century. inthe21strepresents ourgeneration’scontributiontotheenhancementofsociety BasinProject. are beingpreservedthroughtheACE cemeteriesandchurches homes,forts, landmarkssuchasoldplantation and cultural basinproject. ofthetotal portion Publicland acquisitionconstitutesonly alimited efforts. management andprotection requireintensive habitats uniqueresourcecomponents andcritical because Project isanessentialelementofthe Publicownershipof property opportunities. educational and forested wetlands,fresh,brackishandsaltmarshes)whileimproving recreational place. maybesoldorinherited,butconservationeasements remainin Easement properties benefits. charitable tions, conservationeasementsmayentitlelandownerstocertain landsforfuturegenera- ofprotecting to providing landownerswiththesatisfaction fishing.Inaddition andrecreation huntingandcommercial management, agriculture, traditionallandusessuchastimber whilesustaining wildlifehabitat, and protect topreservethenatural values vation easements.Easementsareperpetualrestrictions conser- throughmeasuresincluding acres morethan60,000 owners haveprotected in1991.randum ofunderstanding withamemo- owner inthebasinandformally endorsedtheconceptsofProject vation andresourcestewardship.Westvaco corporationisthelargestprivateland inwildlifeconser- programs researchandeducational Wildlife Foundationconduct ofthenonprofitNemours The biologists easements andstewardshipagreements. throughconservation theirproperties work withprivatelandownersinprotecting National Wildlife Refuge.These areasprovide acres. publicaccesstonearly 50,000 Basin managestheACE BasinNationalEstuarineResearchReserve.The USFWS ACE oftheTask managementbyrepresentatives habitat Forcemembers. inwildlife assistance privatelandownersareprovidedvate Lands technical Program, inacquiringmany ofthelandsavailableforpublicaccess.Throughagencies thePri- withpublicresource workedclosely DucksUnlimitedandTNC phases oftheProject. fishing andhuntingwillcontinueinthearea. andcommercial ensure thattraditionalusessuchasfarming,forestry,recreational isto efforts Amajorgoaloftheprotection byconservationagencies. tracts strategic the basinbypromotingwiseresourcemanagementonprivatelandsandprotecting of thenaturalcharacter 1998. istomaintain BasinProject The missionoftheACE Open Land Trust (LOLT) andNemoursWildlife FoundationjoinedtheTask Forcein BasinTaskcoalition knownastheACE Force.Westvaco Corporation,theLowcountry andprivatelandownersformeda theU.S.FishandWildlife Service(USFWS) (SCDNR), ofNaturalResources theSouthCarolinaDepartment (TNC), Nature Conservancy Great Placesprogram. Last ecosystemunderThe NatureConservancy’s been designatedasaworldclass Basinalsohas Waterfowl ManagementPlan.The American ACE under theNorth theseformerricefieldshavebeenidentifiedforprotection towaterfowl, importance tion oflandstewardshiphascontinuedthroughoutthe20thcentury. oftheir Because the formerricefieldsandadjacentuplandareasforawiderangeofwildlife. This tradi- ashuntingretreats.Themany newownerssuccessfully oftheplantations managed inthelate1800s, declined Afterthericeculture culture. purchased wealthy sportsmen uses. sturgeon,andoffersavarietyofrecreational andshortnose sea turtles asbaldeagles,woodstorks,ospreys,loggerhead endangered andthreatenedspecies such and shellfishresources. The basinhostsawealthofwildliferesources,including forarichdiversityoffinfish provides invaluablehabitat largest ofitstypeinthestate, tidal marshes,barrierislandsandbeaches.The basin’suniqueestuarinesystem,the ing pineandhardwooduplands,forestedwetlands,fresh,brackishsaltwater Large-scale protection of these exceptional natural resource and cultural values oftheseexceptionalnaturalresourceandcultural protection Large-scale isrichinhistory. valueofthebasin, theregion Historic In additiontotheecological diversity(uplands, andenhancehabitat managedlandsservetomaintain Publicly oftheBasin.Land- ownersplaythelargestroleinprotection Private property andtheLowcountryDucks Unlimited,The OpenLand NatureConservancy, Trust managesDonnelleyandBearIslandWildlife ManagementAreasandthe SCDNR Task inall support andlogistical Forcemembersprovide eachotherwithtechnical The waslaunchedwhenDucksUnlimited(DU), In 1988, BasinProject theACE In themid-1700s anddikedforrice theriverswerecleared tidalswampsbordering - includ ofdiversehabitats Basinconsistsofapproximately acres The 350,000 ACE DNR Project Basin The ACE T Updated May 2009 Updated May2009 Design: Graphics Editors: . ofthe one ofthelargestundeveloped estuariesontheeastcoast he Ashepoo, Combahee and South Edisto (ACE) Basinrepresents he Ashepoo,CombaheeandSouthEdisto(ACE) Pete Laurie, Dean Harrigal SC Department ofNatural Resources Department SC Pete Laurie, DeanHarrigal National Oceanic&AtmosphericAdministration www.dnr.sc.gov Department ofNatural Resources S.C. Department ofNaturalResources S.C. Department Funding for Printing Provided by: Glen Connelly SC Department ofNaturalResources Department SC Glen Connelly Harry HamptonMemorial DNR www.dnr.sc.gov Mead 09-6625

