ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge & Donnelley Wildlife Management Area

The ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge and Donnelley Wildlife Management Area protect nearly 20,000 acres (8,094 hectares) along the southwestern coast of South Carolina. These areas are part of the larger 350,000 acre (141,640 hectares) ACE Basin, which is formed by the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto River basins. The ACE Basin is one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the east coast of the United States, and is home to the endangered wood stork, bald eagle, and American alligator.

Small groups of Whooping Cranes from the eastern migratory population have spent all or part of the winter in the Basin since 2004. Researchers are interested in the movements of these birds, as the cranes were not taught to migrate to South Carolina (rather the young cranes are directed to Florida during their first ultra-light led migration from Wisconsin).

Click on the images to the left to learn more about the Ace Basin National Wildlife Refuge and Donnelley Wildlife Management Area.