Celebrate Wetland Treasures During American Wetlands Month!

mike.stokes • April 24, 2025

Press Release: Introducing 2025 Wetland Treasures of the Carolinas

Raleigh, NC – Carolina Wetlands Association celebrates wetlands and American Wetlands Month this May by announcing our newest Wetland Treasures of the Carolinas. The designation of Wetland Treasures recognizes wetlands that are ecologically valuable, protected by conservation plans, and home to an abundance of plant and animal diversity. Our recognized Wetland Treasures provide important benefits to ecosystems and human wellbeing including flood reduction, carbon sequestration, water purification, specialized habitats, and recreation opportunities. 


Despite their value, nearly 50% of the world’s wetlands have been lost in the last 100 years and are in jeopardy from loss of federal protection under the Clean Water Act. Loss of these magnificent natural features endangers wildlife and humans. In North Carolina, 70% of the state's endangered and threatened species rely on wetlands. In South Carolina, wetlands are the breeding ground for 25% of the global population for four bird species. 


We are hoping to increase the understanding and appreciation of wetlands across North and South Carolinas so that citizens and scientists alike can participate in their stewardship.

  • Saluda Shoals Wetland Preserve

    • Location: Lexington and Richland Counties (South Carolina)
    • Wetland Type: Bottomland hardwood floodplain, riverine swamp
    • Site Owner: Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission
    • Unique Feature: Saluda Shoals Wetland Preserve is a restored wetland area that acts as a laboratory where staff educate visitors about the importance of restoring, preserving, and properly managing our natural resources. A noteworthy feature of the site is the discovery that human occupation dates back 13,000 years. Artifacts uncovered indicate how life was intrinsically woven into the many species of birds, animals and the aquatics and terrestrial plants it supports. 
    • Tour Date: Saturday, May 3; 1pm-3pm (Register Now) Explore the wetland through a walking tour lead by a Park Ranger. 

  • Holly Shelter Game Land

    • Location: Pender County, North Carolina
    • Wetland Types: Pocosins, wet pine savannas, floodplain forests, Carolina bays, small wetland communities.  
    • Site Owner: N.C. Wildlife Resources Commision
    • Unique Feature: The Holly Shelter game land spans 64,000 acres within which one finds tremendous biodiversity. Along with the white-tailed deer, black bear, and wild turkey, one can find American alligators, gopher frogs, red-cockcaded woodpeckers and numerous types of carnivorous plants. Holly Shelter Game Land is partnering with The Nature Conservancy to improve and restore a more natural hydrologic period in the habitat. At 17,235 acres, it is the largest project of its kind in the world. Holly Shelter Game Land is featured on the North Carolina Mountains to Sea Trail. 
    • Tour Date: Saturday, May 17; 1pm-3pm  (Register Now).  Join us for a follow-the-leader driving tour with stops at several locations . The roadway surface is well-maintained dirt.

  • Great Coharie River Wetlands

    • Location: Sampson County, North Carolina
    • Wetland Type: Black water floodplain forested wetlands
    • Site Owner: Coharie Tribe
    • Unique Feature: The Great Coharie River, located in Sampson County, North Carolina, holds profound cultural significance for the Coharie Tribe. Historically, the river served as a vital source of sustenance, transportation, and spiritual connection. In recent decades, the river faced degradation due to hurricanes, invasive species, and neglect, leading to loss of access and ecological decline. In response, the Coharie Tribe launched the Great Coharie River Initiative in 2015, a community-driven effort to restore the river's health and accessibility. Volunteers, including tribal members and local residents, have cleared debris, removed beaver dams, and reestablished navigable pathways, revitalizing the river for cultural practices and recreation. 
    • Tours: Tours are regularly offered by the Coharie Tribe (Book Now)

Carolina Wetlands Association now recognizes 40 unique Wetland Treasures across North and South Carolina. Discover the beauty and significance of wetlands by visiting one of our Wetland Treasures. Explore wetlands near you using our interactive Wetland Treasure Map and visit our webpage to learn more. 


For more information, contact Rick Savage, Executive Director of the Carolina Wetlands Association. 


Carolina Wetlands Association thanks the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, whose Wetland Gems program is the model for this program. The Carolina Wetlands Association promotes the understanding, protection, restoration, and enjoyment of North and South Carolina’s wetlands and associated ecosystems through science-based programs, education, and advocacy.
More information at carolinawetlands.org.


