Effects of the Suwannee River sill on the hydrology of the Okefenokee Swamp: application of research results in the environmental assessment process

Abstract

The Okefenokee Swamp is a 200,000 ha palustrine, freshwater wetland in the southeastern United States managed as a National Wildlife Refuge and a National Wilderness Area. Wildfires frequently occur, modifying vegetation structure and creating the swamp landscape mosaic. Following extensive wildfires in 1954-1955, the Suwannee River was impounded by a dam (Suwannee River Sill) built outside the Wilderness Area but within the Refuge to exclude fire reoccurrence. By the late 1980s indications were that fire was not being excluded, although the swamp hydrology and vegetation suggested changes due to extended hydroperiod. The dam’s effects were delineated with a spatial hydrology model and studies of species’ hydrological sensitivities, and an Environmental Assessment considered the multiple uses and management goals to determine the best sill management alternative.

Parent Publication

• Wilderness science in a time of change conference-Volume 3: Wilderness as a place for scientific inquiry; 1999 May 23-27; Missoula, MT

Citation

Loftin, Cynthia S.; Aicher, Sara B.; Kitchens, Wiley M. 2000. Effects of the Suwannee River sill on the hydrology of the Okefenokee Swamp: application of research results in the environmental assessment process. In: McCool, Stephen F.; Cole, David N.; Borrie, William T.; O’Loughlin, Jennifer, comps. 2000. Wilderness science in a time of change conference—Volume 3: Wilderness as a place for scientific inquiry; 1999 May 23–27; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-15-VOL-3. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 102-110