LANDMARKS & LEGENDS
A Clemson Treasure
By David Van Lear
Photography by Josh Wilson
Experimental Forest offers a wealth of opportunities for research and recreation
Today, Clemson University is surrounded on three sides by the Experimental Forest, an integral part of the University and an asset that helps make Clemson unique and wonderful.
Former president Jim Barker described the Experimental Forest this way in 2011: “A first step is to begin thinking of Clemson as a 17,000-acre campus ideally situated for teaching and learning about environmental sustainability, biodiversity, life sciences and many other fields.”
No other university in the country can claim a forest of this size and quality, especially one adjacent to campus. It helps provide the air we breathe, protects our watersheds from soil erosion, provides habitat for wildlife and plant species, and offers a myriad of recreational opportunities.
Forestland around Clemson has undergone major changes over the nearly 250 years since noted botanist and naturalist William Bartram first explored the area in 1775. A different kind of forest provided for the needs of the Cherokee, who had occupied the land for hundreds of years. Open woodlands and savannas with grassy understories on upland areas were interspersed with Native American villages and agricultural fields.
Beginning in the mid-1700s, the Cherokee were forced from their ancestral home, and in 1816, they ceded their last lands in South Carolina to the U.S. government.
Open woodlands gave way to small subsistence farms, and the land suffered from soil abuse. Farmers then cleared more forests and started the same cycle on new land. By the early 20th century, researchers estimate that as much as 9 inches of fertile topsoil had been lost to erosion. Many farmers turned to textile mills or migrated north for jobs.
The rebirth of today’s Experimental Forest began during the Great Depression with the enactment of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program, which enabled the federal government to buy submarginal farmland. The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management took over responsibility for managing much of this acreage. The government requested entities, such as municipalities and universities, to submit proposals for management of the remaining submarginal lands.
Clemson professor of agriculture George Aull submitted a proposal, and in 1939, the government leased almost 30,000 acres of worn-out farmlands to Clemson to be managed for natural resource conservation, education, research and demonstration. During the early years of the lease, the federal government’s Works Progress Administration built the Issaqueena Dam and began planting trees and building recreational facilities.
The article said that initially 30,000 acres were involved and that Clemson now holds 17,000 acres. What happened to the Difference ? 13.000 acres ? Or is part of that now underwater of the lakes?
This from Dave Van Lear: The lake took about 8,000 acres from the forest. The remaining 5,000 acres is in agricultural land. So, 17000 plus 8,000 plus 5,000 equals 30,000.
Thank you for answering my question. Was just curious about the difference. Looking the map include with the article figured a chunk of it was covered by the lakes. Good to know all of it is being put to good use.
Any news on when Doyle Bottom area will open up (after the Tornado damage)? There are some nice trails there.
Jason, I don’t know but Russel Hardee, the forest manager, could tell you.
This from Russell Hardee: We are working to get a logging contractor on site as soon as possible. We have had weather delays further contribute to delays. Our goal is to salvage the storm damage and also complete some much needed timber stand improvement while the area is still closed. It will be a slow process but it should be completed this winter.
Thanks for clearing this up, Russell. Glad you are managing this wonderful resource.
Dave
I still recall some outdoor forestry labs in the 60’s. We planted trees, thinned overstocked forests, made plans for wildlife habitat, and had some great recreational outings 🐟🚶🏻🍻
It’s a great asset for the university.
Thanks, Larry. Good to hear from you.
I had heard that a reason Clemson could not sell the property was because at one time there were gold mines on the property given to Clemson by the Federal Government and the government retained mineral rights to the property and to meet this requirement a land swap was the only to exchange this property.
My initial guess is that could be an urban legend, but I am checking to find out!
Yes, there are old mine shafts on forest property. Went down into one 7 years ago, but they blocked it up 3 years ago due to white-nose syndrome concerns with bats. Was really neat to see.
This from Russell Hardee: I’ve heard rumors but have not seen any information in our files. There are several hand dug pits or small caves on the Forest that were historically used for some type of mineral harvest. The Federal Govt did retain mineral rights when the land was conveyed, but that was a fairly common practice, especially considering the escalation of the Cold War.
