Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan 2011-2016 South Carolina Department of Natural Resources 217 Fort Johnson Road Post Office Box 12559 Charleston, South Carolina 29422-2559 This management plan has been developed in accordance with NOAA regulations, including all provisions for public involvement. It is consistent with the congressional intent of Section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, and the provisions of the South Carolina Coastal Management Program. Table of Contents Table of Contents................................................................................................................. i List of Figures.................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... v! List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................... vi! Executive Summary............................................................................................................ 1! Introduction......................................................................................................................... 3! Purpose and scope of plan............................................................................................... 3! ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve.............................................................. 4! Introduction..................................................................................................................... 4! Priority Management Issues............................................................................................ 6! Habitat Conservation .................................................................................................. 7! Water Quality.............................................................................................................. 7! Public Access.............................................................................................................. 8! Community Resilience................................................................................................ 9! ACE Basin NERR Strategic Plan ................................................................................. 10! Mission...................................................................................................................... 10! Vision........................................................................................................................ 10! Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................ 11! Management Authority and Overview of Reserve ....................................................... 17! South Carolina Department of Natural Resources............................................................ 18! Introduction................................................................................................................... 18! Mission.......................................................................................................................... 18! Vision............................................................................................................................ 18! Core Values................................................................................................................... 18! Guiding Principles ........................................................................................................ 18! Strategies....................................................................................................................... 19! National Estuarine Research Reserve System .................................................................. 21! Introduction................................................................................................................... 21! Mission.......................................................................................................................... 21! Goals ............................................................................................................................. 21! Strategic Plan ................................................................................................................ 22! Biogeographic Regions................................................................................................. 22! Reserve Designation and Operation.............................................................................. 23! National Estuarine Research Reserve System Administrative Framework.................. 24! Plans and Agreements....................................................................................................... 25! Administration Plan ...................................................................................................... 25! Introduction............................................................................................................... 25! Connection to the Strategic Plan............................................................................... 25! Partners: State and Federal........................................................................................ 27! Staffing of the Reserve.............................................................................................. 31! ACE Basin NERR Advisory Committee .................................................................. 37! Research Plan................................................................................................................ 39! Connection to the Strategic Plan............................................................................... 39! Research Priorities .................................................................................................... 42! ! i ! Monitoring Program.................................................................................................. 44 Partnerships and Collaborations ............................................................................... 45 Monitoring and Evaluation ....................................................................................... 46! Education and Interpretation Plan................................................................................. 48! Connection to the Strategic Plan............................................................................... 48! Priority Topics .......................................................................................................... 50! Priority Audiences .................................................................................................... 52! Partnerships and Collaboration................................................................................. 53! Monitoring and Evaluation ....................................................................................... 53! Coastal Training Program Plan..................................................................................... 55! Connection to the Strategic Plan............................................................................... 55! Priority Topics .......................................................................................................... 57! Priority Audiences .................................................................................................... 58! Partnerships and Collaboration................................................................................. 59! Monitoring and Evaluation ....................................................................................... 60! ACE Basin/North Inlet-Winyah Bay NERR CTP Advisory Committee................. 60! Land Acquisition and Boundary Protection Plan.......................................................... 62! Introduction............................................................................................................... 62! Partnerships in Land Protection (1988-2008)........................................................... 62! ACE Basin NERR Boundaries.................................................................................. 63! Boundary Amendment.............................................................................................. 68! Boundary Protection ................................................................................................. 70! Criteria for Land Acquisition.................................................................................... 71! Tools for Land Protection ......................................................................................... 75! Protected Lands within the ACE Basin NERR......................................................... 78! Proposed Land Protection......................................................................................... 78! Public Access Plan........................................................................................................ 80! Introduction............................................................................................................... 80! Public Access and Use of the Reserve...................................................................... 80! Network of Facilities................................................................................................. 81! Commercial Eco-tours .............................................................................................