Dean Harrigal are April – June. For (843) information 844-8957.contact walk can through the with property ease. The best months for viewing nesting birds for downstream rice fields. The reserve now provides nesting for habitat the wood stork. gum cypress-tupelo swamp was in created the 1800's to provide a freshwater reserve of bald gum cypress-tupelo swamp and 323 of acres mixed upland forest. The bald osprey, including anhinga, and egrets, blue great great herons. South Carolina. It also provides nesting and feeding for habitat numerous other birds to one protect of the top nesting colonies of the federally endangered wood stork in Preserve Dungannon Heritage a.m. -4:00p.m.http://ACEBASIN.fws.gov Monday-Friday,7:30 P.O. (843)889-3084, orcall 29449, Hollywood, Box SC 848, andnaturestudy.wildlife observation,photography, creeks andfreshwaterstreams,alimitedhuntingseason, fishinginthetidal include ispermittedthroughouttheyear. opportunities to tidalwatersbyboat Recreational Places. ofHistorical itontheNationalRegister ensured itspreservationbyplacing BasinthatsurvivedtheCivilWar.antebellum mansionsintheACE Formerowners some forestunderstories. edgezones,hardwoodandshrubplanting,burningof tocreate trees, clearing thinningof selective Forestmanagementincludes various wetlandwildlifespecies. amphibians, andplants. andresidentbirds,mammals,reptiles, othermigratory winteringwaterfowl, species, andmanagedforendangered aremaintained foradiversityofwildlife.Habitats tats BasinNationalWildlife Refuge ACE 29446. Green Pond,SC daylight hours.Telephone: (843)844-8957. DonnelleyDr., 585 Address:SCDNR, 31, indesignatedareasfromFeburary9-October general publicvisitation during Two observationplatformsandmilesofdikesprovide access.The areaisopenfor baldeagles,wadingbirds,shorebirdsandsongbirds. waterfowl, watching, attracting deer,mourningdove andsmallgame.Thetailed diverseareaprovides excellentbird forthehuntingandnonhuntingpublic. opportunities provide recreational andto foruplandgameandnongamespecies; and baldeagles;toprovide habitat suchaswood­ threatenedandendangeredspecies wetland wildlifeincluding lands. ofagricultural acres and 404 oftidalmarsh,1,227 ofmanagedwetlands,5,005acres acres ofwoodlands acres ofNaturalResources.The 12,021-acrelina Department consists of5,385 property Bear IslandWildlife ManagementArea DonnelleyDr., 29446. 585 GreenPond, SC Address: SCDNR, ture Trail November 1throughFebruary9.Officetelephone843-844-8957. isclosed dove, smallgameandfurbearers. turkey, waterfowl, deer,wild vember. areavailabletothepublicforwhite-tailed Huntingopportunities the managedwetlandsandaremostoftenseenfromlateFebruarythroughmid-No songbirds.Alligatorsareabundantin andmigratory waterfowl including of species winter throughearly toobserveavariety springprovides birdwatchingopportunities Late roadsforhikersandbicyclists. two designatednaturetrailsandmilesofdirt The areahas andeducation. wide varietyofwildlifeandtoprovide publicrecreation longleaf pine. of anaturalstand lands,andavarietyofuplandforesttypes,including agricultural managedricefields,forestedwetlands,tidalmarsh, of wetlandanduplandhabitats: Elanco andtheNationalFishWildlife Foundation. FishandWildlife Service,Dow theUnitedStates The NatureConservancy, include ofthisWMA cooperatingintheestablishment Othergroups the DonnelleyWMA. landowners ofthemanagementarea. theprincipal ments withDucksUnlimited,andtheU.S.Army CorpsofEngineers, - throughagree ismanagedbytheSCDNR thecontinent.DonnelleyWMA across andconservation BasinProject Dorothy forthecontributionstheymadetoACE nearthemainentrance. kiosk located 17. andUS 303 ofSC ofthejunction north Allguestsarerequiredtocheckinatthe Colleton CountynearGreenPond.The mainentrancetotheareaisimmediately Donnelley Wildlife ManagementArea For more information write: Refuge Manager, ACE BasinNationalWildlife Refuge, For moreinformationwrite:RefugeManager,ACE The publicispermittedtovisittherefugeyear-round,duringdaylighthours.Access housebuiltin The refugeoffice,aformerriceplantation isoneofonly three 1828, conditionsfavoredby Impoundments (formerly ricefields)aremanagedforhabitat BasinNationalWildlife RefugeismanagedtoprovideThe acomplexofhabi- ACE drawingonly), white- (byspecial waterfowl includes Public huntingontheWMA andother The forwinteringwaterfowl, areaismanagedtoprovide qualityhabitat Bear IslandWildlife ManagementAreaisownedandoperatedbytheSouthCaro- hunts,thisareaisopendurngdaylighthours.Boynton Na- Except duringspecial fora toprovide optimumhabitat The areaisintensively managedbytheDNR ofthelowcountry,encompassingadiversity section isacross This uniqueproperty The NationalWild Turkey Federationpurchasedanddonatedadditionallandto isnamedinhonorofthelateGaylordDonnelleyandhiswife Donnelley WMA ineastern islocated DonnelleyWildlife ManagementArea(WMA) The 8,048-acre Dungannon Heritage Dungannon Preserve Heritage several contains excellent trails where the visitor Dungannon Preserve Heritage consists of two primary types: habitat 320 acres The Dungannon 643-acre Preserve Heritage in Charleston County was acquired For more information on these and the managed rest of the DNR lands, please visit . https://www.dnr.sc.gov/mlands/lookup/ storks

