US Army Corps of Engineers on Track to Restore Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary
By Brantley Bissette, SCWF Education Outreach Intern
Scheduled to start in September of this year, the US Army Corps of Engineers (COE) is set to restore a critically important shorebird nesting habitat in South Carolina.
Crab Bank is a stretch of sand sitting just below the mouth of Shem Creek in Charleston Harbor, the result of dredging operations in the 1950s. One of five seabird sanctuaries owned and managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), it historically served as an optimal nesting habitat for species including black skimmers, royal terns and brown pelicans. It also hosted threatened red knot and other migratory shorebirds that utilize the state to rest and refuel during their spring migration. South Carolina hosts the largest concentration of red knot in the southeast. The sanctuary had hosted upwards of 5,000 seabird nests per year. Unfortunately, Crab Bank has slowly disappeared in recent decades and, in 2017, Hurricane Irma washed away all that remained of its suitable nesting habitat.
In 2017, working with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and environmental organizations, the Charleston Harbor Post 45 Deepening Project identified Crab Bank as a possible recipient of suitable newly dredged material as part of the COE’s efforts for beneficial uses of dredged material. Because placement here would be less cost-effective than the originally proposed offshore dumping site, SCDNR and several environmental agencies met and formed the Carolina Coastal Bird Conservation Fund to cover the expense of this and other future efforts to benefit shorebirds. A grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation was developed and awarded to Audubon South Carolina that supplemented community fundraising efforts by SCDNR, Coastal Conservation League, South Carolina Wildlife Federation, Coastal Expeditions and others. The campaign’s success proved a clear indicator of the importance of the restoration project to South Carolina shorebird lovers.
The project would add a total of 80 acres of sediment to the sanctuary, 28 of which would provide suitable nesting habitat. The successful restoration of Crab Bank would maintain South Carolina’s reputation as one of the most important shorebird nesting and wintering sites along the Atlantic coast. In addition to its immediate conservation implications, the restoration would also provide storm and sea level rise protection to Town of Mount Pleasant properties, as well as unique educational benefits, as the sanctuary is just a short boat or kayak trip from nearby communities. Coastal bird partners and the Charleston District of the COE will continue to monitor conditions of nearby Shem Creek to ensure a positive environmental response to the project while remaining in close contact with SCDNR and local community leadership. Restoration efforts will feature the one-time placement of 660,000 cubic yards of dredged material and require only a few months to reach completion.
Along a rapidly developing South Carolina coastline, the restoration and preservation of nesting and wintering habitat is a key step forward in the conservation of these iconic species. The continuing support of the community will ensure the project’s timely completion and help protect South Carolina’s shorebirds for generations to come.
Red Knots, photo by Teri Carter (cropped for top banner image)
Update 9/24/20: GREAT NEWS!! The Beaufort County Zoning Board of Appeals voted 5-0 to reject the proposed Bay Point development. Thank you to all who spoke up for the vast amount of wildlife that depend on our barrier islands for their survival!
Bay Point Island, a vulnerable barrier island bordering Port Royal Sound in Beaufort County, is the site of a proposed “ecotourism” development which will include fifty beach bungalows, four spa and wellness centers, several restaurants, and areas for listening to music and watching movies—all to be constructed on the island. A solar field is included in preliminary designs, however it is insufficient to generate the amount of electricity the resort indicates it will use. Ten septic fields are also planned on the small island, along with stormwater ponds – and 33,000 gallons per day will need to be withdrawn from a local aquifer, straining already depleted groundwater resources and exacerbating saltwater intrusion.
SCWF is proud to stand with our partners at the Coastal Conservation League and the Gullah/Geechee Nation to oppose this project.
Development on barrier islands in general is short-sighted, as they are highly erosional. This island is also a nationally-designated “Important Bird Area,” holding up to 8,000 shorebirds at some times. It provides critical habitat for threatened Loggerhead Sea Turtles and adjoins sensitive salt-marsh areas which are a nursery ground for shrimp, crabs, oysters, and many species of bony fish which are important to South Carolina’s seafood industry, as well as being extremely valuable to the culture and livelihood of the Gullah/Geechee Nation.
Bay Point Island, in its natural state, is ecologically essential for its wildlife habitat value, economically valuable to the seafood industry in South Carolina, and culturally significant to the people of the Gullah/Geechee Nation as well as the people of Beaufort.
