South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department

Newsletter of the A shepoo, Combahee, Edisto Basin

Vol. 4, No.1, Winter 1994

Otter Island

A n important barrier island and Civil War fort have been protected as part of the

ACE Basin National Estuarine Re­search Reserve.

Otter Island, a 1,889-acre bar­rier island located at the mouth of the Ashepoo River, was purchased in August by the S. C. Chapter of

The Nature Conservancy(TNC). The South Carolina Wildlife Ma­rine Resources Department then purchased the property and desig­nated it as a Heritage Trust Pre­serve.

Cooperating with the Depart­ment and TNC in the purchase were the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and At­mospheric Administration. Federal funds came from a National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant which puts a priority on protecting mari­time forests on barrier islands. Ot­ter Island will be open for public recreation, although it can be reached only by boat.

With the addition of Otter, the Reserve's core area protects six of

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eight islands originally proposed for the Reserve and increases the area to 9,177 acres. Otter is the largest

The island will serve as a drawing card to

researchers around the nation who are

interested in studying barrier island ecology.

island in the reserve's core area, which includes Ashe, Beet, Warren, Big and Bolder Islands.

Otter includes maritime forests, freshwater and brackish wetlands, open salt marsh, undisturbed dune fields and shrub thickets. It is one

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Otter Island includes front beach, maritime forest and extensive salt marsh habitat. (Photo by Phillip Jones, SCWMRD)

f-ofthe state's most active nesting areas for the federally threatened loggerhead sea turtle.

Otter Island provides roosting and feeding areas for the federally endangered peregrine falcon, wood stork and southern bald eagle and is a refuge for a number of other spe­cies such as the eastern diamond­back rattlesnake, the largest poison­ous snake in the eastern United States.

The Otter Island Civil War fort was built by the Confederate Army in 1861 - along with similar forts on nearby islands - to protect Low­country plantations. The forts were abandoned in November 1861 after Hilton Head Island fell to Union forces. The Union Army occupied the Otter Island fort, named it Fort Drayton after Capt. Percival

Drayton, a Union naval officer from Charleston, and later built a signal tower there that was part of a com­munications network between Hilton Head and Folly Island.

A community of escaped slaves was on the island when the federals arrived, remaining there throughout the war. Union troops, perhaps 850 of them at a time, stayed at Fort Drayton during most of the Civil War, although the island was evacu­ated in June 1862 when the soldiers were sent to James Island for the Secessionville Campaign.

Some of the palisade wall which surrounded the fort is still intact, and Dr. Stephen Wise, cura­tor of the Parris Island Museum and one ofthe state's foremost Civil War historians, called Fort Drayton "one ofthe best preserved earthen

Maritime Forest:

Civil War forts in the state." The island will serve as a draw­

ing card to researchers around the nation who are interested in study­ing barrier island ecology. Because the island is almost untouched, sci­entists can compare it with other coastal islands that are developing.

"This island is an integral part of overall conservation efforts oc­curring within the ACE Basin," said Patrick H. Morgan, executive direc­tor of The Nature Conservancy of S.C., "It complements current land initiatives in the area. Protecting this type of diversity is vital to the ultimate completion of the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve. We are iI!debted to Susan Eren and the estate of Clifton Stevens for giving us the opportu-nity to purchase the island." J!!!5

A Unique and Valuable Ecosystem

Maritime forest, a unique offer enough protection from salt ports a varied insect population im-natural community rap spray for maritime forests to de- portant to many migrating song-idly disappearing due to velop. The maritime forests also birds. Both migrants and winter

coastal development, adds to the occur on certain mainland areas in resident birds relish the fruit of wax diversity of habitats in the ACE close proximity to tidal marshes. myrtle, palmetto, magnolia, red ce-Basin. The high percentage of ever- dar and holly, as well as the mast of

Closely associated with the im- green trees such as live oak, magno- live and laurel oak. mediate coast, maritime forest typi- lia, myrtle, palmetto, pines and ce- Residential development on cally contains live oak, swamp lau- dar may be significant to the exist- barrier islands sometimes preserves reI oak, pines (mostly slash and ence of maritime forests. These most of the overstory of pine, oak loblolly), red bay, holly, southern trees shed leaves throughout the and magnolia but destroys most of magnolia, southern red cedar, cab- year providing continuous nutrients the understory critical to many bage palmetto, yaupon holly and to the relatively poor sandy soil. birds, small mammals, reptiles and wax myrtle. Maritime forest generally pro- amphibians. Few undisturbed mari-

Salt spray from the ocean limits vides the only climax vegetation on time forests still exist in South plant diversity in this ecosystem the immediate coas!. Many migrat- Carolina. although dunes and beach shrub ing birds, following the coast for Because of isolation on various communities shield the brunt of orientation, prefer the hardwoods of barrier islands, individual maritime spray allowing the growth of trees maritime forest over adjacent pine forests may contain somewhat dif-and shrubs with some salt tolerance. habitats for feeding and resting in ferent assemblages of reptiles, am- --./

Most maritime forests in South both spring and fall. phibians, small mammals and may Carolina occur on barrier islands The relatively diverse plant or may not contain larger predators although very narrow islands do not community in maritime forests sup- such as bobcats and foxes. Intro- ---t

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Maritime forests of palmetto, live oak, magnolia and other mostly evergreen species develop on barrier islands and other immediate coastal areas. (Photo by Phillip Jones SCWMRD)

+---duction of domestic animals - hogs, sheep and cattle - have also influ­enced animal communities on many barrier islands.

