PLANNING UPDATE for Proposed Boundary Expansions at 10 National Wildlife Refuges in Coastal Georgia and South Carolina Lowcountry at the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex and South Carolina Lowcountry Refuges Complex.
Highlights of the Proposal:
- Hunting and other permitted recreational uses would continue on existing public recreational areas, including state Wildlife Management Areas under jurisdictions of the states. The Service is not seeking to manage those existing public conservation areas; the Service is seeking to add lands to the existing conservation network in this important landscape.
- The proposal would not affect state navigable waters; fishing and boating would continue on those waters under state regulations.
- Being included within the proposed boundary expansion area would not affect how owners use their property or to whom they may choose to sell their property. The boundary expansion simply allows the Service to acquire lands that meet our conservation priorities through purchase from willing sellers or donations.
- If finalized, the proposal would conserve about 10% of the outlined Conceptual Focus Areas, aligning with Georgia and South Carolina goals, both State Wildlife Action Plans, and the Southeast Conservation Blueprint. Implementation of the proposed expansions could take many decades.
- The Service's policy is to work with willing sellers.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Major Boundary Expansions for National Wildlife Refuges in Coastal Georgia and South Carolina Lowcountry at the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex and South Carolina Lowcountry Refuges Complex. Click here to learn more.
Dogs and other domestic pets are not allowed on refuge lands, including all trails and beaches. This is especially important on the beaches of Wassaw and Blackbeard Island NWRs to protect declining shorebird and seabird populations that rely on these areas for survival. In addition to the potential for disturbance to wildlife and other visitors, dogs are easy prey for American alligators which are abundant on all refuges in the Complex. You may have your pet while driving the wildlife drives at Savannah and Harris Neck NWRs, but they are not allowed to leave your vehicle.
Visit Us
Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge offers a variety of opportunities to explore and enjoy the great outdoors from sunrise to sunset every day. You can play in the surf, observe and photograph wildlife, go fishing, or during the season, hunt white-tailed deer.
Activities
Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge offers a variety of opportunities to explore and enjoy the great outdoors from sunrise to sunset every day. You can play in the surf, observe and photograph wildlife, go fishing, or during the season, hunt white-tailed deer.
Related Documents
Other Facilities in the Complex
A National Wildlife Refuge Complex is an administrative grouping of two or more refuges, wildlife management areas or other refuge conservation areas that are primarily managed from a central office location. Refuges are grouped into a complex structure because they occur in a similar ecological region, such as a watershed or specific habitat type, and have a related purpose and management needs. Typically, a project leader or complex manager oversees the general management of all refuges within the complex and refuge managers are responsible for operations at specific refuges. Supporting staff, composed of administrative, law enforcement, refuge manager, biological, fire, visitor services, and maintenance professionals, are centrally located and support all refuges within the complex.
The refuges within the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex span a 100-mile stretch of coastline and total nearly 60,000 acres. The Complex headquarters is located within the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 694 Beech Hill Lane, Hardeeville, South Carolina, 29927.
Rules and Policies
There are many fun and interesting things to do and see during your visit to Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge, but it is our job to ensure the habitat that our wildlife calls "home" is protected. Below are a few guidelines to help keep both visitors and wildlife safe.
- The refuge is open during daylight hours only; overnight use and/or camping (including campfires) are not permitted.
- Some areas may be closed seasonally to protect wildlife from human disturbance. Such areas are posted "Area Beyond This Sign Closed."
- Feeding, capturing, or harassing wildlife is strictly prohibited unless authorized by permit.
- Launching, landing, or disturbing of wildlife by aircraft (drones) on the refuge is prohibited.
- Dogs, cats, and other pets are not permitted on the refuge.
- Picking or cutting vegetation is prohibited.
- All of the refuge's archaeological and natural resources are protected. Artifact hunting/collecting is not allowed.
- Shell collectors are asked to take no live shells and to limit collecting to a handful.
- Hikers and bicyclers are encouraged to stay on marked trails.
- The refuge, unless otherwise posted, is open to hiking, biking, wildlife observation, interpretation, environmental education, and photography. It is also open, in certain areas and times of the year, to hunting and fishing; review refuge hunting and fishing regulations for details.