You can learn more about the proposed development at the Coastal Conservation League’s website here, and see links above and below to sign a petition opposing this project.
How can you help save bay point island?
Please sign the petition linked below – we are hoping to get 35,000 signatures before the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting Thursday!!
In addition, you may attend the next meeting of the Beaufort County Zoning Board of Appeals where they will discuss this issue – details below. Also below is a letter from SCWF Executive Director, Sara Green, to the Zoning Board members urging them to deny this application.
Beaufort County Zoning Board of Appeals meeting
September 24, 2020 at 5 pm
Burton Wells County Park Gymnasium
1 Middleton Recreation Drive
Beaufort, SC 29906
MASKS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND.
The County will be providing socially-distanced seating and hand sanitizer.
UPDATE 9/23: This meeting will ALSO be live-streamed over Beaufort County’s Facebook Page HERE. Virtual attendees can submit comments using Facebook’s chat feature during the live stream. While attending in person is the best way to ensure your comments are heard, this option provides a way to comment for those who don’t feel they can attend safely.
Related News Stories:
09/20/20 – Editorial: Don’t let Bay Point Island fall – Post and Courier
09/16/20 – Beaufort County should reject Bay Point development – The Island News
09/14/20 – Gov. McMaster’s Bay Point Island letter – Post and Courier
08/19/20 – Gov. McMaster calls for luxury ‘ecoresort’ plan for SC barrier island to be rejected – Post and Courier
07/21/20 – Contested SC eco-resort plan, flagged as ‘greenwashing,’ up for key decision soon – Post and Courier
07/07/20 – Commentary: Bay Point Island is no place to put a resort – Post and Courier
05/11/20 – Editorial: Oppose barrier island development – Post and Courier
05/06/20 – Resort plan for SC barrier island advances with county now saying it’s ecotourism – Post and Courier
12/20/19 (updated 04/24/20) – $100M resort plan for undeveloped SC barrier island isn’t ‘ecotourism,’ county staff says – Post and Courier
Bay Point Island, a vulnerable barrier island bordering Port Royal Sound, is the site of proposed “ecotourism” development. Photo credit: Richard Porcher/Post and Courier
On behalf of over 10,000 supporters of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, I write to you today to urge you to deny the application to build an “ecotourism” resort on Bay Point Island.
Barrier islands, such as Bay Point, serve to protect our coastline and our communities from the impacts of major storms and sea level rise. In this case, Bay Point Island is acting as a natural buffer to Parris Island Marine Base and other Beaufort communities. Alteration of this barrier island could result in less protection for these communities.
The very nature of barrier islands is highly erosional, often “migrating” on shifting sands. To see the intense natural erosion of barrier islands, you can look at the undeveloped Pritchards Island nearby as an example. Having spent much time there several years ago as a marine science undergrad at the University of South Carolina, I can testify to how much it has changed since then. The research station facility (my home for a summer), which now stands precariously in the surf, used to be approximately 100 yards from the dunes, situated deep in the maritime forest.
With the increasing intensity and frequency of hurricanes recently, scientists anticipate faster erosion on barrier islands in the future. If any structures are built on Bay Point Island, you can be assured that Beaufort County will be investing a significant amount of money in erosion control measures. Those measures will absolutely destroy valuable habitat for federally threatened sea turtles, as well as nesting shorebirds, and many other species which depend on the fragile ecosystem of our coasts.
Bay Point Island is a nationally-designated “Important Bird Area” sometimes holding up to 8,000 shorebirds! Wilson’s Plovers have been observed on the island – these shorebirds are listed as federally threatened. The natural areas on our coast are also a critical stopping point for Red Knot shorebirds on their 19,000 mile roundtrip migration from the southernmost tip of Argentina to the tundra of the Canadian Arctic. They stop to rest in South Carolina and fatten up on the eggs of Horseshoe crabs which come up on our beaches to spawn. Undisturbed areas like Bay Point are critical feeding grounds for this bird on its incredible annual journey.
In addition to the certainty of erosion issues and disturbance of important habitat for vulnerable wildlife on the island, the transportation of supplies for, and waste from, this resort would assuredly go through sensitive estuary/marsh habitat which is an important nursery area and critical habitat for shrimp, crabs, oysters, and many species of bony fish which are important to South Carolina’s seafood industry, as well as being extremely valuable to the culture and livelihood of the Gullah/Geechee Nation.
