Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge extends 22 miles along the Atlantic coast, encompassing barrier islands and salt marsh habitats. The refuge features 35,267 acres of beaches, sand dunes, salt marsh, maritime forests, and tidal creeks. It also features 31,000 acres of open water!
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You can find 277 kinds of birds at Cape Romain, including shorebirds, oystercatchers, wading birds, and raptors. (See a list of all Cape Romain bird species.) The refuge has the largest nesting rookery for brown pelicans, terns, and gulls on South Carolina's coast. There are also nests for bald eagles and the endangered wood stork.
This picture was taken during SCIway's road trip to Awendaw – a small town located in Charleston County. About 65 percent of Awendaw's land is protected, including Cape Romain, the Francis Marion National Forest, the Sewee Environmental Center, and the Center for Birds of Prey.
Sadly, this protection does not make Awendaw immune to the pressure of development which plagues South Carolina's coast. The town sits just 12 miles from Mount Pleasant, which is bursting at the seams. Learn more about the debate that surrounds Awendaw, which may cause it to grow from 450 homes to 17,760. Many citizens are concerned; such an enormous increase in population would have devastating effects on the area's natural resources, as well as their overall quality of life.
See more pictures of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.
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