lake Jocassee and Lake Keoweeeliminated about 60 percent of former Shortia habitat.Habitat loss has reduced the number of populations andisolated many of the remaining populations. Both the lossand the isolation of populations could lead to a loss ofgenetic diversity and inbreeding depression. Inbreedingdepression is a decrease in fitness in the progeny of twoclose relatives; offspring may not reproduce sexually.Without reproduction, local populations are likely to be lostover time.

The purposes of the research are to determine thebreeding system of Oconee bells and to detect evidence ofinbreeding depression. Information about the breedingsystem and inbreeding depression can be used in makingconservation decisions. Knowledge of the breeding systemis needed to understand the role of pollinators in reproduc-tion. If it is determined that inbreeding depression is affect-ing populations, then conservation tactics could includepreserving the remaining populations, using controlledhand-pollinations, and/or protecting natural pollinators.

Fieldwork was conducted at two sites within the DevilsFork State Park.

Fall/Winter, 2001 Volume 2, Number 2

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

Clemson student conductingOconee bells research in Jocassee region

Shortiagalacifolia, also known as Oconee bells, is aspecial and cherished plant of the Jocassee Gorges.Although the range of Oconee bells does not extend farbeyond this area, its reputation does. People come frommiles around to photograph the white flower carpets thatcan be seen from the Oconee Bell Trail in Devils ForkState Park. This is where Clemson University studentKatherine Manry has been studying this plant for the lastthree years.

Oconee bells were first collected by Andre Michaux in1787, probably in Oconee County. About 50 years later,Asa Gray, a prominent botanist of the time, examined thedried plant specimen and named the plant. For decades,Gray searched unsuccessfully for Oconee bells. The planteluded botanists for almost a century until the son of anherb collector rediscovered it in McDowell County, N.C.Today, Oconee Bells can be seen growing in some shadystreamside areas in the Jocassee Gorges. It is a low-grow-ing, perennial herb with thick, shiny leaves that resemblethe leaves of the more common Galax (that’s where partof its scientific name comes from). In early spring, itblooms with a profusion of white bell-shaped flowers.

Manry’s research was motivated by concerns for theconservation of Oconee bells. Though the species has always

Oconee bells� reproduction has been studied by Clemson graduate student

Katherine Manry.

2

(Following is an account written by Thomas D. “Buck”Hinkle about how the Shooting Tree area of Jocassee Gorgesgot its name.)

First we will have to have some background that willtake us back to those days and a bit of history, customsand a few facts as related to me by my father. I might addthat he was one of those people that was not prone toexaggerate or get matters out of context. I never knewhim to lie to me.

The time had to be somewhere around the turn of thecentury or before.

In those days, people here in the mountains liked tohave the public roads as close to their doorstep aspossible, which made for less mud to walk through, butmore important was the exchange of news. Very oftentravelers were invited to stop in and have lunch and feedtheir horses, the purpose being to exchange news – it wasthe only way in those days, and it worked for them. Theroad from North Carolina, Horesepasture and Upper CaneCreek came right by my grandfather Silas Hinkle’s frontdoor.

These were the days of the original Revenue officers,or later know by the colloquialism “Revenoor.” I do notknow whether they were state, federal or what, but ofcourse they were despised by the mountain boys becausethey interfered with the only means of earning money –my grandfather was no exception.

There was a raiding officer in the area, and, according

Remembering the Shooting Tree Incident

Drawing by Tom Hill from the book �Mountain Spirits,� by Joseph Earl Dabney.

to my father, he was named Redman.Now the actual scene of the Shooting Tree Incident.

Officer Redman was coming down the Cane Creek roadwith a couple of people that he had arrested. GrandpaSilas stepped out into the middle of the road with an old“Cap-n-ball” pistol and invited Officer Redman to stepdown from his horse. Of course there were otherspresent, and Officer Redman was summarily tied up.

He was then taken to the Shooting Tree and tied up tothe Shooting Tree. Now, to be fair about the thing, theydecided to draw straws. It might be mentioned that theseoccasions or any occasion called for several rounds of drinksperhaps in the way of celebration. The fellow that drew theshort straw was the local drunk with a big heart namedBailey Mosely. He got to thinking of the big responsibilityof the execution, became remorseful, started crying andbegging for mercy for Officer Redman. Anyway, his pleasprevailed and the guy was released. My guess would be thatthis very fortunate officer spent little time leaving themountains.