The amount of water that developers plan to extract from the already depleted groundwater in the area would also exacerbate saltwater intrusion already happening as evidenced by the loss of 50% of the island’s former tree canopy. Any disruption to the natural balance of the salinity of the marsh could have disastrous effects on the plants and animals which depend on this fragile environment.
Bay Point Island, in its natural state, is ecologically essential for its wildlife habitat value, economically valuable to the seafood industry in South Carolina, and culturally significant to the people of the Gullah/Geechee Nation as well as the people of Beaufort. The South Carolina Wildlife Federation urges you to protect this valuable natural resource from development.
Thank you for your consideration of this very important issue.
Contact: Mary Jo Brooks, National Wildlife Federation, brooksm@nwf.org, 303-549-8351
Sep 16, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The overwhelming bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate for America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act is a tremendous win for America’s wildlife and sporting traditions. Championed by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), the bill invests in wetlands, fisheries, Chronic Wasting Disease research, and habitat restoration projects in the Chesapeake Bay and throughout the country. The U.S. House of Representatives should quickly follow suit and pass this important legislation so it can be signed into law.
“It’s no secret that our wildlife populations are stressed with a third of all species at risk of extinction. This act will restore wildlife habitat, encourage partnerships with state and tribal leaders for wildlife and disease management, and promote coexistence with wildlife on working lands,” said Mike Leahy, director of wildlife, hunting, and fishing policy at the National Wildlife Federation. “This is good news for all Americans who enjoy outdoor recreation, particularly our sportsmen and women.”
“At a time when our nation is divided over so many issues, this bill shows once again that Americans come together over concerns about wildlife, public lands, and conservation,” said Jesse Deubel, executive director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. “This common-sense bill will help wildlife and fish populations flourish through better management practices, habitat restoration, and disease research.”
Key provisions of the ACE Act include:
Establishing a Chronic Wasting Disease task force to develop an interstate action plan for state and federal cooperation relating to the disease
Commissioning a study by the National Academy of Sciences regarding the pathways and mechanisms of the transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease in the United States;
Reauthorizing the North American Wetlands Conservation Act until 2025;
Encouraging partnerships among public agencies and other interested parties for promoting fish conservation;
Reauthorizing the Chesapeake Bay Program until 2025;
Reauthorizing the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network and the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Grants Assistance Program until 2025;
Reauthorizing the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Act until 2025;
Establishing a program to provide grants to states and Indian tribes to compensate livestock producers for losses due to predation by federally protected species such as wolves or grizzly bears;
Establishing a Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for technological innovation to reduce human-predator conflict using non-lethal means.
We can hardly believe September is here! As students get back to their schoolwork and hunters return to the field, we are continuing to work hard to provide free wildlife education opportunities to inspire a conservation ethic in South Carolinians of all ages. Check out our list of upcoming classes and enjoy these additional updates from our team!
As always, thank you for supporting the conservation of wildlife and habitat for future generations to enjoy!
– SCWF Team
Upcoming Free Zoom Classes!
White-eyed vireo, by Cameron Foster
SC Road Trips – Thursday, September 17th at 12 pm – REGISTER HERE Fall Birding – Tuesday, September 22nd at 2pm – REGISTER HERE Let’s Go Fishing – Wednesday, September 30th at 4pm – REGISTER HERE Backyard Abyss to Abundance – Wednesday, October 7th at 4pm – REGISTER HERE
Did you know we have reached more than 3,000 individuals with our free webinars? You can check out our website HERE to see recordings of past classes!
Every year, SCWF empowers multiple collegiate and graduate students who are pursuing degrees in environmental studies with a $500 scholarship. It is our goal for new generations to gain the vital knowledge our world needs for continued conservation efforts.
The deadline to submit a scholarship application is October, 31st. LEARN MORE HERE.
Would you like to contribute to our scholarship fund created in memory of wildlife biologist Nicole Chadwick? DONATE HERE.
Support Conservation with the Federal Duck Stamp!
