operations Under the Weeks Laiv. 7^y 



Savannah fairly free from sediment, depending upon the con- 

 dition of the drainage basin of the individual stream. This supply 

 of water is fairly uniform and regular, and is most abundant at 

 the season of low water of the river. It is therefore clear that 

 protection of the forests of this area will tend toward preserving 

 and promoting the navigability of the Savannah River. 



Summary. 



1. Within the Savannah Reserve forest-covered slopes, if pro- 

 tected from fire, do not contribute enough sediment to streams to 

 endanger their navigability. 



2. The soils of the area are for the most part sandy and loose 

 and are thus susceptible to rapid erosion. Much active erosion 

 is now in progress, due largely to burning and clearing forest 

 lands, to cultivation of steep slopes, to pasturing the mountain 

 lands, and to the presence of fallow fields. 



3. In this area the vegetal covering afforded by the forests un- 

 doubtedly tends to conserve the rainfall by increasing the delivery 

 to the sub-soil and thus promoting regularity of stream flow. 



4. Forest control within the area examined will lessen the sedi- 

 ment which is at present being contributed to the Savannah, and 

 will prevent future increase of such sediment. 



Conclusion. — From the examination of the proposed Savannah 

 Reserve, as outlined at the beginning of the present report, it is 

 concluded that Federal control of lands comprised therein will 

 tend to protect and promote the navigability of the Savannah 

 River. 



