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Isolated Wetlands

Today, many of South Carolina’s most valuable wetlands are at risk.

For years, wetlands destruction was limited by federal law. But in 2006, a Supreme Court decision supported limits on these regulations.

 

“The loss of federal protection raises the importance of state and private action,” says Eric Krueger, Director of Science and Stewardship for the Conservancy.  “The onus is on us, as citizens, to press for wetlands protection at the state level.”

 

In particular danger are the state’s isolated wetlands — wetlands that do not have a constant surface connection to rivers. Among them are Carolina Bays. Once, at least 4,000 Carolina Bays existed in the state. Now there are fewer than 500 large bays still undisturbed.

 

South Carolina is one of the fastest moving states to convert rural land. Our population boom is raising the pressure to fill in isolated wetlands. While our state wants to accommodate economic growth, converting wetlands comes with a price.

 

Isolated wetlands help purify surface waters and recharge groundwater supplies. They store water for drought and minimize the destruction caused by floods. They provide critical habitat for a variety of rare species. Researchers estimate that the loss of all isolated wetlands in South Carolina could lead to the local extinction of some 20 species of amphibians.

 

It makes the work of The Nature Conservancy in South Carolina that much more important — and urgent, Krueger says. “Our work is an important part of the solution. The large timberland tracts we pursue for conservation have a lot of isolated wetlands embedded within them.”

 

 

Carolina Bays

Carolina Bays vary in size and type: many are marshy; some dry out, then fill with rainwater; some have been or are lakes. The term Carolina Bays came from the bay trees that grow around these oval depressions, not because the bays hold water.

 

Carolina Bays are especially rich in biodiversity and provide much-needed habitat for rare and endangered species. Species that thrive in the bays’ habitats include wood storks, herons, egrets and other migratory waterfowl, deer, black bears, the federally threatened flatwoods salamander, spring peepers and several other frogs, whose music we enjoy in the springtime. The bays contain trees such as black gum, bald cypress, pond cypress, sweet bay, loblolly bay, red bay, sweet gum, maple, magnolia, and pond pine, and shrubs such as fetterbush, clethra, sumac, button bush, zenobia, and gallberry. 4,000 Carolina Bays existed in the state.

 

Now there are fewer than 500. Over the years, Carolina Bays have been filled in for development, farmed, and otherwise altered. During World War II, Carvers Bay in Georgetown County was used as a bombing practice range.

 

One bay that is preserved and open to the public is at Woods Bay State Park near Turbeville. In Clarendon County, Bennett’s Bay is a Heritage Preserve. In Bamberg County, the South Carolina Native Plant Society manages the Lisa Matthews Memorial Bay, a 52-acre tract that harbors the federally endangered