SCWF is making it easier than ever to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp because we now sell them on our website! Skip the line at the post office and have a Federal Duck Stamp shipped directly to you. Did you know 98% of each purchase goes directly into protecting wetland habitat through conservation easements, leases, and purchasing of critical habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System?
Calling all amateur photographers! The 18th Annual Wildlife Photography Contest is underway. We have already received some amazing images, so make sure to submit your stunning South Carolina pictures before the deadline!
Entertain Your Kids with a Ranger Rick Subscription!
Let’s face it, 2020 has not been the easiest year for parenting! A simple way to provide fun learning is through a Ranger Rick Magazine subscription. Ranger Rick has options for children of all ages and is packed with awesome animal facts, stories, outdoor adventures, crafts, and more!
Our August is off to a strong start! We had a successful online summer auction, our free education classes continue to serve the masses, and we are making strides for wildlife through our advocacy efforts. As always, thank you for all you do to support our work for wildlife!
– SCWF Team
Oysters – Free Zoom Class!
Photo credit: Holly Kight-Sommers
Join us for this webinar to learn about the economical, environmental, and ecological benefits oyster reefs provide, and what you can do to ensure this natural resource is sustained! Holly Kight-Sommers, a biologist with SCDNR’s South Carolina Oyster Recycling and Enhancement (SCORE) Program, will discuss the magnificent critters that rely on oyster reefs to survive, and why replacing shell onto the shoreline is the best way to support these populations. U. S. Congressman Joe Cunningham will also join us to discuss the importance of oyster reefs as living shorelines to help protect the Lowcountry coast from intense storms. #oystersarehabitatforming #everybushelcounts
Dr. David Coyle is back for another SCWF webinar! Nibbles on leaves and conks on trees, there is a whole group of insects and fungi that affect various parts of your tree. This seminar will show you many of the common native and invasive tree pests in South Carolina – what they look like, why we have them, and what to do about them. And since not all bugs are bad, we’ll also talk about a few beneficial insects and how they can benefit your trees and yard.
SCWF closely monitors state and national issues affecting our wildlife. While there have been recent wins for nature, SCWF is also taking a stance with two lawsuits. Read more about each of these advocacy updates here.
Photo credit: Bulls Island Boneyard Sunrise by Ben Sumrell
Calling all amateur photographers! SCWF is sponsoring our 18th Annual Wildlife Photography Contest. Send us your best pictures capturing the beauty of South Carolina’s nature – in your own backyard or our backyard – that being South Carolina’s natural landscapes and creatures.
Post a Picture of Your Dog In Support of #SharkWeek and #FinBanNow
Photo Credit: Will Green
We love all of our state’s wildlife, including sharks! In support of #SharkWeek (August 9 – August 16), SCWF is partnering with our friends at Oceana to voice outrage about the millions of sharks killed each year for their fins and to end the US fin trade. Did you know: The Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act (H.R. 737/S.877) passed through the House last November. Now we now must get it through the Senate before the conclusion of the 116th Congress.
Post a picture of your pup (or other pet ally) with a fin and use one of the below captions. Make sure to tag us so we can share your pictures!
73 million sharks end up in the global shark fin trade every year due to their demand for their fins! (name of Dog) and I are celebrating #SharkWeek2020 by saying it is time for a #FinBanNow. #BarksForSharks #SharkWeek2020 @scwildlifefederation
It’s #SharkWeek2020! (Name of Dog) thinks it’s time for a #FinBanNow! #BarksForSharks @scwildlifefederation
My love for my dog and my love for sharks are not mutually exclusive. Let’s make 2020 the year the US finally gets out of the shark fin trade! #SharkWeek2020 #FinBanNow #BarksForSharks @scwildlifefederation
The developer’s proposal would not only exacerbate West Ashley’s notorious flooding, it would destroy more than 200 acres of valuable wetland habitat and create a mixed-use development unaffordable for the majority of the present community, according to the appeal.
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Conservation groups are challenging the state environmental agency’s authorization of a 3,172.6-acre mixed use development in Charleston’s West Ashley—one of the largest proposed developments in the city’s history—and one that stands to threaten the health and livability of the community as it would allow the permanent destruction of 209 acres of wetlands.
On Thursday, the Sierra Club and South Carolina Wildlife Federation, represented by the South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP), and the Charleston Waterkeeper, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), filed Requests for a Contested Case Hearing with the South Carolina Administrative Law Court, asking the court to reverse South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s (DHEC) decision to issue 401 Water Quality and Coastal Zone Consistency certifications for the Long Savannah project.
