NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT PROPOSAL PROJECT OFFICER S PAGE

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1 NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT PROPOSAL PROJECT OFFICER S PAGE What is the proposal title? Santee Delta-Winyah Bay Wetlands III What are the geographical landmarks for the proposal? 1. State(s): South Carolina 2. County(ies): Berkeley, Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Sumter, Williamsburg 3. Congressional District(s): Districts 1 and 6 4. JV: Atlantic Coast Joint Venture 5. BCR: 27 Project Officer Information: 3. Name: Maria Whitehead 4. Title: Winyah Bay and Pee Dee River Basin Project Director 5. Organization: The Nature Conservancy 6. Address: 1417 Stuart Engals Blvd, Mount Pleasant, SC Telephone number: Electronic mail address: mwhitehead@tnc.org 9. Grantee organization or proposal website, if available: Are you requesting that this proposal be considered for funding using BP Gulf Spill funds? No Is an Optional Matching Contributions Plan (MCP) submitted with the proposal? Yes Does the proposal contain match associated with a previously submitted MCP? No Or Are you requesting that this proposal be considered as a continuation of a previous grant agreement (a Programmatic Project Proposal)? No Do you expect this project to be the first phase of a Programmatic Project? Yes How many more proposals are planned for the same project area? 1 Will any of the NAWCA funds requested as part of this proposal be received or spent by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or another Federal agency? No If yes, which agency(ies) will receive these funds and what is the fund amount: Agency Amount FWS Station Cost/ Fund Center # Are carbon sequestration credits involved in the proposal? No Will any portion of any tract or activities associated with any tract be used to satisfy wetland or habitat mitigation requirements under Clean Water Act, Rivers and Harbors Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Water Resources Development Act, or other related statutes now or in the future? No Have you confirmed that all partners, key personnel, and contractors are eligible to participate in Federal grants? Yes To ensure that the proposal complies with available guidelines and that partners are aware of their responsibilities, the Project Officer certifies to the following statement: I have read the 2015 standard

2 grant instructions, eligibility information, and grant administration policies and informed partners or partners have read the material themselves. To the best of my knowledge, the proposal is eligible and complies with all NAWCA, North American Wetlands Conservation Council, and Federal grant guidelines. The work in this proposal consists of work and costs associated with long-term wetlands and migratory bird habitat conservation. Do you have any comments about, or suggestions for, the NAWCA program? No

3 NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT PROPOSAL SUMMARY Santee Delta -Winyah Bay Wetlands III, South Carolina COUNTY(IES), STATE(S), CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT(S): South Carolina counties include: Berkeley, Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Sumter, Williamsburg. Congressional Districts: 1 and 6 GRANT AMOUNT $ 1,000,000 Allocation: The Nature Conservancy $619,250 SC Department of Natural Resources $196,750 Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust $184,000 MATCHING PARTNERS $ 2,024,000 Grantee: The Nature Conservancy $ 1,760,600 Private Landowner $ 120,000 Butler Conservation Fund $ 140,000 Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust $ 900 Duke Energy $ 2,500 GRANT AND MATCH - ACTIVITIES, COSTS, AND ACRES $3,024,000/ 2778 (781) acres Fee Acquired $ 196,750 / 727 acres Easement Purchased $ 2,817,830 / 2051 (781) acres Other (Personnel, travel, indirect costs) $ 9,420 PROPOSAL PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION: The projects described in this proposal will permanently protects strategic tracts, consisting of forested wetlands, tidal freshwater marsh, salt marsh and associated uplands, mixed pine hardwood forest, managed pine, and early successional habitat, in a priority conservation landscape, Santee Delta and Winyah Bay, on the northern coast of South Carolina. A unique collaboration of conservation partners spanning several decades have placed approximately 0.5 million acres of coastal habitats within the project area into public protection including USFW s Cape Romain and Waccamaw NWRs, USFS s Francis Marion National Forest, SC Department of Natural Resources (SC DNR) Yawkey Wildlife Center and Santee Delta WMA, NOAA s North Winyah Bay and North Inlet National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), and TNC s Sandy Island Preserve. These core protected areas are complimented by approximately 30,000 acres of private conservation easements that protect natural habitats and limit subdivision and future development. This tremendous investment in core protected areas along SC s coast will conserve ecological processes and system functionality promoting resiliency in the face of climate change. The project area for Santee Delta-Winyah Bay Wetlands III encompasses fourteen coastal counties and five Atlantic Coast Joint Venture (ACJV) Waterfowl Focus Areas: Santee, Lynches and Upper Pee Dee, Upper Waccamaw, Winyah Bay and Little Pee Dee-Lumber River. Phase III complements the objectives of Phases I and II and will protect four tracts, totaling 2778 acres, including 1727 wetland acres and 1051 acres of associated uplands to benefit breeding, migrating, and wintering birds in accordance with the recommendations of South Atlantic Migratory Bird Initiative (SAMBI). This proposal seeks to permanently protect three strategic project tracts: (1) to protect and place in public management a significant waterfowl conservation property, Wedge Plantation Ricefields, to be incorporated into SCDNR s Santee Delta WMA for waterfowl and habitat conservation, and public use and recreation, (2) to place a permanent conservation easement on a forested wetland tract within the Santee River Basin, and (3) to place a permanent conservation easement on a key forested wetland tract along the Black River and Mingo Creek to conserve a known nesting site for Swallow-tailed Kites and augment a growing network of conservation lands near The Nature Conservancy s (TNC) Black River Preserve in the Winyah Bay Focus Area.

4 Specifically, grant funds will be used by the SCDNR to acquire the 727-acre Wedge Plantation Ricefields (Tract 1) (Georgetown County) within the Santee River Basin to be incorporated into the ownership and management of the Santee Delta WMA. Additionally, grant funds will be used to acquire: (1) a bargainsale conservation easement on the 410-acre Savannah Creek tract (Tract 2) within the Santee River Basin (Berkeley County) in partnership with the landowners, Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust (LBCT), and USFWS Coastal Program and (2) a purchased conservation easement on the 1367-acre RMS Mingo Creek Tract (Tract 3) along the Black River and Mingo Creek (Georgetown County within the Winyah Bay Focus Area by TNC. The 274-acre Tarte match tract (Tract 4) protects bottomland hardwood forests and associated uplands along the Black River (Williamsburg County) within the Winyah Bay Focus Area through a bargain-sale conservation easement with funding from the Butler Conservation Fund. HABITAT TYPES AND WILDLIFE BENEFITTING: Supporting some of the most extensive, intact wetlands in the southeastern United States, the Santee Delta and Winyah Bay wetland complex play an important role for many species of migrating birds including waterfowl, waterbirds, shorebirds, wading birds, and landbirds. The project area supports unique upland and wetland habitats including longleaf pine forest, eastern maritime forest, estuarine wetlands, tidal emergent freshwater wetlands, tidal forested freshwater wetlands, and Carolina bays. Cumulatively, the project tracts protect over 10 miles of riparian habitat and a variety of wetland types and including 972 acres of palustrine forested wetlands comprised of mature bottomland hardwood forests (893 acres) and scrub shrub bottomland hardwoods (79 acres); 744 acres of tidal marsh; and 11 acres of open water and riverine habitat. These project tracts also protect 1051 acres of upland habitats including, 153 acres of mixed pine hardwood forests, 815 acres of managed pine ideal for restoration to longleaf pine forest, and 83 acres of open habitats (e.g., recent clearcuts, wildlife openings, hayfields, and pasture). The project protects and places in public management a key tract for waterfowl benefiting eleven priority species including: American Black Duck, Mottled Duck, Mallard, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Canvasback, Redhead, and Wood Duck. The project will also support neotropical migratory birds associated with mature forested wetlands during the breeding and migration seasons, such as Prothonotary Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Swainson s Warbler, and Wood Thrush and specifically, will protect a key property and confirmed nesting area for Swallow-tailed Kites along Mingo Creek. Of 39 species of shorebirds present in the Atlantic Region of North America, 29 of these occur in the project area and depend upon tidal wetlands and tidal flats such as those to be protected on the Wedge Plantation tract just north of Cape Romain NRW, a shorebird refuge of hemispheric importance. Additionally, ten federally and state listed species would benefit directly from the habitats being protected by this project. PUBLIC BENEFITS/PUBLIC ACCESS: Funds acquired through this grant will allow SCDNR to purchase the tidal wetlands of Wedge Plantation, to be incorporated into the ownership and management of a significant public-use waterfowl management area, DNR s Santee Delta WMA. The property will offer a public-draw for waterfowl hunting as well as fishing, bird watching, nature photography, and boating. Funds also will be used by The Nature Conservancy to acquire permanent conservation easements on the RMS Mingo Creek Tract, which will contribute to the protection of water quality at downstream surface-water intakes for municipal water supply in Georgetown County. NEW PARTNERS: West Family, Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust RELATIONSHIP TO PREVIOUSLY FUNDED NAWCA PROPOSALS: Over the past ten years, SC partners have exemplified how a diverse set of agencies and NGOs can establish mutual priorities for land protection and restoration. Task Force groups focused on the coastal ACJV waterfowl areas, Audubon South Carolina, Ducks Unlimited (DU), SCDNR, TNC, and the USFWS have worked together with other partners to protect the most critically-important landscapes for birds and other wildlife. The SC partnership, the recipient of the 2014 North American Migratory Bird Joint Venture Conservation Champions Award, have received $79 million in federal conservation awards,

5 leveraging more than $365 million from 450 partners, to conserve 378,000 acres of important coastal habitats. This project, a collaboration of five coastal Task Force partnerships, complements the growing coastal SC protected landscape and expands public ownership and management. Coastal SC Wetlands Partnership I and II (WRF 2014): A three-phase project to leverage private conservation investments to permanently protect 2688 acres of wetlands and 2595 acres of associated uplands on strategic tracts and to provide public access through fee acquisition on 775 new acres in coastal SC. Project tracts consist of forested palustrine wetlands, tidal freshwater marsh, salt marsh and associated uplands, including maritime forest, mixed pine hardwood forest, managed pine, and early successional habitat, in coastal South Carolina. Santee Delta and Winyah Bay Protection Project I and II (TNC 2011, 2012): Collectively the first two phases of this proposal were submitted and funded for protection of 3601 acres on three grant tracts and 3119 acres on eight match tracts within the Santee Delta and Winyah Bay drainage basin. Collectively, Phases I, II, and II enhance habitat connectivity, water quality, and public access to lands in the project area. This project, Phase III, will build on the prior efforts protecting 2778 acres on four grant tracts and placing 727 new acres into public ownership and management specifically to benefit waterfowl. South Carolina Lowcountry Wetlands (SCLCW) I, II, III, IV, V (DU 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013) & South Carolina Wetland Landscape (SCWL) I & II (DU 2012 & 2013): The Phase I proposal funds were used to enhance a managed wetland system at Santee Coastal Reserve for SCDNR adjacent to Cape Romain NWR and USFWS Bonny Hall Unit within the ACE Task Force Area. The Phase II proposal enhanced Bear Island WMA near ACE basin NWR by improving water control, water delivery and management capacity for moist soil plant production on three freshwater impoundments. The Phase III proposal will restore 1,091 acres of managed wetlands on the Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin Refuge Combahee fields unit adjacent to ACE Basin NWR Bonny Hall Tract (grant tract). Phase IV enhances 90 acres of Caper's Island HP south of Cape Romain NWR. ACE Basin: Edisto River Corridor Protection Project: Phase I, II, III, IV, V (Audubon SC, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011): This project is a multi-year project to protect and freshwater, forested and estuarine wetlands and associated uplands in the Edisto River corridor. The project added 4,004 acres to the Audubon Center and Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest. Beidler Forest has the distinction of protecting the largest remaining virgin stand of black water cypress and tupelo gum forest in the world, and is a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. The project protected 15,128 acres, including 8310 acres of wetlands to benefit breeding, migrating and wintering birds while enhancing public use within the ACE Basin and close to the Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin Refuge boundary. Winyah Bay Protection Project: Phases I, II and III (TNC, 2008, 2009, and 2010): Collectively this three phase programmatic proposal was submitted and funded for protection of 9,551 on 4 grant and 14 match tracts within the Winyah Bay drainage basin. The projects enhance functional habitat connectivity, water quality, and public access to recreational lands in the larger project area. Match tracts, Freeman and Vaughn, will be incorporated into TNC s Black River Preserve along with the Suzie Tyson grant tract from Winyah Bay Protection Project Phase II. Coastal Refuges Partnership I and II: (FWS, 2013 and 2014): These proposals were submitted to leverage private conservation investments to secure funding for key public inholdings and restoration needs within the SC Lowcountry Refuge Complex. These projects contribute significantly to the ACJV goals for the Upper Waccamaw, Santee, and ACE Basin Focus Areas for waterfowl protection. THREATS AND SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: As this nation s 40 th largest state, South Carolina s population grew 15.3% from 2000 to 2010 with over 50% of the population residing in the coastal counties. The state s population is predicted to jump by over 1 million new residents within the next fifteen years. Coastal landscapes are especially vulnerable.

