LITTLE HELLHOLE RESERVE - FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST
The Little Hellhole Reserve Enhancement Project represents the third project to be completed in the Francis Marion National Forest. Two projects at North and South Tibwin were completed in 1999. This project is a result of the many conservation partnerships that have been formed under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Conservation partners included Ducks Unlimited, U.S. Forest Service, North American Wetlands Conservation Council, Atlantic Coast Joint Venture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources all of which contributed services and/or funding toward the completion of the project.
The project consisted of replacing an aging concrete spillway structure with a full-round aluminum riser designed and equipped with beaver guards to reduce beaver tampering. An emergency spillway was constructed of concrete and riprap stone to release excessive rain and runoff waters from the large Little Hellhole Bay watershed that funnel through the project area.
Although a small project, Little Hellhole Reserve represents the only managed wetlands in this region of Francis Marion National Forest. The new aluminum riser structure will allow U.S. Forest Service staff to drawdown the 17-acre impoundment in late winter to early spring to provide habitat for shorebirds, wading birds, and late migrating waterfowl. Management of the project during the drawdown period of spring to early fall may be for naturally occurring moist-soil plants such as smartweeds and panicgrasses or for annual plantings of agricultural crops. The impoundment can be flooded in late fall of each year by adding flashboards to the full-round aluminum riser and trapping runoff waters.
Past management of this area included late spring planting of rice. When flooded the following fall, large numbers of wood ducks, blue-winged teal, and ring-necked ducks were attracted to the area. Besides the obvious improvement in habitat quality and availability for shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl, this project should also serve the public as an important educational tool highlighting the values of wetland restoration and management. It is anticipated that this highly visible project will be a major attraction to visitors, both human and avian.
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