ACE Basin
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Basin (abbreviated as ACE Basin, spoken as ''ace basin'') is one of the largest undeveloped
estuaries An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environment ...
along the Atlantic Coast of the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. Located primarily in Colleton, Charleston, and
Beaufort Beaufort may refer to: People and titles * Beaufort (surname) * House of Beaufort, English nobility * Duke of Beaufort (England), a title in the peerage of England * Duke of Beaufort (France), a title in the French nobility Places Polar regions ...
counties in
South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...
, the Ashepoo,
Combahee The Combahee River ( ) is a short blackwater river in the southern Lowcountry region of South Carolina formed at the confluence of the Salkehatchie and Little Salkehatchie rivers near the Islandton community of Colleton County, South Carolina ...
and South Edisto rivers combine into the larger
St. Helena Sound Saint Helena Sound is a coastal inlet in the Lowcountry region South Carolina, located along the Atlantic Ocean between Beaufort County, South Carolina, Beaufort and Colleton County, South Carolina, Colleton counties. Located within the relativel ...
and drain a significant portion of the
Lowcountry The Lowcountry (sometimes Low Country or just low country) is a geographic and cultural region along South Carolina's coast, including the Sea Islands. The region includes significant salt marshes and other coastal waterways, making it an impor ...
region. The area is known for its natural environment and the preservation of its
marsh A marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p Marshes can often be found at ...
es,
wetland A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The ...
s, hardwood forests, and riverine systems and the fauna that occupy the area. A sizable portion of the ACE Basin has been protected via a public-private partnership with contributing properties. A collaboration of federal, state, local, and private efforts have led to the preservation of 250,000 acres of land, with stakeholders controlling various interests. The umbrella organization for these efforts is the ACE Basin Task Force.


History

Historically, the area was primarily agricultural, dominated by the plantation system. After the
Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
, only three plantation homes survived in the area, and much of the land became fertile ground for hunting and outdoor enthusiasts. Development pressures emerged in the 1970s and 1980s, prompting concerned citizens to petition local, state, and federal authorities to assist with preserving the basin. In 1988, a group of concerned citizens and advocacy groups formed the ACE Basin Task Force which further formalized the cause for preservation and conservation. What emerged from these efforts became the ACE Basin Project, comprising the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...
(USFWS), the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR),
The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. it works via affiliates or branches in 79 countries and territories, as well as across every state in the US. Founded in 1951, The Natu ...
,
Ducks Unlimited Ducks Unlimited (DU) is an American nonprofit organization 501(c) dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people. It has had a membership of around 700,000 since January 2013. ...
, and other private groups and companies to continue to collaborate on this endeavor. Among the more famous individuals that have contributed to land conservation efforts include
Ted Turner Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III (born November 19, 1938) is an American entrepreneur, television producer, media proprietor, and philanthropist. He founded the Cable News Network (CNN), the first 24-hour United States cable news, cable news ch ...
and the descendants of the
RR Donnelley R.R. Donnelley is an American Fortune 500 integrated communications company that provides marketing and business communications, commercial printing, and related services. Its corporate headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois, United State ...
estate, which set up a foundation to support conservation efforts in the ACE Basin and throughout the Lowcountry. During his tenure in office, South Carolina's U.S. Senator
Fritz Hollings Ernest Frederick "Fritz" Hollings (January 1, 1922April 6, 2019) was an American politician who served as a United States senator from South Carolina from 1966 to 2005. A conservative Democrat, he was also the 106th governor of South Carolina, ...
procured $53.8 million for conservation efforts in the ACE Basin. The task force celebrated 30 years of conservation efforts in December 2019. In November 2014, ''
National Geographic ''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
'' had a featured article celebrating 25 years of conservation efforts in the ACE Basin.Lowcountry Legacy
/ref>


Geography

The basin is located along the southern half of South Carolina's Atlantic coastline, situated between Charleston and
Beaufort Beaufort may refer to: People and titles * Beaufort (surname) * House of Beaufort, English nobility * Duke of Beaufort (England), a title in the peerage of England * Duke of Beaufort (France), a title in the French nobility Places Polar regions ...
. The basin's name comes after the three major rivers that drain the area: the Ashepoo, the Combahee, and the Edisto. These rivers drain primarily into the St. Helena Sound, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean between
Hunting Island Hunting is the human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/hide (skin), hide, ...
and
Edisto Island Edisto Island is one of South Carolina's Sea Islands, the larger part of which lies in Charleston County, with its southern tip in Colleton County. The town of Edisto Beach is in Colleton County, while the Charleston County part of the island is ...
. The basin's boundaries are roughly defined to include all of Edisto Island and running northwesterly towards Walterboro, then heading southwest towards Garden's Corner and Yemassee before heading back towards the ocean, including all of the St. Helena Sound and Hunting Island State Park. Of the that are comprised by this area, nearly half are officially monitored by the National Estuarine Research Reserve system.