Dean Harrigal -

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Savannah Hwy., Ravenel, 29470.SC (843)889-8898. Closed Mon & Tues. No pets allowed. or Individual bicycles admission is $1.00. 5200 such as otters and alligators. Hours are Wed-Fri 9am-3pm. Sat & Sun 9am-5pm. Caw InterpretiveCenter Charleston, SC 29422,(843)953-9001Charleston, SC formany terrestrialandaquaticspecies. contribute totheReserve’simportance development, sity coupledwiththeabsenceofindustrialpollutionandcommercial zone is128,000 diver- ofdiversenaturalandmanagedcommunities.Habitat acres more than13,000 The ofwetlandsanduplands,accessibleonly buffer byboat. acres time forests. marsh, alongwithfreshwaterwetlandsanduplandcommunitiesofpinemari than 140,000 ofsalt ofopenwater,70,000 acres acres 60,000 including acres, encompassesmore and managedbytheMarineResourcesDivisionofDNR, National EstuarineResearchReserve the center and it is open Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. to 4430 times inquire programs, current and about fees. There is no admission to Edisto Beach Park State and of Department Natural Resources staff. for classroom formal and informal that programs education are offered by both for Basin. visitors educating the Theabout ACE Center has a conference room and and of cultural Basin. aspects historical the ecological, ACE of tourists, educating residents, school and groups the general public the about Live Oak Landing. The Center opened to the public in May 2004 with the purpose The 8,000 square foot is facility on located Edisto Beach Park State near property and Recreation Tourism and the South Carolina of Department Natural Resources. Edisto InterpretiveCenter www.ccprc.com/cawcaw.htm Charleston CountyParks For more information contact theMarineResourcesDivision,P.O.For moreinformationcontact Box 12559, The coreareaiscomprisedofsevenmarshandbarrierislands,encompassing designatedin1992 BasinNationalEstuarineResearchReserve(NERR), The ACE The Edisto Interpretive Center offers a range of Please programs. (843) call 869- The Center an contains exhibit hall with videos, hands-on exhibits and aquaria The Edisto Interpretive Center is a joint between effort the South Carolina Parks, Boat Tour Route Legend Fields Point Cheehaw River The Caw Caw many other animals of species birds, and of plants, over 230 for over species 350 wildlife sanctuary Today, the site is a trunks, and canals. dikes, earthen rice evident today are the the 19th century. Still 18th and most of operated during the that plantations several former rice is comprised of Interpretive Center Brickyard - Phillip Jones S.C. Department of Natural Resources Freshwater fishingforredbreastandlargemouthbassisexcellent. tors mayrecognizesceneryfromthemovie “ForrestGump”astheypaddletheriver. uge andtherearemany oldbroken-bankedricefieldsavailableforexploration. Visi- BasinNationalWildlife Ref- severalsegmentsoftheACE months. The riverborders ous ospreysandMississippikites.Cruisingalligatorsarecommonduringthewarmer songbirdsandnumer- arecommon.Springbringsmigratory eagles andwaterfowl Wildlife” -Jan-Feb‘95).Duringthefallandwinter, (see CruisingtheCombahee-“SC more the information City contact of Walterboro at 843-549-2545 of north its with junction 95. Interstate The area is open from sunrise to sunset. For trail system. The area is 63 adjacent Hwy located (South to Jefferies US Blvd) just area for Theregrounds. foraging is a trail canoe and well developed 3 mile woodland during spring and fall Themigration. endangered wood American stork utilizes the numerous bird Thespecies. hardwood areas abundant support warbler populations a large population of wildlife deer, and white-tailed including beaver, bobcats spruce pine/mixed hardwoods. The area has a large of degree diversity and supports hardwood bottomland swamp along with adjacent areas of upland hardwoods and rivers that make up Basin the drainage. ACE The swamp consists of a braided stream the Great Swamp forms Sanctuary the headwaters of the Ashepoo River, one of the 3 Located within the limits city of Walterboro and only 5 minutes from 95, Interstate Great SwampSanctuary Paddling theACE The Combahee River and its tributaries arewellknownforabundantbirdlife The CombaheeRiveranditstributaries paddlers: toACE The followinghalf-daytripsrankamongthemostpopularandaccessible to “throw-in”or“haul-out”theirboats. withoutboatramps,requiringpaddlers Some ofthesetripsbeginorendinplaces banks. migrantsongbirdssingfromforestedcreek summer, tropical both Mississippiandswallow-tailedkitesglideabove thetreetops.Inspringand creeks, and fishinthe