Janet Harrison High Pond Heritage Preserve was established by the DNR's Heritage Trust Program to protect a Carolina bay, the high pond vegetative community occurring within the bay, and populations of several rare plant species. These species are harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum), pink tickseed (Coreopsis rosea), Florida false loosestrife (Ludwigia spathulata), dwarf burhead (Echinodorus parvulus), slender arrowhead (Sagittaria isoetiformis), and Robbins'spikerush, (Eleocharis robbinsii). The main element of concern on the preserve is harperella. The term "high pond" is a colloquial name used to denote Carolina bays found in the northwestern coastal plain of the state. The preserve encompasses 30.11 acres in northern Aiken County. Aiken County is located in the upper part of the coastal plain physiographic province in the western part of South Carolina along the border with Georgia. A windmill located near the tract (on the south side of Carolina Bay Trail) is a local landmark, and has led to the preserve being colloquially-known as "Windmill High Pond." The preserve is named to honor Janet Harrison, a prominent ecologist who worked at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (now deceased). High ponds are characterized as distinct physiographic depressions occurring on relatively-flat, generally well-drained upland ridges. High ponds tend to be one of the most threatened ecosystems in the state. Only 3 high ponds in South Carolina remain in a natural-enough condition to warrant protection. Attempts to protect the other 2 high ponds have been unsuccessful. Depression meadows are vegetative communities described as rounded or irregularly-shaped wetlands with widely fluctuating water levels dominated by emergent grasses and sedges.