Along the way, the canal passed through Savannah’s 19th century industrial corridor, former rice fields, timber tracts, and a still lush tidal river swamp and adjacent sandhill environment that is the characteristic habitat for several unique species of flora and fauna.

Numerous problems (such as decay of wooden locks and repeated erosion of embankments) plagued the canal during its early days of operation.

Heavy June rains seriously damaged the canal embankments in 1876 coupled with a yellow fever epidemic which fatally inflicted over 1,000 individuals.

[2] Now a century after the canal ceased commercial operations, local citizens have started to restore and interpret the waterway and its natural environment.

Currently most of the effort is expended at the Ogeechee River terminus near Lock 5 where the Savannah–Ogeechee Canal Museum & Nature Center at 681 Fort Argyle Rd, Savannah, is open.