Welcome to Wassaw Island
Just 14 miles south of Savannah, Wassaw is the most unspoiled of Georgia's
barrier island. This National Wildlife Refuge, accessible by private boat or
charters from local marinas, offers biking, hiking, surf fishing, birding, sea
kayaking, diverse wildlife and, of course, the beach.
The Nature Conservancy purchased Wassaw in 1969 from the heirs of a wealthy
northerner who acquired the island just after the Civil War. Wassaw was later
incorporated into the Savannah Coastal Refuge System. Today, the island is
managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which maintains a dock and small
headquarters on Wassaw Creek.
Wassaw's virgin stands of oak, pine and cedar support an incredible diversity
of animal species. This rare bit of wilderness attracts a large variety of
migratory birds, along with alligators, nesting sea turtles and manatees.
On other barrier islands, the state and federal government have taken control
of the conservation of coastal terrain. In 1969 the tiny island of Wassaw was
sold to The Nature Conservancy provided that no bridge ever be built connecting
it to the mainland. Deeded to the federal government that same year, it is now
preserved as a national wildlife refuge. Virgin forests cover ancient dunes and
help to protect and increase island wildlife, and today Wassaw is a popular
hunting destination. The 5,600 acres of woodlands, lakes, and marsh on
Blackbeard Island also remain as an unspoiled natural haven, and Blackbeard is
one of the seven coastal refuges administered by the U.S. Department of Interior
Fish and Wildlife Service.
Reference:
Coastal Georgia Experience
Sherpa Guides / Wassaw
Island
Links:
Recreation.gov Excerpt
|