alligatorsbaskonthebanks.Insummer,ospreys days During thewinter,nestingbaldeaglessoarover alltheseareasandonsunny with season. vary wildlifespecies Some ofthemorespectacular P Trip: Highlights: Tide: Length: Land: 17-A,Launch: CountyLanding, US Yemassee Bennett’s Point fished withhisson.Severalsandbarsofferswimmingopportunties. ofLine CanalandtheCombaheeRiveriswhereForrest the junction main house,andlargeexpansesofbrokenricefields. The bluff at Harbor. White Hall,ColletonCounty NERR Field Station NERR and the area’s abundant natural beauty and cultural heritage. and thearea’sabundantnaturalbeautycultural toobserve wildlife, tributariesoffersoneofthebestways assorted addling a canoe or kayak on one of the ACE Basin’sthreerivers and orkayakononeoftheACE addling acanoe Put inonfallingtide.Tides are5-6hoursbehindCharleston Bear Island WMA near justbeyondBluffPlantation Line Canalbridge-Road66 5 hours US 17-AUS toLineCanal River view of Cherokee Plantation, boat house and boat River viewofCherokeePlantation, Steamboat Landing Dawhoo Landing Live OakLanding

Dean Harrigal Bird lifeontheriverisabundantandfreshwaterfishingexcellent. US ricefields. Astherivernears classic meanderingtidewaterriver.17, itwidensintoa give waytosmalltidewater bottomland hardwoodswhich of theriverflowthrough Ashepoo River The Ashepoo River is the smallest of the three rivers in the ACE. The upperreaches The AshepooRiveristhesmallestofthreeriversinACE. Highlights: Tide: Length: Land: Launch: Trip: Highlights: Tide: Length: Land: Launch: Trip: Highlights: Tide: Length: Land: Launch: Trip: Highlights: Tide: Length: Land: Colleton County Launch: Trip: Highlights: Tide: Length: Land: Launch: Trip: paddling moredifficult. make river. can Inthelowerreachesofriver,windandcurrents onabluffoverlooking the houseislocated Airy HallPlantation fresh/saltdividingline. markstheofficial AiryHallPlantation above theriver CoastLineenvironment. The whichcrosses oldSeaboard asyoupassfromfreshintomoresaline the changesinvegetation AfterenteringtheAshepoo,notice thecreek. bordering plantations rendered. This offeredschooneraccessfor relatively deepcreek asafeeforservices thecreek afarmbordering days wasgiven are 4-5hoursafterhightideinCharlestonHarbor. (Road 26).Roadsideparkingonly. land hardwoodsthenopenintooldtidewaterricefields. Charleston Harbor. 17may beadvisable.HightideattheUS bridgeis4-5hoursafter withthefallingtideinAshepoo but planningatriptocoincide trip. forashorter aswellanopportunity ground charged. ColletonCounty.sonboro, Roadsideparkingonly. forexploring. offer opportunities JustbelowBonnieDoonebrokendikericefields from thecanal. andhousemaybeviewed thegrounds Charleston BaptistAssoc., leads tohistoricBonnieDoonePlan­ totheleftwhich thelargecanal of thewaythroughtriptake three-quarters be highlighted by beautiful fall foliage. About trip can tomid-November hardwoods.AlateOctober, bottomland canopied hours behindCharlestonHarbor. is5-6 303 ting inonafallingtideisrecommended.The tideatSC toroadsidenearthebridge. Parking isrestricted paddling. make fordifficult Once Cuckhold’sCreekenterstheCombahee,windandtidescan afterputin. houseontherightisavailableshortly hee Plantation summer spiderliliesbloomalongthebanks.AviewofComba- bank ricefieldsavailableforexploring.Duringlatespringandearly 5-6 hoursbehindCharlestonHarbor. Charleston atlaunchsite. recommended forinexperiencedcanoeists. tion nearWhitehall, ColletonCounty Plantation on Beaufort side(formerhomeofW. onBeaufort Plantation Somerset It is important totravelonearly fallingtide.Tides atFeefarm It isimportant theupperreachesofHorseshoeCreek Tides donotaffect beaccomplishedduringanyThis tide.However,put- tripcan Launch onearly fallingtide.Tides atCuckhold’slandingare Recommended early falling tide only. Tides are 5 hours behind Brickyard BridgeLanding onRoad26. 17.Joe’s FishCampjusteastofUS Ampleparking;fee 17.Joe’s FishCampeastofUS Ampleparking-feecharged. Steel BridgeLanding, U.S.17, County Beaufort Steel BridgeLanding, U.S.17, County Beaufort 5-6 hours.Recommendedforkayaksonly. 3 hours.Price’sBridgelandingoffersaconvenientlunch 4-5 hoursbycanoe. 5-6 hours 5-6 hours by kayak. Experienced canoers, 8hours.Not 5-6 hoursbykayak.Experiencedcanoers, Throw-in atFeefarmCreekBridgeonBennett’sPointRoad 64bridgeonHorseshoeCreeknearJack- Throw-in atSC bridgenearRitterinColletonCounty. 303 Throw-in atSC nearWhiteCuckhold’s CreekLanding, Hall, Road66 - Throw-in atBluffPlanta atLine CanalbridgeonRoad66 Feefarm Creek toBrickyard Landing SC 64 to US 17 toUS 64 SC 17 toUS 303 SC 17Cuckhold’s Creek toUS Line CanaltoSteelBridge “Forrest Gump” scenery of Bluff Plantation, viewofParkers “Forrest Gump”sceneryofBluffPlantation, Feefarm Creek was named because a lawyer inearlier alawyer Feefarm Creekwasnamedbecause bottom- canopy closed The upperreachesflowthrough The early stretchesofthepaddleflowthroughdensely inCuckhold’sCreekwithbroken Excellent birdhabitat ­ ta tion. Nowownedbythe Maugham).