The groups point to a number of critical flaws with the proposed development:
· DHEC’s authorizations allow filling 137 acres and excavating 72 acres of wetlands adjacent to Church and Rantowles Creeks. Wetlands provide numerous benefits for people and wildlife, include protecting and improving water quality, providing wildlife habitat and storing floodwaters. This type of “fill and build” activity is exactly what has led to repeated flooding in adjacent neighborhoods.
· Although the proposed construction will be conducted over a 30-year period, DHEC’s authorization failed to account for how climate change will affect flooding on the site over that period. More extreme storm events and potential sea level rise impacts on the property, such as in the area surrounding Rantowles Creek, must be considered to avoid placing more residents in harm’s way.
· Further, DHEC failed to consider how this project impacts the economic stability of West Ashley. Under their own guidelines, the agency must evaluate the extent to which a project is in the national interest and includes consideration for the maintenance or improvement of the economic stability of the surrounding coastal community. The developers’ originally proposed average home price of $338,834 far exceeds the national, state and county definitions of affordable housing. In fact, it would be more expensive than 73 percent of the other homes in West Ashley.
“This development is not priced for the people who actually live in West Ashley,” SCELP attorney Lauren Megill Milton said. “So what the community is getting is a development that they cannot afford, that will destroy a precious habitat for wildlife that they enjoy watching and that will exacerbate floods that will destroy the affordable housing they already live in.”
“The Long Savannah Project mirrors other recent developments in the Lowcountry that lie in low areas. Conventional approaches not only cause the obliteration of natural drainage systems and destroy wetland habitats, they also do not take into account flooding due to a changing climate. This project should take a lesson from the Dutch Dialogues, a year long effort to conceptualize a more resilient Lowcountry by adapting developments to water systems, not adapting water systems to development,” said Sara Green, executive director of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation.
“This project is based on outdated ideas about where and how we can build in the Lowcountry. Outdated fill-and-build development is why West Ashley floods so bad and so often. We cannot continue down this road. We have to stop building in wetlands. The future of our community and health of our waterways depend on it,” said Charleston Waterkeeper Andrew Wunderley.
“Wetlands are critical to protecting life and property because they soak up large amounts of floodwaters. This massive filling of wetlands will devastate a community already experiencing years of repeated flooding,” said Ben Mack, chair of the Sierra Club of South Carolina.
The conservation groups have requested a contested case hearing and an order from the Administrative Law Court judge to reverse the certifications issued by DHEC staff.
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South Carolina Environmental Law Project is a nonprofit public interest law firm. Its mission is to protect the natural environment of South Carolina by providing legal services and advice to environmental organizations and concerned citizens and by improving the state’s system of environmental regulation.
For more than 30 years, the Southern Environmental Law Center has used the power of the law to champion the environment of the Southeast. With more than 80 attorneys and nine offices across the region, SELC is widely recognized as the Southeast’s foremost environmental organization and regional leader. SELC works on a full range of environmental issues to protect our natural resources and the health and well-being of all the people in our region. www.SouthernEnvironment.org
Charleston Waterkeeper’s mission is to protect and restore Charleston’s Waterways for our community and for future generations. We do that through unique mix of boots-on-the-water stewardship and data-driven advocacy designed to protect the public’s right to clean water for fishing and swimming.
The mission of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation is to conserve and restore South Carolina’s wildlife and wildlife habitat through education and advocacy.
The mission of the Sierra Club of South Carolina is: To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; To practice and promote the responsible use of earth’s ecosystems and resources; To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; To use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.
Banner Photo by Parker Gibbons
Media contacts:
Ben Cunningham, Esquire, ben@scelp.org
Lauren Megill Milton, Esquire, lauren@scelp.org
South Carolina Environmental Law Project, (843) 527-0078
Mike Mather, Southern Environmental Law Center, cell/text (434) 333-9464 or email mmather@selcva.org
The White House rewrite will mask pollution’s full harm to communities, environment
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — A group of 17 environmental organizations in a lawsuit today accused the government of racing through an industry-friendly rewrite of the National Environmental Policy Act by “cutting corners” and discarding decades of rule-making policies that ensure major legal changes are done fairly and transparently.