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7 FINANCIAL PLAN AND WORK PLAN PROPOSAL FINANCIAL PLAN TABLE MATCHING PARTNERS ACTIVITIES GRANT $ ABBREVIATED PARTNER NAME OLD MATCH $ NEW MATCH $ TOTAL $ Land Costs: Fee Acquired $186,750 SCDNR $186,750 TRACT ID 1 Wedge Plantation Ricefields NON- MATCH $ 1 Wedge Appraisals & Other Acquisition Costs $10,000 SCDNR $10,000 Plantation Ricefields Land Costs: Easement Acquired $172,000 LBCT $172, Savannah Creek Appraisals & Other Acquisition Costs $12,000 LBCT $12, Savannah Creek Appraisals & Other 2- Savannah Acquisition Costs USFWS CP Creek $2000 Land Costs: Easement 2- Savannah Donated WF $120,000 $120,0000 Creek Non-contract personnel & Travel LBCT $900 $ Savannah Creek Land Costs: Easement 3- RMS Acquired $600,000 TNC $600,000 Mingo Creek Appraisals & Other Acquisition Costs $11,692 TNC 3- RMS $11,692 Mingo Creek Non-contract personnel & Travel $2,600 TNC 3- RMS $2,600 Mingo Creek Non-contract personnel & 3- RMS Travel DE $2,500 $2,500 Mingo Creek Land Costs: Easement Acquired BCF $140,000 $140, Tarte Appraisal review $1,000 TNC $ 1, Tarte Land Costs: Easement Donated TNC $120,000 $120, Tarte Land Costs: 5- Mansfield Easement Donated TNC $1,640,600 $1,640,600 Plantation Appraisal review $1,000 TNC $1, Mansfield Plantation TOTAL ACQUIRED $997,042 $1,900,600 $123,400 $3,021,042 GRAND TOTAL DIRECT $997,042 $1,900,600 $123,400 $3,021,042 TOTAL INDIRECT $2,958 TNC $2,958 GRAND TOTAL $1,000,000 $1,900,600 $123,400 $3,024,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Coastal Program USFWS $2000 Duke Energy DE $2,500 Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust LBCT $900 1

8 MATCHING PARTNERS ABBREVIATED PARTNER NAME OLD MATCH $ NEW MATCH $ TOTAL $ ACTIVITIES GRANT $ Private landowners: West Family WF $120,000 The Nature Conservancy TNC $ 1,760,600 Butler Conservation Fund BCF $140,000 TRACT ID NON- MATCH $ GRAND TOTAL $1,000,000 $1,900,600 $123,400 $3,024,000 $2,000 Do you need to explain any abbreviations in the Financial Plan Table? DE represents Duke Energy funds secured through a corporate gift to The Nature Conservancy. WF represents the West Family, private landowners that hold title to the Savannah Creek property. USFWS CP represents the USFWS Coastal Program which has agreed to contribute in-kind support to complete the baseline documentation report on the Savannah Creek easement. BCF represents the Butler Conservation Fund a private foundation dedicated to land protection and education. If your grant request exceeds $1,000,000, what is your justification? NA If any match was previously approved by the Council via an Optional Matching Contributions Plan, did you include a copy of the letter approving the Matching Contributions Plan and give the following information: tracts affected, and how much of each partner s match has been used in previous proposals, how much is being used in this proposal, and how much will remain after the current proposal is funded? NA WORK PLAN TRACT 1- Wedge Plantation Ricefields OVERALL ACRES AFFECTED: 727 acres TRACT LOCATION: W, N STATE/FEDERAL AGENCIES HOLDING INTERESTS: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Acreage Summary of Grant/Match Activities on the Tract: Acquisition: 727 Restoration: Enhancement: Establishment: Describe all applicable grant/match activities occurring on the tract here: Grant funds will used to purchase fee title and support due diligence associated with the 727-acre Wedge Plantation Ricefields acquisition by SCDNR for incorporation into the Santee Delta WMA. This tract protects estuarine wetlands and will complement a network of publically-owned lands in the Santee and Winyah conservation landscape. The property will be incorporated in the Santee Delta WMA a SCDNR waterfowl management area which will create public use and recreational opportunities compatible with NAWCA purposes, including waterfowl hunting, fishing, bird watching, nature photography, and boating. Tract 1 Wedge Plantation Ricefields: Acquisition Financial Plan Justification - $196,750 and 727 acres Grant - $196,750_ Match - $ Non-Match - $ Completion: December 2016 LAND ACQUISITION DISCLOSURE Type of acquisition: fee title Holder of Fee Title: SCDNR Holder of NAWCA conservation interest: SCDNR Grantor/Seller of conservation interest: University of South Carolina 2

9 Tenure of conservation interest: Perpetuity All funding sources for acquisition: NAWCA grant funds will used to purchase fee title and support due diligence associated with the 727-acre Wedge Plantation Ricefields acquisition by SCDNR. Are mineral rights severed or included? Mineral rights are included. Are water rights severed or included? Water rights will convey to SCDNR at time of purchase. Easements: N/A Leases: N/A Item & Work Units $/unit Total $ Schedule (month, year) Funding Source (Grant or Partner name) APPRAISALS and OTHER ACQUISITION COSTS Land Costs $ 186,750 December 2016 Grant Appraisal 1 $ 7,500 $ 7,500 August 2016 Grant Closing and title work 1 $ 2,500 $ 2,500 December 2016 Grant Subtotal Appraisals and Other Acquisition Costs $196,750 TOTAL ACQUISITION DIRECT COSTS $196,750 TRACT 2 Savannah Creek OVERALL ACRES AFFECTED: 410 acres TRACT LOCATION: W, N STATE/FEDERAL AGENCIES HOLDING INTERESTS: NA Acreage Summary of Grant/Match Activities on the Tract: Acquisition: 410 Restoration: Enhancement: Establishment: Describe all applicable grant/match activities occurring on the tract here: Grant funds will be used to purchase a bargain-sale conservation easement and support due diligence associated with the protection of the 421-acre Savannah Creek Tract by LBCT by December 2016 with funding from NAWCA and a significant donation of value from the private landowners, the West Family. The estimated value of the CE is $400,000. A portion of the estimated landowner donated value, $120,000, is committed as match to this proposal. The property is owned by Harold N. West, Jr. and John S. West. A total of 11 acres were deducted from the tract to account for building allowances, resulting in 410 acres for this proposal. This tract provides permanent protection of bottomland hardwood forest and associated uplands appropriate for longleaf pine forest restoration within the Santee River basin in Berkeley County Tract 2 Savannah Creek LLC Tract: Acquisition Financial Plan Justification - $306,900_ and 410 acres Grant - $ 184,000 Match $120,900 Non-Match - $_2,000 Completion: December 2016 LAND ACQUISITION DISCLOSURE Type of acquisition: conservation easement Holder of Fee Title: Harold N. West, Jr. and John S. West Holder of NAWCA conservation interest: Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust Grantor/Seller of conservation interest: Harold N. West, Jr. and John S. West Tenure of conservation interest: Perpetuity All funding sources for acquisition: NAWCA grant funds will be used to purchase a bargain-sale conservation easement on the Savannah Creek property. The remaining CE value will be donated by the landowners, Harold N. West, Jr. and John S. West. Are mineral rights severed or included? Mineral rights are included. Are water rights severed or included? Water rights remain with the landowner EASEMENTS: What organization will monitor the easement? Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust Should the easement holder cease to exist, to what organization will the easement revert? 3

10 Easement may be assigned to a tax-exempt, non-profit organization, qualified under SS501(c)(3) and 170(h)(3) and not a private foundation under S509(a) of the Code, that has a mission of protecting open lands or natural resources in South Carolina. Has the easement holder adopted the Land Trust Standards and Practices developed by the Land Trust Alliance? Yes and LBCT is in the process of seeking accreditation from LTA. Is there a stewardship endowment dedicated to maintaining and managing the easement? Yes, a stewardship endowment will be requested of the landowners. Is subdivision of the easement property permitted? Yes, but limited to one subdivision to create two parcels List all other allowed activities, allowed structures, or reserved rights not described above. Allowed activities: Limited agriculture and grazing in upland areas, harvest of timber outside of the designated forested wetland preserve area, recreational uses such as hunting, fishing, and horseback riding, management of wetland impoundments and ponds, the right to conduct archeological investigation, and the right to engage in ecosystem services credits. Allowed structures: Within two designated 5-acre building envelopes, the grantor has the right to construct 1 residence, 1 guest house, and related outbuildings (e.g. barn, pole shed). Currently, there is only a primitive bunk house on the property. The grantor may construct driveways and access roads of permeable materials. The building envelopes shall be built only in upland areas and 50 feet from the forested wetland preserve area. Landowner has the right to build one (1) observation platform within the forested wetland preserve area. Reserved rights: The grantor has the right to maintain existing improvements; graze and pasture domestic animals in existing and permitted fields so long as grazing would not result in unreasonable deterioration of conservation values; right to create new agricultural fields or wildlife food plots; right to harvest timber pursuant to a Forest Management Plan approved by LBCT except within the forested wetland preserve area; right to engage in recreational uses such as hunting, fishing, and horseback riding for commercial purposes; right to restore and enhance native plant and wildlife; maintain, enhance, and manage existing and new wetland impoundments; maintain, enhance, and manage existing ponds and establish new ponds outside of bottomland hardwood preserve so long as creation would not result in unreasonable deterioration of conservation values; the right to conduct archeological investigation; and the right to engage in ecosystem services credits. Item & Work Units $/unit Total $ Schedule (month, year) Funding Source (Grant or Partner name) APPRAISALS and OTHER ACQUISITION COSTS Purchased Easement $172,000 $172,000 December 2016 Grant Donated Easement Value $120,000 $120,000 December 2016 Private landowner Survey and appraisals $ 12,000 $ 12,000 December 2016 Grant Baseline Documentation report $ 2,000 $ 2,000 December 2016 FWS (nonmatch) Subtotal Appraisals and Other Acquisition Costs $306,000 NON-CONTRACT PERSONNEL and TRAVEL Land protection staff time: acquisition of grant tract, coordinating due diligence required, conducting state and federal compliance activities (*hourly rate includes fringe benefits). 30 hours $30*/30 $ 900 Ongoing - August 1, 2015 to end of project period LBCT Subtotal Non-Contract Personnel and Travel $900 TOTAL ACQUISITION DIRECT COSTS $306,900 4