Thank you for this great piece on the Clemson Experimental Forest David. You can certainly experience the history of our country right here in this piece of land that is testament to the New Deal. Along with forestry and recreation there are remnants of old homesteads, a slave cemetery and important Cherokee landmarks. Currently Dr. George Askew is supporting many graduate research projects on and about the the Forest with a hope that from these might come a strategy for the future of this incredible asset.
Thank you, Betty.
Glad you liked it, Betty. Glad you and your students are working with the forest. That will help sustain interest in this great resource.
Hi David,
Does the George H. Aull Natural Area still exist?
I have been watching the destruction along 187 and it now looks like they have bulldozed and burned the whole area. Plus it already looked like that new trailer park behind the waffle house was built right up to it, if not in to it.
It’s so sad. When I first moved here I was told that that was one of the last stands of virgin forest in SC. I can’t believe CU would sell that for development.
Craig, There’s a map of the forest land at
https://www.clemson.edu/public/experimental-forest/documents/points_of_interest_map.pdf
#13 is marked as the George Aull Natural Area. It doesn’t look like it borders 187. Hope this helps!
Craig, Thank you for your question. Although I have not been to the Aull Natural Area for a few years, I am certain it is still there. The Clemson property cannot be developed, according to restrictions in the deed. If Clemson tried to commercially develop any of its property, that land would revert back to the federal government.
Thank you David and Nancy.
It does not technically border 187, but the times I went there I parked just off 187 and walked up that unpaved road to get to it. You would have to literally climb over or around the yellow trucks to get down there now. It looks like that latest clearing goes awfully far back, so if the development borders the preserve that’s not good either.
I will have to make it a point to check it out on foot soon.
We went today just to see a) if you could get to the trailhead and b) if there’s any remnant of the old trail still visible.
Good news: it’s easy to get on the logging road now from Dalton Road. In fact, if you park with the earth-moving equipment and walk over towards the old access point (across from Boscobel Road), you’ll end up tromping along muddy routes specifically for one of the three mega-developments. Don’t do that. Instead, just walk back along Dalton Road towards the RV Park and you’ll see the access on the left. Easy access into the logging road.
Bad news: that road is pretty beat up due to the heavy vehicles that have been moving up and down it, so it’s muddy in places. But it’s still an easy walk to the entrance to the George C Aull trail.
Worse news: I challenge you to find even 4 blazes. Fortunately, we had the All Trails app and someone else’s recording of their trip a few months ago. I created a new one as well (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/south-carolina/george-aull-trail–2) in case anyone wants to give it a try. Beware, without the map on my phone, I don’t think we would have found the old loop trail. But even though we did, it’s in such disrepair that it’s a bit of a scramble to make your way along the route. In the end, we did make it back out, but I think I’ll wait until all the construction is complete and the university creates new signage and clears and blazes the trail. I suspect they’ll have to add a chain or rope (there was one before) to get back up the hill from the riverbed.
I am Cathy Goebel Touchstone, class of ’67. My father, Norb Goebel, was recognized in this article. He had just received his Masters Degree from Duke University in 1946 when he was hired by Clemson. Thanks for highlighting his accomplishments. He loved everything about his forestry research at Clemson. Our mother was a secretary on campus, and my sisters and I have wonderful memories of growing up in Clemson and attending the university.
Hi Cathy, I am so glad to hear that you saw my article. Your dad was one of my favorite people on the forestry faculty when I came to Clemson in 1971. The CEF is surely a Clemson treasure and your dad had a lot to do with making it that way.
Dave
Thank you, Nancy, but the map is outdated, not as to where the Aull area is but because the new development took away the access road to the virgin forest. We went there early in 2019 and had to walk in. There are no-trespassing signs, but they are not about University land, they pertain to the mega-development site (though they don’t attempt to differentiate).
So, the Aull area (“C area” on experimental forest Fants Grove maps) is pretty inaccessible if you don’t walk the entire distance (currently through muddy ground where earth-moving equipment accesses the housing development). There were rumors that the university was purchasing land to build a trail head. I can only assume that will be where the muddy construction access area is now. But until the housing construction is complete, I doubt any work on that new trail will commence (just my guess).
Nonetheless, we drove by last week and may attempt access again this week. Be warned, though, that when we did go early last year, the trail to get down to the creek bed and giant trees was gone. Once the devastation/construction is over, maybe the university can get assistance from a Boy Scout Eagle Scout project to rebuild the trail. It is missed.