Managers at SC coastal refuge seek more land

AWENDAW, S.C. (AP) — The sea is claiming islands and marsh at Cape Romain on the South Carolina coast.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reported (http://bit.ly/QEP6Oi) Monday that national wildlife refuge managers are proposing a way to deal with it.

The refuge is located between Charleston and Georgetown and is home to 50 species of waterfowl and to about one third of the sea turtle nests from Georgia to North Carolina.

Officials suggest the government buy property further inland so it will still be part of the refuge as the coast changes. The idea is that the ocean will create new barrier islands and beaches farther inland.

Surveys show the amount of land within the present borders of the refuge has dropped from more than 11,000 acres in 1875 to 9,100 acres today.

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Information from: The Post and Courier, http://www.postandcourier.com