ACE Basin facts for kids
The Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Basin (called the ACE Basin) is one of the biggest natural areas along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. It's a huge estuary, which is where a river meets the sea. This special place is mostly in Colleton, Charleston, and Beaufort counties in South Carolina.
The Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto rivers all flow together here. They join up to form the larger St. Helena Sound. This area is famous for its amazing natural environment. It has lots of marshes, wetlands, thick forests, and river systems. Many different animals live here too. About 350,000 acres (1,400 km2) make up this important basin.
A big part of the ACE Basin is protected. This has happened because many groups, both public and private, have worked together. Federal, state, and local groups, along with private organizations, have helped save 250,000 acres of land. The main group leading these efforts is the ACE Basin Task Force.
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History of the ACE Basin
For a long time, the ACE Basin area was mostly farmland. Big farms called plantations grew crops here. After the Civil War, only a few plantation homes were left. Much of the land then became a popular spot for hunting and outdoor fun.
In the 1970s and 1980s, people started to worry about new buildings and development. This made concerned citizens ask for help from local, state, and federal governments. They wanted to save the basin. In 1988, a group of citizens and other organizations formed the ACE Basin Task Force. This group helped make the plan to protect the area official.
Their work led to the ACE Basin Project. Many groups joined this project to help with conservation. These include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). Other groups like The Nature Conservancy and Ducks Unlimited also helped.
Some famous people have also helped save land here. These include Ted Turner and the family of RR Donnelley. The Donnelley family even started a foundation to support conservation in the ACE Basin. During his time as a U.S. Senator for South Carolina, Fritz Hollings helped get $53.8 million for conservation efforts in the ACE Basin.
The task force celebrated 30 years of conservation work in December 2019. In November 2014, National Geographic magazine wrote a special article. It celebrated 25 years of protecting the ACE Basin.
Geography of the ACE Basin
The ACE Basin is located on the southern coast of South Carolina. It sits between the cities of Charleston and Beaufort. The basin gets its name from the three main rivers that flow through it. These are the Ashepoo, the Combahee, and the Edisto rivers.
These rivers mostly flow into the St. Helena Sound. The St. Helena Sound then empties into the Atlantic Ocean. This happens between Hunting Island and Edisto Island.
The edges of the basin include all of Edisto Island. They stretch northwest towards Walterboro. Then they go southwest towards Garden's Corner and Yemassee. Finally, they head back towards the ocean, including all of the St. Helena Sound and Hunting Island State Park. The total area is about 350,000 acres (1,400 km2). Nearly half of this area is watched over by the National Estuarine Research Reserve system.
Protected Areas in the ACE Basin
Many important areas in the ACE Basin are protected. These areas help keep the environment safe for wildlife and people. Here are some of them:
ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve
The ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve was created in 1992. It is a team effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). This reserve covers over 140,000 acres (570 km2). It includes both high and low lands. Some of this land is publicly protected, and some is privately owned. The reserve staff checks on plants, animals, and water quality. They also offer education and science support to visitors and researchers.
Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge
The Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge is a federally protected area. It is an national wildlife refuge that covers 11,815 acres (47.81 km2). It has two parts: the Edisto River unit (7,200 acres or 29 km2) and the Combahee River unit (4,564 acres or 18.47 km2). The refuge has an office at the Grove Plantation House. Visitors can come here for educational programs and research projects.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area
The Bear Island Wildlife Management Area is a 12,021-acre (48.65 km2) reserve. It is managed by SCDNR. This area is open to the public from early February to late October. It is a popular place for hiking, biking, bird watching, fishing, and hunting. Many different kinds of waterfowl (birds that live near water) live here. Sometimes, the area closes for special hunting events.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area
The Donnelley Wildlife Management Area is an 8,041-acre (32.54 km2) reserve. It is also managed by SCDNR. This area is open to the public all year. However, during hunting season (early November to early February), access is limited for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. The area is named after the Donnelley family. They were very important in the history of the ACE Basin Project. It has many different landscapes and animals.
St. Helena Sound Heritage Preserve
The St. Helena Sound Heritage Preserve is a 10,301-acre (41.69 km2) area. It is managed by SCDNR. This preserve includes several small islands along the northern shore of the St. Helena Sound. These islands offer opportunities for archery hunting for deer (only in November) and simple camping. Otter Island, in particular, has extra protection. This is because it has rare plants and is historically important.
Other places that help protect the ACE Basin include:
- Edisto Interpretive Center
- Edisto Beach State Park
- Great Swamp Sanctuary
- Hunting Island State Park
- Ravenel Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Accessing the ACE Basin
The main road through the ACE Basin is U.S. Highway 17. This road is also called the ACE Basin Parkway. It runs along the northern edge of the protected areas. It connects the areas around Charleston, Beaufort, and Savannah.
There are small towns in the ACE Basin. These include Bennetts Point, Green Pond, Jacksonboro, Wiggins, and Willtown Bluff. The biggest nearby town is Walterboro. You can get to Walterboro using S.C. Highway 303 and S.C. Highway 64.
There are 23 boat landings in the 350,000-acre (1,400 km2) region. Most of these are kept up by state or county governments. Four of these landings are only for launching canoes or kayaks.
See Also
- Ashepoo River
- Combahee River
- Edisto River
- Saint Helena Sound