11 TRACT 3 RMS Mingo Creek Tract OVERALL ACRES AFFECTED: 1367 acres TRACT LOCATION: W, N STATE/FEDERAL AGENCIES HOLDING INTERESTS: NA Acreage Summary of Grant/Match Activities on the Tract: Acquisition: 1367 Restoration: Enhancement: Establishment: Describe all applicable grant/match activities occurring on the tract here: Grant funds will be used to purchase a conservation easement and support due diligence associated with the protection of the 1378-acre RMS Mingo Creek Tract by TNC by December 2016 with funding from NAWCA. A total of 11 acres was deducted from the tract to account for building allowances, resulting in 1367 acres for this proposal. This tract provides permanent protection of the forested wetlands along the Black River and Mingo Creek in Georgetown County while the uplands are ideal for future restoration to longleaf pine forest. The tract is in close proximity to TNC s Black River Preserve and a confirmed nesting site for state-endangered Swallow-tailed Kites. Tract 3 RMS Mingo Creek Tract: Acquisition Financial Plan Justification - $619,292 and 1367 acres Grant - $ 616,792 Match - $2,500 Non-Match - $ Completion: December 2016 LAND ACQUISITION DISCLOSURE Type of acquisition: conservation easement Holder of Fee Title: Springwood Timberlands LLC Holder of NAWCA conservation interest: The Nature Conservancy Grantor/Seller of conservation interest: Springwood Timberlands LLC Tenure of conservation interest: Perpetuity All funding sources for acquisition: NAWCA grant funds will be used to purchase a conservation easement on the RMS Mingo Creek property. Are mineral rights severed or included? Mineral rights are included. Are water rights severed or included? Water rights remain with the landowner EASEMENTS: What organization will monitor the easement? The Nature Conservancy Should the easement holder cease to exist, to what organization will the easement revert? Easement may be assigned to a tax-exempt, non-profit organization, qualified under SS501(c)(3) and 170(h)(3) and not a private foundation under S509(a) of the Code, that has a mission of protecting open lands or natural resources in South Carolina. Has the easement holder adopted the Land Trust Standards and Practices developed by the Land Trust Alliance? Yes Is there a stewardship endowment dedicated to maintaining and managing the easement? Yes, a stewardship endowment will be requested of the landowners. Is subdivision of the easement property permitted? Yes, the two separate tracts that comprise the property are to be treated as one parcel for the purposes of the easement and only one subdivision is allowed. List all other allowed activities, allowed structures, or reserved rights not described above. Allowed Activities: Limited agriculture and grazing in upland areas, harvest of timber outside of the designated forested wetland preserve, recreational uses such as hunting, fishing, and horseback riding, management of wetland impoundments and ponds, the right to conduct archeological investigation, and the right to engage in ecosystem services credits. Allowed Structures: Within 2 designated 5 acre building envelopes, the grantor has the right to construct 1 residence and related outbuildings (e.g. barn, pole shed) per subdivision on each of two allowed parcels. Currently, there are no structures on the property. The grantor may construct driveways and access roads of permeable materials. The building envelopes shall be built only in upland areas and be setback a minimum of 100 feet from roads, 300 feet from the Black River and Mingo Creek, and 50 feet from all wetlands. Landowner has the right to build a single dock and maintain the existing boat landing site. 5

12 Reserved Rights: The grantor has the right to maintain existing improvements; graze and pasture domestic animals in existing and permitted fields so long as grazing would not result in unreasonable deterioration of conservation values; right to create new agricultural fields or wildlife food plots provided the aggregate does not exceed 25% of the uplands area (164.5 acres); right to harvest timber pursuant to a Forest Management Plan approved by TNC except within the hardwood preserve; right to engage in recreational uses such as hunting, fishing, and horseback riding for commercial purposes; right to restore and enhance native plant and wildlife; and establish new ponds up to 5 acres in aggregate; the right to conduct archeological investigation; and the right to engage in ecosystem services credits. Item & Work Units $/unit Total $ Schedule (month, year) Funding Source (Grant or Partner name) APPRAISALS and OTHER ACQUISITION COSTS Purchased Easement $600,000 $600,000 December 2016 Grant Appraisal $ 6,000 $ 6,000 December 2016 Grant Appraisal Review $ 1,000 $ 1,000 December 2016 Grant Phase I Environmental Assessment $ 2,000 $ 2,000 December 2016 Grant Closing and Title Work $ 2,692 $ 2,692 December 2016 Grant Subtotal Appraisals and Other Acquisition Costs $611,692 NON-CONTRACT PERSONNEL and TRAVEL Land protection staff time: acquisition of grant tract, coordinating due diligence required, conducting state and federal compliance activities (*hourly rate includes 40% fringe benefits) 102 hours $50*/102 $ 5,100 Ongoing - August 1, 2015 to end of project period Grant/Duke Energy Subtotal Non-Contract Personnel and Travel $5,100 TOTAL ACQUISITION DIRECT COSTS $616,792 Tract 3 RMS Mingo Creek : Indirect Costs Budget Justification - $ 2,523 Grant - $2,523 Match - _$0 Non-match $ Allowable Category from I.C Rate Agreement Specific Budget Line Items to Which Indirect Cost is Applied Direct Cost Base Amount Approved Rate (%)*/ Agreement Date Partner to which I.C. Rate Applies I.C. Grant Amount I.C. Match Amount Total Indirect Cost Total Direct Project Costs Total Direct Project Costs Appraisals and Other Acquisition Costs Non-contract personnel $9, % (Proposed Rate pending approval 7/1/2015 6/30/2016) 21.75% $2,600 (Proposed Rate pending approval 7/1/2015 6/30/2016) TNC TNC $1, $1, $ $ Total Direct Project Costs Non-contract personnel $2, % (Proposed Rate pending approval 7/1/2015 6/30/2016) TNC $0 $0 6

13 TRACT 4 Tarte OVERALL ACRES AFFECTED: 274 acres TRACT LOCATION: W, N STATE/FEDERAL AGENCIES HOLDING INTERESTS: NA Acreage Summary of Grant/Match Activities on the Tract: Acquisition: 274 Restoration: Enhancement: Establishment: Describe all applicable grant/match activities occurring on the tract here: Match funds were generated through the bargain-sale of a conservation easement on the 281-acre Tarte Tract to TNC in December Butler Conservation Fund monies ($140,000) were used to purchase the bargain-sale easement and are included as match in this proposal. The landowner contributed the remainder of the CE value of $120,000 through a donation to The Nature Conservancy. A total of 7 acres were deducted from the tract acreage to account for building allowances resulting in the 274 acre total used for this proposal. This tract protects forested wetlands and associated uplands. Conservation easement allowances and reserved rights limit subdivision and significantly limit development. Grant funds will pay for an appraisal review on the Tarte Tract to fulfill grant guidelines on eligible match. Tract 4 Tarte Tract: Acquisition Financial Plan Justification - $261,000 and 274 acres Grant - $1,000 Match - $260,000 Non-Match - $ Completion: December 2016 LAND ACQUISITION DISCLOSURE Type of acquisition: conservation easement Holder of Fee Title: Glen and Lisa Tarte Holder of NAWCA conservation interest: The Nature Conservancy Grantor/Seller of conservation interest: Glen and Lisa Tarte Tenure of conservation interest: Perpetuity All funding sources for acquisition: BCF grant funds were used to purchase a bargain-sale conservation easement on the Tarte property. The remaining CE value was donated by the landowners, Glen and Lisa Tarte Are mineral rights severed or included? Mineral rights are included. Are water rights severed or included? Water rights remain with the landowner. EASEMENTS: What organization will monitor the easement? The Nature Conservancy Should the easement holder cease to exist, to what organization will the easement revert? Easements may be assigned to a tax-exempt, non-profit organization, qualified under SS501(c)(3) and 170(h)(3) and not a private foundation under S509(a) of the Code, that has a mission of protecting open lands or natural resources in South Carolina Lowcountry. Has the easement holder adopted the Land Trust Standards and Practices developed by the Land Trust Alliance? Yes. Is there a stewardship endowment dedicated to maintaining and managing the easement? Yes Is subdivision of the easement property permitted? No List all other allowed activities, allowed structures, or reserved rights not described above. Allowed Activities: Limited agriculture and grazing in upland areas, harvest of timber outside of the designated forested wetland buffer, recreational uses such as hunting, fishing, and horseback riding, management of wetland impoundments and ponds, the right to conduct archeological investigation, and the right to engage in ecosystem services credits. Allowed Structures: Within 2 designated 3 acre building envelopes, the grantor has the right to construct 1 residence and related outbuildings (e.g. barn, pole shed). Currently, there is only a cabin and related outbuildings on the property. The grantor may construct driveways and access roads of permeable materials. The building envelopes shall be built only in upland areas within the agreed upon building zone and outside the bottomland hardwood preserve area. Additionally, the landowner has the right to build along the river both an observation platform and a tree house each of which shall be no larger than 400 square feet. Reserved Rights: The grantor has the right to maintain existing improvements; graze and pasture domestic animals in existing and permitted fields so long as grazing would not result in unreasonable deterioration of conservation values; 7

14 right to create new agricultural fields, so long as upland cleared areas make up no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total upland acreage (28 acres) of the Property at any point; right to harvest timber pursuant to a Forest Management Plan approved by TNC except in the bottomland hardwood preserve area; right to engage in recreational uses such as hunting, fishing, and horseback riding for commercial purposes; right to restore and enhance native plant and wildlife; maintain, enhance, and manage existing wetland impoundments; maintain, enhance, and manage existing ponds and establish new ponds up to 5 acres in aggregate; the right to conduct archeological investigation; and the right to engage in ecosystem services credits. LAND ACQUISITION DISCLOSURE Type of acquisition: bargain-sale conservation easement Holder of NAWCA conservation interest: TNC Grantor/Seller of conservation interest: Glen and Lisa Tarte Tenure of conservation interest: Perpetuity All funding sources for acquisition: Butler Conservation Fund and landowner donation. Are mineral rights severed or included? Mineral rights are included. Are water rights severed or included? Water rights remain with the landowner Item & Work Units $/unit Total $ Schedule (month, year) Funding Source (Grant or Partner name) APPRAISALS and OTHER ACQUISITION COSTS Purchased Easement $140,000 $140,000 December 2014 BCF Donated Easement Value $120,000 $120,000 December 2016 TNC Appraisal Review 1 $ 1,000 $ 1,000 December 2016 Grant Subtotal Appraisals and Other Acquisition Costs $261,000 TOTAL ACQUISITION DIRECT COSTS $261,000 Tract 4- Tarte Tract: Indirect Costs Budget Justification - $ Grant $ Match $ Non-match $ Allowable Category from I.C Rate Agreement Total Direct Project Costs Specific Budget Line Items to Which Indirect Cost is Applied Appraisals and Other Acquisition Costs Direct Cost Base Amount $1,000 Approved Rate (%)*/ Agreement Date 21.75% (Proposed Rate pending approval 7/1/2015 6/30/2016) Partner to which I.C. Rate Applies TNC I.C. Grant Amount I.C. Match Amount Total Indirect Cost $ $ TRACT 5 Mansfield Plantation OVERALL ACRES AFFECTED: 781 acres TRACT LOCATION: W, N STATE/FEDERAL AGENCIES HOLDING INTERESTS: NA Acreage Summary of Grant/Match Activities on the Tract: Acquisition: (781) Restoration: Enhancement: Establishment: Describe all applicable grant/match activities occurring on the tract here: Grant funds from Santee Delta and Winyah Bay Protection Project II were used to acquire a bargain-sale conservation easement on the 820-acre Mansfield 8