The ACE Basin contains more than 500 acres of classic maritime forest primarily on Otter and Pine Islands in St. Helena Sound. Natu­ral community inventories, con­ducted by The Nature Conservancy, have documented maritime forests

in 13 areas of the ACE Basin. These communities contribute to the diversity of the Basin and to its environmental significance.

By protecting and managing these areas, the ACE Basin Project helps ensure the continued exist­ence of these historically and envi­ronmentally important habitats. _ -,

ACE Basin Christmas Bird Count Finds 133

Species

B ird watchers from around the state counted more than 29,000 birds of 133 species

during the Fourth Annual ACE Ba­sin Christmas Bird Count held Janu­ary 2.

The species total was down from last year's 145 due to fewer participants, many of whom were not experienced with the area.

During the day 23 counters in six field parties combed the 177 square miles in the standard 15-mile diameter circle centered at the Ashepoo River bridge on S.C. Hwy 26 near Green Pond.

Among the most abundant spe­cies were red-winged blackbird, common grackle, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, white ibis, and yellow-romped warbler. A single LeConte's sparrow seen at Bear Island WMA represented the only unusual species on the count.

Christmas Bird Counts, spon­sored by the National Audubon So­ciety, began in 1900 with 25 counts mostly in the Northeast. Today more than 42,000 Americans par­ticipate each year in about 1550 counts held across the continent.

Christmas Bird Counts provide a nation-wide data base used to de­termine long-term changes in spe­

cies abundance, range shifts and

migration pat­terns. About 10 counts are held annually in South -Carolina . .,-..

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Enjoying the ACE Basin

Bobby Corely traveled from Lexingtion, SC, to hunt deer on Donnelley Wildlife Management Area.

[Arry Johnson of Walterboro regularly fishes along Bennetts Point Road.

ACE Basin lands and waters

provide a variety of opportunities

for education and outdoor recreation.

Fred Covert of Beaufort is fij the upper Combahee River.

for largemouth bass in

Dean Harrigal, wildlife biologist with the S. C. Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, explains the workings of a rice field trunk to representatives from The Nature Conservancy.

Charlie Zemp, regional biologist with the S. C. Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, prepares to dump a trawl net during an educational cruise for students from Ruffin High School aboard the research vessel Anita.

Johnny Hiers, manager of Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, briefs a duck hunter prior to a hunt.

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ACE Basin Conservation Sites

Public Sites Bear Island Wildlife Management Area (est. 1953)

Springfield Marsh (1987) - Sampson Island (1988) Cut Marsh (1989)

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area (1992)

ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge Bonny Hall Club (1990) - Grove Plantation (1991) Bonny Hall Plantation (1992) - Combahee Fields (1993) lehossee Island (1993)

ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve Warren Island (1988), Big Island (1988), Ashe Island (1989), Beet Island (1989), Bolder Island (1990), Otter Island (1993)

Edisto Beach State Park (est. 1936)

Hunting Island State Park (est. 1938)

Sub-total

Private Sites Conservation Easements

Botany Bay Island (1987) - Hope Plantation (1988) Willtown Bluff Plantation (1990) - Church Tract (1990) Cheeha-Combahee Plantation (1991) - Richardson Tract (1992) Godfrey Tract (1991) - McMillian Tract (1991) Pon Pon Plantation (1992) - Ashepoo Plantation (1993) Fenwick Island (1993)

Deed Restrictions Hannahan Tract (1993) - duPont Tract (1993)

Organization Ownership Great Swamp and Ivanhoe Tract (TNC, 1989)

Management Agreements Westvaco (1991)

Other Botany Bay Plantation

Sub-total

TOTAL

TIle .... NtilllreJli7 CO"Senflllo/

Editor'sNote YEEI

Privatll Landowners

Acres

12,055

8,048

9,695

9,177

1,255

45,230

32,884

243

473

19,236

57,466

102,696

ACE Basin Current Events is a product of the S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resources Department's ACE Basin Committee. This committee integrates the comprehensive habitat protection and enhancement concept to the ACE Basin Project with appropriate resource management responsibilities of the Department's various Divisions.

Current Events is published twice annuaily and is intended to inform the public of the Department's role as a member of the ACE Basin Task Force as well as communicate overall activities and cooperative accom­plishments of other Task Force members including: Ducks Unlimited, Private Landowners, The Nature Con­servancy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Address correspondence to: ACE Basin Project, SCWMRD, Rt. I, Box 25, Green Pond, S.C. 29446. All articles may not necessarily represent views of the Department

Public Lands in the ACE Basin

Bear Island WMA Hunting - Archery and gun hunts for

deer; waterfowl hunting by drawing; dove and small game hunts also scheduled. *

Fishing - Fish and blue crabs can be harvested from impoundments from April 1 to Sept. 30.

