Case study: Altamont Plantation Clemson Experimental Forest

1. Case study:Altamont PlantationClemson Experimental Forest Lauren S. Pile Restoration Ecology Spring 2011

2. Altamont Plantation was constructed in 1808 by Col. Thomas Pickney Jr. the son of General Thomas Pickney a Revolutionary War veteran and Governor of South Carolina Pickney’s left in the late 1830s Went through several owners and was sold in probate court as the Brown Farm in 1923 Was sold by the U.S. Government in 1937 to become apart of the Clemson Community Conservation Project Was heavily degraded and vandalized and in turn was destroyed Altamont plantation: historical overview

3. 237 acres Located in the Clemson Experimental Forest in Anderson, SC Resides on the eastern side of Fants Grove Road, and is north of the Fants Grove Baptist Church Managed by Knight Cox, Forest Supervisor Altamont Plantation: Location Characteristics

4. Ecological Site Characteristics • Southern inner piedmont ecoregion • Elevation between 800-860 ft above sea level • Historically would climax to an upland oak-hickory community • Dominated by Cecil and Pacolet soil series • Reference ecosystem: Aull Natural Area (CEF)

5. Soils and Slope Percentage of Altamont Plantation

6. Altamont Plantation Ecological Restoration Goals Re-establish a balanced biological community Enhance existing ecosystem processes Wildlife habitat enrichment/enhancement Improve recreational opportunities Historical education through the use of interpretive trails

7. Known Ecological Issues • Invasive plants • ~ 1 acre of bamboo • Wisteria • Periwinkle • Monkey grass (Liriope) • Privet • Remnant farm terraces • Soil erosion • Stream sedimentation • Human debris

9. Interpretive Recreational Trail • Trailhead begins at Altamont historic homestead • Historic and culturally significant garden is constructed in the footprint of the homestead • Interpretive markers indicate plant significance (e.g. medicinal properties, etc) • Trail winds through the plantation • Narrative signage will provide insight into historic faming practices and its effect on ecosystem processes • Some remnant terraces will remain for educational purposes • Interpretive trail will also showcase the ecological restoration and provide educational/volunteer opportunities

10. Altamont Plantation Restoration Costs and Timeline Projected Costs Project Duration • Herbicide application ($40/acre @ 50acres, with 25 acre follow up applications) $3,000 • Planting/Vegetation establishment $8,000 • Land grading $5,000 • Trail construction $10,000 • Historical Markers (signage, etc) $2,000 • Monitoring/Research $20,000 • Project Manager $20,000 • Supplies $1,000 • Total Cost: $69,000 • 5 Year Project • Year 1 • Full evaluation of ecological site characteristics • Soil and water chemical surveys • Acquisition of required regulatory permits • Collect desired vegetative ecotypes and begin nursery plantings • Year 2 • Land grading with immediate seeding of native grasses and loblolly and short leaf pines • Herbicide application of invasive species (fall) in high priority areas • Build and establish historical site garden • Plant pines (loblolly and shortleaf) on eroded side slopes • Plant high value wildlife hardwoods on upland sites • Year 3 • Native vegetation planting (spring) in herbicide areas • Green ash and switch cane along stream margins • Loblolly and shortleaf in non-stream areas • Trail construction and interpretive markers • Follow up herbicide re-treatments where necessary • Year 4-5 • Monitoring

11. Altamont Plantation: Monitoring • Permanent vegetation plots • Soil and water quality samples • Visitor evaluation and trail use • Wildlife diversity and abundance sampling

12. References • Clewell, Andre, Rieger, John, and John Monroe. 2000. Guidelines for developing and managing ecological restoration projects. Society of Ecological Restoration. • Dooley, Katherine and Gene W. Wood. Altamont Plantation: Horse Trails Trail History. Clemson University. Online publication: http://www.clemson.edu/trails/history/altamont.html#middle • Grant, A. S., Nelson, C. R., Switalski, T. A. and Rinehart, S. M. (2011), Restoration of Native Plant Communities after Road Decommissioning in the Rocky Mountains: Effect of Seed-Mix Composition on Vegetative Establishment. Restoration Ecology, 19: 160–169. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00736.x • Griffith, G.E., Omernik, J.M., Comstock, J.A., Glover, J.B., and V.B. Shelburne. 2002. Ecoregions of North and South Carolina. (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs): Reston, Virginia. U.S. Geological Survey (map scale 1:1,500,000). • Society for Ecological Restoration International Science & Policy Working Group. 2004. The SER International Primer on Ecological Restoration. www.ser.org & Tucson: Society for Ecological Restoration International. • Tilden, Freeman. 1967. Interpreting our heritage. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. • Tyler, Royal and James Pongetti. Herbicide Applications. Arkansas Timber. Online resource: http://www.arkansastimber.info/pdf/Herbicide%20Applications.pdf • United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service. 1979. Soil Survey of Anderson County, South Carolina. Online publication: http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/manuscripts/SC007/0/anderson.pdf