East Cooper Land Trust Annual Report 2015

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OUR MISSION: The East Cooper Land Trust is a community-supported organization devoted to conserving natural spaces, thus the quality of life for current and future generations.

OUR VISION: East Cooper Land Trust will be leading the most important and ambitious conservation effort for the East Cooper area. We will: • Identify and conserve natural spaces of environmental, cultural, or historical value. • Enrich our urban community with natural spaces and preserve the rural character of surrounding coastal communities. • Collaborate with other organizations to provide natural lands such as parks, gardens and trails for people to enjoy. • Provide education about the benefits of open space and conservation for all ages.

Cover © Glyn Cowden


Field Notes from the Chairman & Executive Director Thank you for being a part of this community of people dedicated to conserving natural places. We are excited to continue working on various land projects. East Cooper is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. There is an urgent need to find a sustainable balance between population growth and conservation of nature. Think about when you were growing up... Where did you connect with nature? Was it in your neighborhood? Did you ride your bike down the street to an “empty lot�? Did you go exploring in the woods? Most of us grew up playing outdoors and probably took nature for granted. We are losing our trees and connections to natural spaces. Children spend less time outside and more people in our community are dealing with health issues like obesity. Nature is good for us and has both long and short term mental and physical health benefits. Nature is not just wilderness. It is gardens, parks, marsh vistas, trails, farms and more. The East Cooper Land Trust is working to connect you to nature. Together we can save the natural areas in our community so that people for generations to come will enjoy it like you did. Donate to the East Cooper Land Trust today and help us by inspiring others to give and get involved. We need nature more than it needs us.

Board of Directors Richard Morrison, Chair Lawrence Middaugh, Past Chair Kevin L. Rourk, Vice-Chair Robert (Scott) Schlau, Treasurer William T. Eubanks, Secretary Justin T. Craig Richard L. Habersham Mary Martinich Alys Anne Wiedeke Advisory Council John C.L. Darby Kyle W. Ferrell James C. Thompson Michael Veeck George K. Wood Staff Catherine M. Main, Executive Director Alison Geer, Development Coordinator Alex Smith, Land Protection/GIS Specialist

Richard Morrison Board Chairman

Volunteers

Catherine Main Executive Director

Severine Brocard, Administrative Amy Davis, Volunteer Coordinator Lauren Anderson, Publication Layout


East Cooper Land Trust is...

• Saving land for children to safely run, play and experience nature • Connecting you and your neighbors to nature, parks, and food via a safe trail system • Collaborating with our local government to make conservation a priority

Focusing on East Cooper


How We Protect Land The primary tool used to permanently protect land from development is a conservation easement. Simply put, a conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and a nonprofit conservation organization that permanently limits a property’s uses in order to protect its conservation values.

Protected Forever: CAGE Organization Candy’s Cove at Shemwood II Magnolia Park & Community Garden Marsh View Trail Moultrie Park I & II Oakland Plantation Phillips Community Rivertowne Island Rivertowne Wetland Shem Creek Headwaters Steiger Sanctuary Sullivan’s Island Station 9 Sullivan’s Island Station 19 Thornhill Farm © Jonathan Lamb


Thornhill Farm We Saved The Farm Forever East Cooper Land Trust purchased Thornhill Farm in November 2014, utilizing funds available through the Charleston County Greenbelt Board and the South Carolina Conservation Bank. Now the farm is permanently protected through a conservation easement. Selecting a Farm Manager for Thornhill Farm In October 2015, the East Cooper Land Trust selected Kyle Ferrell of Spartina Farm Services as the farm manager. The East Cooper Land Trust is very excited about Kyle’s plans for the farm which include crop and animal production, special events, agricultural education, and a strong stewardship component. Kyle, a native of Texas, has family in the East Cooper area and was drawn to the beauty of the area as well as the agricultural opportunities this climate provides. Kyle has both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Agribusiness and Agriculture and brings a wealth of experience and new ideas to the farm. His enthusiasm is contagious. Growing up Kyle was active in his local FFA chapter showing steers and poultry. He has served in agricultural leadership/professional roles at the local, regional, and national levels. What’s to Come? Soon, the farm will be producing locally raised food for you to enjoy, all from a beautiful farm that is protected forever. The farm will also be used as a venue for agricultural education and events. Visit the farm and help us celebrate local agriculture and conservation efforts in the East Cooper area. For more information and to stay up to date with happenings at the farm, go to eastcooperland.org.


