Water's Up!

The December rain we received at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest has kept the swamp looking like a swamp. The region is more than 8" above normal since December 1st. The rain doesn't need to fall directly within the boundaries of Beidler Forest as the Four Holes Swamp watershed extends from Orangeburg to Ridgeville before emptying into the Edisto River upstream from Givhans Ferry State Park.

The last two doses of rain have pushed the swamp's water level to within three feet of the boardwalk's deck (see image)! Even the Spotted Turtles were having trouble finding a basking site out of the water.


Rain if forecasted for Friday, so it doesn't look like the swamp will be dry again any time soon. Anyone remember exactly what a cubit is?

Images by Mark Musselman