Critical gap along Savannah River corridor protected forever

Lowcountry Land Trust announced the permanent protection of the Garnett Tract, a 664-acre property located on the Hampton/Jasper county line. With road frontage along both SC Highway 119 and U.S. Highway 321, the Garnett Tract enhances the scenic and ecological value of a highly visible corridor, contributing to a growing network of public and private conserved lands that safeguard natural resources.

The Garnett Tract plays a strategic role in expanding the conservation footprint along the Savannah River corridor by filling a critical ‘donut hole’ of unprotected land. Surrounded on nearly all sides by protected land, including the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources’ (SCDNR) Palachucola Wildlife Management Area and multiple privately-conserved tracts, its conservation preserves public health through water quality, enhances the resilience of the broader landscape, and strengthens the ecological integrity of one of the Lowcountry’s most intact and important conservation areas.

This property is situated in the Savannah drainage area, which supplies drinking water to the expanding Beaufort and Jasper communities, as well as the three military installations. In addition to protecting and enhancing critical wetlands, several areas of the property will be restored from loblolly pine stands to longleaf pine, a high-priority native habitat essential to the region’s biodiversity.

The Garnett Tract was permanently protected with a conservation easement held by the Lowcountry Land Trust as a part of an approved mitigation plan. By linking state-managed and privately protected properties within the Savannah River Corridor, this project preserves public health through water quality, enhances the resilience of the broader landscape, and supports the perpetual conservation of South Carolina’s natural resources.