“I’m incredibly passionate about agriculture and introducing others to the intricacies of our local food systems. When I found out about the Thornhill Farm, I was drawn to the opportunity based upon my personal belief that sound farming practices and agriculturalists are our first line of opportunity in conservation.” Kyle Ferrell

© Nicole Frazier


Moultrie Park I & II

John Popelka of JSP Moultrie Park, LLC (above) donated 1.8 acres of wooded land to the East Cooper Land Trust. This property provides habitat, scenic value, and health benefits for Moultrie Park residents to enjoy. The donation of this property to East Cooper Land Trust will ensure this green space is used for passive recreation and wildlife preservation forever. Also note our new signs! Keep an eye out for our logo on East Cooper Land Trust’s protected properties.

Rivertowne Wetland & Island

This is a 2-acre hammock island within the Rivertowne neighborhood, between Parkers Landing Road and Horlbeck Creek. These areas provide habitat for hundreds of animal and plant species on a permanent and migratory basis. In particular, various bird species may utilize the property for feeding, nesting, and roosting sites due to its relatively isolated location. Wading birds such as blue herons, egrets, and night herons are bird species often found on hammock islands. Mammal species such as raccoons, otters, and deer have been observed using hammock islands. This privately-held island was preserved under a conservation easement in July 2011.


Magnolia Park & Community Garden

This 3.7 acre property is in West Ashley at the intersection of Magnolia Rd. and Sycamore Ave. The land was purchased through the Charleston County Urban Greenbelt Program. East Cooper Land Trust now holds a conservation easement on the property and the Charleston Parks Conservancy is using the land for community gardens.


Marsh View Trail

“I treasure our walks along the Marsh View Trail because one can sense peace in all of the tree tops. It is fun to see the variety of birds and butterflies, and to watch the fiddler crabs dancing at the edge of the marsh is truly a joy.” -Hugh B. Tant III, Brig. Gen., US Army, (Ret.)

The Marsh View Trail is a publicly accessible quarter-mile nature walk located at 1619 Rifle Range Road (behind Mount Pleasant Waterworks and Mamie P. Whitesides Elementary School). This paved trail winds across a 57-acre conservation easement donated by Mount Pleasant Waterworks and held by the East Cooper Land Trust. Passing under majestic live oak trees and over a tidal salt marsh, one can enjoy a beautiful Lowcountry vista of hammock islands and miles of marshland. Above: Long-time Mount Pleasant residents, Hugh and Christine Tant, enjoy a routine morning stroll under the trail’s 200-year-old live oaks.


Phillips Community

This 3.84-acre wooded lot was purchased through the Charleston County Urban Greenbelt Program and ownership was transferred to the Phillips Community. East Cooper Land Trust has the property under a permanent conservation easement. Located in an unincorporated area of Mount Pleasant, this historic African-American Community of 600 residents utilizes the property for a cultural, interpretive community center as a site where sweetgrass basket makers can gather to weave their craft. (Right: Richard Habersham, Phillips Community leader and ECLT Board Member with Larry Middaugh, ECLT Board Member, monitor the property.) Local artist William Rollis (photographed below) has been making sweetgrass baskets for as long as he can remember. He has lived in the area his entire life and has seen the toll that development takes on our natural resources, including sweetgrass. He is grateful for the preservation of this beautiful piece of property. His masterpieces have been featured in cultural festivals and exhibits around the Charleston area. You can find Mr. Rollis selling his craft most weekends at the Charleston City Market.


Oakland Plantation Oakland Plantation is a beautiful property off Porchers Bluff Road between Highway 17N and Rifle Range Road that has been owned by the Gregorie family for more than a century. It is one of the most historic spots in the Lowcountry and the plantation house, which may date back to the 1730s, is thought to be the oldest in Mount Pleasant. Within the property is a 132.6-acre parcel that has been permanently protected via a conservation easement held by East Cooper Land Trust. The easement contains a pine and mixed hardwoods forest, forested wetlands, maritime forest, brackish marsh, salt flat, shrubby and herbaceous woodland borders. A 1.5-mile nature trail crosses the property and is an amenity of the KOA campground. It is not open to the general public but can be available for local school groups and other organizations with pre-approval. Any interested group should contact the KOA office at 843-849-5177 to schedule a visit. Oakland Plantation is also the site of our annual RACE & ROAST fundraiser.


Steiger Sanctuary In March 2015, East Cooper Land Trust took ownership of a conservation easement on 14 acres of privately-owned property on Pawleys Island. The property consists of native trees and other vegetation in the midst of a suburban community. The property is surrounded by homesites and a golf course. The Steiger family continues to reside in a log cabin on the property and enjoy the variety of bird species and other wildlife that are attracted to this protected property.

