An ecosystem which gets its name from the three rivers that surround it. The Dee River, the Queen River, and the Paumassee in the middle.

Largemouth Bass

Longleaf Pine Population

Pine Salamanders-

Amphibian-Reptile Community- About 170 species of reptiles and amphibians

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

Coastal Fox-

Gopher Tortoise

Wild Turkey

Shortnose Sturgeon- Endangered species of fish

The PDQ ecosystem gets its name from the three rivers that surround it. The Dee River lies to the north, the Queen River to the south, and the Paumassee in the middle. The Paumassee is the longest of the three and originates in the Piedmont range. The other two rivers originate in lowland swamps. All three rivers converge before dumping into the Atlantic Ocean. The climate of PDQ is that of cool winters and hot, wet summers. It is considered to be a humid sub-tropical climate. The longleaf pine is the dominant tree species in the region and because of this the area is highly dependent on fire.

Three Rivers – Paumausee, Dee and Queen

- Paumausee is aHigh productivity river

- Paumausee Sound - Good natural harbor in

colonial times, today recreational boating, commercial fishing and tour

boats prevail - Intracoastal Waterway (1950)- Future similar to that of Hilton

Head/Myrtle Beach

- Low productivity rivers- Dee & Queen- Recently hog

production facilities along Queen River

- Hog production treatment discharged into river

- pfisteria-related disease outbreaks associated with intensive animal agriculture along Queens and nearby drainages

- Facilities have advanced treatment

Ecosystem – humid subtropical zone, - Cool winters, hot, wet summers

Land- Pine plantations and agriculture/crop land cover 50% of PDQ- Major paper firms, 20% of land use (50,000-200,000 acres/company)- Crops include corn, soybean, peanuts, tobacco, cotton, and field veg.- Fox Swamp Wildlife Management Area

- Major source for Queen River- 20,000 acre wildlife area, mostly forested- Manages for primarily wild turkey- other uses; logging, hunting, trapping, and fishing

- High Times which is 20,000 acres, mixed with pine plantations, active farms and native longleaf and hardwood stands

- Operated by Low Country Land Conservancy- Golf Courses- 5 new courses in last 15yrs (mammoth, including condominium

development, hotel and conference centers)- 3 new courses currently being planned (certified as ecologically

sustainable)

- Longleaf pine savanna- Dominate upland ecosystem- Most diverse floristic ecosystem, over 100 vertebrates tied to floral ecosystem- Home to large number of amphibians and reptiles (170 species)- Red-cockaded Woodpecker

- Encourages old growth management- Dependent on frequent, cool fires for maintenance of understory - Highly desirable to wood products industry- Plagued by 2 management issues

- Wildfires and genetic diversity (lowest in the species range)- Pocosins (swamp on a hill)- Peat like soils, habitat for reptiles and amphibians, moisture-loving plants- Pine salamander depends on condition of pocosins- Many cleared and drained- Wildlife- Coastal Fox, Gopher Tortoise, Wild Turkey, Shortnose Sutrgeon, Red-

cockaded Woodpecker

Coastal region- Barrier islands (4)- John Muir Nat. Wildlife Refuge (87 miles along coast)- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Created for waterfowl and shorebirds- Plans to expand, and implement community-based management

Camp Frasier (1930s) app. 100,000 acres- Extensively used military training center- currently dumps waste oil and solvents in Dee River floodplain (unknown chemicals in past)

New Scotland -River Front - Riverfront Old Market- 1900s era feature- artists’ colony- “black historical region”

Sonny Tymes-former NFL player -leads efforts to

preserve landscapes and lifestyles

-owns 20,000 strip of land (High Tymes)

General James Aberdeen aka “General Jim”

-Heads Camp Fraser-but, puts military first

Harold Smith -New Scotland’s

MayorJoe Danley

-Head of PDQ tourism council

Wilbur Boyd -Heads Farm Bureau-represents agricultural interests of community

Wisdom Meats-pork processing

companyBarbara Ladd

-Heads sustainable forestry program

Jolene Chan-John Muir Refuge manager-appointed by US Fish and Wildlife Service

HighMark Inc.-Interested in

developing golf courses in the area

-want their courses certified as

“ecologically sustainable”Several Paper Firms

-own 20% of PDQ

Historical land use (colonial times onward):

- Plant crops (and, more recently, livestock)

- Lumber production

- Development

Land use significantly changed vegetation and landscape- Habitat loss and fragmentation

-Pollution

- Over-exploitation of resources

***But Military base and privately held land preserve some native  natural communties ***

Working in this ecosystem would be great because there is ample opportunity for:

-great climate

-fishing

-game hunting

-many trees and forests

-as well as lots of animal species