The only people that I know that were present weremy grandfather, Bailey Mosely and probably Grandpa’sforeman or right-hand man Tom Walker.

Bailey Mosely is buried at McKinney’s Chapel, and theTom Walker home place is a known area.

Grandpa Silas was, according to legend, tough as nails.If he had drawn the short straw, I would fear for theofficer’s welfare.

3

Devils Fork State Park’s camping areas fill up on all holi-days and weekends from Easter into November, it is ad-visable to make camping vacation plans well in advance.

The Devils Fork State Park office is open daily from9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We can be reached by calling(864) 944-2639. For more information on SouthCarolina State Parks call 1-888-88-PARKS or visitwww.southcarolinaparks.com.

(Pete Davis is superintendent of Devils Fork State Park onLake Jocassee.)

this new route ourvisitors should beable to begin theirtrip to Lake Jocasseein a much moredesirable manner.Please exhibitpatience on busydays since we arecontinuing to drawlarge crowds. Plan toarrive early in orderto avoid the longestlines.

While out on thelake help us keepJocassee clean. Ifyou see litter pleasepick it up and

dispose of it in the trash receptacles located here on thepark. If you need trash bags we will be glad to providethem.

Remember to wear your life jackets while you’re outon the lake. It’s the safe thing to do.

(Pete Davis is superintendent of Devils Fork State Park onLake Jocassee.)

Big changes are on the horizon for Devils Fork StatePark. A pilot program on camping reservations has beendeveloped at the park as the South Carolina State ParkService continues its commitment to the improvement ofall State Parks.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2002, all 59 RV sites and all 25 tentsites will be available for reservations. Plans are also un-derway to offer on-line reservation capability that shouldbe available at that time. Campsites currently can be re-served up to 11 months in advance. Due to the fact that

Devils Fork to begin pilot program on camping reservationsBy Pete DavisSouth Carolina State Park Service

By Pete DavisSouth Carolina State Park Service

As Lake Jocasseeand the JocasseeGorges’ popularitycontinue on theupswing the growingpains of Devils ForkState Park becomemore evident. In aneffort to make lakeaccess safer and easiera new traffic route toour main boat landinghas been developed.Existing parking areasalso received a much-needed facelift.

All boat ramp traffichas now been routedbehind the ParkInformation Center.So far this year there have been no major traffic back-upson Jocassee Lake Road. This new route gives the visitor agreater amount of staging area so that they can have theirwatercraft loaded and ready to launch well beforeentering the ramp area.

Watch for all the new directional signs. By following

Traffic route at Devils Fork boat landingmodified for safety, ease of use

A new traffic route to the main boat landing has been developed at Devils

Fork State Park.

4

History of the Jocassee Gorges

Ecosystems in the Jocassee Gorges have undergonemany changes over the millennia. Changes in climateand man’s activities have been the impetus for mostchanges since the peak of the Wisconsin glaciation about18,000 years ago.

Climatic ChangesAt the peak of the Wisconsin glaciation, the Lauren-

tide ice sheet affected climate deep into the southernUnited States. Boreal species such as spruce and jackpine dominated the southern Appalachian Mountains atthat time. As the climate slowly warmed and the icesheet retreated from its southernmost location (thepresent day Ohio River), vegetative composition of themountains gradually changed. Plants and animals thathad been pushed far south by the extreme cold migratednorthward and inland away from the rising ocean waters.By 12,500 years ago, the oak-hickory forest dominated

the entire Southeast, including the Jocassee Gorges.The Ice Age ended 10,000 years ago and climatic

warming accelerated. Large megafauna like mammoths,mastodons, and sabertooth tigers disappeared from thesouthern landscape, in part because of changes inclimate and vegetation. About 8,500 years ago,precipitation increased in the Southeast. Unstableclimatic conditions at this time are thought to havecaused periodic die-offs of vegetation and resulted insevere erosion in the Southern Appalachians. Sedimentsfrom this erosive period became the floodplains of riversdraining the Jocassee Gorges. During the HypsithermalPeriod (7,500 - 5,000 years ago), temperatures were thehighest they have been in 18,000 years. Many borealspecies were lost from the Gorges as plant/animalcommunity composition adjusted to the warmingtemperatures.

About 5,000 years ago, composition of vegetativecommunities began to stabilize as the climate cooledand became more moist. Community composition wasmuch like it is today. Pine and mixed oak- hickory

Jumping Off Rock is one of many spectacular vistas in Jocassee Gorges.