CAGE Organization This is a 6-acre tract protected by a conservation easement held by the East Cooper Land Trust. The two acres at the northwest side are restricted to passive recreation/nature trail use only. The remaining 4 acres were purchased in 2011 via funding from the Charleston County Urban Greenbelt Program and transferred to the CAGE Organization. This property is adjacent to the new Jennie Moore Elementary and Laing Middle Schools. It will be used to develop a 6,000 sq. ft. community center, parking, utility building for equipment storage, trails, and the future location for the Gullah Cultural Festival. The CAGE Organization (Community Action Group for Encouragement) represents the Six and Seven Mile communities (approx. 2,000 residents) and works to preserve remaining natural places in these areas.


Sullivan’s Island Station 9 “Old Bridge Landing” This protected property at Station 9 is a 0.48-acre parcel with a trail leading from Conquest Avenue to the edge of the property overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. This piece of land was once the landing area for the Pitt Street Bridge that connected Mount Pleasant to Sullivan’s Island, giving it an added historical significance. The view of passing boats can be enjoyed from a bench overlooking the water.


Sullivan’s Island Station 19

“Old Dump” This 3.1-acre property is now permanently protected and serves as both a public green space and an access point for fishers and kayakers to explore the beautiful waterway. Hal Coste (pictured bottom left) is a 5th generation Sullivan’s Islander and learned to swim in Miller Creek. He and his wife Karen live next door and were integral to the effort to protect it from development. (Pictured bottom right are Larry Middaugh (ECLT Board Member), Mayor Pat O’Neil (of Sullivan’s Island), Catherine Main (ECLT Executive Director), and Andy Benke (Sullivan’s Island Town Administrator).


Candy’s Cove at Shemwood II In January 2013, the Town of Mount Pleasant transferred title of this 2-acre wooded lot to the Shemwood II Community Association. It is adjacent to “Peggy’s Park,” the community’s small playground and picnic area, and has long been a favorite play area for kids in the neighborhood. East Cooper Land Trust holds a conservation easement on this property and vows to ensure it remains natural in perpetuity.

© Laura Hoffacker


Shem Creek Headwaters

This 3.37-acre land donation forever preserves the wetland and tidal creek watershed of the Shem Creek headwaters. The property is located along Von Kolnitz Road, adjacent to the Medical Arts Building, and provides a beautiful vista from Johnnie Dodds Boulevard. The property provides an outdoor classroom and field study location for James B. Edwards Elementary School students.


East Cooper Trail

Create, Connect, Thrive The Vision

The East Cooper region can be connected with 82 miles of off-road bike and pedestrian trails creating family-friendly routes that connect people to nature, promote exercise and health, and contribute to local tourism revenue.

Health and Economic Impacts

The East Cooper Trail will bring more than $87 million in total benefits to East Cooper per year, including health, environmental, economic, tourism, transportation, and property value benefits. (Report available at eastcooperland.org)

Connections, Connections, Connections

From downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant to Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, Awendaw, and McClellanville, the East Cooper Trail will connect you and your family to natural and cultural resources in the East Cooper area in a fun and healthy way.

You Can Help

If you want to help bring this project to fruition, donate to the East Cooper Land Trust. Resources are needed for us to continue to lead and coordinate this challenging yet achievable endeavor.

Partnering


Create a Great Outdoors Town • Currently just over 10 percent of land in the Town of Mount Pleasant is designated parkland or natural open space, totaling 3,837 acres. • Only 4 percent of land in the Town of Mount Pleasant is Permanently Protected, totaling 1,470 acres. • Charleston County’s Greenbelt Plan established a goal of 30 percent Open Space. The Town of Mount Pleasant has not yet established its goal.

Making Our Community a Better Place to Live & Play Through our Connected Land Conservation Plan, the East Cooper Land Trust is working with six municipalities to create natural connections throughout the entire East Cooper area. This will include prioritizing natural areas for protection and creating connections to existing natural areas through trails and corridors that you can use to keep healthy. East Cooper Land Trust published two documents containing more information about the East Cooper Trail and Mount Pleasant’s current open space. Read them online at eastcooperland.org. Create. Connect. Thrive. The Health and Economic Impacts of Connecting People to Nature with the East Cooper Trail (published September 2015); Mount Pleasant Open Space Inventory (published December 2015).