If allowed to stand, the changes to NEPA – often called the “Magna Carta of environmental laws” – will reduce the public input that has guided major projects for decades, further diminish the voices of communities that have long suffered environmental injustices, and mask the full extent of polluting projects.
The groups are represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center. The lawsuit comes two weeks after President Trump announced the damaging downgrade to NEPA at a press event in Atlanta. In doing so, the Trump administration sidestepped the longstanding legal process that guides law changes.
The Council on Environmental Quality, the agency in charge of the rewrite, “simply jettisoned the rules to give industry executives what they want at the expense of the public,” said Kym Hunter, an SELC senior attorney. “But the Trump administration isn’t allowed to change a law by breaking the law. And we won’t let this administration get away with it.”
The lawsuit’s first paragraph outlines the groups’ main challenge to CEQ’s process:
In its most recent opinion on the strictures of the Administrative Procedure Act, the Supreme Court affirmed that “the Government should turn square corners in dealing with the people” … In other words, while the federal government has the ability to change policies, rules and regulations, it must follow the law, not cut corners, when it does so.
To rewrite NEPA, CEQ held just two public hearings, one in Washington D.C. and the other in Denver. Despite the limited in-person engagement, the agency received more than 1.1 million comments and, under CEQ policy, has a duty to review them. However, the agency moved forward with the rewritten rule four months later.
In addition to skirting the law, the rewrite also damages NEPA by removing from consideration “cumulative impacts” and “indirect effects” when assessing large projects.
“Cumulative impacts” take into account how pollution from a new project – for example increased car emissions spurred by a new interstate – are added to pollution already in place from the existing road network. “Indirect effects” are foreseeable changes that happen later, like increased sprawl and development from that new interstate.
Removing those considerations means communities will not be fully informed about the potential harmful consequences of proposed projects like pipelines, highways and intensive development.
“NEPA has given a voice to communities of lesser means that often bear the brunt of polluting projects,” Hunter said. “It is a tool of democracy, a tool for the people. We’re not going to stand idly by while the Trump administration eviscerates it.”
Quotes from participating organizations:
“NEPA has been a critical tool for protecting our rivers and our communities. We will continue to work with our partners to fight this misguided and illegal rollback of one of our country’s most important environmental laws.” – Bill Stangler, Congaree Riverkeeper.
“These new regulations put historic places and cultural landscapes at risk across the country. Congress enacted NEPA to make sure that people have a say in federal decisions impacting resources in their own communities. We cannot let our citizens lose their voice.” – Paul Edmondson, president, National Trust for Historic Preservation.
“Whether it’s informing proposed actions on our national forests or addressing waterways damaged by irresponsible tourism development, NEPA has been an invaluable tool for Appalachian communities and their transition away from a declining coal economy. We look forward to challenging this unacceptable rollback and ensuring that current and future generations retain their voice in how our public lands and natural resources are managed.” – Wally Smith, vice president, The Clinch Coalition.
“We cannot allow yet another rollback of a bedrock environmental law. This new National Environmental Policy Act rule favors mining, drilling and other projects that will push imperiled wildlife to the brink of extinction. From polar bears threatened by oil drilling in the Arctic, to North Atlantic right whales being killed by vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglements, to Florida panthers struggling to recover in the face of unrestricted development, we will never stop fighting to protect wildlife.”– Jane Davenport,senior attorney, Defenders of Wildlife.
“The National Environmental Policy Act is the bedrock legislation that helps impacted communities protect special places from ill-conceived infrastructure projects, such as pipelines and dams. For two decades, Alabama Rivers Alliance has engaged in the NEPA process to amplify the voices of ordinary people standing up for their own lands and waters. The current administration’s attempt to topple 50 years of fundamental environmental law is an illegal and transparent gift to industry; another assault on the environment to meet and defeat. We are proud to be joining in this important legal challenge to stop these reckless rollbacks.” – Jack West, policy director, Alabama Rivers Alliance.
“Weakening NEPA rules is a body blow to the structure of environmental protections we’ve built over the last fifty years. Americans have the right to fully participate in decisions about our future and the health of our world and we will defend that right.” — David Sligh, conservation director, Wild Virginia.