Dean Harrigal opportunities, thetwobelowareeasyone-halfdaytrips. opportunities, While therearenumerousfloattrip America. longest trueblackwaterriverinNorth way for about 0.9milestoDayMarker#177.way forabout The impoundmentsontheleft poo/Coosaw CutatDayMarker#173. Water HerethetrailfollowsIntracoastal - the trailpassestheotherendofAshe- alongthecreek Island. Anothermilefarther ofSouthHutchinson mound tothewest(left).The marshexpanseontherightispart experienceroughwaterduringbadweather. sidesofthechannel.This areacan both ontheextensivemudandshellflats tide lookforavarietyofshorebirdsforaging Atlow Creek. This channelshouldbenavigatedwiththeaidofacompass andchart. gullsmostly replacethelaughinggullsofsummer.gulls andBoneparte’s whileherringgulls,ring-billed cormorants,commonloonsandscaup, double-crested overhead. Inthewinter,lookfor terns, andForster’saslaughinggullscruise royal terns,Caspian grounds forpelicans, waters ofthesoundprovide goodfishing approximately 0.4milestoDayMarker#1. Duringspringandsummertheopen the southandMorganIslandtowest.ContinueintoSt.HelenaSoundfor #2. OtterIslandfacestheAtlanticOceanandSt.HelenaSound. appearsontheleftatDayMarker oftheNERR, the AshepooRiver,OtterIsland,part 1.5 ontheleft.About themarshgrass becomes visibleacross southon milesfarther South EdistoRiver. theAshepooRiver tothe Fenwick IslanddividedbyCutwhichconnects inthe1940s.Engineers son IslandisdividedbytheAshepoo/CoosawCut,dugU.S.Army Corpsof Hutchinson Island-Southontheright.Privately-owned Hutchin- #166. FenwickIslandontheleftandNorth seeNorth youcan Atthislocation 1.4 Waterway oftheIntracoastal ontherightatDayMarker milestotheintersection south, enteringtheAshepooRiver. Turning east,orseaward,travelapproximately clams inthisarea. and required tofishfromaprivate boatortogatheroysters FisheriesStampis The trailoffersgoodfishingatseveral spots.AMarineRecreational Bennett’s PointLanding. 1.1 istheentrancetoMosquitoCreek,returningyou milespastthesestructures houseand barnsofHutchinsonIslandontheright.Approximatelythe dock,club tinues ontheright.Approximately 1.4 milesdownstreamtheAshepooRiver passes HutchinsonIslandcon- of BearIslandWildlife ManagementAreaontheleft.North tolerant ofhighsalinity. whichisnotas dominates highersalinityareas,changestoblackneedle rush(juncus) which (spartina) and alligators.Inthisareaoflowersalinity,saltmarsh cordgrass wadingbirds,shrimp,crabs of RockCreekisabundantwithestuarinelife,including beseen.Thisand ontheleft,backsideofBoulderIslandcomplex can section byitsownersandguests.Approximatelyand recreation 0.5milespastBeetIsland HutchinsonIsland,privately-owned andusedforhunting ofNorth Creek arepart impoundmentsanduplandsontherightthroughoutremainderofRock terfowl incoming tide. only on an andattemptthissection than20feetshouldusecaution Boats greater meandering forapproximately 5.6milesuntilrejoiningtheupperAshepooRiver. ofRockCreekbecomesnarrowandshallow, again enterRockCreek.This section Boating Trail dredge spoil pumped from the Intracoastal Waterwaydredge spoilpumpedfromtheIntracoastal duringmaintenance. The Edisto is the largest of the three rivers forming the ACE Basinandisthe The EdistoisthelargestofthreeriversformingACE Continue upRockCreekapproximately 1.6 milestoAsheIsland,anaturalshell Turn west(orright)aroundDayMarker#1andenteranarrowchannelintoRock Parkto IslandandHuntingState seeHarbor From thissamespotyoucan Continuing eastontheAshepooRiver,travelanother1.3 milesuntilPineIsland Continue eastontheAshepooRiverforapproximately 1.6 milestoprivately-owned fromBennett’sPointPublicBoatLanding onMosquitoCreekandhead Depart This tripisanidealhalf-dayoutingwith stopsalongthewaytofishorviewwildlife. Rock Creekeventually returnstotheAshepooRiver. Here,turnrightwithaview beseenandaccessedontheleft.The marshes,wa- BeetIslandcan NERR-owned Turn orright,atDayMarker#177, north, Waterway, leavetheIntracoastal and be runonarisingtidetoavoid beingstranded. thetrailshould ofshallowwaterinsomesections, Because highly recommended. anddepthfinderare feetinlength,andanavigationalchart boats morethan20 T Highlights: Tide: Length: Land: Launch: Trip: Highlights: Tide: Length: Land: Launch: Trip: of theearliestsettlementsinSouthCarolina. Willtown Bluffisthesiteofone theriveralongthissection. border toexplore.LargeThere riceplantations arenumeroussmallcreeks behind CharlestonHarbor. County woods. Alatefallfloatmayofferbeautifulautumncolors. fauna typical ofthisenvironment. Thetrailshouldnotbeattemptedby fauna typical andtheflora Reserve (NERR), Basin NationalEstuarineResearch his 15-mile oftheACE routeallows smallboatoperatorstoviewmuch Put inonearly fallingtide.Tides atPenny Creekare2hours Tide is3-4hoursbehindCharlestonHarbor Willtown BluffLanding attheendofRoad55inCharleston Westbank inColletonCounty Landing offRoad30 3 hoursbycanoe 3-4 hours by canoe depending on river currents andtide dependingonrivercurrents 3-4 hoursbycanoe Penny inCharlestonCounty CreekLanding offRoad38 Martins Landing off Road 38 inCharlestonCounty Landing offRoad38 Martins Penny Creek toWilltown Bluff Martins LandingtoWestbank The small creek widensandemptiesintotheEdisto. The smallcreek This stretch of the river flows through bottomland hard- This stretchoftheriverflowsthrough drain the

Dean Harrigal Boat Landings 1. Beaufort County Landing 13. Highway 64 (Canoe Launch) Driving the ACE Basin 2. Line Canal (Canoe Launch) 14. Fee Farm (Canoe Launch) 3. Sugar Hill 15. Brickyard East Side 4. Cuckolds Creek 16. Bennett’s Point 5. Steel Bridge (Hwy. 17) 17. Martin Landing Although the majority of the ACE Basin’s Road 26 passes the gates to several large plantations, most 6. Wimbee Creek 18. Westbank 350,000 acres are in private ownership or ac- developed to grow rice but, since about the turn of the century, 7. Fields Point 19. Penny Creek cessible only by boat, several roadways probe managed for wildlife. Many private landowners in the ACE Basin 8. Cheehaw River 20. Willtown Bluff the heart of the basin, offering glimpses of have signed conservation easements which ensure that these eco- 9. Highway 303 (Canoe Launch) 21. Live Oak Landing the area’s varied habitats. The route we have logically significant properties will remain undeveloped. 