Are you committed to conservation in the East Cooper area? • • • •

Donate Protect your land forever Volunteer your time Include ECLT in your estate plans

Contact us at (843) 224-1849 or info@eastcooperland.org

Thank you to all of our generous supporters! Together we are leading the most important and ambitious conservation effort in the East Cooper area. Donations Received January 1, 2014 to December 15, 2015

$100,000+ Mr. and Mrs. Gary Thornhill

Mr. and Mrs. James C. Thompson Town of Mount Pleasant

$10,000+ Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation Felburn Foundation Ms. Louise Heizer Ms. Helen Kellicut Mr. and Mrs. John Popelka Mrs. Edith Steiger Seaman Speedwell Foundation Mr. Paul Steiger

$5,000 - $9,999 Daniel Island Community Fund eGroup Land Trust Alliance South State Bank Mr. and Mrs. David Stone $1,000 - $4,999 Ms. Kara Berly Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated

Arthur and Alison Geer Mr. and Mrs. George Geer The Joanna Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Francis G. Johnson Lucey Mortgage Corporation Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence D. Middaugh Morris Financial Concepts, Inc. Mount Pleasant Waterworks Nature Adventures Outfitters Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Norcross Wildlife Foundation, Inc. Roper St. Francis Healthcare Seamon, Whiteside & Associates, Inc.

© Nicole Frazier


“We are thankful for our donors and volunteers that make it possible for us to lead conservation efforts in the East Cooper area. Together, we can find the balance between economic development and the preservation of our natural and culturally significant areas. Please join us.” Catherine Main,

Executive Director

Ms. Suzannah Miles Ms. Nan Morrison Mr. and Mrs. Richard Morrison The Honorable Patrick O’Neil Ms. Margaret Passailaigue Ms. Sharon Penny $500 - $999 Acupuncture & Wellness of Charleston, LLC Dr. and Mrs. Frederick E. Reed, Jr. Mr. R. Scott Schlau The Backpacker Quality Gear Mr. Karl Troy Baldwin & Associates, LLC Ms. Anita Condon van de Erve Mr. and Mrs. Brian Berrigan Mr. and Mrs. Steven Werber Mr. and Mrs. Keith Bowers Cummings Wealth Management Group Mr. Joseph F. Whetstone Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Wiedeke DWG Consulting Engineers Ms. Amy Wilson Mr. William T. Eubanks Mr. and Mrs. Tim Wise Kim Green and Dave Westberg Mr. David Harmon $100 - $249 Ms. Julia Kelly 88 Club Mr. Hoyt Kiser Anonymous (1) Mr. Jonathan Lamb Mr. and Mrs. James Bagwell Medical University of South Carolina Chris and Kim Nickels Campaign Fund Bank of America Charitable Foundation Ms. Lynn Carmody Dr. Thomas Pope Savannah Presbytery M.K. Pentecost Mr. and Mrs. David Carrier Ms. Suzette Carrier Ecology Fund Mr. and Mrs. Steve Cregg Sewee Outpost Mr. and Mrs. Walter Crowther South Carolina Sports Medicine & Hal S. Currey and Margaret P. Schachte Orthopaedic Center Stubbs Muldrow Herin architects, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Sumter de Brux Colette DeGarady and Tom Johnson Town of McClellanville Mr. and Mrs. Andrew deHoll Dr. and Mrs. Robert Drew $250 - $499 Ms. Margaret L. Ehrhardt Mr. A. Elliott Barrow Dr. Lydia Engelhardt and Dr. William The Beach Company Rambo Mr. Richard Bischoff Mr. and Mrs. Colin Ewing Dr. and Mrs. John Boatwright Exxon Mobil Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Paul Boehm Mr. and Mrs. Barry Gumb Mr. and Mrs. Terence Bowers Mr. Richard Habersham Elaine Brabham & Associates Dr. and Mrs. Frank Harper Real Estate Mr. Robert Hopkins Mr. and Mrs. Claus Busch Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Jaycocks Dr. Joseph Calandra Alex and Laura Kasman Mr. and Mrs. Elton Carrier Las Olas Ms. Cheryl deHoll Mr. Parker Lee Mr. and Mrs. Blaine Ewing Ms. Marilou Linn GEL Engineering, LLC Mr. T. Cartter Lupton Mr. William Griffin III Mr. and Mrs. Chris Malloy The Law Offices of Richard A. Hricik Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Mellichamp Ms. Christina Jones Mr. and Mrs. William Miller Ms. Catherine Main Mr. and Mrs. Michael Mithoefer Mandari Designs Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Myers III Mr. and Mrs. Theodore L. Manos Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Nickels Mr. and Mrs. Dennie McCrary $1,000 - $4,999 (cont.) Billy Swails State Farm Insurance Triangle Char and Bar Mr. and Mrs. Chad Walldorf

