At its peak in the mid-1800s, South Carolina had approximately 29,000 ha of former tidal freshwater riverine forested wetlands converted to rice production, producing over 62% of the national rice crop. Although commercial prodution had ended by the 1920's, many thousands of hectares of former rice fields still exist. Some are still impounded and used primarily for wildlife habitat (e.g. waterfowl and wading and shore birds). Of those without current water control, they occur in a successional continuum from open water to forested wetland.

These former rice fields represent a rich biophysical resource with important ecological functions and values. They also have significant economic value and, because most are in private ownership, property concerns are also important. These and related issues led the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) to initiate a coastal tidal impoundment study. The purpose of the study is to "develop a management program for coastal impoundments that is based on accurate science, sound natural resource policies, and public trust management principles."

Some of the major components of the study are:
1. A digital map for each major river system in the coastal zone of the state showing existing impoundments and indicating acreage, present condition (i.e.: fully intact and functional, minor breaks, major breaks), and major plant community type.
2. An ownership attribute table appended to the digital impoundment base map.
3. A plant community analysis indicating major plant community types (SAV, Floating, Emergent, Swamp Forest) and an analysis of the changes that have occurred from 1994 to 1999.
4. An analysis of vegetation successional changes in the Santee and Waccamaw/PeeDee River systems.
5. Water quality data layer and report of existing conditions in coastal waters near impoundments.
6. State-of-knowledge report summarizing past research and studies.

The state-of-knowledge report will summarize past research and studies addressing the following issues: water quality factors, trends and impacts associated with impoundment management, vegetation and habitat transition concerns, fisheries and wildlife habitat management issues, ownership and public trust issues, navigation issues and user issues. The report will identify and summarize unanswered questions, additional research, and critical issues that need to be addressed in the preparation of a management program. The report will conclude with an identification of impoundment management considerations, requirements and trade-offs to be addressed in a proposed statewide impoundment management strategy.

This report is scheduled for completion November 30, 2004.