10. Joe’s Fish Camp (Fee) 22. Dawhoo Landing 11. Chessey Creek 23. Steamboat Landing chosen requires some backtracking, but return Back at US 17 turn left. After about three miles pass (on the left) 12. Price’s Bridge trips present new viewing angles and another the entrance to Donnelley WMA managed by the Department of chance to observe the abundant wildlife. Be- Natural Resources. Donnelley is a cross-section of the lowcountry cause most of the ACE Basin consists of private and encompasses a variety of habitats. The area provides a variety property, our tour follows public roads with of wildlife-related opportunities. (See section on Donnelley WMA). stops at boat landings and other public access points. Older or phys- ically impaired wildlife watchers may easily enjoy the sights and After another .7 mile, we turn left onto Stocks Creek Rd (Road 17 sounds of the wetlands that surround us on this driving tour. 161), known locally as Dirt Wiggins Road. This well-maintained Our journey begins 7 miles below Jacksonboro on US 17 and ends dirt road runs about 5 miles until it intersects with Road 162. Part 13 about 60 miles later just a few miles farther south, again on US 17. of 161 follows a hardwood bluff offering an occasional glimpse of The entire trip requires at least half a day with plenty of opportunities the Donnelley wetlands off to the left. Much of this area, burned to stop and observe the ACE Basin’s unique collection of habitats. regularly to control the underbrush, supports oaks and hickories Traveling out of Jacksonboro, turn left off US 17 onto Bennetts and scattered spruce pine. On the right of the road grow typical 11 Point Road (Road 26). After driving 10.5 miles through mostly mixed lowcountry shrubs such as devil’s walking stick, with its huge com- 1 pines and hardwoods, park at Brickyard Boat Landing on the right pound leaves, and dwarf palmetto, a miniature relative of our state of the roadway. A short walk to the top of the bridge over the Ashe- tree. Hermit thrushes in winter and wood thrushes in summer haunt 12 poo River provides one of the few elevated views of the ACE Basin’s the quiet woods. As with most of this driving field trip, property tens of thousands of acres of managed wetlands and tidal marshes. along the road belongs to private landowners. Do not trespass. 9 Edisto Nature Trail The Ashepoo River bisects the wedge-shaped ACE Basin, while Caw Caw Center the Combahee and Edisto rivers more or less define the basin’s Wiggins Road (Road 162) joins our road from the right. Continue borders. This driving tour crosses only the Ashepoo among the on 161 and within a few hundred yards turn left down a short dirt namesake rivers. Swirling beneath the bridge the dark, muddy road to Old Chehaw River Boat Landing. Black needle rush borders waters flow seaward (to the right) on the ebb tide and inland (to the Old Chehaw on the marsh side; small live oaks of the mari- the left) on the flood tide. Nutrients trapped by this ebb and flow time forest stand on its highland side. A brackish tributary of the 19 Dungannon sustain the basin’s abundant flora and fauna. Barn swallows nest Combahee, this stream, like most in the basin, flows with the tide, 10 on the bridge supports, and migrating tree swallows, rough-winged reversing direction four times daily. 18 swallows, and occasionally bank swallows and cliff swallows dart The many waterways, marshes and swamps of the ACE Basin Driving the ACE Basin and swoop beneath the bridge or rest on the adjacent powerlines. have prevented easy development of the area, maintaining the 1 Watch these wires throughout our trip, as birds perch along them natural pristine character of much of the basin’s 350,000 acres. West Side 4 Donnelley WMA like clothespins on a laundry line. Because such a great variety of plants and animals thrive in and On the right along the brackish river, black needle rush domi- around wetlands, preserving these habitats ensures the continued Begin this driving tour by turning off US 17 ACENWR Basin onto SC 303 about 10 miles south of Jackson- A nates the wet, irregularly flooded landscape. Slightly higher existence of the region’s diverse flora and fauna. boro. After about 2.5 miles the road passes 2 hummocks support thick forests of palmetto, pine, oak and wax through the tiny town of Green Pond. Along the myrtle. To the left of the roadway, stretching to the east, the natu- Leaving the landing, we continue (to the left) on Wiggins Road roadsides just beyond Green Pond look for a 20 ral environment has been altered to create impoundments where another 2.2 miles to the end of the pavement. After less than a variety of lowcountry wildflowers blooming in 14 water levels can be controlled. Giant cord grass grows abundantly mile a small former railroad building on the left proclaims the town season such as leopard’s bane, brown-eyed su- along the dikes that hold these brackish waters, while thick stands of Wiggins at the entrance to a private plantation. Bear right at the san, partridge pea, goldenrod and many others. 3 B of cattails emerge from the shallows. small green sign that reads Public Boat Landing. After about a mile The highway then crosses the upper Ashepoo, The entire vista, on both sides of the road, encompasses just the road passes through an open stand of maturing longleaf pine just a tiny trickle of water through bottomland A5 part of the 12,000-acre Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, a reminiscent of the 90 million acres of virgin longleaf that once hardwoods. In the open areas on both sides of road grow blackber- state-owned property managed for wintering waterfowl and other covered the Southeast. Producing more heartwood than other lo- ries, elderberries, arrow weed, and across the old bridge on left, wetland wildlife. In the vast expanse of sky above this watery, grassy cal pines, this durable heart pine provided the early South with native wisteria blooms in spring. plain look for soaring eagles, anhingas, wood storks and vultures. In structural timbers and flooring. Fallen longleaf cones, by far the After about another mile turn left onto state road Road 41, also ACENWR Basin fall and winter active flocks of wigeons, teals, pintails, mallards, black largest of the southern yellow pines, litter the roadsides and the known as Ritter Road. 8 22 and other puddle ducks crisscross these productive marshes. fern-covered forest floor. In the spring and early summer look for This road soon crosses the upper Ashepoo again. At the bridge One mile from Brickyard Bridge a viewing platform provides a the blooms of coral bean and sand milkweed, and listen for the and in the cypress/tupelo swamp just beyond look for red-shouldered 15 close up view of a managed wetland. The ACE Basin contains some plaintive whistle of wood peewees and the squawks and cackles of hawks, yellow-crowned night herons, and in the spring listen for the 26,000 acres of managed wetlands, many created during the colo- yellow-breasted chats. ringing songs of prothonotary and hooded warblers. At dawn and nial rice cultures of 17th-19th centuries. Flocks of water­fowl, wading The narrow road continues through stands of mixed oaks and dusk the raucous calls of barred owls echo from the dark swamp. 