“Local communities rely on NEPA to understand how big projects could impact the air they breathe and the water they drink. We must stand up and defend our right to have a say over what happens in our own backyards.” – June Blotnick, executive director, Clean Air Carolina.
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For more than 30 years, the Southern Environmental Law Center has used the power of the law to champion the environment of the Southeast. With more than 80 attorneys and nine offices across the region, SELC is widely recognized as the Southeast’s foremost environmental organization and regional leader. SELC works on a full range of environmental issues to protect our natural resources and the health and well-being of all the people in our region. www.SouthernEnvironment.org
Press Release from the Southern Environmental Law Center
For Immediate Release: July 29, 2020
Contact: Mike Mather, SELC Communications; (434) 977-4090 or cell/text (434) 333-9464; mmather@selcva.org
South Carolinians and the wildlife that call the Palmetto State home have a promising future thanks to the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act. The bill could be the most important environmental law since the days of Teddy Roosevelt and now is on its way to the president’s desk.
The Great American Outdoors Act will fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund. That means $900 million annually will go to preserving, creating and ensuring access to outdoor recreation for the benefit of all Americans. It also establishes a National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund to support deferred maintenance on National Parks, Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Education lands.
The Great American Outdoors Act also is a valuable climate solution, as shown by its inclusion in a June 30 report by the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. The report — Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy and Just America — provides a blueprint for action that will achieve economic growth, protect public health and reduce the threat of climate change. Land preservation is one common-sense way of sequestering carbon pollution and reducing our climate impact while also protecting our outdoor heritage and supporting our outdoor economy.
Here in South Carolina, the bill’s passage means more people could have access to green spaces because the state will receive the funds to build and restore parks and public lands. South Carolina has received about $303.5 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund over the past five decades, protecting places such as Fort Sumter National Monument, Cape Romain and Francis Marion National Forest, as well as such small local parks as Rifle Range Road Park in Mount Pleasant. The Outdoor Industry Association found that active outdoor recreation generates $16.3 billion in spending annually in South Carolina, supports 151,000 jobs and produces $1.1 billion annually in state and local tax revenue. Further, about 893,000 people hunt, fish or watch wildlife in South Carolina each year, spending $2.5 billion on wildlife-related recreation. Add in the fact that the Great American Outdoors Act funding has the potential to create jobs restoring our parks and green spaces that are vital to our economic recovery, and we have legislation that is good for wildlife such as red knots and flatwoods salamanders and also good for the economy, reducing our climate change pollution and protecting human health.
The importance of this legislation cannot be overstated, but we shouldn’t stop here. We need to see more bipartisan climate solutions coming through Congress, and we need more champions like Rep. Joe Cunningham, D-S.C., leading the way. Now more than ever, we need role models for action who will shape the future of our country and lay the foundation for the reality that future generations will face here in South Carolina and across the country.
Sara Green is executive director of the S.C. Wildlife Federation.
The hot South Carolina days of summer are here! Take a break from your outdoor adventures and join our online auction + upcoming free webinars! Then…head back outside for more adventures.
– SCWF Team
Online Bidding is Open! Check out our Wild Summer Auction!
Photo credit: Zach Steinhauser
Wildlife art, vacations, outdoor gear, hunting trips, and more! Our online auction is up and running until 10pm on July 26th and you do not want to miss some of these deals. Plus, all the money raised supports our conservation and education programs (like our upcoming free webinars!).
Join Educator Susan McLaughlin on a tour of our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation facility at the South Carolina Aquarium! Learn about the endangered species of Sea Turtles in South Carolina and get an in-depth view of the process of Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release. The South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Care Center aids sick and injured sea turtles in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). The Sea Turtle Care Center has proudly released 299 sea turtles.
Join SCWF Executive Director, Sara Green, to learn all about Monarch Butterflies – their fascinating life cycle and migration, tagging Monarchs, conservation efforts in South Carolina and in Mexico, how you can create habitat for Monarchs and other pollinators, and even how you can visit the Monarch sanctuaries in Mexico! Added bonus for teachers – we will touch on how you can incorporate Monarchs and Schoolyard Habitats into your curriculum too!
Search the word spectacle online and you’ll find this definition: “A visually striking performance or display.” We have three such spectacles right here in SC created by a few of our really fascinating animals! Join us for this free webinar to learn more about the spectacles created by the synchronized fireflies at Congaree National Park, the pre-migration staging area of Swallow-tailed and Mississippi Kites in Allendale, and the Purple Martin roost on Lake Murray.
