Protected Properties Archives - Beaufort County Open Land Trust

April 13, 2020 by ToddHolway

Oak Island

Through a collaboration between The Nature Conservancy, a generous donor and the Dataw Island Owners' Association, Oak Island’s 33 acres of relatively undisturbed maritime forest surrounded by tidal marsh are now protected in perpetuity by the Open Land Trust. Situated in Beaufort County on Jenkins Creek which flows into St. Helena Sound, The Nature Conservancy granted a conservation easement to the Open Land Trust prior to selling the property to the Owners' Association that will use the Island as a low-impact nature preserve. At one time, 18 homes were planned for Oak Island, but now this hummock island’s natural habitat and picturesque beauty as seen from Warsaw Island and Jenkins Creek can remain as is – forever.

With the exception of 2.6 acres of freshwater wetland, almost the entire parcel is comprised of mixed hardwood and pine forests. Many areas are consistent with the structure of a quality maritime forest that has been only manipulated by natural occurrences. The vegetation is typical of maritime forest habitat and includes, but is not limited to live oak, water oak , eastern red cedar, loblolly pine, sabal palmetto, saw palmetto, yaupon holly, wax myrtle, saltbush, Spanish moss, and resurrection fern. The island’s elevation ranges between 5 and 10 feet above sea level.

Tidal saltmarsh habitat encompasses Oak Island on all borders of the 33.4 acre island. The vegetation located within this habitat type includes but is not limited to saltmarsh cordgrass, black needlerush, salt grass, sea oxeye, and glasswort.

December 27, 2019 by ToddHolway

Henderson Tracts

The Henderson Tracts are a 324.1 acre family hunting property in Hampton County, located on the southwest side of SC Highway 68 and on Foxtrail and Fechtig Roads just south of Cummings. This property and adjacent properties have been in family ownership for many years. Several residential structures located on adjacent tracts while this property has been used primarily for timber production, rural recreation and wildlife habitat.

This property is comprised of well-maintained loblolly pine stands, unpaved interior roads and firelanes, a system of drainage ditches, a well-defined USDA-NRCS Wetlands Reserve Program wetland, several areas of well-maintained wildlife foodplots and sustenance patches as well as an array of forested wetlands.

The Henderson Tracts are a perfect addition to the more than 2,500 acres of protected land located just over a mile away. The properties are protected in perpetuity through conservation easements held by Beaufort County Open Land Trust, The Lowcountry Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy. These properties are situated on the brink of two watersheds, one flowing through McPherson Creek, draining into the Coosawhatchie River, to the Broad River and ultimately to Port Royal Sound and the other through Tennants Branch, draining into the Salkehatchie River, through the ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge into the Combahee River and ultimately into the St. Helena Sound. This assemblage of Protected Property contributes to the extensive network of protective wildlife habitat, the protection of water quality in the Salkehatchie and Coosawhatchie watersheds, and the scenic natural and rural character of the area.

August 8, 2019 by ToddHolway

Seabrook Solar Farm

Installed photovoltaic solar panels landscape

Seabrook Solar Farm on US Highway 21 is a land protection milestone in South Carolina, the first conservation easement in the state on a designated solar energy generation facility. For at least 80 years, the 635-acre property has epitomized the rich history of truck farming in northern Beaufort County. Large-scale agriculture operations provided vegetables, corn, wheat, soybeans, tomatoes and watermelons for shipment to market. The Seabrook Solar Farm is adjacent to and in close proximity to other open space, agricultural and timber tracts in northern Beaufort County, the preservation of which ensures stability of rural land uses.

“Our landscape in Beaufort County is changing and how we think about land use is changing too. What was once a tomato farm will now help support the growing clean energy industry,” comments Kristin Williams, Executive Director of the Beaufort County Open Land Trust. “Our goal is to ensure that over the long-term, these sites vulnerable to residential, commercial and industrial development are permanently protected. The support of our long-term land use goals by the solar company’s owners and operators is extraordinary.”

The conservation easement protects the conservation values of the property and allows for the site to be converted back to agricultural, timber production, or other conservation uses, if the use for solar ends. Additionally, a vegetative buffer along US Highway 21 will maintain the natural viewshed of the well-traveled road.

The company also worked closely with the ACE Basin Task Force, a group consisting of private landowners, governmental entities, and conservation interests to understand local perspectives and address concerns. This project is a great example of collaboration and shows that conservation and economics are not mutually exclusive.

October 23, 2018 by ToddHolway

Whitehall Park

The much anticipated purchase of 9.72 acres of scenic, riverfront peninsula on Lady’s Island in the City of Beaufort, commonly known as the Whitehall Tract, was closed on October 23, 2018. Whitehall Park is owned by Beaufort County and the City of Beaufort has agreed to maintain and operate the Park, with the Open Land Trust holding a conservation easement to ensure the Park’s perpetual protection. The Open Land Trust has also accepted perpetual responsibility for the care of the majestic trees that define the Park’s scenic views. These entities will continue to work together, along with the Friends of Whitehall organization, to make the park an exceptional legacy for both residents and visitors to the area.

During the last two decades, the highly visible Whitehall property, approximately 20 acres total, was sold several times to various developers with proposals that were never implemented. Community advocates carefully watched and reported on development plans, resulting in a public outcry over a proposed density increase to accommodate seven apartment buildings that was approved in February 2018. In July 2018, the Open Land Trust made a final effort to purchase a portion of the property before permitting was to begin on the approved 20-acre buildout. Sam Levin, local resident and partner in the Whitehall Development Group agreed to negotiate terms for the sale of ~10 acres.

The Friends of Whitehall Park self-organized in early August 2018 immediately after learning that a park project was being considered. Paul Butare, President of Friends, and its Directors felt that a call to action in engaging the public was a key to success. They created a website and Facebook page, created an online petition for citizens to demonstrate support. As the number of signatures grew, so did public and decision makers awareness. Friends encouraged attendance at City and Council public meetings, encouraged supporters to contact their elected local representatives and organized “A Walk in the Park” to allow the public actually visit the park. Ultimately, the 6,000 signatures collected and the show of support by the public helped sway the decision favorably.

The initiative was also fortunate to receive early financial support from the Felburn Foundation, a private foundation with a mission to promote the preservation of natural lands, waters, biodiversity, education and quality of life. The Foundation provided a $1 million grant to leverage County and other funds for purchase of the park. Larry White, President of the Felburn Foundation and a Lady’s Island resident was always a positive presence at the public meetings in support of a passive park at Whitehall.

The opportunity to create Whitehall Park did not happen by accident – it came about through the dedicated, passionate, and hard work of advocates, the vocal and financial support of the community, and courageous decisions by our elected officials. If you have the opportunity, please extend your appreciation to these individuals and groups. Because of them, Whitehall Park is now ours - a park for all.

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