An 8,000-acre South Carolina forest was bought for conservation after drawing developer interest; the state now plans to acquire 4,148 acres for a new Carvers Bay State Forest

Georgetown County School Board members voted to support state plans to buy two large pieces of land. The move could lead to a new 4,148-acre state forest in western Georgetown County and protect a former resort development site. The South Carolina Forestry Commission plans to buy the 4,148-acre property on Eaddy Road near Dunbar Landing. The land would become part of the planned Carvers Bay State Forest, the Coastal Observer reported. The larger conservation effort also includes plans for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to take over the 3,492-acre Arcadia East property on the Waccamaw Neck. Board Member Eileen Johnson supported the expansion during the meeting. She said continued residential growth in the area is leaving less space for nature. “We’ve got to preserve everything we can,” she said. Johnson added that the only thing protecting the south side of the county from development is the Francis Marion National Forest. “I’m all about stewardship of our land.”

Creation of Carvers Bay State Forest

The 4,148-acre property planned for the state forest is part of a larger 8,000-acre tract. The Virginia-based Conservation Fund and the Malone Family Land Preservation Foundation bought the larger property last July for $34.2 million (£25.6 million). The rest of the land is next to the Black River. Once the South Carolina Forestry Commission completes the purchase, the property will become part of the state Department of Natural Resources wildlife management area program. This would allow the public to use the land for outdoor recreation. Under South Carolina law, state forests bring in money through local forestry work. The Forestry Commission gives 25 per cent of the gross revenue from those operations directly to the county. The money helps fund school district operations. “We can have public access,” Johnson said.

Preservation of Arcadia East

The school board also approved a letter supporting the purchase of the 3,492-acre Arcadia East property. Giving the coastal property to the state would stop a large commercial development that Georgetown County originally approved in 2002. The original development plan called for 2,451 homes, a 500-room resort hotel, and commercial and office space. A county study from 2002 estimated that a fully developed Arcadia East project could have produced as much as $153.8 million each year. Its residents would have become the largest taxpayers in the county. By moving the land into public conservation, local governments would give up those possible commercial revenues. They would also lose direct property tax payments from the undeveloped land. Last year, county and school district taxes on the Arcadia East property totaled about $5,200. DNR plans to complete the purchase with help from the Office of Resilience and two conservation nonprofits, the Open Space Institute and Ducks Unlimited. The nonprofits will hold the property title until state funding is finalized.

Local backing for conservation

The Georgetown County Council also officially supported the land purchase during its meeting. The council joined the school board in backing the move toward conservation. Emily Purcell, director of conservation programs for Ducks Unlimited, said the organization was pleased to have local support for the purchase. “We’re thrilled to have support from both the county and the school board,” Purcell told the Coastal Observer. “We’re excited to hopefully work towards a great conservation outcome in Georgetown County.” The Arcadia East property adds to other protected land nearby. In 2007, a conservation easement was placed on 3,612 acres of Arcadia west of Highway 17. Ducks Unlimited currently holds and manages that land. Johnson also addressed concerns about losing future tax revenue from the resort property. She said protecting natural land was more important than collecting short-term tax revenue. “We’ve got plenty of land. I’m not worried about taxes right now,” Johnson said. Board Chairman Keith Moore and Superintendent Bethany Giles declined to comment on the vote.