Introduction

The USDA Forest Service - Savannah River (USFS-SR), a part of the USDA Forest Service, manages the natural resources at the Department of Energy's 198,000-acre Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina.   USFS-SR works cooperatively with many organizations, such as Westinghouse, Bechtel, Babcock & Wilcox, British Nuclear Fuels, Wackenhut Incorporated, the Savannah River Archaeological Research Program, and the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory.  Other partners include the Forest Service Southern Research Station and more than 35 universities.  Specific resource management objectives and strategies are described within the SRS Natural Resource Management Plan and associated operations plans.  The USFS-SR's goals are to maintain excellence in natural resource programs and to develop recognition for SRS as a national leader in natural resource management, research, and education.

Background and History

In 1952, the Atomic Energy Commission, predecessor of the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Forest Service formed an interagency agreement to create a SRS organization known as the Savannah River Project.  Because much of SRS was originally farmland, cutover forest, or abandoned fields in 1952, the initial task was to plant trees to prevent erosion, control noxious weeds, and to provide a marketable crop of timber.  The Project's mission included applied research support from the Forest Service Southeastern Forest Experiment Station (now the Southern Research Station).

During the first decade the Forest Service developed a land management plan, conducted a forest inventory, began limited timber harvesting, and initiated a wildlife program that included the first controlled deer hunts.  In 1973, the Forest Service developed and implemented an ecosystem management plan.  This was an attempt to assess and integrate all natural resources, with the goal of meeting a broad range of objectives.  During this period a number of soil restoration and erosion control projects were initiated on borrow pits and construction spoil piles.  The involvement of Forest Service research was increased to support various projects.  In 1980, prescribed burning was expanded to reduce wildfire hazards and to enhance habitat for the endangered Red-cockcaded woodpecker (RCW) and other wildlife species. 

Starting in 1989, USFS-SR responsibilities were gradually expanded to include secondary roads and boundaries, engineering support for environmental restoration, soil erosion and watershed management, threatened and endangered species recovery and management, support for plant and animal resources, wildland fire control, wetland restoration, support for sitewide planning, and community outreach.  In conjunction with these efforts, USFS-SR management established three education programs and expanded research programs with the Southern Research Station and cooperating universities. 

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SRS has approximately 198,000 acres within its administrative boundaries.  Only 12 percent or about 24,000 acres are used for nuclear processing purposes, while 9 percent or about 18,400 acres are in areas set aside for nonmanipulative ecological research.  These areas are minimally impacted by current site operations.  Another 14,000 acres (7 percent) are left undisturbed to limit movement of trace radioactive contaminants; these include the Lower Three Runs Creek and Savannah River Swamp forests.  The remaining area is actively managed to meet conservation and restoration objectives, to provide research and education opportunities and to generate revenue from the sale of forest products.  These include pine and hardwood sawtimber, pulpwood and pine straw.  In terms of broad forest types, the forests are about 31 percent hardwood or mixed pine hardwood and 69 percent pine.

To establish a baseline, the University of South Carolina, the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences, and the University of Georgia conducted extensive surveys of SRS's flora and fauna during the 1950's.  Research activities and monitoring of operations has added additional resource information.  Despite past land use activities, SRS today is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the Southeast.  There are approximately 60 mammal, 107 reptile and amphibian, 80 fish, and 174 bird species that use the site.  Over 1,300 species of vascular plants have been collected at SRS, including the possible recent discovery of a new orchid species.  The Upper Three Runs Creek supports some of the highest known numbers of macroinvertebrate species in the United States.  Past agricultural and economic activities have had a heavy impact on all of the streams and most of the Carolina bays.

The USFS Fact Sheet (pdf) provides a statistical and historical view of work done since 1952.

Information/Feedback/Disclaimer

If you would like more information about USFS-SR, please contact:
Savannah River USFS Manager
P.O. Box 700 (Site Bldg. 760-G)
New Ellenton, SC  29809-0700

Or see the Phone Directory
 

This information service operates on a US Government computer system.  This system is monitored to ensure proper operation, to verify the functioning of applicable security features, and for other purposes.  Anyone using this system expressly consents to such monitoring and is advised that if such monitoring reveals possible evidence of criminal activity, system personnel may provide the evidence of such monitoring to low enforcement officials.  Unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, to defeat or circumvent security features or to utilize this system for other than its intended purposes are prohibited.

The Savannah River Site is a controlled-access Federal facility.  All visitors must be badged before entering.  All vehicles entering the Site are subject to search for illegal contraband.  Click here for more information about visiting the USDA Forest Service offices at the Savannah River Site.

"The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).  Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Bldg., 14th and Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD).  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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