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Federal Rollbacks Threaten Wetland Protections: What You Need to Know About Senate Bill 5653

By rick.savage • November 3, 2026
The U.S. Congress is poised to weaken federal protection of wetlands. To understand why these changes matter, it helps to know how wetland permitting actually works. How Wetland Permitting Is Supposed to Work Whether the permit goes through the State agency (e.g. NC DEQ or SC DES which reviews water quality impacts) and/or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and EPA (which review the physical, chemical, and biological impacts), every application is supposed to follow a three-step mitigation sequence: avoid, minimize, and compensate. Avoid. The reviewer works with the applicant to determine whether the impact can be avoided altogether. Often, it can. Minimize. If the impact can’t be avoided, the reviewer and applicant look for ways to reduce it. Compensate. If the remaining impact is large enough, the applicant must compensate for the loss using a formula provided by the ACOE. Mitigation normally takes place in the same watershed and provides the same function as the wetland that was lost. This process takes time, but it is essential. It ensures that applicants don’t overlook options that could spare valuable wetlands. What Senate Bill 5653 Would Change Senate Bill 5653 , the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA),aims to speed up federal and state regulatory decisions on housing and other development projects. But the bill would increase environmental degradation and undermine the federal-state partnerships that protect clean water. Here is the core problem: when permitting is rushed, reviewers can’t carry out the avoid, minimize, and compensate process. More wetlands will be damaged, and there will be no way to make up for the lost wetlands and the benefits they provide. A Weak Answer to the Housing Shortage BAAJA does little to address the real causes of the national housing shortage and construction challenges. Instead, it increases pollution and works against the central goal of the Clean Water Act: to restore and maintain the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters, including wetlands. The bill is an assault on the nation’s rivers, wetlands, estuaries, and lakes. It also looks like a deflection from Congress’s inability to pass legislation that meaningfully tackles the lack of available housing. Undercutting State Authority Over Water Quality BAAJA also limits the authority states hold under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, making it harder for them to meet the water quality standards they have set for their own waterbodies. That would set back five decades of progress toward cleaner water, progress to which every sector of society has contributed, and it would affect generations to come. Fewer Wetlands Protected, and Weaker Review for the Rest This is yet another attack on wetland protection, and it affects all of us. Even those wetlands that remain regulated after recent jurisdictional retreats by EPA and the ACOE would not receive the normal permitting review. In practice, that means they aren’t truly protected either. What You Can Do Contact your representative. Ask your senators to oppose Senate Bill 5653 . You can find and contact your U.S. senators here , or look up your U.S. representative here to share your concerns with the House as well. Support Carolina Wetlands Association. We are your organization fighting to protect wetlands. The next time you explore a wetland or pour a clean glass of water, consider making a donation to help us keep up this work.

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By kim.matthews • October 7, 2026
On September 9, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) offering additional ways to define “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). Why this definition matters The WOTUS definition determines which water bodies the federal government can protect under the Clean Water Act. In November 2025, the agencies proposed revisions to bring the definition in line with the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA. After taking public comments, they have now put forward further options. The new proposal narrows federal jurisdiction even more, potentially stripping protections from the vast majority of U.S. wetlands and seasonal streams. What our comment letter says The Carolina Wetlands Association is submitting comments opposing the proposal. Our main concerns: It would undermine the Clean Water Act’s purpose. The law’s goal is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters. This proposal would severely undercut that goal. The “days of water” test is a poor measure. The proposal decides jurisdiction by how many days a year water is present. That number correlates poorly with a waterway’s ability to carry pollution downstream to the rivers, lakes, and estuaries that would stay protected. Streams dry for as few as 30 days a year could lose protection, and polluters would have an incentive to discharge into them rather than into protected waters. Drinking water is at risk. About 56% of North Carolina’s stream miles feeding public drinking water systems are intermittent, ephemeral, or headwater streams. In South Carolina the figure is 51%. These systems serve 6.6 million people, who would bear higher health risks and treatment costs. Wetlands do critical work. They filter pollutants and nutrients that cause algal blooms, dead zones, and fish kills. Losing that function would also degrade groundwater, which many people drink untreated. The legal reasoning is flawed. We argue the agencies misread the Supreme Court’s language. “Relatively permanent” describes geographic features such as streams with defined beds and banks. The word “continuously” modifies “flowing” and doesn’t limit what counts as relatively permanent. It would be hard to implement. Many affected streams have no data showing how many days they lack surface water. That makes the rule difficult for agencies to administer and leaves landowners unable to tell whether the Clean Water Act applies to their property. The impacts haven’t been analyzed. The agencies should not finalize a rule before measuring the added pollution flowing from newly unprotected waters into those that supply drinking water, or projecting the resulting damage to downstream uses. What you can do Read the SNPRM Submit your comment by October 9, 2026, under Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW-2025-0322 . Personal stories about the streams, wetlands, and drinking water you depend on are especially effective. Learn more: read the comments we submitted on the November 2025 version of the rule, many of which still apply.