July 3, 2000

Dear SCAN Members,

The Savannah River Bluffs Preserve is blessed with cool, running water, rolling hills, dense woods, and Judy Gordon. Judy is a knowledgeable botanist with Augusta State University, and she, along with botanist Julie Duncan, led thirteen SCAN members and guests through the Preserve, filing our ears with the lyrical sounds of Latin and common names for the flora and fauna.

Some of our sturdy members waded in the river to cool off. Our 19-year old guest, Erica Hartwig, an employee of the Sierra Club, made us feel adventurous enough to imagine swimming to the other side to see the ancient fishing weirs and blooming rocky shoals spider lilies. Thanks Erica! Maybe next time.

We were the only people in the Preserve. Preserves are acquired for studying and protecting endangered plants and wildlife, so DNR discourages heavy use by limiting parking and lightly maintaining their trails. The results was nature at it's best.

For those of you who couldn't be with us, read our flora-fauna list in the comfort of your air-conditioned abodes. Read it to remember, but come out to see it next time.

Sandy Schmid
Central Regional Director

Crowder's Mountain State Park

Kings Mountain, NC

Saturday - JULY 22, 2000 - 10:30 am

This is a new site for SCAN members to explore. Crowder's Mountain State Park in North Carolina lies just across the border from Kings Mountain State Park in South Carolina.

Crowder's Mountain is approximately 3000 acres in size and includes two prominent Piedmont monadnocks. Several rare community types and disjunct or relict plant and animal populations are protected here. Disjunct populations of pigmy rattlesnakes and timber rattlesnakes are known from the area. A rare millipede, Deltotaria lea, and a rare butterfly, the Long Dash, Polistes mystic, have been documented in the park. The park harbors the southern most population of Bear Oak (Quercus ilicifolia), on top of the summits. Rare plants documented here include Bradley's Spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi), Mountain Witch Alder (Fothergilla major), Appalachian Golden-Banner (Thermopsis mollis var. mollis), and Biltmore Carrion Flower (Smilax biltmoreana), among others. We'll spend our time exploring the lower habitats of the park. You can expect to see lots of insects, herps, and good birds if the temperature doesn't get too hot.

Details: Plan to bring your lunch including cold drinks, snacks, and water. It would also be advisable to bring a hat, and sunscreen. Toilet facilities are located at the picnic area and at the visitor center. For more details contact Don Seriff at (704) 545-1391.

Directions: From I-85 take exit 10A onto Hwy. 74 EAST. Go 0.5 miles. Turn right onto Sparrows Spring Road and follow the road 2.1 miles. Turn RIGHT (still on Sparrow Springs Road) and go 0.6 miles to the park entrance. When you enter the park, take the left fork in the road and continue to the parking/picnic area at the end of this road.