By David H. Van Lear and Wayne D. CarrollClemson University Department of Forest Resources

5

settlers into the Southeast brought diseases thatdecimated the pre-Columbian Indian population by 90to 95 percent. The first European in the vicinity of theJocassee Gorges was the Spanish explorer DeSoto in1540 (his route is still debated but is generally believedto have been east and north of Jocassee Gorges).Chroniclers in his expedition described the mountainlandscape as open forests intermixed with prairies,savannahs, abandoned villages, cultivated fields, andgroves of fruit trees.

The botanists William Bartram and Andre Michauxexplored the Jocassee Gorges area in 1776 and1787, respectively, describing abandonedtowns, Indian mounds, grassy balds, isolatedgroves, open meadows, and grand forests.As European settlers moved into theJocassee Gorges in the 1770s, they settled inbottoms earlier cleared by Indians andcontinued burning the woods, often on anannual basis, to increase forage for theirlivestock and to keep the forests open. Logging came to the Jocassee Gorges in the early1900s. The Appalachian Timber Co. logged the lower

slopes and forested bottomlands in theGorges, using horses and oxen to skid logsdownhill to narrow-gauge railroads. Fire

nearly always followed logging and,because of heavy logging slash, burnedhot, damaging residual trees and causingexcessive soil erosion. The Singer Co.bought the property in 1929 and high-graded the forest for the best yellow

poplar and oak for their sewing machine cabinets. Firecontinued to be a major factor shaping the forests intothe 1930s and 40s.

In 1963 Duke Power Co. purchased the property. Itssubsidiary, Crescent Land and Timber Co., managed theland for Duke after 1969 until the property was boughtby the State of South Carolina between 1997 and 1999.Crescent logged most of the property, excluding thegorges themselves, using both clearcutting and selectionharvesting. The company established wide buffer stripsaround the five major drainages on the property, stoppedmost of the wildfires, and built logging roads accordingto professional standards. Of course, there were manymiles of roads in existence before Crescent owned theproperty.

Now the Jocassee Gorges is poised for a new type ofmanagement by the S.C. Department of NaturalResources — a type of management that will benefitwildlife, protect natural beauty and special places andprovide enjoyment for South Carolinians for generationsto come.

Michaux

Bartram

forests dominated the mid to upper slopes and ridges,while mesophytic species like yellow-poplar and easternhemlock dominated the coves and gorges.

Man�s ActivitiesNative Americans have

lived in the SouthernAppalachians for at least12,000 years. The earliestNative Americans werehunter-gatherers who usedfire to manipulate vegeta-tion to their advantagekeeping the woods pass-able, exposing nuts, and creating habitats to attractgame. Frequent burning, coupled with the cold, aridclimate of the time, favored herbaceous vegetation andprobably resulted in large patches of grasslands andsavannahs interspersed with woodlands and denserforests.

Increased levels of charcoal in sediment cores takenfrom the Horse Cove site in the Chattooga Riverwatershed indicate increased Indian burning during theLate Archaic Cultural Period (5,000 - 2,800 years ago)and Mississippian Period (2,800 - 1,000 years ago).About 4,500 years ago, Native Americans practicedrudimentary agriculture, cultivating plants such assquash, gourds, sunflower, sumpweed, and chenopodiumin the alluvial bottoms of the Jocassee Gorges area.During the Proto-historic Cultural Period (1,000 - 230years ago), they refined their agricultural methods andgrew maize, beans, strawberries, and other crops inextensive fields. Fires set to clear these fields wouldspread to nearby slopes and burn to ridge tops,maintaining the fire-adapted oak-hickory and pineforests on drier sites of the area.

Pollen data from Horse Cove sediment cores showthat mesic, fire-intolerant species such asbutternut, basswood, and American beechdeclined about 1,000 years ago, indicatingthat Native American burning was moreprevalent than before. Their frequentburning, along with lightning fires andother disturbances, maintained a mosaicof old-fields, prairies, savannahs,woodlands, and dense foreststhroughout the Jocassee landscape,

providing habitats for a wide variety of wildlife. Deer,turkey, bear, elk, bison, wolves, mountain lions, andmany smaller mammals were plentiful. Non-migratoryand migratory birds, including the now extinct Carolinaparakeet and passenger pigeon, were abundant.

