 Forest
Type
SAF 58: Yellow poplar-Hemlock, 122 acres
Description
This natural area is located in a cove known
as Coon Branch and a mountainous river bottom
that parallels the west bank of the Whitewater
River. The area lies between the upper and lower
falls of the Whitewater River. The former, falling
417 feet is the highest waterfall in eastern
United States. The lower falls is about 300
feet in two main leaps. The area between the
upper falls and the North Carolina/South Carolina
state line is owned by the U.S. Forest Service.
The land between the state line and the lower
falls is owned by Crescent Resources.
Very little cutting has been done on the west
bank of the river between the falls, although
there is evidence that chestnut was removed
from part of the area 45-55 years ago. The Coon
Branch drainage appears undisturbed as the large
trees there give evidence of ages between 300
and 400 years.
 The dominant
species are yellow poplar, hemlock, and some
others. Yellow birch is also found in this area.
The cover type does not exactly match any of
the SAF listed cover types. Types 22 and 58
represent the closest approximations. In type
22, white pine should be dominant, which is
not the case at Coon Branch; Therefore, type
58 (yellow poplar-hemlock) is assigned. It typically
occurs in deep coves and moist ravines in the
Appalachian and Cumberland Mountains which does
not describe the site.
The following list shows the tree and major
shrub species noted in an examination of the
area in 1967 by R.E. Schoenike, L.D. Reamer,
and Ron Bost: The order of listing approximates
the frequency of occurrence. (1) Tsunga canedensis,
(2) Liriodendron tulipifera, (3) Quercus prinus,
(4) Pinus strobus, (5) Tilia heterophylla, (6)
Acer rubrum, (7) Fraxinus americana, (8) Quercus
alba, (9) Quercus rubra, (10) Betula lenta,
(11) Betula alleghaniensis, (12) Carya tomentosa,
(13) Carya pallida, (14) Robinia pseudocacia,
(15) Halesia monticola, (16) Magnolia fraseri,
(17) Magnolia acuminata, and (18) Cornus florida.
Location
Oconee County, south Carolina, Crescent Resources,
Inc. lands.
Access
From the North Carolina state line, south
on South Carolina highway 130 to entrance to
the Bad Creek Project. Drive through the project
to a parking lot providing access to the Coon
Branch Natural Area and Foothills Trail.
For information contact
Division Forester
Keowee Division
Crescent Resources, Inc
8133 Rochester Highway
Salem, South Carolina 29676 |
