Watershed response to longleaf pine restoration on the Santee Experimental Forest: establishment report and baseline assessment
| Authors: | Carrie Kelly, Hope M. Fillingim, Andy A. Harrison, Julie Arnold, Devendra M. Amatya, Timothy J. Callahan, Norman S. Levine, Carl C. Trettin |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Type: | General Technical Report |
| Station: | Southern Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.2737/SRS-GTR-286 |
| Source: | USDA Forest Service |
Abstract
This report describes the framework of a long-term project on the Santee Experimental Forest comparing hydrological processes and vegetation dynamics between two research watersheds: one formerly dominated by loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and currently being restored to longleaf pine (P. palustris), and the other an unmanaged mixed pine-hardwood reference watershed. Along with descriptions of the watersheds and the silvicultural methods used in the longleaf pine restoration, this report provides baseline data on overstory conditions, soils, leaf area index, and coarse woody debris across the watersheds. A subcomponent of the project is to monitor the success of different methods for restoring longleaf pine, and this report provides an initial assessment of the effects of harvest operations across silvicultural treatments within the longleaf pine restoration watershed.