15 Plantation in December 2013 along with a significant donation of value from the private landowners, the Parker Family. These acres were included in the Phase II proposal, so we have shown them as non-additive in this proposal. However, the donated easement value form the landowners has not been used, neither in the substitution request from the Phase II proposal nor in any previous NAWCA proposal. An appraisal established the value of the CE to be $2,660,600 of which $280,000 was accounted for by the NAWCA contribution for the bargain-sale purchase and $2,380,600 by the amount donated by the Parker Family. A portion of the landowner donated value, $1,640,600, is committed as match to this proposal while the remaining $740,000 will be committed as future match in a Matching Contribution Plan included in this proposal. A total of 39 acres was deducted from the tract to account for building allowances, resulting in 781 acres being dedicated to NAWCA conservation interests. The tract is comprised of mature palustrine forested wetland, tidal emergent wetlands, and associated uplands and is part of the Winyah Bay Focus Area. This conservation easement was reviewed and approved by NAWCA staff and the property was approved as a substitution tract for the Phase II proposal in December Tract 5 Mansfield Plantation: Acquisition Financial Plan Justification - $1,641,600 and _(781)_acres Grant - $1,000 Match - $1,640,600_ Non-Match - $ Completion: December 2016 EASEMENTS: What organization will monitor the easement? The Nature Conservancy Should the easement holder cease to exist, to what organization will the easement revert? Easements may be assigned to a tax-exempt, non-profit organization, qualified under SS501(c)(3) and 170(h)(3) and not a private foundation under S509(a) of the Code, that has a mission of protecting open lands or natural resources in South Carolina Lowcountry. Has the easement holder adopted the Land Trust Standards and Practices developed by the Land Trust Alliance? Yes. Is there a stewardship endowment dedicated to maintaining and managing the easement? Yes Is subdivision of the easement property permitted? No List all other allowed activities, allowed structures, or reserved rights not described above. Allowed Activities: Limited agriculture and grazing in upland areas, harvest of timber outside of the designated forested wetland buffer, recreational uses such as hunting, fishing, and horseback riding, management of wetland impoundments and ponds, the right to conduct archeological investigation, and the right to engage in ecosystem services credits. Allowed Structures: Within the 37- acre Building Zone, as defined in the Easement Documentation Report, Landowner shall have the right to remodel, repair, expand, move and replace, and maintain all of the existing structures, so long as the total impervious surface of all improvements within the Building Zone does not exceed 87,120 square feet. The existing improvements, specifically including the guest house, kitchen house, school house, all seven (7) slave cabins, and wash house, may be used as guest residences, but may not serve as permanent residential dwellings. Landowner has the right to construct, remodel, repair, expand, move, replace and maintain one (1) manager s residence within the Building Zone. Landowner shall also have the right to construct additional outbuildings, barns, or sheds, within the Building Zone, so long as the total impervious surface does not exceed 87,120 square feet. Landowner shall have the right to construct, repair, relocate and maintain one (1) dock with covered or uncovered pierhead and one (1) boathouse, with or without railings, which shall be subject to the total impervious surface limit. The grantor may construct driveways and access roads of permeable materials. Reserved Rights: The grantor has the right to maintain existing improvements; graze and pasture domestic animals in existing and permitted fields so long as grazing would not result in unreasonable deterioration of conservation values; right to create new agricultural fields and wildlife food plots, so long as upland cleared areas make up no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total upland acreage (125.5 acres) of the Property at any point; right to harvest timber pursuant to a Forest Management Plan approved by TNC except within 100 ft of Hwy 701 and within the bottomland hardwood preserve area; right to engage in recreational uses such as hunting, fishing, and horseback riding for commercial purposes; right to restore and enhance native plant and wildlife; maintain, enhance, and manage existing wetland impoundments; maintain, enhance, and manage existing ponds and establish new ponds up to 5 acres in aggregate; the right to conduct archeological investigation; and the right to engage in ecosystem services credits. 9

16 LAND ACQUISITION DISCLOSURE Type of acquisition: bargain-sale conservation easement Holder of NAWCA conservation interest: The Nature Conservancy and NAWCA Grantor/Seller of conservation interest: Mighty Mansfield LLC Tenure of conservation interest: Perpetuity All funding sources for acquisition: NAWCA and landowner donation Are mineral rights severed or included? Mineral rights are included. Are water rights severed or included? Water right are retained by landowner Easements: Mansfield Plantation Conservation easement was reviewed and approved by NAWCA staff during substitution request December Leases: N/A Item & Work Units $/unit Total $ Schedule (month, year) Funding Source (Grant or Partner name) APPRAISALS and OTHER ACQUISITION COSTS Acquired easement (donated ) $ 1,640,600 December 2013 TNC Appraisal Review 1 $1,000 $ 1,000 December 2016 Grant Subtotal Non-Contract Personnel and Travel $1,641,000 TOTAL ACQUISITION DIRECT COSTS $1,641,600 Tract 5- Mansfield Plantation Tract: Indirect Costs Budget Justification - $ Grant $ Match $ Non-match $ Allowable Category from I.C Rate Agreement Total Direct Project Costs Specific Budget Line Items to Which Indirect Cost is Applied Direct Cost Base Amount Approved Rate (%)*/ Agreement Date Partner to which I.C. Rate Applies I.C. Grant Amount I.C. Match Amount Total Indirect Cost Appraisals and Other Acquisition Costs $1, % TNC $ $

17 TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT QUESTION 1 How does the proposal contribute to the conservation of waterfowl habitat? D. NARRATIVE 1. Describe how the proposal will aid in meeting objectives of waterfowl conservation plans. During mid-winter surveys 2013, nineteen species of waterfowl were observed within the Santee-Winyah project area. The Santee River and Winyah Bay drainage accounted for 41% of the birds detected statewide. Notably, the Santee River Focus Area, the location of two proposal grant tracts, serves the largest concentration of wintering waterfowl in South Carolina. During mid-winter surveys (SCDNR), over 29,213 individuals were observed along the Santee drainage including priority and high priority species Northern Pintail, Mottled Duck/American Black Duck, Mallard, Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, Wood Duck, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, and American Wigeon. Additionally, this river system provides breeding, migration, and wintering habitat for tens of thousands of Wood Duck, the southern-most population of Lesser Snow Goose, and forty-five percent of South Carolina s Mottled Duck population. This is one of the only confirmed breeding areas for Mottled Ducks in the state. Additionally, the Pee Dee and Black River drainage was one of the last areas to consistently winter American Black Ducks in South Carolina and the area was identified in the 1970 s as important wintering habitat for protection within the Black Duck Management Plan. The protection of Wedge Plantation s tidal wetlands and creeks along the Santee River within an existing waterfowl management area helps ensure continuity of protection and management within a large complex of publically-owned and privately-protected lands of vital importance to waterfowl in SC and along the Atlantic Flyway. Wedge Plantation is a key waterfowl conservation target which will be incorporated in SCDNR s Santee Delta WMA, a waterfowl management area, which supports public waterfowl hunting through an annual draw. From a landscape perspective the tract will also contribute to a significant network of protected lands including North Inlet National Estuarine Research Reserve and Bell Baruch Marine Institute, SC DNR-managed North Island, SCDNR s Santee Coastal Reserve and private properties previously protected under conservation easements including Arcadia Plantation and Hampton Inc. The size, quality, and juxtaposition of these protected and publically-managed coastal wetland habitats within the Santee Basin, the most important waterfowl area in SC, in concert with isolation from human disturbance make Wedge Plantation and Savannah Creek acquisitions especially important to the eleven species of priority waterfowl (cited below) in the Atlantic Flyway. Additionally, grant tracts, RMS Mingo Creek and Tarte, are located within the Winyah Bay Focus Areas which annually hosts peak migratory wintering waterfowl populations of up to 20,000-40,000. During the mid-winter surveys in the focus area, individuals of twelve waterfowl species were observed including priority species - American Black Duck, Northern Pintail, and Mallard. Also, the extensive protection of bottomland hardwood forests in the Winyah Bay drainage provides habitat for thousands of Wood Ducks annually. The Atlantic Coast Joint Venture (ACJV) works to deliver habitat objectives consistent with international, continental and regional plans. The goals and objectives of the ACJV significantly expand those identified in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Specifically, the ACJV objectives are to protect, manage, or enhance approximately 879,138 acres of wetland an upland buffer habitats from Maine to South Carolina. In that vein, the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture s Waterfowl Implementation Plan (WIP) lists the nine focus areas in South Carolina where emphasis should be placed on waterfowl habitat protection and management. The project boundary for the Santee Delta and Winyah Bay Protection Project Phase III encompasses five of these Waterfowl Focus Areas. All of the project tracts occur within an ACJV waterfowl focus area and will directly contribute to meeting waterfowl conservation goals for the region. Permanent protection of the match and grant tracts will help to meet ACJV habitat objectives as described in the South Atlantic Migratory Bird Initiative. The USFWS recognize a number of wetlands as a priority under the federal Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 including Santee River, Upper Winyah Bay and Little Pee Dee River. These areas support some of the largest freshwater marshes left in South Carolina, undisturbed Carolina bays, and undisturbed wilderness of the State Scenic Rivers Program. American Black Duck, Northern Pintail, and Lesser Scaup, wintering populations are declining in the area, region, and lower Atlantic Flyway. The size, quality, and juxtaposition of these habitats make them important to these high priority waterfowl. ACJV Focus Area Plans: This project cumulatively will protect 893 acres of mature and 79 acres scrub-shrub palustrine forested wetland, 727 acres of estuarine tidal marsh, 17 acres of freshwater tidal freshwater marsh, 11 acres of palustrine aquatic bed and riverine 11

