Yesterday morning, we gathered among the longleaf pine trees and abundant pitcher plants, surrounded by the calls of Red-cockaded woodpeckers and Northern bobwhite quail in celebration of a long-fought win.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources officially announced the expansion of Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve in a sale that places land previously vulnerable to hospital construction plans in permanent protection. The development request on property formerly owned by Conway Medical Center threatened the important wildlife, wetlands, and native plants of Lewis Ocean Bay, including the state's only stable population of Venus flytraps. This expansion of Lewis Ocean Bay — 353 acres — brings the preserve to 10,788 acres.
Historically, Lewis Ocean Bay has been threatened time and time again by encroaching development — from proposals for the construction of mines to infrastructure that would crowd the perimeter of the preserve. This type of incompatible development would further complicate management and the preservation of this special place.
The culmination of years of work sets an example of what is possible for collaborative conservation in our state.
As our Executive Director, Faith Rivers James said, “We are grateful to Conway Medical Center staff and board for coming to the table with SCDNR for this vital conservation acquisition. The Conservation League has been on the ground, guiding this effort, and working alongside the community for many years, and today we can all rest easy knowing this particular threat has passed. The work our team does to protect our coastal communities and habitats is never over, and this is particularly true for Lewis Ocean Bay and other important landscapes across our state. The Coastal Conservation League will continue to advocate for wise planning and sustainable and common-sense development."
Read our full press release here.
Management of this highly unique and biodiverse ecosystem requires prescribed burning, a precise and controlled practice of using fire to manage forest understory vegetation, thereby enhancing biodiversity and reducing the risk of wildfires.
Since 2020, community members and conservation organizations have rallied together showing support for the protection of Lewis Ocean Bay from this threat. Nearly 25,000 people signed a petition asking Conway Medical Center to choose a different location, and local art activist Mary Edna Fraser shared the beauty of the preserve through a plein air painting.
Yesterday, we saw the fruition of these collective efforts.
As North Coast Office Deputy Director Trapper Fowler said, "We have been waiting on this for at least five years. We did it. We all did it together. Today is a good day."
Thank you,
The Coastal Conservation League Team