ACE Basin celebrates 20th anniversary

A rainy and cold day could not dampen the spirits of 200 conservationists who gathered at Willtown Bluff on the Edisto River to mark the 20th anniversary of the ground-breaking vanguard of protection that Lowcountry outdoorsmen have enacted. After opening remarks by Charles Lane (ACE Basin Task Force chairman) and SCDNR Director John Frampton the patrons enjoyed a buffet lunch of shrimp and grits, hushpuppies and pulled pork. The keynote speaker was Matthew Connolly, retired Executive Director of Ducks Unlimited, who spoke about how the people of the Lowcountry have made the ACE Basin project a successful collaboration that is unique, and is now the blueprint that other regions of the U.S are trying to follow. The ACE Basin is a 400,000 acre ecosystem that is comprised of three rivers and their associated watersheds and uplands - of which almost 200,000 acres has been protected by conservation easement.

To view a video clip about the Beauty on the ACE click here.

PhotosByJeffDennis: Charles and Susan Waring joined the conservation spirits assembled at Willtown Bluff; Jocelyn Clark from Spring Hill Plantation and Lilla Lane visit during the 20th anniversary of the ACE Basin project; A map of the ACE Basin shows Walterboro (black mark) in the center of the Focus Area