18 habitat. These diverse wetlands provide important breeding, wintering and migration habitat for priority species of waterfowl within five coastal South Carolina ACJV Waterfowl Focus Areas. The project meets specific wetland habitat protection goals for waterfowl plans including the North American Waterfowl Management Plan s goal of 945,000 wetland acres - this project protects 2059 wetland acres. It also contributes to individual focus area goals for Santee River Focus Area (1137 acres) and Winyah Bay Focus Area (1641 acres). SC Wildlife Action Plan (2015): Ten species of waterfowl that will benefit from this proposal are also cited as species of greatest conservation need in the 2015 Update of the SC Wildlife Action Plan. These include: Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, Redhead, Ringnecked Duck, American Black Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Mallard, Mottled Duck, and Northern Pintail. Additionally, the proposal directly meets the SCDNR SC WAP Plan recommendation to conserve and enhance additional dabbling duck habitat and associated species partnership efforts in concert with the NAWMP and ACJV focus areas. 2. For the species listed above, describe how many individuals/pairs will use the proposal area before and after the proposal is completed and for what life cycle stage(s) after the proposal is completed. High Priority Breeding Migration Wintering Species Before After Before After Before After American Black Duck - - R R R R Mottled Duck R R R R R R Lesser Scaup - - C C C C Greater Scaup - - R R R R Northern Pintail - - C C C C Mallard - - C C C C Priority Other American Wigeon - - C C C C Ring-necked Duck - - C C C C Wood Duck C C C C C C Redhead - - R R R R Canvasback - - R R R R Gadwall - - A A A A Hooded Merganser - - C C C C Bufflehead - - C C C C Green-winged Teal - - A A A A Blue-winged Teal - - C C C C Northern Shoveler - - C C C C Ruddy Duck - - C C C C Lesser Snow Goose - - R R R R 3. How will the proposal impact species affected and improve habitat quality (describe before- and after-proposal environment)? The Santee Delta and Winyah Bay wetland complex plays an important role for many species of migrating waterfowl by having the most extensive, intact wetlands in the southeastern United States. Priority waterfowl species that will benefit from this project include: American Black Duck, Mottled Duck, Mallard, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Canvasback, and Wood Duck. The complex of wetland habitats on match and acquisitions tracts and their juxtaposition to major waterfowl wintering areas, such as the Santee Coastal Reserve, will benefit eighteen priority and non-priority breeding, wintering and migratory waterfowl species. The project tracts will contribute substantively to expansion of the existing protected matrix of public and privately managed waterfowl habitat. Collective benefits to waterfowl from this proposal with those of previous wetland conservation efforts along the Santee River and Winyah Bay drainage include: protection of critical habitat, enhanced 12

19 collaborative management effort, and protection from human disturbance. Additionally, the grant tract, Wedge Plantation Ricefields, a priority waterfowl management area will be owned and managed by SCDNR and incorporated into the Santee Delta WMA to sustain and enhance waterfowl habitat on that tract and allow public waterfowl hunt opportunities. 4. What is the importance of each tract or logical groupings of tracts shown in the proposal to the species (if tracts are not yet identified, explain what procedure will be used to ensure that high quality habitat is targeted)? This proposal will protect 893 acres of mature palustrine forested wetlands found on three of the grant and match tracts, RMS Mingo Creek, Savannah Creek, and Tarte tracts. Acquisition of grant-tract Wedge Plantation Ricefields will help ensure continuity of protection and management within the large complex of tidal marsh and estuarine habitat that make up the Santee Delta the most productive waterfowl area in South Carolina. Wedge Plantation will protect and place in public management 727 acres of estuarine wetlands that were formerly ricefields. The five priority bay duck species in SC, Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, Redhead, and Ring-necked Duck., occur primarily in fresh or brackish water habitats across the State. Lesser Scaup are known to use tidal, estuarine, and nearshore ocean habitats such as those found on Wedge Plantation. Historically, rafts of Canvasbacks were known to use the lower reaches of Winyah Bay (Cely 1979). Currently, the largest known concentration of Canvasbacks that occurs with any regularity is on Bull Island, located within Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge just south of Wedge Plantation. Because Greater Scaup and redhead numbers are so low in the State, little is known about them. However, both species are found in brackish to saline habitats elsewhere in the Atlantic flyway such as those found on Wedge Plantation. =============================================================================== TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT QUESTION 2 How does the proposal contribute to the conservation of other wetland-associated migratory birds? A. NAWCA Priority Bird Species for BCR 27 Species/Plan Numbers Affected Benefits of Project Tract Importance Swallow-Tailed Kite (BCR 27, PIF Plan, SAMBI high priority SC WAP Priority Species) 4 breeding pairs (based on extrapolation of PIF objective for STKI 100,000 acres required for 500 breeding pairs) Protects 892 acres of mature palustrine forested wetlands improving habitat connectivity and quality of large forested wetland sites. Protects important river corridor and contributes to state population goal of 300 breeding pairs. RMS Mingo Creek Tract is a confirmed nesting location. Existing nesting areas are extremely important to protect for this social raptor with high breeding site fidelity. 2,3,4: Savannah Creek, RMS Mingo Creek, and Tarte tracts provide forested wetlands important for nesting. The grant tract, RMS Mingo Creek, is a known nesting location with two historic nest locations on the tract. 1: Wedge Plantation Ricefields in the Santee Delta is an important and historic open foraging area for STKI. In the past, Santee Delta STKI post-breeding foraging aggregations have exceeded 100 individuals (16 July 1982). Bald Eagle (BCR 27, SAMBI moderate priority, SC WAP Priority Species) Up to 11 pairs could benefit from protection with population increases (based on average territory size of 247 acres). Protects 1727 acres of palustrine forested wetlands, open water and tidal wetlands and 1051 acres of adjacent uplands. All match and grant tracts have open wetlands or forested habitat near water with minimal or no human development and thus fit the nesting and foraging habitat criteria of Bald Eagles. 1, 2, 3, 4: All tracts provide open wetlands and forested wetlands with adjacent undeveloped uplands important for nesting and foraging Eagles. 13

20 American Woodcock (PIF Plan, BCR 27, SAMBI-Highest Priority, USSCP-High Concern, SCDNR WAP-Priority Species) 5 individuals (Based on estimate of 1 wintering bird(s) per 67 ha) Protects 893acres of palustrine forested wetlands, which are important feeding areas for wintering American Woodcock. 2,3,4: Savannah Creek, RMS Mingo Creek, and Tarte tracts provide forested wetlands important foraging areas for wintering and migrating American Woodcock. Swainson s Warbler (PIF Plan, BCR 27, SAMBI High Priority, SCDNR WAP Priority Species) 68 breeding pairs (based on average territory size of 10 ha) Preferred habitat is forested wetland patches surrounded by pine dominated forests found on 1641acres and two project tracts along the Black River. 3 & 4: Project tracts, RMS Mingo Creek and Tarte, provide the wetland and upland habitat complex preferred by breeding and migrating Swainson s Warblers. Wood Thrush (PIF Plan, BCR 27, SAMBI High Priority, N.A. Landbird Conservation Plan Watch List - Management Needed, SCDNR WAP- Priority Species) 311 breeding pairs (based on average territory size of 1.36 ha in mature hardwood forests) Protects 893 acres of mature palustrine forested wetlands and protects 153 acres of upland mixed hardwood which are important nesting and feeding areas. 2,3,4: Savannah Creek, RMS Mingo Creek, and Tarte tracts provide forested wetlands while RMS Mingo Creek and Savannah Creek tracts also provide upland mixed hardwoods. Both habitats are important nesting and feeding areas for breeding and migrating Wood Thrush. Prothonotary Warbler (PIF Plan, BCR 27, SAMBI Moderate Priority, SCDNR WAP- Priority Species) breeding pairs (based on average territory size of ha) Protects 893 acres of palustrine forested wetlands which are important nesting and feeding areas for these wood warblers during migration and breeding seasons. 2,3,4: Savannah Creek, RMS Mingo Creek, and Tarte tracts provide forested wetlands important nesting and feeding areas for breeding and migrating Kentucky Warblers and Prothonotary Warblers. Kentucky Warbler (PIF Plan, BCR 27, SAMBI High Priority, SCDNR WAP- Priority Species) 164 breeding pairs (based on average territory size of 2.21 ha) Rusty Blackbird (PIF Plan, BCR 27, SAMBI high priority species, SCDNR WAP- Priority Species) 24 wintering individuals (based on wintering density of 1 individual per 14.8 ha) Protects 893 acres of palustrine forested wetlands which are important feeding and roosting areas. 2,3,4: Savannah Creek, RMS Mingo Creek, and Tarte tracts provide forested wetlands important feeding areas for migrating and wintering Rusty Blackbirds.. Black Rail (PIF Plan, BCR 27, SE U.S. Waterbird Conservation Plan- Immediate Management Needed, SAMBI-High Priority, SCDNR SWAP- NA Protects 727acres of tidal marsh, which is important nesting and foraging habitat for secretive marsh birds like King Rail and Black Rail. 1: Wedge Plantation Ricefields protects and places in public management tidal marsh used as nesting and foraging habitat by King and Black Rails throughout the year. 14

21 Priority Species) King Rail NA (BCR 27, SE U.S. Waterbird Conservation Plan SAMBI moderate priority, SCDNR WAP- Priority Species) B. OTHER WETLAND-ASSOCIATED BIRD SPECIES Identify up to ten non-priority wetland-associated bird species that help demonstrate the benefits of the project activities to non-waterfowl species. Species/Plan Numbers Affected Benefits of Project Tract Importance White Ibis (SAMBI high priority, SCDNR WAP- Priority Species) Tricolored Heron (SAMBI High Priority, SCDNR WAP-Priority Species) 57 ( breeding pairs (based on density of 1 pair per 6.3 acres) 18 breeding pairs (based on density of 1 pair per 20 ha) Protects 893 acres forested wetlands and 727 acres of tidal marsh, which are important feeding and nesting areas for wading birds. 2,3,4: Savannah Creek, RMS Mingo Creek, and Tarte tracts provide forested wetlands important. nesting and feeding areas for breeding, migrating, and wintering White Ibis, Tricolored Heron, and Little Blue Heron 1: Wedge Plantation Ricefields protects and places in pubic management 727 acres of tidal marsh used as foraging habitat for White Ibis, Tricolored Heron, and Little Blue Heron Black-throated Green Warbler (SAMBI highest priority, SCDNR WAP- Priority Species) 148 breeding pairs (based on density of average territory size of 6 acres) Protects 893 acres of palustrine forested wetlands which are important nesting and feeding areas for migratory and breeding Black-throated Green Warblers. 2,3,4: Savannah Creek, RMS Mingo Creek, and Tarte tracts provide forested wetlands important nesting and feeding areas for breeding and migrating Blackthroated Green Warblers. Least Bittern (PIF Plan, BCR 27, SAMBI High Priority SCDNR WAP- Priority Species) 30 breeding pairs (based on average home range size of 9.7 ha in New York) Protects 727 acres of tidal marsh, which is important nesting and foraging habitat for marshbirds throughout the year. 1: Wedge Plantation Ricefields protects and places in pubic management 727 acres of tidal marsh used as foraging and nesting habitat for Least and American Bittern. American Bittern (BCR 27, SCDNR WAP- Priority Species) Not available 15

22 MacGillivray s Seaside Sparrow (BCR 27, SAMBI highest priority, SCDNR WAP- Priority Species) Not Available Protects 727 acres of tidal marsh, which is important nesting and foraging habitat for breeding and wintering Seaside Sparrows. 1: Wedge Plantation Ricefields protects and places in pubic management 727 acres of tidal marsh used as wintering and nesting habitat for Seaside Sparrows Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow (PIF Plan, BCR 27, N.A. Landbird Conservation Plan Watch List -Immediate Action Needed, SAMBI-Highest Priority) Not Available Short-billed Dowitcher (BCR 27, SAMBI high priority, SCDNR WAP- Priority Species) Gull-billed Terns (BCR 27, SAMBI priority, SCDNR WAP- Priority Species) American Oystercatcher (BCR 27, SAMBI high priority, SCDNR SWAMP Priority Species, Atlantic Flyway Plan) Not available Not available Protects and places in pubic management 727 acres of tidal marsh important foraging habitat for shorebirds. 1: Wedge Plantation Ricefields protects and places in pubic management 727 acres of tidal marsh used as foraging habitat by Black Skimmer, Short-billed Dowitcher, Gull-billed Terns, and American Oystercatcher. During Fall migration most of the Atlantic coast American Oystercatcher population can be found on Cape Romain NWR which is just south and within the same complex of protected lands as Wedge Plantation. ====================================================================================== TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT QUESTION 3 How does the proposal location relate to the geographic priority wetlands described by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Partners In Flight, the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, and/or the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan? A. NATIONAL PRIORITY WETLAND AREAS. The entire Santee Delta and Winyah Bay Protection Project area falls within the geographic priority areas for all four major bird groups: waterfowl, shorebirds, landbirds, and waterbirds. National Bird Plan Priority Areas: In Partially In Out NAWMP X PIF X Wading Birds X Shorebirds X 16