Click the video above to hear a message from Executive Director Sara Green regarding the 2020 Women’s Outdoor Retreat.
What’s Happening with SC’s Herps?
Eastern Box Turtle Photo by Lovelace Compton
Our beautiful state is part of a worldwide “hotspot” for herpetofauna, the technical term for reptiles and amphibians of a particular region. With several different habitat types from the mountains to the sea, South Carolina is home to 143 species of “herps,” which is remarkable for such a small state…
Our beautiful state is part of a worldwide “hotspot” for herpetofauna, the technical term for reptiles and amphibians of a particular region. With several different habitat types from the mountains to the sea, South Carolina is home to 143 species of “herps”, which is remarkable for such a small state. The southeastern US is the world’s leading turtle diversity hotspot with at least 20 species of turtles and one tortoise.
Amphibians, like frogs and salamanders, are important indicators of environmental health. Most amphibians spend part of their life in water and part on land, and are therefore great indicators of problems in either environment. Toxins have caused deformities in frogs like missing legs or blindness, and this alerts us to problems before it causes illness to humans.
As South Carolina’s human population continues to grow, all of our wildlife face continued threats from habitat destruction due to pollution, climate change, and invasive species. Herps also face significant threat from collection and sale for the pet trade, food and Asian traditional medicine.
Eastern Box Turtle Photo by Lovelace Compton
Last August, 200 turtles were confiscated from a property in Chester County before they were sold on the black market. This type of activity has been going on for years, but this case received a lot of public attention and highlighted SC’s weak trafficking laws. Our state has become the destination for people to exploit our herps because we don’t have adequate protections in place.
The law currently permits unregulated trapping and sale of striped mud turtles, southeastern mud turtles and eastern musk turtles. For another nine turtle species, the state limits their transport over state lines. A key loophole in the law allows wildlife traders to legally hold as many turtles as they want on their property in anticipation of selling them illegally.
The overseas pet trade has very high profits, and the chance of getting caught has been very low, as are the penalties. Eastern box turtles are in very high demand and can bring in $1000-$5000 each. Other species in demand are spotted turtles, diamondback terrapins, pine snakes, scarlet king snakes, and many others of our native species.
Bills were introduced in the House and the Senate in January that would strengthen our laws and give the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) more tools to apprehend and penalize illegal wildlife traffickers. Both bills enjoy overwhelming support, but the House bill, H.4831, has advanced further and is still eligible to be considered and passed later this year.
The bill would make it unlawful for a person to sell, purchase, trade, possess or transfer any native reptile or amphibian species. It does allow SCDNR to continue to work with stakeholders to allow sustainable trade in important species that are bred in captivity.
The bill would also make it unlawful to release captive non-native reptiles and amphibians into the wild and authorizes SCDNR officials to prohibit or restrict possession of certain non-native species. Invasive species like Burmese pythons and Argentine black-and-white tegu lizards are expanding their reach across the southeastern United States, wreaking havoc on native ecosystems.
Passage of this bill would mean much better protection for our native herps.
But, what about the victims of trafficking cases…what happens to the confiscated animals? Unfortunately, it’s impossible to just release them. Many turtles are territorial and since we can’t identify where they came from, it’s difficult to get them back to their home range. Confiscated animals have also sometimes been exposed to pathogens that could infect wild populations.
The box turtles from the Chester County case became part of the “Bulldogs for Box Turtles” project at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, run by the University of Georgia. This project creates a conservation strategy for assessing and rehabilitating confiscated turtles. The Chester County turtles had genetics and health samples collected. Through collaboration between SREL, SCDNR, and the U.S. Forest Service, the turtles were then moved to a constructed outdoor enclosure. They have now been released with radio-transmitters so they can be monitored. The behavior and survival rate of these turtles will help shape the conservation strategy for future confiscations.
Hopefully, happier days are ahead for our herps!
Sara Green
Executive Director
South Carolina Wildlife Federation
For more than 89 years, the South Carolina Wildlife Federation has been conserving and restoring South Carolina’s wildlife and wildlife habitat through education and advocacy! For more information: www.scwf.org
