Aspects of the Savannah River Site

Regional Aspects of
the Savannah River Site (SRS)

(* Information from: J. W. Gibbons, and R. D. Semlitsch. 1991. "Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of the Savannah River Site." The University of Georgia Press, Athens. 131 p. *)

Throughout a major portion of the Southeast, the Fall Line represents a transitional zone between montane or piedmont and coastal plain environments. It also forms a northern boundary for numerous species found on the SRS and is a zone of intergradation for many others. The entire SRS site lies within the Atlantic Coastal Plain Physiographic Province. The SRS acreage includes several major soil types, most composed of sand overlying sandy loam clay.

The summer climate of South Carolina is generally hot and humid, and winters are usually mild. Normal January temperatures for the upper coastal plain region, including the SRS, are lows near freezing and highs around 13 C. Normal July temperatures are lows around 21 C and highs around 32 C. Normal yearly precipitation is 91-112 cm, primarily as rainfall. Snow is uncommon.

Local Aspects of the
Savannah River Site

(* Information from: J. W. Gibbons, and R. D. Semlitsch. 1991. "Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of the Savannah River Site." The University of Georgia Press, Athens. 131 p. *)

The SRS is located in the west-central portion of South Carolina and encompasses portions of Aiken, Barnwell, and Allendale counties. The site's southwest boundary is the Savannah River, a very large southern river with extensive floodplains and oxbow lakes. The northern boundary is approximately 32-48 km south of the Fall Line. Throughout a major portion of the Southeast, the Fall Line represents a transitional zone between the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain regions. It also forms a northern boundary for numerous species found on the SRS and is a zone of intergradation for many others. The entire SRS site lies within the Atlantic Coastal Plain Physiographic Province. The SRS acreage includes several major soil types, most composed of sand overlying sandy loam clay.

This map of the SRS shows the 30 research Set-Aside Areas located on the SRS. The Set-Asides in red are Carolina bay set-asides. The ones in green are a variety of other habitat types, including upland forest, bottomland hardwood, old field, farm pond and blackwater stream. Many of the SREL herp observations come from research conducted in these Set-Aside Areas. The map also shows Par Pond and L-Lake (not Set-Asides, but still the sites of much research, especially on alligators and turtles).

Home