23 The North American Waterfowl Management Plan is administered by the North American Wetlands Council. In the United States, the Plan has become a network of Joint Ventures with a variety of federal, state, and private partners. This proposal, Phase III of The Santee Delta-Winyah Bay Wetlands Protection Project, will aid in meeting the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture habitat objectives to protect/secure and place in public management more acreage of important waterfowl habitat. The stated goal is 945,000 acres in the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture area, and this proposal contributes 893 acres of forested wetlands and 727 of tidal marsh that are used by priority waterfowl species. The project protects important breeding habitat for Wood Ducks as well as stopover habitat for migrating waterfowl and other wetland-associated bird species. Specifically, this proposal benefits eleven High Priority and Priority waterfowl species: American Black Duck, Mottled Duck, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, Canvasback, Redhead, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, and American Wigeon. Furthermore, the project protects important wintering habitat for eight other waterfowl including Gadwall, Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, Greenwinged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, and Lesser Snow Goose. The North American Waterbird Conservation Plan. This Plan sets forth priorities and goals for waterbirds in habitats in North America used by waterbird populations. The purpose is to sustain or restore the distribution, diversity, and abundance of populations and habitats of breeding, migratory, and non-breeding waterbirds. The protection of the project tracts, RMS Mingo Creek, Tarte, and Savannah Creek tracts, contributes directly to the goal of protecting, restoring, and managing sufficient high quality habitat and key sites for waterbirds to meet species and population goals by providing protection of 893 acres of freshwater forested wetlands which are important nesting, foraging, and roosting habitat of waterbirds. The project also protects and places in public management 727 acres of tidal marsh on Wedge Plantation vital foraging habitat. Significantly, two project tracts, Wedge Plantation and Mingo Creek tracts, are within the immediate foraging radius of known Wood Stork and wading bird rookeries on the Black River and at the Washoe Reserve. The protection of the project tracts, Savannah Creek, RMS Mingo Creek, and Tarte, include significant upland buffers, which will help protect water quality in the Pee Dee and Santee watersheds. Priority species that use forested wetlands for foraging include Wood Stork, White Ibis, Tricolored Heron, Little Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, and Blackcrowned Night-Heron. The purpose of the Partners in Flight Bird (PIF) Conservation Plan is to provide an overview of the highest priority landbirds in North America. PIF s Bird Conservation Plan for the South Atlantic Coastal Plain (Physiographic Area 03), identifies primary conservation objectives This proposal addresses two: (1) retain 1.3 million acres of native warm season grass habitat with associated longleaf pine this proposal protects 815 acres of planted loblolly pine in areas ideal for conversion to longleaf pine forest (e.g., Tarte tract property owners are already implementing prescribed burning and are exploring the opportunity to place upland pine in longleaf) which is important to priority species such as the Redcockaded Woodpecker, Henslow s Sparrows, Bachman s Sparrows, and Prairie Warblers and (2) maintain and improve habitat quality of large contiguous forested-wetland sites for Swallow-tailed Kites, Wayne s Black-throated Green Warbler, and Swainson s Warbler this proposal contributes 893 acres of mature forested wetlands and protects a known Swallow-tailed Kite nesting area. Additionally, recent radar studies in the Southeastern US (LaPuma et al. 2013), demonstrate the importance of protecting forested wetlands as stop-over habitat for many migratory landbirds, including those not associated with this habitat type during the breeding season. Migrating landbird densities were associated with habitat type, proximity to the coast, and age and heterogeneity of forested wetlands. The coastal floodplain forests, such as those found on Savannah Creek, RMS Mingo Creek, and Tarte, are revealed as critical stop-over habitat for migrating landbirds in LaPuma s Radar Analysis of Bird Migration Stopover Sites in the Southeastern U.S. The U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan is a partnership of state and federal agencies, non-government organizations, academic institutions, and individuals. The purpose of the Plan is to ensure that stable and self-sustaining populations of all shorebird species are restored and protected. On a national scale, the goal of the Shorebird Plan is to stabilize populations of all shorebird species known or suspected of being in decline due to limiting factors occurring within the U.S., while ensuring that common species are also protected from future threats. Protection of freshwater resources, such as forested wetlands and adjacent uplands found on Savannah Creek, RMS Mingo Creek, and Tate, help improve water quality and to ensure high-quality foraging in the down-river estuarine zone used by shorebirds. One coastal grant tract, Wedge Plantation Ricefields, is in close proximity to Cape Romain NWR, a designated Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve included in the United Nations Santee Delta-Cape Romain Unit of the Carolinian South Atlantic Biosphere Reserve. Wedge Plantation will protect 727 acres of tidal marsh within the estuarine zone which serves as foraging habitat for many shorebird species and augments protection of Cape Romain NWR and the Winyah Bay and North Inlet NERR. Priority shorebird species (BCR 27) found in the Santee and Winyah Bay Focus Areas include Wilson s Plover, 17

24 American Oystercatcher, Solitary Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, Red Knot, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and Short-billed Dowitcher. Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Business Strategy Protection of Wedge Plantation tidal marsh also contributes to the recent Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Business Strategy by protecting shorebird foraging habitat within a critical shorebird conservation area. B. REGIONAL IMPORTANT WETLAND AREAS. The Santee Delta and Winyah Bay Wetlands Protection Project II falls within the four SAMBI bird focus areas for waterfowl, shorebirds, landbirds, and waterbirds. South Atlantic Migratory Bird Initiative - The project meets specific objectives listed in the SAMBI Implementation Plan, which has adopted the Southeastern Coastal Plain Bird Conservation Region (BCR 27) of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative. Specifically, the proposal represents a large and unique partnership for landscape-scale conservation, which is supported in the 2011/12 Update to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and the 2006 SAMBI Implementation Plan including: 1. Increase quality and availability of stopover habitat for migratory landbird species. This project proposes to permanently protect three tracts with high quality stop-over habitat, including forested wetlands, open and earlysuccessional habitat, managed pine, and mixed hardwoods. Recent radar data further confirms the importance of forested riparian areas as stop-over habitat for migratory birds such as those found on match and grant tracts, Savannah Creek, RMS Mingo Creek, and Tarte. 2. Protect remaining forested wetlands. This project protects and limits disturbance on 893 acres of mature forested wetlands on three project tracts. Future timber harvest in all three of the forested wetland project tracts will limited to ecological harvest and will be set aside as bottomland hardwood preserves and managed for old-growth condition. Relevance to Atlantic Coast Joint Venture Waterfowl Implementation Plan - The project area for this proposal includes five ACJV waterfowl focus areas in the South Carolina coastal plain including: Santee, Lynches and Upper Pee Dee, Upper Waccamaw, Winyah Bay and Little Pee Dee-Lumber River The purpose of the ACJV Implementation Plan is to step-down the objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan to a local level. It presents both an assessment of waterfowl and their habitats as well as a description of habitat conservation goals in each focus area. This proposal meets conservation recommendations in the plan by contributing to individual focus area goals for Santee Focus Area (1113 acres) and Winyah Bay Focus Area (1641 acres). Relevance to Coastal Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) Plan - The intent of South Carolina s Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Plan (CELCP) is to provide an opportunity to bring state and/or local governments together with non-governmental organizations and private landowners to achieve the common goal of resource conservation. Furthermore, in South Carolina the CELCP focuses on the eight-county coastal zone boundary that has been designated within the S.C. Coastal Management Act of The four project tracts within coastal counties demonstrate the following priorities as described in the South Carolina CELCP Plan, by (1) protecting properties that provide habitat for state and federally endangered/threatened species; (2) protecting properties that provide dominant and ecologically significant coastal forest types such as alluvial swamp forest; (3) protecting river corridors and associated wetlands, including freshwater wetlands; (4) protecting properties that provide critical linkages between ecologically significant lands, particularly properties that serve as buffers and wildlife corridors; (5) protecting properties that provide critical habitat for migratory bird species; (6) protecting properties within designated priority watersheds that, if protected, will help maintain current water quality standards or prevent future degradation of water resources: National Audubon Society Important Bird Areas -The proposal area includes nine Audubon Important Bird Areas (IBAs). Four of these, Cape Romain NWR, Medway Plantation, Hobcaw Barony and Sandy Island, are included on the list of 424 global IBAs. Collectively these IBAs protect avian species of global conservation concern, state species of conservation concern, harbor > 1% of a state population, protect species requiring rare/unique habitats, and/or serve as research sites. TNC South Atlantic Coastal Plain Eco-regional Plan -The proposal area is within TNC s South Atlantic Coastal Plain Ecoregional Plan s Sewee to Santee and Winyah Bay Project Areas. The proposal contributes to the objectives of the Ecoregional Plan by protecting wetland and wetland-associated upland habitat values critical to the long-term viability 18

25 of these programs. The project also contributes to the Sewee-Santee-Winyah Estuarine Complex: Marine Conservation Action Plan by minimizing development through acquisition and private conservation easements on properties which will protect water quality for the downstream estuarine zone. Within the Sewee to Santee and Winyah Project Area, TNC holds 51 conservation easements which protect 24,073 acres of habitat. South Carolina Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan (SCCWCP) -This proposal represents a conservation partnership for landscape-level protection, which is supported in the newly revised 2015 South Carolina Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan. The project specifically addresses four priority statewide conservation actions as described in the 2015 SCCWCP: 1. Acquire property for the protection of priority species and to ensure habitat linkage through fee-simple acquisition and conservation easements covering all priority terrestrial, freshwater aquatic, estuarine, and marine habitats 2. Continue to partner with private entities and other state and federal agencies to acquire land for habitat protection. Develop additional partnerships for land acquisition. 3. Where possible, manage wildlife species and promote habitat protection on an ecoregions-wide and/or watershedwide scale. 4. Continue to partner with private entities, private landowners, and other state and federal agencies to protect riparian areas from degradation. Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of The USFWS recognize a number of wetlands as a priority under the federal Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 including Santee River, Upper Winyah Bay and Little Pee Dee River. These areas support some of the largest freshwater marshes, undisturbed Carolina Bays, and celebrated wilderness areas as acknowledged by the State Scenic Rivers Program and the National Wild and Scenic River Program. ====================================================================================== TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT QUESTION 4 How does the proposal relate to the national status and trends of wetlands types? ACTIVITY AND TRACTS IN THE PROPOSAL STATUS, TYPES, AND ACRES OF WETLANDS Note: Types subsidiary to types listed below have the same status. DECREASING STABLE INCREASING NO TREND DATA PEM PFO PSS E2 E2AB, L R M2, PAB, E1, PML, Veg E2US PUB/POW, PRB PUS UPLANDS TOTAL SECTION A Fee Acquired Easement Acquired ACQUIRED TOTAL TYPE TOTALS STATUS TOTALS GRAND TOTALS Tract 1: Wedge Plantation Ricefields Tract 2:Savannah Creek Tract 3: RMS Mingo Creek Tract 4: Tarte Provide a brief narrative to describe upland habitats (e.g., cropland, grassland, forest) and the relationship to wetlands and migratory bird conservation (i.e., reason for including in proposal). The upland habitat associated with the wetland complexes of the Santee River and Winyah Bay drainage serves as an extremely important buffer to these wetland systems. This upland area is the most likely location for residential, commercial and industrial development that would be devastating to the wetland and other associated natural communities. These uplands also buffer the adjacent high quality palustrine forested wetlands from incompatible land use and protect water quality in the extensive forested wetlands system. The uplands provide a transition zone adjacent to the 19

