LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST INC
Programs
Land Protection and Conservation Initiatives
LAND PROTECTION: DURING FY24, LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST PARTICIPATED IN THIRTEEN CONSERVATION TRANSACTIONS. THIS INCLUDED TWELVE NEW CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROTECTING 8,151 ACRES, ONE FEE-SIMPLE PURCHASE OF 4 ACRES, AND A DEED RESTRICTION ON A 1-ACRE PROPERTY PURCHASED AND TRANSFERRED TO THE TOWN OF MCCLELLANVILLE, SC. AMONG LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST'S FY24 PROJECTS, TWO STAND OUT FOR SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTING TO SOUTH CAROLINA PARTNERSHIP EFFORTS TO CREATE A PROTECTED LANDS CORRIDOR BETWEEN THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACE BASIN LANDSCAPE AND THE SOUTH LOWCOUNTRY LANDSCAPE ALONG THE SAVANNAH RIVER. LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST CLOSED A 2,169-ACRE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN JASPER COUNTY, SC, THAT WILL ENABLE A MITIGATION SITE TO CONDUCT LARGE-SCALE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION, INCLUDING THE PRESERVATION, RESTORATION, AND ENHANCEMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 1,800 ACRES OF FRESHWATER WETLANDS AND OVER 14,600 LINEAR FEET OF STREAMS. THAT PROJECT IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE FROM A FULLY DONATED FY24 CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON 2,851 ACRES AT TURKEY HILL PLANTATION, PROTECTING DIVERSE NATURAL HABITATS THAT INCLUDE LONGLEAF PINE, PINE SAVANNAHS, AND WETLANDS. ANOTHER MITIGATION SITE CONSERVATION EASEMENT LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST PROTECTED IN FY24 IS LOCATED IN CHARLESTON COUNTY. THAT PROJECT WILL ENABLE THE PRESERVATION, RESTORATION, AND ENHANCEMENT OF 733 ACRES OF FRESHWATER WETLANDS, CREATING AN ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT BENEFITING THE SURROUNDING NATURAL LANDS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE OF CHARLESTON'S HISTORIC AFRICAN AMERICAN SETTLEMENT COMMUNITIES AND SEVERAL OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST'S COMMUNITY LANDS PROGRAM ACQUIRED 4 ACRES IN FY24 THAT WOULD BECOME BEEFIELD COMMUNITY PARK. THE LAND TRUST CONTINUES TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO OBTAIN GRANTS AND CONNECT WITH EXPERTS TO CREATE A PARK THAT PRESERVES COMMUNITY-CENTERED GREEN SPACE AND HONORS A RICH PAST AND PRESENT, WHICH INCLUDES CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION ERA HISTORICAL MILESTONES AS WELL AS VIBRANT GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE. OTHER FY24 LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST COMMUNITY LANDS PROJECTS INCLUDED THE TRANSFER WITH DEED RESTRICTIONS OF THE 1-ACRE DEER HEAD OAK PROPERTY TO THE TOWN OF MCCLELLANVILLE TO SERVE FOREVER AS A CENTRAL PUBLIC SPACE FOR THIS SCENIC FISHING VILLAGE, AND THE COMPLETION OF A 7-ACRE CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE SEA ISLANDS SMALL FARMERS COOPERATIVE PROPERTY. THIS NEW PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE COUNTY PARK WILL PROVIDE FISHING, CRABBING AND PADDLING ACCESS TO LOCAL WATERWAYS WHILE INTERPRETING THE CLOSE CONNECTION OF THE SITE TO SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL EVENTS RELATED TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN JOURNEY TOWARD FREEDOM AND ECONOMIC SELF-DETERMINATION. OTHER FY24 CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROJECTS WERE LOCATED ON WADMALAW ISLAND (266 ACRES IN TWO PROJECTS, BRINGING THE PERCENTAGE OF THAT RURAL SEA ISLAND PROTECTED TO APPROXIMATELY 30%), THE SOUTH LOWCOUNTRY (319 ACRES IN THREE PROJECTS), THE SANTEE RIVER BASIN (1 PROJECT ON 109 ACRES, ADDING TO 1,700 ACRES OF ADJACENT PROTECTED LAND), AND THE ACE BASIN (1 PROJECT ON 1,696 ACRES, PROTECTING HABITAT FOR A SIGNIFICANT COLONY OF FEDERALLY ENDANGERED RED COCKADED WOODPECKERS LOCATED ON THE SITE).GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$925.2KStewardship Program
STEWARDSHIP: IN FY24, LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST MONITORED 100% OF ITS OVER 540 PROTECTED PROPERTIES, INCLUDING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, DEED RESTRICTIONS, AND FEE- SIMPLE PROPERTIES. LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST STAFF UTILIZES VARIOUS MONITORING METHODS, INCLUDING ON-THE-GROUND, DRONE, SATELITE, AND AERIAL MONITORING TO MEET ITS STEWARDSHIP OBLIGATIONS. LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST STAFF CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH LANDOWNERS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS DURING MONITORING VISITS AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO MAINTAIN STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIPS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH RELEVANT EDUCATIONAL, LAND MANAGEMENT, AND CONSERVATION EASEMENT RESOURCES.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$1.1MSoul of the Lowcountry Program
OUTREACH: THE LAND TRUST, AS PART OF ITS SOUL OF THE LOWCOUNTRY PROGRAM, HOSTED A SERIES OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS IN FY24 THAT ENCOURAGED ALL AGES OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENTHUSIASTS TO ENGAGE IN CONSERVATION. FREE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMMERSE ONESELF IN NATURE AND LEARN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LAND PROTECTION INCLUDED EVENTS SUCH AS YOGA AT THE ANGEL OAK, A TOUR OF A WORKING TREE FARM PROTECTED BY AN EASEMENT, A KAYAK CLEAN-UP ALONG THE BANKS OF THE LAND TRUST'S FIRST PROTECTED PROPERTY, AND AN OYSTER REEF BUILD. THE LAND TRUST ALSO CONVENED OVER 50 LOCAL CONSERVATION PARTNERS TO HOST ITS SECOND ANNUAL LOWCOUNTRY EARTH WEEK, WHICH BROUGHT AWARENESS TO THE VARIOUS CONSERVATION INITIATIVES IN THE REGION.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided––
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