Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge
Credit: USFWS
The refuge was established on December 1, 1997. The purposes for which Waccamaw NWR was established are (1) protect and manage diverse habitat components within an important coastal river ecosystem for the benefit of endangered and threatened species, freshwater and anadromous fish, migratory birds, and forest wildlife, including a wide array of plants and animals associated with bottomland hardwood habitats; and (2) provide compatible wildlife-dependant recreational activities including hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education and interpretation for the of present and future generations.
Located in portions of Horry, Georgetown, and Marion County Waccamaw NWR's acquisition boundary spans over 55,000 acres and includes large sections of the Waccamaw and Great Pee Dee Rivers and a small section of the Little Pee Dee River. An active land acquisition program from willing sellers is ongoing. Presently Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge manages 22,931 acres.
Waccamaw NWR is one of four refuges in the South Carolina Lowcountry Refuge Complex. The Complex includes Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin, Cape Romain, Santee, and Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuges. In 2008 Waccamaw NWR opened the newly constructed Cox Ferry Lake Recreation Area and the Refuge is completing construction of a new state-of-the- art Environmental Education Center on Highway 701 north of Georgetown. The new center is scheduled to open in May, 2009.
Getting There . . .
Presently there are four Refuge owned tracts that are accessible by automobile on Waccamaw NWR (See map). These tracts are the Cox Ferry Lake Recreation Area, Yauhannah Bluff, Yauhannah Tract and the Buckheister Tract. The Refuge is actively improving access on these tracts and as the acquisition process continues, more tracts offering vehicular access may be acquired.
Waccamaw NWR is a relatively new refuge, therefore public use areas and opportunities are being added as staff and funding grows. Please check the Refuge website for the latest announcements.
