MORE THAN ACRES NEWSLETTER MARCH 2022

Congaree Land Trust Celebrates 30 Years!

2022 marks our 30th Anniversary, and we are proud to celebrate the protection of almost 89,000 acres in central South Carolina with our members and landowners! With your help, Congaree Land Trust looks forward to continue delivering impactful conservation outcomes for many years to come.

South Carolina Conservation Enhancement Act

Congaree Land Trust Board Vice President, Trip Chavis, and I recently joined a great group of conservation-minded folks from across the state at Governor McMaster's press conference on increasing land protection through the South Carolina Conservation Enhancement Act, S.1039 / H.4956. The act re-establishes a dedicated stream of revenue for grants awarded by the SC Conservation Bank, by expanding the Bank’s board, and supporting the state’s Natural Resources Enhancement Fund, fueling infrastructure and improvements on public lands.

As echoed by multiple state leaders at the conference, this Act helps preserve, protect, and promote all the natural beauty and heritage South Carolina lands have to offer. Land Trusts are a main line of defense by protecting lands and the ecosystem benefits that they provide forever.

To date, CLT has conserved 47 properties totaling 38,985 acres through funding awarded by the SC Conservation Bank at an average of $424 per acre. For all South Carolinians who are conservation-minded and enjoy public lands, this Act is something for us all to celebrate.

Sincerely,

Stuart

Equestrian Escape!

NEW DATE

Early spring showers have delayed our spring trail ride and picnic through the Carolina PineyWoods to March 24th.

A few spots remain to join us for a ride through a gorgeous tree farm and wildlife habitat in northern Fairfield County, sign up here.

See our growing list of events for 2022 and register to attend upcoming Escapes here.

For more details, contact Elizabeth Burt at elizabeth@congareelt.org

Outlook | Looking Back at Congaree Land Trust

In celebrating our 30th anniversary this year, we are taking some time to look at the history, outlook, and growth of the Congaree Land Trust.

Our very first conservation easement included a 400-acre tract of bottomland forest near the south fork of the Edisto River which was donated by SCE&G (now Dominion) in the spring of 1994. The easement protected around 5.5 miles of primarily undistributed and scenic river banks and served as a corridor extending 300 feet on both sides of the river. It also held a magnificent swamp Tupelo forest.

30th Anniversary | Share Your CLT Memories

Check out this throwback of Ann Jennings, one of our former Executive Director's, at the Land Trust's 15th anniversary celebration.

We want to hear from you! Please share some of your favorite Congaree Land Trust Moments on our social media pages, or email your favorite, pictures, videos, or stories to elizabeth@congareelt.org so we can share them throughout the year.

3oth Anniversary Game & Garden Soiree

We are pleased to announce the return of our annual Game & Garden signature event on Thursday, April 21st at Senate’s End! Please join us on this special evening to support the conservation of our natural spaces in central SC. Enjoy cocktails and delicious dishes prepared by the region's most renowned chefs with local game and garden ingredients.

Registration Opens March 14th!

Stewardship Corp: Reports from the Field

"It's always a treat to wander some of the most interesting tracts of land around the Midlands and know they'll be protected in perpetuity" says Stewardship Corp volunteer, Ed Siggelko, after a recent visit to a great little conservation property tucked into an urban landscape in West Columbia.

On his recent visit, Ed noted seeing all kinds of oaks (black, red, white, chestnut), beech, hickory, sweet gum, large pines, along with species like hemlock, magnolia, camellia and cypress. He also spotted some winter green sprouts, cranefly orchid leaves, and moss during his easement monitoring walk.

The terrain of this particular property tells its own story, one that indicates a homestead formerly residing there because of the wide array of trees present.

More than an urban green space with history, this conserved property helps filter runoff from the surrounding urban landscape that enters the creek and ends up in the Saluda River!

See more photos from Ed's visit here.

Meet Our Spring Conservation Intern,

Avery Cordle

We are pleased to welcome our Conservation Intern, Avery Cordle.

Avery is a junior studying integrated information technology and geographic information systems at the University of South Carolina.

This spring, Avery will be focusing most of her time on a new watershed protection project within the Edisto River Basin.

South Carolina Land Trust Network Legislative Breakfast

Thanks to South Carolina Land Trust Network for putting together this Legislative Breakfast! Earlier this month our Executive Director, Board Chair Tripp Bradley and CLT Landowner Chuck Salley met with state legislators and other land trust organizations from across the state to discuss the importance of the SC Conservation Bank.

We appreciated the opportunity to communicate with our state legislators and illustrate how land protection impacts their home communities and the districts they represent. With nearly 50 legislators in attendance, we were very busy sharing your stories of conservation and enjoyed capturing a few pictures with Reps. Chip Huggins (District 85), Chris Wooten (District 69) and Leon Howard (District 76).