State approves major forestry conservation package and transfer to secure $50 million federal Forest Legacy grant
March 26, 2025 | 2025 Legislative Meetings, South Carolina
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The Joint Bond Review Committee reviewed and approved components of the South Carolina Forestry Commission’s PD Basin Resource Management Services Initiative, a multi‑component land protection package that includes acquisition and conservation easements to protect more than 62,000 acres across Georgetown, Marion and Williamsburg counties.
The initiative includes a fee‑simple purchase of an 880‑acre parcel adjacent to the Wambaw (Wheatee) State Forest near the Santee River and conservation easements covering roughly 61,340 acres to limit incompatible development, preserve water resources, working forests and habitat, and increase climate resilience in the region. The acquisition and easement work represent cooperation among federal, state and private partners, with funding from timber sales revenue, the South Carolina Conservation Bank, Acres for America, Lowcountry Land Trust, Longleaf Alliance, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, U.S. Forest Service funds and other sources.
The South Carolina Office of Resilience asked the committee to review a proposed transfer of $17,777,000 from the disaster relief and resilience reserve fund to the Forestry Commission as the required state match for a $50,000,000 grant awarded through the U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program. The committee was told that, after the proposed transfer, the disaster reserve fund would retain a balance of $120,530,539.
Agency materials said a Phase 1 environmental site assessment for the 880‑acre parcel found no recognized environmental conditions and that portions of the land would be added to the state forest and opened for public recreation. Letters of local support were noted from Georgetown County and the Georgetown County School District. The committee reviewed the package and the transfer request and the item stands approved in the meeting record.
What the committee approved: Committee minutes show approval to establish phase 2 of the final land acquisition for the permanent improvement project and no objection to the proposed transfer of reserve funds to support the federal grant match.
The initiative includes a fee‑simple purchase of an 880‑acre parcel adjacent to the Wambaw (Wheatee) State Forest near the Santee River and conservation easements covering roughly 61,340 acres to limit incompatible development, preserve water resources, working forests and habitat, and increase climate resilience in the region. The acquisition and easement work represent cooperation among federal, state and private partners, with funding from timber sales revenue, the South Carolina Conservation Bank, Acres for America, Lowcountry Land Trust, Longleaf Alliance, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, U.S. Forest Service funds and other sources.
The South Carolina Office of Resilience asked the committee to review a proposed transfer of $17,777,000 from the disaster relief and resilience reserve fund to the Forestry Commission as the required state match for a $50,000,000 grant awarded through the U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program. The committee was told that, after the proposed transfer, the disaster reserve fund would retain a balance of $120,530,539.
Agency materials said a Phase 1 environmental site assessment for the 880‑acre parcel found no recognized environmental conditions and that portions of the land would be added to the state forest and opened for public recreation. Letters of local support were noted from Georgetown County and the Georgetown County School District. The committee reviewed the package and the transfer request and the item stands approved in the meeting record.
What the committee approved: Committee minutes show approval to establish phase 2 of the final land acquisition for the permanent improvement project and no objection to the proposed transfer of reserve funds to support the federal grant match.
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