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Conservation and Advocacy >
Conservation and Advocacy
Issues
Isolated Wetlands
Take a look at the Southern Environmental Law Center's "At Risk: South Carolina's Isolated Wetlands" Report.
Background
Isolated wetlands are those wetlands that lack a obvious connection to surface waters. Examples of isolated wetlands here in South Carolina include Carolina Bays, Mountain Bogs and Pocosins.
These wetland habitats have significant importance to amphibian species in our State, including the endangered Flatwoods Salamander and Pine Barrens Treefrog. These species rely on the seasonal and fish-free nature of isolated wetlands to successfully reproduce.
Isolated wetlands have historically been protected on a federal level through use of the Clean Water Act. That protection has now been stripped away in every State of America. Isolated wetlands comprise 429,800 acres in South Carolina alone.
The Issue
In 2001 a the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that has had devastating consequences for isolated wetlands throughout America. This decision has, in effect, removed federal protection from this unique wetland habitats.
With federal protection now subject to significant loopholes and thus virtually non-existent at this point, it now resides with the States to offer some protection to this unique habitat.
It is Audubon South Carolina's opinion that there currently exists significant state laws to offer protection to isolated wetlands. The state agency that has been identified as the most suitable to offer that protection is the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
In 2004 Audubon South Carolina, its members and our conservation partners spent extraordinary amounts of time and energy defending against a bill that would have automatically destroyed any isolated wetlands under five acres in size. This bill was created by development interests such as the South Carolina Realtor's Association.
In 2005 the conservation community, at the request of legislators, attempted to create compromise legislation to enact state protection of isolated wetlands. However, those efforts to date have not resulted in acceptable legislation to the conservation community or development enterprises. To date South Carolina's isolated wetlands remain unprotected.
What Can You Do?
Here is a short list of steps you can take to make your voice heard:
TAKE ACTION You can contact your local Representative and Senator to voice your concerns over the lack of protection for isolated wetlands. Remember to make your comments positive. You will receive more attention and consideration if you show that you are a well-intentioned, concerned citizen who is educated on the subject you are communicating about!
JOIN THE ACTION NETWORK Join the Action Network! When time is of the essence, working for the environment is only a mouse click away! Audubon South Carolina has longed recognized the potential impact that each and every person can have on conservation issues. Grassroots organizations, like Audubon, have proven themselves to be essential and vital to conserving our country's resources. By involving each and every concerned citizen, victories like the preservation of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge become more likely.
Members of this free e-mail based network will receive updates on important national, state and local conservation issues. The power to quickly and effectively contact your legislators and take action for what you believe in will be at your fingertips!
So take a moment to join our Action Network! Fill out this quick and easy Registration From and begin making positive changes with the click of a button!
SUPPORT AUDUBON SOUTH CAROLINA Audubon South Carolina has invested a lot of time and energy to the matter of isolated wetlands and we will continue to do so! One of the best ways to help us in this matter is to donate to Audubon South Carolina. Your donation will help support Audubon South Carolina's continued efforts in this and other conservation matters! Contact us at (843) 462-2150.
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