Clemson University : Urban Land Institute : About the Clemson University Land Use Property

About the Clemson University Land Use Property

Clemson Experimental Forest (CEF) and Agriculture Lands

The Past

Clemson’s Land Use Property (about 30,000 acres) was deeded to the University in the 1950’s under the Bankhead Jones Farm Tenant act through Public Law 84 - 237. Subsequently about 10,000 acres of this land were inundated by the construction of Lake Hartwell by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The laws and regulations placed on this land are found in the Bankhead Jones Farm Tenant Act and in Public Law 84-237 (see the Proposed Guiding Principles).

The Present

Sizes

North Forest: 7,000 acres
South Forest: 11,000 acres
Lake Issaqueena : 100 acres
Highest point: 300 ft above Lake Hartwell
Hiking/biking/horse trails: >100 miles
Streams: >200 miles
Roads: 225 miles
Ag Lands: 2,000 acres

Uses

Trail use: 25,000 person-hours annually
93% of Forest is used for recreation
CU Outdoor Lab: 15,000 guests per year
CU Outdoor Lab: 1,000 campers each summer

Finances

CEF is self-sustaining ($0 cost to CU though harvesting of forest products; approx. $300,000 per yr).

FORESTRY and NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH and SCHOLARSHIP

Research — Approximately $1 million per year
Classes — 25 typically

Education
1,400 forestry grads (SC forest products industry -- $14 billion/year.)
Numerous M.S. and Ph.D. graduates use the Forest.

Publications
Over 400 — Studies of forest management-wildlife relationships, nutrient cycling and forest productivity, forest sustainability, forest hydrology and ecology, pathology, forest pests, herbicides, and effects of fire

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES and OTHER DISCIPLINES

Research Publications Clemson Forest is one of the primary areas of Undergraduate Research on this campus.

Studies of: fire, pests, parasites, erosion, nutrients, herbicides, runoff, deer, rabbits, ducks, bats, beaver, song birds, squirrels, amphibians, reptiles, fish, spiders, insects

Classes — 20 typically

Education — Numerous M.S. and Ph.D. graduates use the Forest

AGRICULTURE LANDS

These lands (about 2,000 acres) are scattered in several locations throughout the area. These include: LaMaster Dairy, Garrison Arena, Starkey Swine Farm, Morgan Poultry Center, Soils Lab, and the Seed Foundation. One use of these agricultural plots is to produce feed for University animals.

It costs $170,000 per year to feed University animals from feedstock raised on Land Use property.
Purchasing feed commercially would cost $420,000, a savings of $342,000 per year.
This is the equivalent of a $342,000 grant (with no overhead) to the University every year.
Income from milk and livestock sales is reinvested into the operation of the farms.
Classes: 37 sections typically

BIOTA

Much of the Piedmont region’s habitat is being fragmented and destroyed by development. The CEF represents an important wildlife sanctuary for many species living in the upper Piedmont.

Birds (170 species)
12 Species of Special Concern (populations declining)
10 of these species breed on the Clemson Forest

Mammals (50 species)
Larger Mammals
Beaver, Raccoon, Opossum, Bobcat, Red Fox, Grey Fox, Muskrat, Bear, Coyote, Chipmunk, Woodchuck, Raccoon, Mink, Otter, Skunk, Flying Squirrel, White-Tailed Deer

Amphibians & Reptiles (79 species)
Forest protects over 50% of the amphibians and reptile species that occur in SC. Also,
Southernmost known population of the Wood Frog
One of Pickens County’s few populations of the Spotted Salamander.
Only known population of the Eastern Spadefoot Toad in Oconee County (in the Ravenel Tract)
One of only a few surviving populations of the Pigmy Rattlesnake in the upper Piedmont
Timber Rattlesnake occurs at its lowest elevation here.
Colonies of the Green Treefrog and Squirrel Treefrog over 100 miles from nearest populations

Fish (25 species)
A coastal plain species of fish (100 mile range extension) was recently discovered on the CEF

Insects (numerous species)
5 insect species completely new to science have been discovered on the CEF.
Rare lace bug has been collected on the CEF. There are no other records from SC.

Plants
54 species of trees
50 species of shrubs
17 species of vines
6 species of orchids
Numerous wildflower species
3 SC State Champion trees

S.C. State Symbols that Occur on the Forest

Bird -- Carolina Wren
Animal -- White-tail Deer
Amphibian -- Spotted Salamander
Insect -- Carolina Mantis
Spider -- Carolina Wolf Spider
Butterfly -- Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Game Bird -- Wild Turkey
Grass -- Indian Grass
Flower -- Carolina Jessamine
Wildflower -- Goldenrod

Natural Areas of Special Interest

Waldrop Stone Waterfall
Todds Creek Waterfall
Lake Issaqueena
Watershed Rd.
Beaver Pond
Wildcat Creek
South Forest Beech Grove
Seed Orchard
Oak Hickory Forest
George Aull Natural Area
Wildfowl Management Area