Turn around to view the equalization pond. This is where treated wastewater from the wastewater treatment plant is staged before entering the constructed wetlands. The wastewater treatment plant adds pathogen-killing chlorine to the water as its final step. This chlorine could kill the constructed wetland plants if the water entered them directly. After three days in the equalization pond, however, the chlorine evaporates. Also, as its name implies, this pond equalizes or mixes wastewater components. The orange structure crossing the pond is called a baffle, which slows the flow of water.

You may notice you are walking on a raised graveled road. This is called a berm. As you walk the berm you may notice it is easier walking than in the forest. Animals think so too and often walk the berms. Be sure to keep an open eye for evidence that animals have been around. They often leave behind scat (scientific name for poop). We rarely see the mammals that live at Phinizy Swamp, but often find the scat from Raccoon, River Otter, Coyote, Gray Fox, and White-Tailed Deer. Look closely to see what you can find! Also keep an eye open for Wild Turkey, which are sometimes seen walking the berm.

As you look to your left, you will get a good view of the forest through which the Beaver Dam Trail passes. Look at the canopy (tree tops) – it is mostly Loblolly Pine. But when you look at the ground where a pine tree has died you may notice a Sweetgum tree quickly taking its spot. In the understory of this forest, there are very few young pine trees, but plenty of young Red Maples, Sweetgum, and Water Oaks. What do you think the forest will look like when all the mature pines die out? This is how a forest changes over time, and this change is called forest succession.

Where the bottom of the berm meets the forest, the vegetation appears to be rather dense. This is known as an edge zone, or ecotone, and has many species of both the forest and the grassy berm edge. A few feet into the forest you will notice the forest floor is fairly clean and easy to walk through. Ecotones have a rich variety of foods and thus are visited by a diversity of wildlife.

Be sure to take a close look at the sides of the berms. They are covered with wildflowers and may be a great place to observe butterflies and other insects. Look past the grasses to the area that is not being mowed. Here many young Sweetgum and Loblolly Pine trees are emerging. If left unmowed, one day the trees will grow tall and shade this trail.

As you reach the baffle, look at the forest again. The large pine trees are dripping with Spanish Moss, an icon of the south. Spanish Moss is “an air plant” and does not parasitize its host. It is also a true flowering plant, not a moss! Look at all the young pines in the edge zone here. This is one spot that may stay forested in pines for some time.

Many birds can be seen and heard from this trail. Year-round, listen for the Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, Fish and American Crow, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawk, and Barred Owl. In the summer listen for the Northern Parula Warbler, Summer Tanager, Yellow-throated Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Indigo and Painted Bunting. In late summer and early fall, immature egret, heron, and ibis can be seen sitting on the fence and orange baffle. In the winter, Osprey and Bald Eagles may fly overhead!

As you continue walking, you will see a road on the left that leads to the wastewater treatment plant. Turn and look at the equalization pond. Do you see the water boiling up like a natural spring? This is where the treated wastewater enters the pond. During the summer you are standing where hundreds of Purple Martins and swallows eat insects “on the fly.” During the spring and fall migration, five different species of swallow can be seen including Barn, Northern Rough-winged, Tree, Cliff, and Bank Swallow. Sitting at the classroom provides a beautiful view into the swamp and a great location to listen for singing birds or spot a soaring bird of prey.

As you continue around the pond, you will notice it is quite “swampy” off to your left. This area is a remnant of where the Savannah River used to flow. It carved a wetland area that is filled with living and dead cypress trees. Dead cypress trees are often snags for decades because their wood is so resistant to rot and collapse. These snags contain many woodpecker homes and supply perching locations for birds of prey. Red-winged Blackbirds frequent this area as well.

On your right, the box at the pond edge is an automatic water-sampling machine. The wastewater treatment plant regularly samples water at each step along the treatment path. Behind the box, you may notice a whirlpool in the water. This is where the water exits the equalization pond and continues to the distribution canal, the start of the constructed wetlands.

During much of the year, the pond in this location will be covered with Duckweed, one of the world’s smallest flowering plants. A single Duckweed plant looks like a miniature lily pad, while millions together look like astro turf. Ducks love to eat this plant! You may also see a floating island of Pennywort or Alligatorweed. Pennywort has a dark green, round leaf about the size of a silver dollar and Alligatorweed has narrow leaves and a horizontal-floating stem.

Make sure to stop at the Beaver Pond Observation Deck. It is a place of beauty and solitude. Listen for the frog symphony on late summer afternoons or a singing Barred Owl at any time of the year. Look over the oxbow lake for turtles, wading birds, River Otter, or an occasional alligator. The plants under the deck are Cattail (narrow leaves) and Arrowhead (arrowhead shaped leaves). In the late summer, look for Wood Stork flying overhead. An oxbow lake starts as the main flow of a river (in this case the Savannah) until sediment builds up and the river takes a different course, leaving behind a lake. Over time, sediment and trees fill them to create what is called a river scar. After enjoying the deck, continue to the stairs to complete the loop.

We hope you’ve enjoyed your walk! Please feel free to call us with any questions you may have. You can reach us (Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy) Monday-Friday from 8-4 at (706) 828-2109.