A ‘Wetland Treasure’ is closer than you think: Take a tour

Wetlands play an important role in both the ecology and economy of South Carolina. These hardworking ecosystems serve as sanctuaries for people and wildlife, provide natural flood control and filter runoff, which helps keep our rivers, lakes and drinking water clean.

Each year, the Carolina Wetlands Association designates a handful of “Wetland Treasures,” and this year we have chosen Congaree National Park. The park features the largest, oldest bottomland forest remaining in the Southern United States. This dynamic floodplain ecosystem is sustained by flows from the Congaree River, which forms the park’s southern border, and Cedar Creek, which flows through the park. Rare species documented at Congaree include the Rafinesque bigeared bat, southeastern myotis bat, bald eagle, wood stork, swallow-tailed kite and spotted turtle. At least 16 species of rare plants are found in the park, including the largest extant population of the Carolina bogmint. And it’s less than an hour from Columbia.

Clemson University’s Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and the Carolina Wetlands Association are working with the region-wide Wetland Forest Initiative — a group of scientists, environmental advocates, forestry professionals, landowners and communities dedicated to conserving, restoring and improving wetland forests across the South. Our goal is to figure out how to keep wetland forests as forests, where they can continue to clean our water and air, cool our region and prevent dangerous floods.

The best way to keep our wetland treasures is to make sure they are well-loved. This year, take an adventure to Congaree. Touch a tree older than your great-great-grandfather. Take a free, guided canoe tour to learn about Congaree. Even though Carolina Wetlands Association’s tour of Congaree is full, the National Park Service staff do tours on a regular basis; you can register up to a month in advance.

And if you want to take action to protect these ancient ecosystems, sign up for our newsletter, and endorse our collective vision for Southern wetland forests.