Camping - Primitive facilities available for deer hunters and conservation groups by appointment.

General Public Use - Designated areas open for bird watching, photography and wildlife observation from Jan. 21 through Oct. 31. Mon.-Sat.

Donnelley WMA Hunting - Archery and gun hunts

(drawing only) for deer; waterfowl and turkey hunts by drawing; dove, small game and hog hunts sched­uled.*

General Public Use - Designated Nature Trail; Office hours Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. -4:30p.m.

For more information on Bear Island WMA and Donnelley WMA call

(803) 844-8957.

ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve

Hunting - Waterfowl, marsh hen and archery hunts for deer during open season.*

Fishing - Open year round. Camping - Primitive camping available. General Public Use - Accessible only

by boat; no restrictions. For more Information call

(803) 762-5062.

ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge

Hunting - Archery and primitive weap­ons hunts for deer.

General Public Use - Open for public use except during scheduled hunts.

For more information call (803) 846-9110.

(* See SCWMRD current Hunting and Fishing Rules and Regualtions)

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Monitoring Program Launched in Reserve

A long-t~rm monitoring pro gram has begun in the ACE Basin National Estuarine

Research Reserve through funds provided by NOAA and the S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resources De­partment.

According to Dr. Elizabeth Wenner, research coordinator and marine scientist for the reserve, en­vironmental monitoring will entail the systematic collection of selected data to define environmental changes in the estuary and to aid in planning and conducting research in the reserve. "We can't evaluate changes unless we understand natu-

ral processes, and the best bench­mark data come from areas such as the ACE Basin," Wenner said.

This is the first phase in a series of monitoring stages outlined in the reserve management plan. Phase One calls for research to acquire all available data on hydrology, geol­ogy, water chemistry, water quality, biological resources and problems/ issues confronting the reserve envi­ronment.

Phase Two involves a synthesis of information gathered in phase one to provide an overall picture of the reserve in terms of its resources, management constraints and re-

Research technician Richard Hill uses a portable hydro lab to monitor temperatures, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and other water quality parameters in the ACE Basin NERR.

search needs. Phase Three identi­fies parameters to be measured, pro­cedures to be used, sampling strate­gies, storage and retrieval of data and manpower requirements.

Information gathered in the phased monitoring program will be compiled into an environmental site characterization. Based on this, pilot projects and full-scale moni­toring of selected parameters will be implemented.

Teacher Workshop Slated

For April In Research Reserve

A workshop to introduce high school teachers to the ACE Basin has been scheduled for April 16, 1994. Leslie Madden, marine edu­cation specialist for the reserve, said the workshop is to facilitate com­munication and information ex­change between marine scientists, marine educators and classroom teachers.

'''Information on how the ACE Basin may be used as an outdoor classroom will be the focus of this program", Madden said. Training sessions will be in the classroom, on an established hiking trail, and aboard the RIV Anita.

Possible activities will include wildlife observation, habitat study, demonstrations on waterfowl and wetlands management, and the use of a salt marsh model to demon­strate functional aspects of marshes.

The workshop is funded through the Harry Hampton Memo­rial Wildlife Fund. High school teachers interested in future work­shops should contact Leslie Mad­den, SCWMRD, 217 Ft. Johnson Rd., P.O. Box 12559, Charleston, SC 29422-2559 (phone 803/762-5400). at --

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S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resourtes Dept. Dr. James A. Tunmennan. Jr., Exec. Director John E. Frampton, ACE Basin Task Force

ACE Basin Committee Mike McKenzie, Committee Chainnan Dean Harrigal, Project Coordinator Pete Laurie, Editor - Conservation, Education and

Communication David Allen - Freshwater Fisheries Section Don Winslow - Conservation, Education and

Communication Joe Hamilton - Game Section Ben Moise - Law Enforcement and Boating Sally Murphy - Nongame-Heritage Trust Mike Prevost - 'The Nature Conservancy (a1lffil;Q)

Graphics Design Karen Swanson - Marine Resources Division

Funding provided by the Harry R.E. Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, Inc.

~ ~~ Printed On Recycled Paper

Total Cost - $1.470.99; Total Copies - 7,500; Cost per Copy - $.20

ACE Basin Current Events .R

ACE To Charleston ."" Bas in

Protection Efforts

o 2 4 --­Miles

National Estuarine Research Reserve

State Wildlife Management Areas

National Wildlife Managment Areas

Conservation Easements

State Parks

South Carolina Wildlife & Marine Resources Department Rt.l,Box25

Second Class U.S. Postage

PAID Walterboro,

SC Green Pond, S.C. 29446

The South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, disability, religion, or age. Direct all inquiries to the Office of Personnel, P.O. Box 167, Columbia, S.C. 29202.

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