• Home
  • How We Work
  • Where We Work
  • News Room
  • About Us
  • My Nature Page

The Nature Conservancy in Africa - Conservation in Africa

The Nature Conservancy in Asia Pacific - Conservation in Asia-Pacific

The Nature Conservancy in the Caribbean - Conservation in the Caribbean

The Nature Conservancy in Central America - Conservation in Central America

The Nature Conservancy in North America - Conservation in North America

The Nature Conservancy in the United States - Conservation in the United States

The Nature Conservancy in South America - Conservation in South America

Science and Stewardship

 

Restoring Washo Reserve

The Nature Conservancy has received a $25,000 grant through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Partners to restore optimal habitat at the Washo Reserve.  The Washo Reserve is part of the 24,000-acre Santee Coastal Reserve located near McClellanville, and is a critically important area for migratory waterfowl and other wetland-dependent migratory birds.  Aquatic vegetation such as frogsbit, alligator weed, and cattails are encroaching on native plants at the freshwater cypress lake and swamp, threatening waterfowl nesting patterns.  Washo Reserve is the oldest wading bird rookery in continuous use in North America.  Call Santee Coastal Reserve at (843) 546-8665 for details about visiting the Washo Reserve.

 

 

Carolina’s Coastal Water:   We hear troubling news about rising ocean temperatures.  We worry which fish is safe to eat for dinner.  Huge numbers of people are coming to South Carolina’s coast, some to launch their boats for the weekend, others to put down roots and build the homes of their dreams.  Meanwhile, inland the state continues to grow.  That means more people sending more pollution downstream.

 
Freshwater Mussels, like clams, are bivalve mollusks that filter water for food. Their well-being and health should also be in question: polluted waters, dam-controlled rivers, and development have put dozens of mussel species on the endangered list. Learn more about these

 

Freshwater Mussel Survey of the Pee Dee River Watershed, South Carolina
 
This report documents findings regarding mussel fauna in the Great Pee Dee River and its major tributaries, along with the Black and Waccamaw Rivers. These rivers still contain some great freshwater mussel fauna worthy of our conservation efforts.
 
This effort was a two-year project conducted by South Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, who contracted with The Catena Group of Hillsborough, North Carolina to perform SCUBA and shallow water searches in many areas previously unexplored for freshwater mussels.
 
Although funded entirely by private dollars, The Nature Conservancy is treating this information as public domain. Please feel free to reference this document, and to share it with others who may be interested.
 
This work was funded primarily by the Mott Foundation, with additional contributions from Progress Energy, Inc. and International Paper, Inc. Labor and logistical support was also provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Aquarium, and interested private citizens.
 

For additional information, contact , Aquatics Program Manager, at (843) 937-8807.