The arrival of Spanish explorers and later English

DeSoto

Jocassee hunters.

6

After many months of hard work and a lot of hiking, anew “ full-size “ map of the entire Foothills Trail hasbeen published.

Based on data gathered with a hand-held GPS (GlobalPositioning System) unit, the 1:30,000 topo-style mapgives an accurate depiction of the trail, and is anexcellent companion to the current “Guide to theFoothills Trail.” The map is now available at mostoutdoor shops, or it can be ordered directly from theFoothills Trail Conference for $11 ($9 plus $2shipping). Send your order to Foothills TrailConference, PO Box 3041, Greenville, SC 29602,telephone (864) 467-9537, or check out their Web siteat www.foothillstrail.org.

According to Heyward Douglass, chairman of theFoothills Trail Conference and manager of the mapproject, the idea for the map was discussed more thanfour years ago, but was put aside to concentrate effortsto produce the third edition of the “Guide to theFoothills Trail.”

“We have learned a lot about what you can and can’tdo with a GPS,” said Douglass. “Documenting theposition of a trail that hugs the sides of mountains anddips down into river bottoms is not nearly as easy asfinding a fishing spot on a flat lake!”

The Strom Thurmond Institute at Clemson Universityprovided a tremendous amount of help and technicalsupport since the beginning of the project. The Instituteloaned the Foothills Trail Conference the GPS unit usedto collect the field data, and when the data was broughtin, the Institute ran corrections on it and inscribed thesegments onto a topographic database. This will not onlyhelp cut down on costs, but also made it far easier for

Foldout Foothills Trail map published

the printer to manipulate the material in the printingprocess. Personnel from the U.S. Forest Service and theS.C. Department of Natural Resources also facilitatedgathering of data.

The map is double-sided, with the western portionfrom Oconee State Park to Whitewater Falls on one side,and the portion from Table Rock to Whitewater Falls onthe other. Mileage and landmark information similar towhat is on the maps in the guidebook are provided aswell. In addition, tables supply all sorts of informationwith regard to agency telephone numbers, hikingdistances, and elevation gain and loss. The printing wasalso done on waterproof paper.

“We have had many requests for this type of map overthe years, “ said Douglass, “ and this one shouldcertainly satisfy that segment of the hiking community. Iknow I have looked forward to it for a long time.”

The Jocassee Gorges region was recently featured intwo national outdoor magazines.

“Sea Kayaking South Carolina’s Lake Jocassee”appeared in the July/August 2001 issue of Paddlermagazine, a publication of the American CanoeAssociation. The article chronicled the protection ofJocassee Gorges and described a kayak paddling tripbetween Devils Fork State Park and Laurel Fork Falls,which is in the Toxaway River arm of Lake Jocassee.

The Foothills Trail, a portion of which traversesJocassee Gorges, was featured in the October 2001 issueof Backpacker magazine. The Foothills Trail was listed as

Jocassee region featured in national outdoor magazinesthe top trail in South Carolina in the magazine’s article,“The Best Backpacking in America.”

“More than 76 miles of the Foothills Trail coursealong South Carolina’s northern border, connecting twostate parks, the state’s highest peak, and two scenicrivers,” the magazine writes. “Despite the gentle-sounding name, rugged sections take backpackers upsteep pitches around Jocassee Gorges, with spur trailsleading to the gorges of Horsepasture River. Mile bymile, this trail offers outstanding views, diverse trees andwildflowers, and some of the best year-roundbackpacking in the Southeast.”

Foothills Trail hikers will make good use of the new

foldout map available from the Foothills Trail Conference.

7

$1.2 million.” No suspects have been arrested in the case.A local resident hiking through the Jocassee area

found the marijuana field about 500 yards away from theFoothills Trail below Chimneytop Mountain. The field isa one-hour hike northeast of Rocky Bottom, located offof US 178, about 5 miles from the North Carolinaborder. Because the area is only accessible on foot, DNRofficers and sheriff ’s deputies cut the plant stalks near theground and carried them out on their backs.

(The following article is reprinted with permission from theSummer 2000 edition of “The Chat,” the quarterly bulletin ofthe Carolina Bird Club.)

