LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST INC

LAND PROTECTION: DURING FY25, LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST PARTICIPATED IN FIFTEEN CONSERVATION TRANSACTIONS. THIS INCLUDES TEN NEW CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROTECTING 1,295 ACRES, FOUR FEE-SIMPLE PURCHASES PROTECTING 146 ACRES, AND ONE DEED RESTRICTION ON A .7-ACRE PROPERTY. FY25 LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS EXPANDED ACROSS COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA, FROM THE ACE BASIN TO THE SANTEE BASIN. ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF WALTERBORO, A 561- ACRE TRACT WAS PLACED UNDER A CONSERVATION EASEMENT, DEMONSTRATING THE COMMITMENT OF PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, NONPROFITS, AND STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO PRESERVING CULTURAL HISTORY AND NATURAL RESOURCES. THE PROJECT HELPED CREATE A CONTIGUOUS PROTECTED LANDSCAPE IN COLLETON COUNTY, CONTRIBUTING TO THE QUICKLY GROWING AREA'S ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY AND ALIGNING WITH LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST'S RECENTLY IDENTIFIED HIGH-RESILIENCE ZONE NEAR COTTAGEVILLE. IN ADDITION TO ACQUIRING 94 ACRES OF VITAL FARMLAND ON JOHNS ISLAND THAT WILL SOON BECOME PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE VIA WALKING TRAILS, FIELD TRIPS, FARM STANDS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ABOUT SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES AND LAND STEWARDSHIP, LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST BOUGHT, PROTECTED, AND TRANSFERRED THREE PROPERTIES FOR COMMUNITY USE AND BENEFIT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHARLESTON COUNTY PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION, A 35-ACRE TRACT IN RAVENEL WILL SERVE AS AN OFFICIAL ADDITION TO CAW CAW INTERPRETIVE CENTER. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BARRIER ISLANDS LITTLE LEAGUE, A 40-ACRE LANDMARK PROJECT ON JOHNS ISLAND ENSURES THAT A VITAL GREEN SPACE WILL REMAIN UNDEVELOPED, PROVIDING BOTH ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PHILLIPS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION AND ITS RESIDENTS, A .7 ACRE SITE WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE GREEN SPACE, WITH THE PRESERVED RUTLEDGE TOMB AT ITS CENTERPIECE, PROVIDING A VITAL LINK TO THE AREA'S PLANTATION HISTORY AND HONORING THE SETTLEMENT COMMUNITY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LAND. LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST ALSO HELPED THE RED TOP IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION CONSERVE, INTERPRET, AND CELEBRATE A CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY, AS PART OF ITS COMMUNITY LANDS PROGRAM. OTHER FY25 CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROJECTS INCLUDE PERMANENTLY PROTECTING 1.77 MILES OF DIRECT RIVER FRONTAGE ALONG FEE FARM CREEK, ADDING TO THE NEARLY 14,340 ACRES OF PROTECTED LAND ALONG THE ASHEPOO RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES PROTECTED BY LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST; SAFEGUARDING 20 ACRES OF HISTORY AND HABITAT IN THE ASHLEY RIVER HISTORIC DISTRICT; CONSERVING AN ENTIRE UNDISTURBED BARRIER ISLAND OF 28 ACRES OF UPLAND HABITAT SURROUNDED BY 393 ACRES OF SALT MARSH ALONG THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY; AND EXPANDING THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT OF AN ECOLOGICALLY RICH AND HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SANTEE RIVER AT THE GATEWAY TO CHARLESTON COUNTY ALONG BOTH SIDES OF U.S. HIGHWAY 17.

LAND STEWARDSHIP: IN FY25, LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST MONITORED 100% OF ITS OVER 550 PROTECTED PROPERTIES, INCLUDING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, DEED RESTRICTIONS, AND FEE SIMPLE PROJECTS. LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST STAFF UTILIZES VARIOUS MONITORING METHODS, INCLUDING ON-THE-GROUND, DRONE, SATELLITE, 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.