The Ace Basin

(Wildlife and Sea Island Culture)

Portion of Landsat infrared satellite image of the ACE Basin (1983).

Portion of topographic map of the ACE Basin from the Walterboro USGS quadrangle (1990).

Coastal Satellite Image -
includes ACE Basin (NAPP)

ACE Basin (Topo)

Rationale

The ACE Basin area has been designated a high-priority habitat under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan because of its importance to migrating birds and a variety of threatened and endangered animal species. In addition to the ecologically significant features of the ACE Basin, which include both freshwater and saltwater marshes, a rich historical tradition is still preserved which includes old plantation homes, Civil War forts, historic graveyards and churches, and a thriving Low Country culture. The coast around the ACE Basin preserves remains of the earliest settlements in the state and highlights the significant contributions of the black culture which dominated the area in the past and continues today as an influential part of South Carolina society.

Background Information

Description of Landforms

• Characteristic Landforms of the Coastal Zone
• Geographic Features of Special Interest
• Carolina Grand Strand
• Santee Delta
• Sea Islands

Influence of Topography on Historical Events and Cultural Trends

• Coastal Zone Attracts Settlers
• Native American Coastal Cultures
• Early Spanish Settlements
• Establishment of Santa Elena
• Charles Towne: First British Settlement
• Eliza Lucas Pinckney Introduces Indigo
• Pirates: A Coastal Zone Legacy
• Charleston Under Siege During the Civil War
• The Battle of Port Royal Sound
• Black Volunteers in Union Service on the Sea Islands
• The Future of the Coast

Natural Resources, Land Use, and Environmental Concerns

• Climate and Water Resources
• Soil Resources of the Coastal Zone
• Issues Related to Growth and Development
• Unique Habitats of the Coastal Zone
• Fisheries and the Seafood Industry