Observe the Little Back River at Hog Island. This waterway whispers tales of wildlife. It also carries stories of human impact.
Little Back River is part of the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is a crucial habitat. It stretches twenty miles along the Savannah River. The refuge includes freshwater marshes, tidal rivers, and bottomland.
Native Americans knew the value of this land long ago. They built settlements near rivers. Rivers provided food, water, transportation and trade. Archeologists found evidence of Paleo-Indian activity. It goes back 7000 years. Shell mounds reveal habitation between 5000 and 1000 years ago. Indians grew maize here 1000 years ago.
Later, colonists saw potential for rice plantations. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, they cleared swamps. They constructed dikes to control freshwater flow. These rice plantations relied on slave labor. They flourished along tidal rivers.
You can still see the traces of this history. The well-engineered dikes remain. They are used by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service managers. They benefit today’s wildlife. The trunks, or water-control structures, were vital to the plantations. They controlled water flow between the river and rice fields.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers once built a tidal gate on the Back River. It was meant to act as a natural dredge. The gate was intended to force the river’s flow. This would flush sediment and reduce dredging. A freshwater diversion canal was built too. It was meant to supply the refuge with fresh water. But saltwater backed up further than expected. The gate was abandoned in 1990. Now, the diversion canal distributes fresh water. It supports the freshwater marsh.
The Little Back River is part of a larger story. The Savannah River splits into three forks. These are the Back River, the Middle River, and the Front River. The refuge includes the Middle and Back Rivers. The Front River is a deep shipping channel for the Port of Savannah.
The refuge faces challenges. Industries release toxins into the river. Dredging for cargo ships increases salinity. This threatens the freshwater ecosystem. Despite these challenges, the refuge thrives.
The Little Back River at Hog Island remains a haven for wildlife. Alligators sun themselves on the banks. Wading birds search for food. The refuge is an example of how man’s interference can benefit wildlife. Maintained impoundments offer food and shelter. They provide safe havens for wading birds.
The refuge is popular with bird watchers. They have recorded 260 species here. Winter is the best time for birding. Temperatures are milder. There is a greater variety of waterfowl. The refuge works to support wood duck populations. It provides nesting boxes.
Look around you. Consider the history. The Little Back River at Hog Island is more than just water. It is a story of nature, history, and human impact.