We urgently need your support!

The Congaree National Park, Congaree Biosphere Reserve (a UNESCO site), Cedar Creek, and the Ridge Road Community located in Hopkins, South Carolina (Richland County) are under siege by self-serving politicians and foreign developers.  

The Congaree National Park is the only National Park located in South Carolina.  The Congaree Biosphere wetlands is home to many threatened and endangered species, both flora and fauna, including the American White cedar, Pileated Woodpeckers, Wood Storks, Beaver, Otters, Wild Turkeys, American Alligators and so much more.  The area is also home to a rare species of firefly known as synchronous fireflies and an active family of federally protected Bald Eagles.

“Cedar Creek is arguably THE ecological and recreational centerpiece of the park and recognized by Department of Health and Environmental Control as Outstanding National Resource Waters”.

All the above will be drastically and adversely effected by the looming damage inflicted by government supported housing.  Pollution from these proposed projects will come in the form of runoff which is unavoidable due to the unique topographical drop from the upper Cedar Creek watershed “boundary” down approximately 320’ into Cedar Creek. Developers have already clear-cut the forests on the proposed development parcels, which has negatively impacted the area with increased noise pollution and damage to wildlife habitats. 

A developer of high-density housing is planning to build on a parcel of land located in the Ridge Road Community, the center of the Congaree Biosphere Reserve. This property is identified 99 times out of 100 samples in conservation research by Jeremy Dertien, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Clemson University, SC. 

The Richland County Planning Commission as well as a Richland County Council Representative (who receives the bulk of donations from real estate developers, investors, and attorneys) are aggressively pushing for high density developments. The Ridge Road Community is living under the constant threat of destruction by the monumental political and financial forces who are wielding all the power.  We are struggling to preserve the environment, our National Park, our rural lifestyle, homes, farms, clean water and our peaceful neighborhoods.  

The Ridge Road Preservation group is making every effort to just be heard and to have a voice in responsible development. FOIA’s to county government go unanswered while our pleas fall on deaf ears.  We are being silenced by local politicians and greedy developers, which is a common scenario being played out all over the country.  

Our goal today of 2,500+ signatures on this petition will give us the power to be heard!  Please sign this petition to show Federal legislators, South Carolina legislators, Richland County Council and Planning Commission that the public is passionate about protecting the threatened and endangered species of Congaree National Park from destructive high-density developments.  This petition will hold those who do not take proactive measures to protect the Congaree Biosphere Reserve accountable.  

photo cred:  Christine Harrelson