------------------------------------------------------------------------Waterfowl Habitat Programs

The future of our waterfowl resources depends on quality habitat. SCWA has worked diligently to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wetland Reserve Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program and Conservation Reserve Program. These federal conservation farm programs are restoring and enhancing thousands of acres of waterfowl habitat each year. The Wetland Reserve Program has the potential to restore over 55,000 acres of bottomland hardwoods in South Carolina over the next 5 years. SCWA is working with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office to help implement this program. We are currently developing a partnership agreement where SCWA will assist with the identification and implementation of projects.

SCWA initiated the formation of the Santee Cooper Lakes Waterfowl and Fisheries Coalition. SCWA hosts each meeting and provides all clerical services for the Coalition. The Coalition has developed a plan to restore fish and waterfowl resources on the Santee Cooper Lakes (see web site waterfowl habitat section). The Coalition promoted the development of the new 350 acre Hickory Top Waterfowl Management Area. This project is now being funded by Santee Cooper Corporation and will be managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

SCWA Executive Director, David Wielicki, is the chairman of the Coalition’s Santee National Wildlife Refuge subcommittee. With support from the Coalition, local politicians, Santee Cooper, Ducks Unlimited and SCWA the Santee Refuge has restored a majority of its waterfowl habitat. The Coalition Refuge committee has also been successful in supporting an increase in staff from 3 to 8 full time people. SCWA has committed to continue its support of habitat development and is donating 500 bushels of corn in 2003 for the refuge banding site.

SCWA has worked diligently to oppose the release of grass carp in Lake Murray. The Association has worked to educate the public and SCDNR about the ecological damage caused by grass carp to waterfowl and fisheries resources (see article in habitat section).

SCWA maintains over 250 acres of wintering waterfowl habitat at its Wetland Wildlife Center. The Association also conducts an annual Japanese millet planting program on various reservoirs across the state when weather conditions provide optimum conditions for planting millet. Past projects include Lakes Marion and Moultrie and Lake Russell. These projects provide habitat for wintering waterfowl and increase public hunting opportunities.

SCWA biologists are continuously working with private and public landowners to enhance breeding, brood rearing and wintering waterfowl habitat across South Carolina. SCWA also supports funding for SCDNR waterfowl management areas. We provide expert technical advice to anyone who desires to create waterfowl habitat. Better habitat means more waterfowl and better hunting for public and private land waterfowl hunters. For more information visit the waterfowl habitat section of the web site.

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The future of waterfowl hunting on public and private lands also depends on developing the next generation of waterfowl hunters and conservationists. SCWA is meeting this challenge through its creation of Camp Woodie. Camp Woodie is recognized as the nation’s leading youth waterfowl conservation education summer camp program. This summer over 400 youth will attend a one to two week summer waterfowl and wildlife conservation camp session at our 550 acre Rimini facility. SCWA is dedicated to passing on the legacy of our waterfowl heritage through the growth of the Camp Woodie Program. For more information visit the Camp Woodie section of the web site.

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Wood Duck Production Project

Wood ducks represent up to 50% of the annual harvest of waterfowl each year in South Carolina. In addition over 64% of the wood ducks hatched in South Carolina that are harvested are taken by South Carolina duck hunters within the state. These figures point to the importance of managing and increasing wood duck numbers in order to improve waterfowl hunting in South Carolina.

Since 1987, over 580,000 wood ducks have hatched from 15,000 SCWA installed nesting boxes across South Carolina. SCWA annually maintains over 5,000 nest boxes with additional nest boxes being maintained by landowners and volunteers. SCWA wood duck biologists and technicians work with landowners, corporations and public agencies to install nest boxes and assist with the development of wetland habitat for wood ducks and other waterfowl. Each year SCWA staff and volunteers install up to 1,000 nest box units.

Two recent large SCWA projects include 250 nest box units installed on lakes Marion and Moultrie and 500 nest boxes installed on the Reedy River. For further information visit the wood duck section of the web site.

South Carolina’s wintering mallard populations have declined to less than 10% of historic levels that existed as late as 1980. In order to restore wintering populations of mallards and to preserve our mallard hunting heritage, SCWA developed the Mallard Restoration and Research Program in 1994. Since 1994 219,435 mallards have been released across the state. In 2003 we are projecting a release of over 50,000 mallards. Banding data shows that 47% of the mallards that are harvested are shot off of release sites. These ducks provide hunting opportunities to public duck hunters across South Carolina.

Since 1994, SCWA field staff have worked with mallard project cooperators to create thousands of acres of new plant and flood waterfowl impoundments along with thousands of acres of natural food waterfowl habitat. The Mallard Restoration and Research Program is increasing the amount of available wintering waterfowl habitat in the state in addition to increasing wintering mallard populations. This will result in more wintering waterfowl for South Carolina. For further information visit the Mallard Restoration and Research Program section of the web site.

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South Carolina Waterfowl Focus Group

Dr. Paul Sandifer, Executive Director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources asked members from Ducks Unlimited, Five Rivers Coalition, South Carolina Waterfowl Association, and the Sporting Protection League to form a committee to develop long-term recommendations that will enhance waterfowl and wetland resources in South Carolina while also enhancing and preserving our waterfowl heritage. SCWA Executive Director, David Wielicki, and several other SCWA members are working on this committee. We look forward to working with the committee to produce a completed plan this year that will provide goals for improving public duck hunting in South Carolina.

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SCWA Duck Hunting Programs