Four Holes Swamp Model

Work began today for a model of Four Holes Swamp along the low boardwalk at the Audubon Center at the Francis Beidler Forest. Although not perfect (north is actually 180 degrees off due to the terrain available) and not to scale, but the model will help visiting students visualize the Four Holes Swamp watershed and the activity occurring with the watershed.

A watershed can be defined as the area of land that drains to a single point. In the case of Four Holes Swamp, all water within the watershed drains to a point where it enters the Edisto River. Each stream within Four Holes Swamp has its own watershed with the collection of stream watersheds forming the watershed for the entire swamp. The boundary of a watershed is defined by the highest elevations surrounding the stream. A drop of water falling outside of the boundary will drain to another watershed. The area north of Four Holes Swamp drains to the Santee River (now under Lake Marion), the area south and west of Four Holes Swamp drains to the Edisto River, and the area east of Four Holes Swamp drains into the Ashley River.

Interstate highways 95 and 26 are included along with the three cement plants and the boardwalk at the Francis Beidler Forest. While digging the landfill used by Dorchester County which is located adjacent to Four Holes Swamp, the Three-lined Salamander (Eurycea longicauda guttolineata) shown in the image appeared near the hole. This salamander is a member of the Longtail salamanders, though this individual has lost a good bit of its normally whip-like tail. The wound was old, so the shovel operator was not at fault.