Easement safeguards history and habitat in the Ashley River Historic District

Lowcountry Land Trust shares the permanent protection of a 20-acre property along the Ashley River, an accomplishment made possible thanks to the generosity of private landowners who donated a conservation easement on the land. The property features a high bluff overlooking the Ashley River and contains significant wetlands and wildlife habitat. It contributes to the longstanding effort to conserve land of cultural, historical, and ecological importance in the 24,000-acre Ashley River Historic District.

This region, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, represents over 300 years of history, including the Lowcountry’s inland and tidal rice cultivation heritage, the Civil War, the post-Reconstruction phosphate mining industry, and the African American experience from slavery to freedom. Every property protected in the Ashley River Historic District, whether 20 or 200 acres, contributes to the greater effort of ensuring that its cultural and ecological significance remains intact. This easement donation is another great example of private landowners stepping up to safeguard a nationally recognized region, preserving its history, scenic beauty, and environmental integrity.

The protected property enhances the viewshed from Ashley River Road—a National Scenic Byway—and the Ashley River, a designated State Scenic River since 1999. It is contiguous with over 1,500 protected acres and contributes to 11,750 acres of protected land across the Ashley River Historic District on 40 properties, half of which are protected by Lowcountry Land Trust.  The decision to conserve this land underscores the growing trend of private landowners acting in the public interest by securing scenic corridors, preserving water quality, and maintaining critical wildlife habitats.