23 birds and coots can be seen from this vantage point. hickories where the sandy soil retains the tracks of deer, wild hogs Continue a mile and a half to the little settlement of Catholic Hill, and turkeys. About 3 miles from Wiggins the road ends at Fields dominated by the quaint St. James Catholic Church. The historical Driving another 1/4 mile along Road 26 we arrive at the main Point Boat Landing on a low bluff of live oaks. We have reached marker in the church yard tells of settlers from Ireland that emigrated entrance (on the left) to Bear Island WMA. The area offers a variety one of the two most seaward parts of the ACE Basin accessible to the area and built the first church here in 1832. 6 7 of public recreational opportunities and a full visit takes several by public road, with Bennett’s Point similarly situated. The steep Two miles beyond Catholic Hill turn left onto White Hall Road hours (see section on Bear Island WMA). A quick stop at the kiosk concrete landing slices through the bluff to melt into the pluff (Road 119). On the right, a cattle pasture dotted with isolated live Bear Island WMA allows a view of a variety of wildlife in the wetlands on either side. mud-laden waters of the Combahee River. Here transition vegeta- oaks provides good habitat for blue birds, loggerhead shrikes, cattle The many species of waterfowl, abundant in the fall and winter, tion such as sea ox-eye and groundsel-tree all but vanishes as the egrets, and Mississippi kites. Well off the road on the right, a wood 16 dwindle mostly to mottled ducks during the remainder of the year. overhanging live oak limbs droop into the paler green of spartina stork rookery has developed in recent years and these large wading The gate area, however, often provides a good look at herons, grass. birds regularly soar overhead during the spring and early summer. egrets, cormorants, coots, willets, yellowlegs, wood storks, terns, Beyond the hazy horizon lies St. Helena Sound and beyond the Farther along the road a white fence on the right leads eventually gulls and many other birds, dependent on season and water levels. sound the ocean, some ten miles to the east of the boat land- to the entrance to White Hall, a former rice plantation. The historic Bald eagles (at least 37 pairs nest in the ACE Basin) regularly soar ing. This large, pristine estuary, which includes the seven islands house with it avenue of live oaks can be observed from the road but overhead and perch sometimes in the trees on the far edge of the that make up the core area of the ACE Basin National Estuarine is private property. Edisto CenterB impoundment to the right of the gate. Research Reserve, annually produces millions of dollars of com- After crossing the railroad tracks, turn right onto Combahee Road 21 Here, as in many of the basin’s old rice fields, alligators sun on mercial seafood and provides outstanding recreational fishing. (Road 66) at the sign for Cuckhold’s (locally pronounced “Ker-kel’s”) the banks or float partially submerged, just their eyes and nostrils High tide here covers all but the emergent spartina stalks, while Creek landing. To reach the landing, turn left onto the dirt road at a At the flashing light in Yemassee, turn left and drive about three- showing. Blue crabs patrol the shallow edges of the dark waters, low tide exposes acres of mud flat crisscrossed with the three-toed country church. The landing lies just a few yards beyond at a languid tenths of a mile, then left again just before the double railroad tracks. and mullet occasionally jump in the canal on the left of the access tracks of tricolored herons and snowy egrets and the meandering eddy on a bend of the creek which eventually empties into the Com- After less than half a mile, turn right onto River Road and cross the road. Juvenile saltwater fish and invertebrates ride the flooding tides trails of countless mud snails. Racks of dead spartina at the high bahee River. A large beech tree grows on the right of the landing, tracks. River Road traces the west side of the Combahee, passing sev- into impoundments; those capable of tolerating a wide range of sa- tide mark await bacterial breakdown to begin the highly produc- and on the left a red cedar embraces a water locust. A dense stand eral old rice plantations and eventually ending at US 17. linity survive and grow, establishing a highly productive food chain. tive saltmarsh food chain. Amid the cries of laughing gulls, royal of arrowhead lines the far side of the narrow creek. Soon after crossing the tracks look for U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service At the edge of this wetland, a water control structure, built of terns and clapper rails, listen for the insistent song of slow moving On leaving the landing take the dirt fork to the left back to the signs on the left. These mark the boundaries of the Combahee Unit heavy treated timbers, regulates flow to maintain precise water yellow-throated warblers and the quiet yank of white-breasted nut- paved road and turn left, crossing the creek. Broken-bank rice fields, of the ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge. This area of mostly hard- levels. These primitive-looking trunks, developed by the early rice hatches in the live oaks around the dirt parking lot. dominated by cattails, wild rice and plume grass crowd against the woods offers good birding almost year round, with possible glimpses Legend planters for use throughout the coastal area, and needing few re- roadway on both sides. In late summer look for the tall pink blooms of deer and wild turkeys as they cross the road. Gated access roads to finements in 300 years, can be adjusted to manipulate movement Having once again driven as far into the ACE Basin as possible, of seaside mallow, a