Office Express, Inc. Pitt Street Pharmacy Ms. Mary Anne Poole Mr. David Quick Mr. and Mrs. Brady Quirk-Garvan Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ravenel Mr. and Mrs. Leon Ray Mr. and Mrs. James Reed Mr. and Mrs. John Rieck Ms. Rhonda Robinson Dr. Phyllis Rogerson and Mr. Robert Rogerson Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Rourk Mr. and Mrs. Herb Sass Mr. Robert M. Schlau Mr. and Mrs. Dean Schmelter Mr. and Mrs. Cole Sellazo Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Skahill Mr. and Mrs. William Stuhr Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Tant Mr. and Mrs. William Thigpen Mr. and Mrs. W. George Thomas IV Ms. Ann Tiller Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Timmons Mr. and Mrs. John Winthrop John Winthrop Fund in Memory of Adrianne B. Reilly Mr. and Mrs. George Wood Up to $99 Ms. Nancy Abercrombie Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Ahlstrom AmazonSmile Foundation Ms. Barbara Ball Mr. and Mrs. Brian Bates Mr. Stephen Berman Bulls Bay Saltworks Ms. Karen Cariddi Ms. Mary Conley Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Copeland Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Cummings Ms. Millibeth Currie Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Daniels Ms. Jana Davis Ms. Millie Day Mr. and Mrs. Don Dennis Mr. Mark Emerson Ms. Florence Eubank Mr. and Mrs. Gary Fink Mr. Devin Fox Ms. Pamela Gabriel Ms. Katherine Gaffos


Up to $99 (cont.) Mr. Vito Giardina Mr. and Mrs. John Girault Mr. Thomas Glave Ms. Robin Halewood Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hannapel Mr. and Mrs. William E. Hawkins Ms. Stephanie Hickerson Mr. Ray Hobbs Ms. Jean Holst Jack’s Cosmic Dogs Ms. Susan Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnston Ms. Amanda Keiffer Ms. Sally Keltner Mr. and Mrs. Steven Kerr Ms. Deborah Lee Mr. Neil Lee Ms. Holly Limbert Mr. Bruce C. Martin Mrs. Cathy Martin Mr. and Mrs. Chris Miller Dana and Thomas Moorer Mrs. Chelsea Mullen Mr. and Mrs. Michael Naylor Mr. Ken Newman Mr. and Mrs. Bennett Parks Mr. and Mrs. Michael Prevost Mrs. Neves Richards Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Rodenberg Ms. Jennifer Rogers Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Rosenthal Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Schreck

Mr. and Mrs. Sean Schultz Ms. Rebecca Shirer Ms. Rachael Smilowitz Mr. Larry Smith Mr. Tim Steinke Ms. Thomasena Stokes-Marshall Ms. Tacy Trippe and Mr. John Bryer Sun to Moon Yoga Taylor Consulting Ms. Clark Taylor Ms. Murrell Timmons Mrs. Rebecca Tuten Ms. Elizabeth Warner Mr. Michael Whittaker Mr. and Mrs. Bob Whittemore Wildlands Engineering, Inc. Mr. Josiah Williams Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Williams Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wren In Kind Lauren Anderson Awendaw Green Mr. and Mrs. Brian Berrigan David Brown Photographics Mr. and Mrs. Paul Butler Joseph Calandra Captain Dan’s Water Tours Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina Charleston RiverDogs Glyn Cowden Photography Drayton Hall Dunleavy’s Pub

Mr. William T. Eubanks Mr. and Mrs. Blaine Ewing Brannon and Renee Florie Ms. Holly Gamble-Bryant Mr. Lee Gastley The Granary Gil Shuler Graphic Design Hopsewee Plantation Jesse & Friends Music Las Olas Mr. and Mrs. Allston Leland Limehouse Produce Mandari Designs Mr. Bogan Mask McGrew’s Flooring Mediterranean Shipping Company Mex 1 Coastal Cantina Mi Xao Mr. and Mrs. Dave Miller Nature Adventures Outfitters Office Express, Inc. Republic Garden & Lounge SCS Engineers Southwest Airlines Co. Sweetbay Produce & Nursery Mr. and Mrs. Gary Thornhill Ms. Ann Tiller Tours by Tim Trek Bicycle Store of Mount Pleasant Mr. Karl Troy Whole Foods Market Mount Pleasant Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Wiedeke

Make a Lasting Commitment to Conservation Leave a monetary or land bequest to the East Cooper Land Trust. Your legacy will be enjoyed for generations.

The following individuals and firms have volunteered significant amounts of their time to the East Cooper Land Trust. THANK YOU!

Severine Brocard Amy Davis Kyle Ferrell




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