Nemours Gazette A publication of the Nemours Wildlife Foundation 161 Nemours Plantation Road, Yemassee, South Carolina 29945 • 843-846-2539 www.nemourswildlifefoundation.org Volume 19 • N0 2 FIND US ON FACEBOOK FALL – WINTER 2019 The ACE Basin Project: 30 Years and 300,000 Acres By Michele Barker Several hundred folks gathered at Willtown Plantation December 8th to celebrate a monumental achievement – the 30th Anniversary of the ACE Basin Project and 301,000 acres of conserved Lowcountry. Yet, one does not have to be invited to a party to acknowledge this milestone. A simple drive up or down US Highway 17 through the ACE Basin between Beaufort and Charleston is enough to make anyone’s day. No resorts or huge cookie cutter neighborhoods. Just forests, marshes and rivers for the most part. When groups visit us here at Nemours, one of our tour stops is along a dike which borders a former rice field, now a managed tidal impoundment. On one side of the dike is that impoundment, the glamorously named Snipe Bog. On the other side are wild marsh and the Combahee River. After discussing what creatures are present, explaining the features of the managed impoundment versus the marsh, and answering questions, our director, Dr. Ernie Wiggers, always tells our guests that there is one other thing he really wants them to notice on the marsh side. “What do you see?” he’ll ask. Usually there is silence until some bold soul says “Nothing?”, and Dr. Wiggers will say they are correct. Nothing but marsh grasses, pluff mud and trees just beyond the river off in the distance. No condos or houses, no hotels or massive development. (See “ACE” Page 7) Photo by Micha Ashford From the President: From the President: The Stewardship Plan for Nemours Plantation The Stewardship Plan for Nemours Plantation For the past 20 years, we have taken our responsibility as land stewards For the past 20 years, we have taken our responsibility as land stewards very seriously and have tried to make management decisions based upon very seriously and have tried to make management decisions based upon what most benefits our wildlife, wetland, and forest resources. This what most benefits our wildlife, wetland, and forest resources. This approach has worked well but like any good organization there comes a approach has worked well but like any good organization there comes a time when you need to take a step back to review and evaluate what you time when you need to take a step back to review and evaluate what you have been doing, critically assess the results, and examine how you could be more efficient and have been doing, critically assess the results, and examine how you could be more efficient and effective. With the urging of the Foundation’s Board we did an internal, self-evaluation this year effective. With the urging of the Foundation’s Board we did an internal, self-evaluation this year and developed a multi-year management plan that will take us into the future. We hired Gillie and developed a multi-year management plan that will take us into the future. We hired Gillie Croft, one of our graduate students who recently completed his Master of Science degree in Croft, one of our graduate students who recently completed his Master of Science degree in wildlife biology, to lead and coordinate this project. wildlife biology, to lead and coordinate this project. The management plan states: “The principal goal for the property is to promote quality habitat The management plan states: “The principal goal for the property is to promote quality habitat and best management practices for the entire suite of wildlife species we might encounter in the and best management practices for the entire suite of wildlife species we might encounter in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.” This is a broad goal when you consider Nemours encompasses Lowcountry of South Carolina.” This is a broad goal when you consider Nemours encompasses some 9,500 acres of very diverse habitats. Specifically, Nemours is made up of 1,002 acres of long some 9,500 acres of very diverse habitats. Specifically, Nemours is made up of 1,002 acres of long leaf pine, 2,747 acres of other pine forest (primarily loblolly), 2,963 acres of mixed hardwoods, 511 leaf pine, 2,747 acres of other pine forest (primarily loblolly), 2,963 acres of mixed hardwoods, 511 acres of open lands and fallow fields, and 2,261 acres of fresh and brackish water wetlands. acres of open lands and fallow fields, and 2,261 acres of fresh and brackish water wetlands. The task becomes even more daunting when you consider the infrastructure needed to access The task becomes even more daunting when you consider the infrastructure needed to access all parts of this landscape. While measuring various infrastructure resources, Gillie uncovered all parts of this landscape. While measuring various infrastructure resources, Gillie uncovered some truly overwhelming statistics (at least for me) including 77 miles of roads, 95 miles of some truly overwhelming statistics (at least for me) including 77 miles of roads, 95 miles of firebreaks, 22 miles of dikes, 34 individual wetland impoundments, and 48 water control firebreaks, 22 miles of dikes, 34 individual wetland impoundments, and 48 water control structures. Although 48 water control structures sounds adequate, our self-evaluation resulted in structures. Although 48 water control structures sounds adequate, our self-evaluation resulted in our wanting to add to this count significantly over the next five years. our wanting to add to this count significantly over the next five years. (See “From the President, Page 4) (See “From the President, Page 4) THE NEMOURS WILDLIFE FOUNDATION THE NEMOURS WILDLIFE FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Colden Battey, Jr., Esq., Chairman Michael G. McShane, Vice Chairman Colden Battey, Jr., Esq., Chairman Michael G. McShane, Vice Chairman Gerald H. Schulze, Secretary/Treasurer Gerald H. Schulze, Secretary/Treasurer William R. Barrett, Jr. James A. Beard. Jr. Linda A. Demmer Johnny Williamson William R. Barrett, Jr. James A. Beard. Jr. Linda A. Demmer Johnny Williamson Ernie P. Wiggers, Ph.D., President/CEO John R. Cope, Esq., D. Min., Emeritus Ernie P. Wiggers, Ph.D., President/CEO John R. Cope, Esq., D. Min., Emeritus STAFF STAFF Beau Bauer Robert Kitler Justin Rickenbaker Beau Bauer Robert Kitler Justin Rickenbaker Landon Avant Michele Barker Bubba Erwin Peachie Washington Landon Avant Michele Barker Bubba Erwin Peachie Washington 2 2 3 4) Page on Release” “RCW (See President: the From disappeared from the ACE Basin decades ago due to excessive timber harvest. timber excessive to due ago decades Basin ACE the from disappeared Plantation Nemours for Plan Stewardship The the loss of old growth pine habitat. 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