26 forested wetlands and benefit species such as the Wood Thrush that nest in this habitat. 1. Mixed hardwoods and managed pine found on Savannah Creek, RMS Mingo Creek, and Tarte tracts provide important breeding habitat for priority species such as Bachman s Sparrow, Northern Bobwhite, Chuck-will s-widow, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Prairie Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Summer Tanager, and Eastern Towhee. Both Savannah Creek and Tarte landowner have expressed an interest in restoring upland areas into longleaf pine which would specifically benefit an endangered species, Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. 2. Early-successional habitat on RMS Mingo Creek Tract provides habitat for a similar suit of grassland and scrub-shrub associated species including Northern Bobwhite, Loggerhead Shrike, Prairie Warbler, Painted Bunting, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, and American Kestrel. Also, many neotropical migratory birds that depend on forested habitat during the breeding season utilize early-successional and open areas as stopover habitat during migration. ====================================================================================== TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT QUESTION 5 How does the proposal contribute to long-term conservation of wetlands and associated habitats? ACTIVITY SECTION A ACRES BY LONGEVITY OF BENEFITS * Includes water control structures made of material other than wood. ** Includes wood water control structures and pumps. PERPETUITY *26-99 **10-25 < 10 TOTAL ACRES Fee Easement TOTAL ACQUIRED TOTAL SECTION B Tract 1: Wedge Plantation Ricefields Tract 2: Savannah Creek Tract 3: RMS Mingo Creek Tract 4: Tarte TOTAL ACQUIRED As this nation s 40 th largest state, South Carolina s population grew 15.3% from 2000 to 2010 with over 50% of the population residing in coastal counties. The state s population is predicted to jump by over 1 million new residents within the next fifteen years. Coastal landscapes are especially vulnerable. Over 200,000 acres within the project area is owned and managed by timber investment companies. In some portions of the project area, TIMOs and other industrial forest ownership encompass over 25% of the land base. Divestment patterns, pressure for accelerated market returns, and ownership terms create instability in this land base and increase the threat of conversion of former industrial timber lands to other land use types, particularly development. Along with the land ownership and land use changes in the project area due to coastal development, climate change presents a significant threat to the protected and unprotected wetland systems including accelerated erosion of coastal barrier islands, submerging coastal habitats due to sea level rise, increasingly dissected salt marsh, conversion of freshwater habitats to brackish or salt, and increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes. It also poses a threat to the human investment in the landscape such as saltwater intrusion into public water supplies, increased flooding in low-lying areas, and property damage from frequent storms. Emphasizing the protection of key properties within the core protected areas and along corridors that connect core areas protects the stage and protects both ecosystem integrity and future resiliency in the face of climate change. ====================================================================================== TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT QUESTION 6 How does the proposal contribute to the conservation of habitat for wetland associated federally listed or proposed endangered species; wetland associated state-listed species; and other wetland-associated fish and wildlife that are 20

27 specifically involved with the proposal? The Winyah Bay Protection Project will contribute to habitat conservation for five federally listed species and six (6) state listed species. A. Federally Threatened, Endangered or Proposed candidate species: Wood Stork Threatened. South Carolina and southern North Carolina are the northern most extent of the Wood Stork s range. During 2014, storks nested in the following counties within the project boundary for Santee Delta and Winyah Bay Wetland Protection: Charleston (5 colonies), Georgetown (2 colonies), and Horry (1 colony). Wood storks may travel up to km to forage and the project hosts two significant rookeries totaling approximately of 300 Wood Stork breeding pairs on the Black River and within the Santee Coastal Reserve at Washoe (the oldest wading bird rookery in continuous use in North America). RMS Mingo Creek Tract is just 12 miles west of the Black River rookery and Wedge Plantation is just 9 miles north of the Washoe Reserve rookery. Contiguous mature blocks of wetlands provide suitable habitat for Wood Storks to nest, forage, and roost. The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Southeast Wood Stork Recovery Plan cites the value of coastal wetlands in South Carolina to Wood Storks and calls for identification of and protection from threats to crucial foraging habitat. Protection of critical habitats through the donation of conservation easements is specifically cited in the USFWS Wood Stork Conservation and Management Manual for Landowners. Shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon Endangered. Shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon are closely related federally endangered species that uses the bottomland swamps within the Winyah drainage for spawning. The USFWS sturgeon Recovery Plans identifies pollution and environmental contaminants as factors limiting recovery of the species. As sturgeon rely heavily on benthic macro invertebrates as a food source, protection of water quality is critical to maintaining adequate food resources required by the sturgeon. Accordingly, protection of forested and tidal wetlands as outlined in this proposal contributes to the maintenance of the ecological integrity of the Winyah Bay drainage system supporting significant sturgeon habitat. Habitat conservation will enhance long-term water quality benefiting shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon on the approximately 10.3 miles of forested wetland along river systems. West Indian (Florida) Manatee Endangered. Florida manatees are migratory in South Carolina beginning their slow migration up the South Carolina coast each spring when water temperatures rise into the upper 60s. Since active surveillance was initiated in 1993, more than 1,000 manatee sightings have been reported in South Carolina. They can be found in tidal rivers, estuaries and near-shore marine waters, such as those found on Wedge Plantation, throughout the Carolinas during the summer months. Protection of tidal estuarine habitat on Wedge Plantation and freshwater projects along the Santee and Black Rivers, Savannah Creek, RMS Mingo Creek, and Tarte tracts, helps to meet conservation objectives for Manatee by protecting the quality of wetlands in South Carolina thereby reducing harmful algal blooms and nutrient loading of coastal water bodies through best management practices and land use. Additionally, Wedge Plantation protects and places in public management high-quality tidal creeks and estuarine habitat used by Manatee for foraging during their north-bound migration into SC coastal areas. Pondberry Endangered. Pondberry is found in Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi and from North Carolina to Georgia. The species inhabits pond margins, swampy depressions, sandy sinks, and seasonally flooded wetlands. In South Carolina, pondberry grows along the margins of limestone sinks and shallow depressions. The plant also inhabits pinelands and recently burned open areas. Landowners of both Tarte and Savannah Creek tracts are interested in pursuing longleaf pine restoration on their conservation easement properties and prescribed burning is incorporated into forest management on the Tarte uplands. B. State-listed endangered or threatened species (not included above): Whether the completed proposal will relieve the need for any special protective status for the species: No The following seven (7) wildlife species are listed as endangered or threatened by the State of South Carolina. Grant and match tracts provide potential or known habitat for these species (South Carolina Natural Heritage Program 2007): State Endangered: Rafinesque s big-eared bat, southern myotis, Swallow-tailed Kite, Shortnose Sturgeon, Wood Stork State Threatened: spotted turtle, Bald Eagle How many individuals/pairs will use the proposal area and for what life cycle stage and whether this is an improvement in population numbers over the current situation: 21

28 Rafinesque s big-eared bat and southern myotis, -Although exact population numbers are unknown, Rafinesque s bigeared bat and southern myotis use mature palustrine forested wetlands within the project area for roost and nesting sites and foraging habitat. Large tracts of mature forests that contain multiple pockets of trees with large diameter basal cavities, interspersed with mosaic of different aged forests that will provide future roosts, are essential for the viability of these two species. The RMS Mingo Creek and Tarte tracts provides a mix of old-growth condition with relatively young forested wetland habitat ideal for these species Swallow-tailed Kite - The Santee River Basin and the Black River-Mingo Creek are considered two of the most important Swallow-tailed Kite nesting areas in South Carolina. SC DNR estimates approximately 60 nesting pairs use the Winyah drainage which is approximately 30% of the breeding pair estimate in South Carolina. RMS Mingo Creek Tract is a confirmed nesting areas for Swallow-tailed Kites and Wedge Plantation located within the Santee Delta falls within a historic foraging area that has hosted large foraging aggregations (>100 individuals) of Swallow-tailed Kite during premigration. A single over-riding recommendation for Swallow-tailed Kite Conservation (cited in the 2015 SC Wildlife Action Plan) is Protect nesting swallow-tailed kites where they choose to be. This species, mainly due to its pervasive social nature, is exceptionally persistent in its attachment to place. This affinity, which transcends the short-term behavior of individuals within their relatively brief lifespan, is expressed by a continually shifting succession of pairs (and turnover within the pairs) and their collective return and adherence to locations where they can expect to find other swallow-tailed kites. Because the RMS Mingo Creek tract is a documented nesting site for Swallow-tailed Kites., its protection is a high priority for maintaining the population associated with the Black River drainage. Bald Eagle - The proposal area supports seven active Bald Eagle nesting territories. Although delisted from the Federal Endangered Species List, the eagle is still protected under the USFWS Southeast Region Bald Eagle Recovery Plan as well as being listed as state threatened in South Carolina. The plan states that protecting feeding, nesting and other support habitat for nesting and non-nesting adults, subadults, and immature eagles as being essential to the recovery of the species. This proposal will protect valuable wintering and known breeding habitat for the species. Spotted Turtle - Although specific population numbers of the spotted turtle are not known, the turtle is recognized as common to abundant within the Winyah drainage. Match and grant tracts within the Winyah drainage will contribute to improved water quality and habitat condition for the Spotted Turtle. How proposal will improve habitat quality (describe the before- and after-proposal environment): Habitat protection activities outlined in the proposal will further protect the project area from residential and commercial development as well as incompatible forest management practices including harvesting of large, hollow trees and conversion to pine monoculture. The 893 acres of mature palustrine forested wetlands, all of which will be managed for old growth condition as part of a three forested wetland preserve areas, will contribute substantively to the conservation of these wetland types and will mitigate for future losses of forested freshwater wetlands in the Santee and Winyah drainages due to sea level rise. Whether proposed actions and proposal area are identified in a recovery plan or other species plan: All of the above state-listed endangered, threatened and of concern species have been identified by SC DNR s Heritage Trust Program as species whose respective habitats are in critical need of conservation and appropriate management. Thus, SC DNR has identified the Santee and Winyah drainages as priority landscapes for large-scale habitat protection initiatives involving collaborative public and private partnerships. Whether the completed proposal will relieve the need for any special protective status for the species: No Other wetland-dependent fish and wildlife species and narrative: The projects wetlands and associated uplands support rich herpetofauna and one of the highest concentrations of American Alligators in South Carolina. Additionally, over 60 species of interjurisdictional fish depend on the proposal area s estuarine wetlands and creeks as critical nursery ground habitat. Marine Fishes and Invertebrates: The estuarine habitats within the project area provide habitat for 39 species of marine/estuarine fish and 51 marine invertebrates listed in South Carolina s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) as priority species. Tidal creeks and marshes in and around Wedge Plantation are ideal spawning and nursery areas for these important fisheries and invertebrates. 22

