By Faith Rivers James
Beaufort County has always been a leader in conservation in South Carolina and was the first county to establish a dedicated local land protection program in 2002. The positive impacts from that program can be seen and felt by residents across the county, from St. Helena Island to Hilton Head Island.
This year, Beaufort County residents have the opportunity to once again serve as trailblazers of conservation in the state by voting “Yes” for Greenspace on November 8. This would enable Beaufort to create another first-of-its kind conservation program, which would complement the immensely successful Rural and Critical Lands Program by creating an additional $100 million fund dedicated to regional land protection. The program will be funded through a “greenspace penny” sales tax program.
The Rural and Critical Lands Program has a record of success including purchasing and protecting the 95-acre Mobley Tract in 2016, curtailing a three-fold increase in density and an additional 4,000 daily car trips on S.C. Highway 170, as well as preventing increased stormwater runoff in the Chechesee and Broad rivers.
The program also purchased the 162-acre Widgeon Point property, enabling the public to view the rich diversity of wildlife and plant species on the property. And it contributed to protecting more than 20 acres in the historic Mitchelville community on Hilton Head, preserving the first post-Civil War freedman village in the country.
These are huge wins, but to stay ahead of rapid growth pressures and a changing climate, we must do more. The “greenspace penny” program will increase the amount of resources dedicated to conservation. Funding for the program will come from a new stream of sales-tax dollars that will be collected for two years on consumer purchases, excluding groceries, gas, and prescription medications. County officials estimate that 40% of the money collected will come from visitors to Beaufort County.
The Greenspace plan has built-in accountability measures, including a citizen advisory board, public disclosure of all spending, and annual audits reviewing how the money is spent. These measures will enable Beaufort County residents to ensure that the funds will be used wisely to protect the land and waterways that make Beaufort County such a special place.
As the new Executive Director of the Coastal Conservation League and a Lowcountry native, I know first-hand the value that land protection has, not just for our natural environment, but also for our built communities. Protecting more land in strategic locations will keep pollution out of our rivers, lakes, and creeks, and help protect our drinking water supply.
Open land — especially wetlands — also serves as a natural barrier that holds floodwater, reducing erosion and property damage in rising tides and natural disasters in the face of changing climate conditions.
At the Conservation League, we advocate for our coast and all its beautiful landscapes, pristine waterways, and historic communities. Voting “Yes” for Greenspace is another landmark step forward we can take together to protect the Lowcountry we all love.
Faith Rivers James is the Executive Director of the Coastal Conservation League.