type of wild hibiscus. the refuge can be walked at any time but are closed to vehicle traffic. Great Swamp Sanctuary of the tide into or out of the impoundments. Waterfowl managers, we now return to US 17, following the paved Road 162, rather than Perpendicular to the road, a canal which probably once served to After about four miles, the road passes the entrance to Auld Brass by controlling water levels, enhance the growth of wigeon grass retracing the original route on unpaved 161. Along 162 look for flood the upper field (on the right) runs straight off the creek through Plantation which includes a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. and other food plants preferred by wintering waterfowl. Given the bluebirds, painted buntings and fox squirrels. The road passes the a cypress covered break in the original dike along the creek. The ca- The unusual fence suggests Wright’s modern architectural style. Core Project Boundary Canoe Launch basin’s very flat topography, so close to sea level, just a few feet attractive entrance gates to several of the ACE Basin’s large and nal passes under the road bed, originally a cross dike during the rice About 3 miles farther, turn left onto the dirt entrance to the public of tidal rise or fall will submerge or drain hundreds of acres in a historic private plantations. About 7 miles from the intersection of planting days. landing on Sugar Hill Creek. West Side Driving Route DNR Office matter of hours. 162 and 161, we return to US 17 where this trip concludes. The remainder of this driving trail now skirts first the east side and The open parking area at the landing includes good habitat for The ACE Basin also extends on the other side of this highway and Returning again to the paved road, drive 3 miles and follow includes bottomland hardwood swamps and other habitats not on then the west side of the upper Combahee River, once the major rice painted and indigo buntings, blue grosbeaks and other tropical spe- East Side Driving Route Observation Area growing area of the present ACE Basin. Most of this area consists of cies in the spring and summer, and along the edges white-throated, the road to the right another quarter of a mile to Bennett’s Point this driving tour. Driving the ACE West gives a view of this area. private plantations, many formerly owned by Nathaniel Heyward, song and swamp sparrows in the winter. Among the thick stands of Landing. On the left, just before the landing is the field station for The public can enjoy additional glimpses of the basin at The who conducted the state’s largest rice growing operation. arrowhead along the creek, look for a delicate vine called leather- National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Refuge Headquarters the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve. This facility Grove Plantation on the Edisto River south of Adams Run and Just past the entrance to Combahee Plantation the road passes flower, blooming in mid-spring. A - Combahee / B - Edisto provides quarters and dockage for scientists studying the pristine Bonny Hall on the Combahee River (both parts of the ACE Basin through a stand of spruce pine mixed with hardwoods and then Return to River Road and continue to the left, passing the entrance Edisto Nature Trail waters of the St. Helena Sound. Adjacent to the landing, B & B National Wildlife Refuge call (843) 889-3084 for information) and Seafood Co. typifies the many small, isolated commercial seafood Westvaco’s Edisto Nature Trail at Jacksonboro. Visitors can sched- crosses a managed wetland growing in giant foxtail grass, smart to Bonny Hall, another private plantation with a large white house National Estuarine Research weed and other waterfowl food plants. This area will be kept dry and a pecan orchard behind a hedge of holly. Less than a mile be- NERR Field Station docks along the South Carolina coast. Across Mosquito Creek (a ule a guided tour of Westvaco’s new Bluff Trail, thirteen miles south in spring and summer to encourage growth of these plants, then yond, also on the left, note the sign that marks the entrance to the Reserve (NERR) Core Area tributary of the Ashepoo River), acres of saltmarsh stretch into the of Walterboro on US 17A, by calling Westvaco’s Walterboro office burned in the fall and flooded to attract waterfowl during the winter. Bonny Hall portion of the refuge. Visitors can walk the entrance road ACE Basin’s National Estuarine Research Reserve. From the landing at (843) 538-8353. Improved Boat Ramp Well off to the right and just visible from the road sits the live oak which may yield a variety of songbirds, depending on the season. A State Wildlife Management look for brown pelicans, several species of gulls and terns and, in For information on Bear Island and Donnelley WMAs, call (843) made famous in the movie “Forrest Gump.” A mile or so after the entrance to the refuge, River Road returns to the fall and winter, such typical saltmarsh inhabitants as horned 844-8957; for National Estuarine Research Reserve information, Areas - Donnelley WMA / Bear Island WMA The route then passes the entrance to Bluff Plantation with a spec- US 17, about 8 miles south of SC 303, where this driving trail started. Bluff Trail grebes, red-breasted mergansers and double-crested cormorants. call (843) 795-6350. tacular avenue of live oaks behind an ancient brick fence. Continue This trail (about 50 miles total) can be traversed in as little as an hour to the entrance of Cherokee Plantation, a huge private holding, and and a half, or in a half-day or more depending on the number of State Parks Caw Caw Having reached the end of Road 26, we now must retrace our notice the other old canals used to move water from the tidal river stops you make. A - Hunting Island / B - Edisto Beach Interpretive Center route back to US 17, watching for deer, turkeys, gray and fox squir- inland to the old rice fields. Eventually hardwoods give way to plant- rels along the wooded areas, and in the spring and summer along ed pine as Combahee Road approaches US 17A. Here turn left and the open areas, the azure flash of indigo buntings and blue gros- Dungannon after crossing the Combahee, proceed to the little town of Yemassee, beaks. The shoulders of the roadway support, in season, a variety a distance of about 7 miles. of wildflowers including colic-root, skullcap, orange milkwort, coral bean, wild sweet potato and phlox.