Rice fields in the ACE Basin. Photo from NOAA. Along the shores of South Carolina, the land tells a story—one shaped by tides, time, and the hands of those who have cared for it. Yet today, that story faces growing challenges. Coastal erosion steadily reshapes the shoreline. Overdevelopment places pressure on fragile ecosystems. Marshes, maritime forests, and waterways—once abundant and resilient—are increasingly vulnerable. To protect these landscapes is to protect more than