29 Anadromous and Freshwater Fishes: The project area supports several rare anadromous and freshwater fishes including American eel, American shad, and blueback herring. The latter will benefit directly from the target properties, as it spawns in floodplain habitats of large rivers including abandoned rice fields. Freshwater fish of conservation concern documented in the project area include the endemic broadtail madtom, thinlip chub, and banded killifish. The project area also supports three native catfish species, the white catfish, flat bullhead, and snail bullhead. These species have been significantly reduced in much of their range by invasive flathead catfish predation. Freshwater Mussels: The project area also provides significant riparian habitat to reaches of the Santee, Pee Dee, Waccamaw, and Black Rivers that support four globally imperiled freshwater mussel species (Waccamaw spike; Roanoke Slabshell; Yellow lampmussel; Rayed pink fatmucket) and several reproducing populations of the tidewater mucket, a mussel species which is critically endangered in the southern part of its range. The project area also supports large reproducing populations of Eastern pond mussel, a species ranked G4 globally, but one that ranks no higher than S3 in its resident states. This species has experienced significant declines in the Great Lakes states and other parts of its northern range. Freshwater Crayfish: The project area supports several species of freshwater crayfish of conservation concern globally and in South Carolina. The Pee Dee lotic crayfish is a South Carolina endemic species that also uses small tributary habitats. Other species include the Sandhills crayfish, Coastal Plain crayfish, and Santee crayfish. The protection of the match and grant tracts support the objectives of the DNR Wildlife Conservation Strategy, which identifies the species of highest priority for conservation in South Carolina. This project will support 39 Highest Priority species, 19 High Priority species and 36 Moderate Priority species. ======================================================================================= TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT QUESTION 7 How does the proposal satisfy the partnership purpose of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act? A. Ratio of the Non-Federal Match to the Grant Request: 2.02:1 B. 10% Matching Partners: Butler Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Private Landowner C. Partner Categories (includes non-match) Non-governmental conservation organizations: TNC, Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust Federal agencies: US Fish and Wildlife Service (Coastal Program) Private landowner: West Family (new partner) Corporate: Duke Energy Other partner groups: Foundation Butler Conservation Fund D. Important Partnership Aspects (new grant recipient, significant new partners, unique partners, large numbers of partners under any category in C. above, non-financial contributions): Over the past ten years, partners in South Carolina have exemplified how a diverse set of agencies and NGOs can establish mutual priorities for land protection and restoration. Organized as Task Forces focused on the coastal ACJV waterfowl focus area, Audubon South Carolina, Ducks Unlimited (DU), SCDNR, TNC, and the USFWS have worked together and engaged many more partners to protect the most critically-important landscapes for birds and other wildlife. Partners, recipients of the 2014 North American Migratory Bird Joint Venture Conservation Champions Award, have received $79 million in federal conservation grant awards, leveraging more than $365 million from over 450 partners, to conserve over 378,000 acres of important coastal habitats. This proposal brings together private and public partners represented in the Santee River, Upper Waccamaw, and Winyah Bay Task Forces as partners: including USFWS (non-match), private landowners, SCDNR, TNC, and Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust. In addition to unique and successful land conservation partnerships within the project area, there is a growing investment in climate and conservation science. The Santee and Winyah Bay conservation community and resource managers are struggling with natural perturbations in the coastal landscape including increased drought, salt-water intrusion, coastal flooding, changing weather patterns, increase in invasive species, and issues with drinking water intakes and salinity. The 23

30 consensus is these impacts are occurring, are significant, and should be addressed in conservation planning and future management. Task Force partners are seeking ways to steward current conservation investments and prioritize future conservation efforts in ways that promote resiliency and adaptation within human and natural communities. TNC SC and partners are working to protect core areas within the landscape for shifting natural communities (e.g., beaches, dunes, salt marsh, maritime forest, longleaf pine forest, tidal emergent freshwater wetlands, and forested freshwater wetlands), and to include major riverine and riparian connections between core areas to promote ecological processes and flows, such as movement of animals, sediment, water, and nutrients. Additionally, vulnerability assessments and predictive analyses being conducted with partners such as USGS and NOAA Coastal Services Center are guiding where to place limited conservation funds and direct conservation action within the conservation landscape. Since 2007, USFWS, USGS, TNC, and NOAA s Coastal Services Center have worked in partnership to examine and understand how sea-level rise will impact freshwater habitats within the Winyah Bay drainage. This habitat conversion modeling has been presented at several national conferences since Most recently, USGS secured $1.2 million in funding from the USGS Water Census Program for to advance climate change modeling within the Winyah Bay watershed. The project will expand an existing hydrologic model to cover a much broader geographic area, and account for a larger number of ecological and social factors. This research will help in prioritizing future conservation investments in the landscape by elucidating the complex hydrologic interactions resulting from surface and ground water withdrawal, climate change, and land-use change. Significance of individual project partners and collaborators: SC DNR SC Department of Natural Resources is a key partner in the Winyah Bay and Santee River Task Force groups and in the Santee Delta and Winyah Bay Wetlands III proposal. SCDNR s mission is to serve as the principal advocate for and steward of South Carolina s natural resources. SCDNR s vision for South Carolina is an enhanced quality of life for present and future generations through improved understanding, wise use, and safe enjoyment of healthy, diverse, sustainable and accessible natural resources and to be a trusted and respected leader in natural resources protection and management, by consistently making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state s natural resources and its people. SC DNR will serve as subawardee in this proposal for the acquisition and future management of the grant tract, 727-acre Wedge Plantation Ricefields in the Santee River Basin. The Nature Conservancy - The proposal area is within TNC s South Atlantic Coastal Plain Ecoregional Plan s Sewee to Santee and Winyah Bay / Pee Dee River Basin Project Areas. The proposal contributes to the objectives of the Ecoregional Plan by protecting wetland and wetland-associated upland habitat values critical to the long-term viability of these programs. TNC is an active member of the Southern Lowcountry, ACE Basin, Winyah Bay, and Upper Waccamaw Task Forces. TNC holds 154 conservation easements which protect 139,000 acres of habitat in the project boundary. TNC will hold and steward the perpetual conservation easement on grant tract, 1376-acre Mingo Creek in the Black River watershed. Duke Energy Duke Energy will provide support for SC TNC staff time associated with preparing due diligence and negotiating the easement purchase on RMS Black River Tract near SC TNC s Black River Preserve. This support is part of a multi-year gift from Duke Energy to SC TNC to pursue climate adaptation priorities in coastal SC. Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust is a member of both the Santee Basin Task Force. LBCT is a private nonprofit organization led by local citizens who are interested in preserving the natural, cultural and historical resources in and around Berkeley County. Since its founding in 1992, LBCT has permanently protected nearly 20,000 acres of family farms and forests, rivers and streams, and historic sites. LBCT will hold and steward the perpetual conservation easement on grant tract, 401-acre Savannah Creek in the Santee Basin. E. Public Access: Funds acquired through this grant will allow SCDNR to purchase tidal wetlands of Wedge Plantation, to be incorporated into the ownership and management of a significant public-use waterfowl management area, DNR s Santee Delta WMA. The property will offer a public-draw for waterfowl hunting as well as fishing, bird watching, nature photography, and boating. Funds will also be used by The Nature Conservancy to acquire permanent conservation easements on the RMS Mingo Creek Tract, which will contribute to the protection of water quality at downstream surface-water intakes for municipal water supply. 24

31 ATTACHMENTS Tract Table: Tract ID/ Activity Tract 1: Wedge Plantation Ricefields Tract 2: Savannah Creek Wetland Acres Upland Acres Riparian Miles Funding Category Funding Source County and State Grant Grant Georgetown County, SC Grant/ New match Grant/ Donation Berkeley County, SC Central Tract Location in Decimal Degrees W, N W N Final Title Holder Fee = SCDNR Easement = LBCT Fee = Harold N. West, Jr. John S. West Tract 3: RMS Mingo Creek Tract 4: Tarte Grant Grant Georgetown County, SC Grant/ old match BCF/ TNC Williamsburg County, SC W, N W, N Easement = TNC Fee = Springwood Timberlands LLC Easement = TNC Fee=Glen and Lisa Tarte Tract 5 Mansfield Plantation (316) (465) 1.0 Grant/ old match Grant/ TNC Georgetown County, SC W, N Easement= TNC Fee = Mighty Mansfield LLC FINAL TITLEHOLDER SUMMARY: Final easement and title holder summary is as follows: (1) purchase of 727-acre Wedge Plantation Ricefields (Tract 1) in Georgetown County by SCDNR; (2) Bargain-sale conservation easement on 410-acre Savannah Creek Tract (Tract 2) in Berkeley County by Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust and private landowners West Family retain fee title; (3) Purchased conservation easement on 1367-acre RMS Mingo Creek Tract (Tract 3) in Georgetown County to The Nature Conservancy, landowner Springwood Timberland LLC retains fee title; (4) Bargain-sale conservation easement on 274- acre Tarte Tract (Tract 4) in Williamsburg County to The Nature Conservancy and private landowners Glen and Lisa Tarte retain fee title; and (5) Bargain-sale conservation easement on (781)-acre Mansfield Plantation in Georgetown County by TNC and private landowner, Mighty Mansfield LLC retains fee title (Tract 5). Partner Contribution Forms: See attached Optional Matching Contributions Plan: What is the Match Plan Amount and Purpose? $740,000 remaining to be applied to Phase IV of the Santee Delta and Winyah Bay Wetlands Protection Project What is the Match Plan Intent? The South Carolina Chapter of TNC intends to submit one more standard NAWCA grant proposal to meet the goals and objectives of the Santee Delta and Winyah Bay Wetlands Protection Project. What is the Match Plan Need? The Project strives to build upon wetland protection efforts in the Santee River and Winyah Bay drainage. With approximately 126,500 acres of protected lands already in place through public and private investment, the project will protect water quality and enhance functional habitat connectivity values in the Winyah Bay and Santee River systems. The remaining Phase IV of the project will also be used to

32 permanently protect and place in public ownership strategic tract(s), comprised of palustrine and/or estuarine wetlands, and associated uplands in the Santee River and Winyah Bay system thus enhancing public use for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, boating, wildlife photography, and environmental education. Is there a Match Plan Chart? See below Matching Contributions Plan Chart Match Plan Partners Current Proposal III Proposal IV Total $ The Nature Conservancy (TNC) $1,640,600 $740,000 $2,380,600 Matching Contributions Plan Totals $740,000 $740,000 Optional Programmatic Project Proposal Request: NA Standard Form 424 and Assurances B and/or D (NA to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service applicants)? See attached Maps? See attached EASEMENTS, LEASES, AND INDIRECT COST RATE AGREEMENT Have you included a copy of the following: Yes Copies of easements and leases? See attached Current approved negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or statement that Council Coordinator has a copy? See attached

33 North American Wetlands Conservation Act Santee Delta-Winyah Bay Wetlands III Tract 4 Tract 3 Santee NWR Tract 5 Waccamaw NWR Tract 2 Tract 1 Cape Romain NWR ACE Basin NWR µ Map Created by Melissa Strickland on 6/22/2015 at The Nature Conservancy Mt. Pleasant SC Chapter Acquisition Tracts Match Tracts Project Area Privately Protected Federal Protected Kilometers Miles Area Enlarged State Protected Major Roads Major Rivers

34 North American Wetlands Conservation Act Santee Delta-Winyah Bay Wetlands III Wedge Plantation (Tract 1) Savannah Creek (Tract 2) Miles Miles RMS Mingo Creek (Tract 3) ^_Mingo Creek Savannah Creek ^_ ^_ Wedge Plantation Project Area µ Miles