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Places We Protect

ACE Basin

South Carolina

Aerial view of a winding river delta.
ACE Basin Aerial view of a winding river delta. © Tom Blagden

The Nature Conservancy has helped to protect 203,000 acres in the ACE Basin.

Overview

Description

Strategically positioned around the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto rivers, the 1.6-million-acre ACE Basin watershed is one of the largest areas of undeveloped wetlands/uplands ecosystems remaining on the Atlantic Coast. This remarkable interlocking web of ecosystems includes forested uplands and wetlands, extensive tidal marshes, managed wetlands, barrier islands and peatlands.

Rice plantations once covered the ACE Basin. It now supports important habitats for waterfowl, migratory birds and endangered species , as well as 33 types of natural plant communities.

Access

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Electric Vehicle Charging

None

Explore our work in this region

Life of the ACE Basin

Edisto River North Fork Edisto River at Horne Wetlands Park, Orangeburg County, South Carolina. © Alan Cressler
Banded sunfish South Fork Edisto River, Enneacanthus obesus (male), McTier Creek, Aiken County, South Carolina. © Alan Cressler
A family of wood storks. Young wood storks stand in a nest behind an adult. © Felicia Sanders
Carolina slabshell Elliptio congaraea, South Fork Edisto River, at U.S. Highway 321, Orangeburg and Bamberg Counties, South Carolina. © Alan Cressler

Protected, Connected Lands in the ACE Basin

Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area is the yearly nesting site for approximately 50 to 100 sea turtles. The nests are screened to protect them from raccoon predation. The result is that 3,000 to 10,000 sea turtles hatch on the island annually.

The Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge is a mosaic of lands and waters that harbors an abundance of migratory and resident birds, reptiles and amphibians, fish and other wildlife.

The ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve is managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and protects more than 99,000 acres of land in the ACE Basin. This site protects many endangered or threatened species, such as short-nose sturgeon, wood storks, loggerhead sea turtles and bald eagles.

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