Guilliard Lake
Location
County: Berkeley
Forest: Francis Marion National Forest, Francis Marion–Sumter National Forests
District: Witherbee
Ecological and Physical Description
Alluvial river swamp, dominated by bald cypress and water tupelo. Natural levee. Sweetgum, green ash, willow, water and overcup oak, sycamore and willow. The Guilliard Lake stand is a remnant of old growth timber located in a narrow strip of bottomland along the Santee River (south side of Santee River and east side of Guilliard Lake Scenic Area). It is a good example of the alluvial river swamp type and includes a small amount of second bottom type on the natural levee. Some very large veteran trees are present, whose age would be numbered in centuries. The area contains some gigantic cypress knees, as much as nine feet tall and three feet in diameter at the base. The stand is subject to flooding in the winter and early spring, but dries out and is easily negotiable at other times. It is the only relatively virgin stand to be found in the Santee bottom on NFS land. [update: Minor flooding throughout year is no longer prevalent due to diversion on Santee River.]
Precipitation is heaviest during the summer and averages about 50 inches a year, with a 280 day growing season.
Located within the overflow bottomland of the Santee River, one of the larger “red water” rivers of the Atlantic coastal plain. The soils and landforms are the result of this river’s action. The mechanics of river bottom geology are rather complex and are not addressed in the establishment record. Santee limestone underlies the region.
Alluvial river swamp. Although subject to flooding, the ground surface becomes dry during the growing season, a condition unlike most alluvial baldcypress stands. Drainage has probably become progressively better in this stand during the centuries since it was established. This may be due to silt deposition from floodwaters, or a shift in the river’s position and depth (point-bar building action by the river). Minor flooding throughout the year is no longer prevalent. This is due to the diversion of the Santee River by Lake Marion of the Santee cooper system. The climate is typical of the South Carolina low country.
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bald cypress | Plant Communities | |||
| Water tupelo | Plant Communities | |||
| Liquidambar styraciflus | Sweetgum | Plant Communities | ||
| Fraxinus pennsylvanica | Green ash | Plant Communities | ||
| Quercus phellos | Willow oak | Plant Communities | ||
| Quercus nigra | Water oak | Plant Communities | ||
| Quercus lyrata | Overcup oak | Plant Communities | ||
| Carya aquatica | Water hickory | Plant Communities | ||
| Platanus occidentalis | Sycamore | Plant Communities | ||
| Salix caroliniana | Willow | Plant Communities | ||
| Styrax americana | Common Shrub Species | |||
| Ilex verticilata | Common Shrub Species | |||
| Itea virginica | Common Shrub Species | |||
| Cornus stricta | Common Shrub Species |
Common Animal Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Common Mammal Species | |||
| Raccoon | Common Mammal Species | |||
| Possum | Common Mammal Species | |||
| Bobcat | Common Mammal Species | |||
| Red fox | Common Mammal Species | |||
| Mink | Common Mammal Species | |||
| Weasel | Common Mammal Species | |||
| Gray squirrel | Common Mammal Species | |||
| Cottontail rabbit | Common Mammal Species | |||
| Bear | Common Mammal Species | |||
| Wood duck | Common Bird Species | |||
| Turkey | Common Bird Species | |||
| Wood ibis | Common Bird Species | |||
| Heron | Common Bird Species | |||
| Eagle | Common Bird Species | |||
| Cottonmouth | Other | |||
| Copperhead | Other | |||
| Cane-brake rattler | Other |