By Anna E. HuckabeeSouth Carolina DNR

The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) is an uncommonresident of the Appalachian Mountains, with the loweraltitudinal limit of its range being 300 meters(elevation). Late May and early June are the usualmonths that eggs are laid. Post and Gauthreaux describethe status of the species as “poorly known,” so allsightings in South Carolina should be reported. This isthe first photographic evidence of the nesting of thisspecies in South Carolina.

On May 5, 2000, while conducting point counts, Ifound an active ruffed grouse nest with seven eggs. Thenest was beneath a stump that was one meter uphill ofthe Foothills Trail in Pickens County, and only about250 meters from F. Van Clayton Highway at ChimneyTop Gap. The nest was constructed out of hardwoodleaves and two contour feathers. The site was a matureoak-hickory forest on a southwest slope at an elevationof 805 meters. Groundcover consisted of canopy speciesseedlings, sparse ferns, and forbs.

The nest was reinspected on the morning of May 26,2000. The female was flushed and the eggs wereinspected for signs of life. I heard one of the chickspeeping within its egg, and some eggs were pipped.

On May 29, 2000, Stanlee Miller from ClemsonUniversity reinspected the nest and found that six of theseven eggs had hatched. The shells and the addledegg were taken back to Clemson University, where theywere catalogued along with copies of my photographs ofthe site and nest.

This finding demonstrates that a ruffed grouse had

Ruffed grouse nest at base of stump near Laurel Valley.

(Photo by Anna E. Huckabee)

Active ruffed grouse nest found in Jocassee Gorges

laid eggs in April and that they had hatched in May,earlier than what Sprunt and Chamberlain report as thenormal time frame. The elevation was within the knownrange according to McNair and Post, however. In aninvestigation on ruffed grouse habitat use by Hein,mature, xeric communities dominated by pignut hickory(Carya glabra) and white oak (Quercus alba) were thesites of most brood reports. This is the same forest typein which I found this active ruffed grouse nest.

There is a second record of a female and young beingseen about 2 miles east of Laurel Fork Falls along theFoothills Trail on May 16, 2000, by Johnny Townsend ofClemson University. The actual number of fledglingscould not be determined. Both of these sightingsdemonstrate early nestings of ruffed grouse in the BlueRidge Escarpment of South Carolina.

(Anna E. Huckabee is the DNR’s Forest Stewardship biologist.)

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources and thePickens County Sheriff ’s Department seized 573marijuana plants Oct. 1 on the Pickens County side ofJocassee Gorges.

“The plants averaged in size from 12 feet to 13 feettall and covered an area of approximately 11,700-squarefeet (.372 acres),” according to S.C. Department ofNatural Resources (DNR) Capt. J.C. Sims Jr. inGreenville. “The plants had an estimated street value of

Marijuana plants seized in Jocassee Gorges

8

�����������������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.

Total cost: $Total copies: 2,000Cost per copy: $

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

Printed on 100% tree free paper. (50% sugarcane and 50% post-consumer recycled.) 01CE3560

Jocassee Project Sponsors

THE CONSERVATION FUND

(Note: These regulations are subject to change by the S.C.Natural Resources Board and the legislature.)Camping: Camping is allowed only within areasdesignated as campsites on DNR maps, and along theFoothills Trail. Camping in one location for more thanfour nights is prohibited except by permit.Consumption of Alcohol: Public drunkenness is notallowed on DNR land. Consumption or display of anybeverage containing alcohol while operating or riding asa passenger in any vehicle is not allowed. Alcoholicbeverages may be consumed by a person of lawful ageonly while actually camping at a designated campsite.Road Access: Roads with green gates are seasonallyopen. All roads with red gates are closed to vehiculartraffic. No motorized vehicle access is permitted behindany closed gate, barricade, dirt pile or other barrier.Speed Limit and ATVs: The speed limit for all vehiclesis 15 miles per hour. Operation of all terrain vehicles(ATVs) is allowed one hour before sunrise to one hourafter sunset. During scheduled big game hunts, allterrain vehicles may be used at night for game retrieval.No person may operate any motorized, all terrain

General regulations set for Jim Timmerman NaturalResources Area at Jocassee Gorges

vehicle, off road vehicle or non-motorized vehicle in areckless or negligent manner. The operation of anyvehicle in such a manner as to indicate either a willful orwanton disregard for the safety of persons or propertyshall be deemed to be operating in a reckless manner.Horses and bicycles may be ridden on any road that isnot posted as closed to such activities.

Camping in Jocassee Gorges is allowed only in designated

campsites and along the Foothills Trail.