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The Black River originates at the conjunction of several minor swamps just to the south of the city of Bishopville, South Carolina, flowing southeasterly on the coastal plain of South Carolina to empty into the Pee Dee River north of Georgetown, South Carolina. The valley distance is about 65 miles (105 km); however, the channel is slightly more than double this length, due to meanders.
Significant tributaries are Rocky Bluff Swamp, the Pocotaligo River, Pudding Swamp, Kingstree Swamp Canal, and Black Mingo Creek. The river was a major route for commerce until at least the mid-19th century, being navigable up to Kingstree, South Carolina.
The Black River flows through the counties of Lee, Sumter, Clarendon, Williamsburg, and Georgetown. It is a free-flowing blackwater river shouldered by a ribbon of dense, undisturbed swamp forest. The water is stained with inky black color due to organic chemicals known as tannins leached from tree leaves and other organic material decomposing in the surrounding swamps. This river has white sandbars at low water levels and unique alternating broad, lake-like areas and narrow streams. This ribbon of wild and undeveloped land provides high quality habitat for a variety of plant and animal species including some rare, threatened and endangered species such as American chaffseed and the swallow-tailed kite.
The upper river is excellent for sport fishing; however there is a DHEC advisory for the entire river, limiting the amount of fish that should be consumed each week, due to mercury pollution. The lower part of the river is poorer for fishing, due to low oxygen content and pollution, including zinc, chromium, fecal coliform bacteria, pesticides, and turbidity. The watershed is forested or agricultural, with high levels of pesticide use for tobacco and cotton.
The lower part of the river, below Kingstree is tidal. Important rice plantations were sited along this waterway in the 18th and 19th centuries; a few plantations still exist. In early years naval stores and timber were important products, being marketed to the world through the port of Georgetown.
The Black River Swamp Preserve is located in Georgetown County near Andrews, South Carolina. The preserve consists of 1,276 acres (5.16 km²) along the Black River, dominated by mature bald cypress, swamp tupelo gum, oak, red maple, sweet gum and other hardwoods. The area contains nine unique old grown virgin loblolly pine islands or hammocks. Individual trees on these hammocks reach 30"–34" (760–860 mm) in diameter at breast height. The Black River Swamp Preserve supports small-to-moderate populations of three rare plant species: sarvis holly, false dragonhead, and riverband quillwort. This is the only known location of the riverbank quillwort in South Carolina. The American Alligator, another threatened species, makes its home in this preserve.
This stretch of river is also thought to be used by the endangered shortnose sturgeon. Other species of interest in the Black River Swamp include the wood duck, yellow water lily, and various wading birds. In June 2001, a 75-mile (120 km) segment of the Black River became South Carolina's seventh and longest State Scenic River. It is a favored spot for canoeing and kayaking, being wooded and fairly wild for most of its length.
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