Spirit Creek Forest

Last updated
Spirit Creek Forest
Geography
Location Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Area725 acres
Governing bodyGeorgia Forestry Commission
Ecology
Dominant tree species Loblolly pines (Pinus taeda)
Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris)
and various hardwoods

Spirit Creek Forest is a state forest in Richmond County, Georgia. The forest is 725 acres and is managed by the Georgia Forestry Commission. The forest is mostly made up of wetlands, loblolly pines, and bottomland hardwoods. [1] [2]

State forest forest administered or protected by some agency

A state forest is a forest that is administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign or federated state, or territory.

Richmond County, Georgia U.S. county in Georgia

Richmond County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 200,549. It is one of the original counties of Georgia, created February 5, 1777.

Wetland A land area that is permanently or seasonally saturated with water

A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded by water, either permanently or seasonally, where oxygen-free processes prevail. The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from other land forms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants, adapted to the unique hydric soil. Wetlands play a number of functions, including water purification, water storage, processing of carbon and other nutrients, stabilization of shorelines, and support of plants and animals. Wetlands are also considered the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems, serving as home to a wide range of plant and animal life. Whether any individual wetland performs these functions, and the degree to which it performs them, depends on characteristics of that wetland and the lands and waters near it. Methods for rapidly assessing these functions, wetland ecological health, and general wetland condition have been developed in many regions and have contributed to wetland conservation partly by raising public awareness of the functions and the ecosystem services some wetlands provide.

Contents

History

The land where Spirit Creek Forest is currently located used to belong to the Gracewood State School and Hospital. They grew their crops and raised cattle and chickens. The field where then abandoned for a period of time before being leased to local farmers. These farmers converted the land to bahia grass fields to raise cattle. [2]

<i>Paspalum notatum</i> species of plant

Paspalum notatum, known commonly as bahiagrass, common bahia, and Pensacola bahia, is a tropical to subtropical perennial grass. It is known for its prominent V-shaped inflorescence consisting of two spike-like racemes containing multiple tiny spikelets, each about 2.8–3.5 millimetres (0.11–0.14 in) long.

In 1984, the fields were given to the Georgia Forestry Commission. In the winter of 1984-1985, loblolly pines were planted on approximately 480 acres. [2]

Present day

Currently, Spirit Creek Forest contains loblolly pines along with other types of timber, including longleaf pines and mixed strands of hardwood. Benefits provided by the forest include timber production, wildlife habitats, soil conservation, water conservation, aesthetics, and educational opportunities. The forest is located in the southern part of Richmond County and is 30 minutes away from Augusta, Georgia. [2]

Longleaf pine species of plant

The longleaf pine is a pine native to the Southeastern United States, found along the coastal plain from East Texas to southern Maryland, extending into northern and central Florida. It reaches a height of 30–35 m (98–115 ft) and a diameter of 0.7 m (28 in). In the past, before extensive logging, they reportedly grew to 47 m (154 ft) with a diameter of 1.2 m (47 in). The tree is a cultural symbol of the Southern United States, being the official state tree of Alabama and the unofficial state tree of North Carolina.

Hardwood wood from angiosperm trees

Hardwood is wood from dicot trees. These are usually found in broad-leaved temperate and tropical forests. In temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen. Hardwood contrasts with softwood.

Soil conservation Soil properties

Soil conservation is the prevention of soil loss from erosion or prevention of reduced fertility caused by over usage, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination.

Spirit Creek Forest Wildlife Management Area

The Spirit Creek Forest Wildlife Management Area is a 570 acre property adjacent to Spirit Creek Forest that provides hunting opportunities for deer, turkey and small game hunting. The area is jointly managed between the Wildlife Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia Forestry Commission. The main hunting opportunities at the Spirit Creek Forest WMA include archery deer, archery turkey, squirrel, and rabbit, along with some dove and waterfowl. Only shotguns and archery equipment may be used for small game hunting. Other activities available within the Wildlife Management Area include biking, geocaching, and wildlife viewing. Several bike trails also run through the area. [3] [4]

Wildlife Management Area protected areas in the United States, Canada and Papua New Guinea

A Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) is a protected area set aside for the conservation of wildlife and for recreational activities involving wildlife.

Deer A family of mammals belonging to even-toed ungulates

Deer are the hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. The two main groups of deer are the Cervinae, including the muntjac, the elk (wapiti), the fallow deer, and the chital; and the Capreolinae, including the reindeer (caribou), the roe deer, and the moose. Female reindeer, and male deer of all species except the Chinese water deer, grow and shed new antlers each year. In this they differ from permanently horned antelope, which are part of a different family (Bovidae) within the same order of even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla).

Turkey (bird) genus of birds

The turkey is a large bird in the genus Meleagris, which is native to the Americas. Males of both turkey species have a distinctive fleshy wattle or protuberance that hangs from the top of the beak. They are among the largest birds in their ranges. As in many galliformes, the male is larger and much more colorful than the female.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "State Managed Forests". Georgia Forestry Commission. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Spirit Creek Forest". Georgia Forestry Commission. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Spirit Creek Forest - WMA Hephizibah". Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Wildlife Resources Division. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Spirit Creek Forest Wildlife Management Area". Explore Georgia. Retrieved November 8, 2018.

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