Protected areas

Listed below is a partial list of protected areas in the ACE Basin, not including private conservation easements: The ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve was formed in 1992 and is a partnership between the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (abbreviated as NOAA ) is an United States scientific and regulatory agency within the United States Department of Commerce that forecasts weather, monitors oceanic and atmospheric conditio ...
(NOAA) and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). The reserve itself consists of over which consists of a mixture of upland and lowland that is publicly protected or privately owned. In essence, it is an
overlay Overlay may refer to: Computers *Overlay network, a computer network which is built on top of another network *Hardware overlay, one type of video overlay that uses memory dedicated to the application *Another term for exec, replacing one process ...
area and is not in direct control or ownership of any specific land area. NERR staff monitors indicators such as flora/fauna livelihood and water quality, provides educational and scientific support to visitors and researchers and offers training programs for conservationists and other stakeholders. The
Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge The Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge is a portion of the larger ACE Basin area, and the only portions that are federally protected. The wildlife refuge is divided into two units: the Edisto River unit and the Combahee River ...
is a federally protected,
national wildlife refuge National Wildlife Refuge System is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the system of public lands and waters set aside to c ...
made up of two units: the Edisto River unit () and the Combahee River unit (). The refuge operates an office out of the Grove Plantation House which receives visitors and hosts various educational and scientific programs and research projects. The Bear Island Wildlife Management Area is a reserve that is managed by SCDNR. The area is open to the public from early February to late October and is a popular spot for hiking, biking, birding, fishing, and hunting. A wide variety of waterfowl species inhabit the area. The area shuts down periodically for special hunts. The
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area Donnelley Wildlife Management Area or Donnelley WMA is an undeveloped natural area in Colleton County, South Carolina near the unincorporated area of Green Pond. Named after Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley who were instrumental in leading land prese ...
is an reserve that is managed by SCDNR. The area is open to the public year-round, however hunting season from early November to early February restricts access for hikers, bikers, horseback riders, and other non-hunting activities. The area is named after the Donnelley family, which was instrumental in the ACE Basin Project's history and features a wide mix of landscapes and fauna. The St. Helena Sound Heritage Preserve is a area managed by SCDNR that consists of several small upland and lowland islands located along the northern shore of the St. Helena Sound. These islands are far-reaching and offer archery hunting for deer (November only) and primitive camping opportunities. Otter Island in particular has further protections due to its unique and rare plant species and its historic status. Additional contributing properties include: *Edisto Interpretive Center *
Edisto Beach State Park Edisto Beach State Park is located on the coast of South Carolina, south of Charleston, near the town of Edisto Beach in Colleton County. The park offers South Carolina's longest system of handicapped accessible hiking and biking trails. The ...
*Great Swamp Sanctuary *
Hunting Island State Park Hunting Island is a secluded semitropical barrier island located east of Beaufort, South Carolina, United States in between Harbor Island and Fripp Island. Since 1935, it has been classified as a state park. It is the most-visited state p ...
*Ravenel Caw Caw Interpretive Center


Access

The principal road through the ACE Basin is
U.S. Highway 17 U.S. Route 17 or U.S. Highway 17 (US 17), also known as the Coastal Highway, is a north–south United States Highway that spans in the southeastern United States. It runs close to the East Coast of the United States, Atlantic Co ...
(the ACE Basin Parkway), which skirts the northern reaches of the protected areas and providing transportation connection between the areas clustered around Charleston,
Beaufort Beaufort may refer to: People and titles * Beaufort (surname) * House of Beaufort, English nobility * Duke of Beaufort (England), a title in the peerage of England * Duke of Beaufort (France), a title in the French nobility Places Polar regions ...
and
Savannah A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the Canopy (forest), canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to rea ...
. Small hamlets do exist in the ACE Basin, including the communities of Bennetts Point, Green Pond, Jacksonboro, Wiggins and
Willtown Bluff Willtown Bluff, also known as Wilton and New London, is a historic settlement site located on the S. Edisto River near Adams Run, Charleston County, South Carolina. Founded about 1704, it was the second planned town to be established after the ...
. The largest community in close proximity is Walterboro, accessible via S.C. Highway 303 and S.C. Highway 64. There are 23 boat landings in the region, mostly maintained by state or county government agencies. Four of these landings are canoe or kayak launch only.


References


External links


ACE Basin Project
- provides general information about the ACE Basin
Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife RefugeBear Island Wildlife Management AreaDonnelley Wildlife Management AreaSt. Helena Sound Heritage PreserveGaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
{{authority control Protected areas of Beaufort County, South Carolina Protected areas of Charleston County, South Carolina Protected areas of Colleton County, South Carolina Protected areas of Hampton County, South Carolina National Wildlife Refuges in South Carolina Wetlands of South Carolina Landforms of Beaufort County, South Carolina Landforms of Charleston County, South Carolina Landforms of Colleton County, South Carolina Landforms of Hampton County, South Carolina