During the 1800's, milling and logging was a common occupation in this region and numerous historic milling sites have been identified on Fort Gordon. The trail's location within a wetland and adjacent to an upland Sand Hills region provides a vivid representation of the variety of habitats on Fort Gordon. The beaver pond adjacent to the trail is a 25-acre wetland providing habitat for beavers, herons, egrets, bats, owls, otters, woodpeckers, and a wide variety of other birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish. In addition, this wetland provides suitable habitat for some of the rare and protected species on Fort Gordon, including the Southeastern Bat, Bald Eagle, Southeastern American Kestrel, and Atlantic White Cedar. Wetlands, including swamps, marshes, bogs, and pocosins, serve many purposes in addition to providing habitat for wildlife and aesthetic beauty for our outdoor enjoyment.
Wetlands serve as buffers, absorbing much of the damage from storms and floods.
They also function as natural filters, cleaning water used by both humans and wildlife of many dangerous pollutants. Current agriculture, development, and mining practices, however, are draining wetlands at an alarming rate in the United States. Fortunately, political and social efforts are underway to protect and preserve this vital resource for humans and wildlife. The following are species commonly observed at the Sandy Run Wildlife Viewing Area.