The bottomland hardwood stands in the Coastal Plain of South Carolina have experienced harvesting once or more since the European colonization of the state. With the introduction of steam locomotives and rehaul skidding in the early 1900's, intensive harvesting occurred throughout much of the coastal plain bottomland forests. The stands regenerated after these harvesting operations are again reaching commercial maturity. Because large areas are being harvested in a relatively short time span, public awareness of bottomland forestry activities has been heightened.
Braided streams have multiple channels that interconnect like the strands of a braid.
These systems generally have broad valleys with well-defined floodplains. High water tables for much of the year result in soils with high organic content. Overland flows generally occur during the winter and spring. A permit is required to cross any navigable stream, and landowners and forestry operators should carefully evaluate their proposed forest management activities in these systems to determine if a consultation with DHEC or the COE is required. South Carolina Forestry Commission foresters are available to assist landowners and forestry operators to determine if a consultation is necessary.