The 549,000-acre Santee Basin Focus Area includes portions of five counties along the Santee River from Lake Moultrie to the Atlantic Ocean.

This Focus Area includes all of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge and portions of the Francis Marion National Forest. These lands contain extensive upland and bottomland forest, tidal marsh and maritime habitat, which supports swallow-tail kite, red-cockaded woodpecker, flatwood salamander, Bachman’s sparrow, loggerhead sea turtles and brown pelicans. A number of Carolina Bays, extensive longleaf pine forests, and uncommon marl formations support many rare plant species, including several native orchids, Canby’s dropwort, pitcher plants and American chaff-seed. Traditional uses, such as forestry, predominate on the surrounding landscape, and the Santee Basin is a haven for sportsmen and naturalists alike.

The primary threat to natural resources in this area is the growing commercial and residential development pressure along the U.S. Highway 17 corridor, which runs from Charleston to Georgetown between the Forest and the Refuge.

As of December 31, 2005, the combined efforts of landowners, public agencies, and private conservation organizations resulted in the protection of 181,000 acres in the Santee River Focus Area. The Lowcountry Open Land Trust holds 9 easements and holds title to one property, covering 4,455 acres of natural and rural land.

The Santee River Task Force includes: Private landowners; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; U.S. Forest Service; S.C. Department of Natural Resources; Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; The Nature Conservancy of S.C.; Lowcountry Open Land Trust; Historic Ricefields Association.

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