New Haven Farm Sets an Important Example
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Aiken Land Conservancy Newsletter 2018 Vol. 2 New Haven Farm Sets an Important Example in the Equestrian Corridor In early 2018, Aiken Land Conservancy added a stellar property to our diverse portfolio of conservation easement holdings. New Haven Farm is an open, gently rolling, 267-acre, working equestrian farm located on the Route 302 “equestrian corridor,” one of Aiken Land Conservancy’s primary focus areas. “This gem of a property has it all,” said Joanna Dunn Samson, Aiken Land Conservancy President. “It contains relatively undisturbed natural wildlife habitat, ecosystems, natural features and almost a mile of frontage along Shaw’s Creek.” The conservation easement on New Haven Farm sets an important precedent for resource, water and open space protection in a targeted area. The property contains wetlands, floodplains, waterways, riparian corridors, aquifer recharge areas in and around Shaw’s Creek (which are necessary for protection of drinking water supply) water resources and wetland habitat. Shaw’s Creek is a major tributary to the Edisto River and properties in this basin are crucial for the protection of drinking water sources, wetlands, wildlife habitat and other local natural ecosystems. continued on page 9 Horses at Bella Vista enjoying a view of New Haven Farm. These beautiful, contiguous, protected properties are a major achievement for Aiken Land Conservancy in advancing the goal to protect the 302 equestrian corridor. BE A PART OF AIKEN’S UNRIVALED, HISTORIC CHARM hotel • lunch • dinner • cocktails • sunday brunch full-service luxury spa & salon experience 100 COLLETON AVENUE SW | AIKEN, SC | 803.648.1898 | THEWILLCOX.COM Community Celebration at Carolina Bay On Wednesday, October 3, 2018, a press conference was held at the Carolina Bay Observation Deck to celebrate the addition of safety lighting, which was donated by City Electric Supply in Aiken. A partnership of The Greater Aiken Integrated Trails Foundation (GAIT), the Aiken Land Conservancy along with the City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department worked together to procure and install the lighting, which will be a safety benefit for citizens. Following the presentation, everyone walked the beautiful nature trails and enjoyed the tranquil scenery. The 23-acre preserve, located on Price Avenue just off Whiskey Road, ALC President, Joanna Dunn Samson, was purchased by Aiken Land Conservancy and donated to the City city leaders, a representative from GAIT of Aiken. It is a fully protected and largely restored Carolina Bay and City Electric Supply lead a and its watershed – a wildlife preserve located just a few miles from nature walk after the celebration. downtown Aiken. Public access is permitted and encouraged. Take a walk and discover the beautiful trails and enjoy the tranquil scenery. ConservationChronicle 2018 Vol. 2 Page 2 The mission of Aiken Land Conservancy is to protect Aiken’s Executive unique character and cherished Director natural resources. Report Board of Trustees Executive Board Joanna Dunn Samson, President Katie Roth Benjamin Steen Smith, Vice President Jim Cunningham, Treasurer Frampton Toole, Director at Large As you browse this edition of the Conservation Chronicle, it is clear that Aiken Land Board of Directors Conservancy has been very busy over the past few months. From our conservation goals Wilkins Byrd Thomas Coleman to fundraising and membership events, we have enjoyed success, but we continue to look Lisa Darden forward and plan for the future. I am thankful for the expertise and talent on our Board of Kirk Henckels Trustees and Advisory Council, which helps guide the organization in accomplishing our Nancy H. Henze Holly Houghton goals and fulfilling our mission. Rob Johnston Lydia Rose I would like to thank those who attended the Signature Brunch at the Katydid CDE in early November. This event continues to grow each year and is known as a “foodie feast.” Honorary Trustees O. Dantzler Busbee II We are proud to be a part of this very prestigious, international driving competition. I Lee Dane would also like to thank the volunteers who helped us Thanksgiving morning at Bloodies Iris Freeman & Bagels. This “friendraiser” is a great way to start the holiday season and show your Rosamond McDuffe support of land conservation in Aiken County. Advisory Council Elizabeth Carey Aiken Land Conservancy relies on membership dues and donations to accomplish our Larry Comegys mission. I encourage you to become a member and join us as we preserve the character of Meg Ferguson Charles Flifet Aiken County. Do you have family and friends that are interested in conservation? Please Eric Grande share this newsletter with them. The more support we have, the more we can accomplish Wendy Collins Gutfarb together. Beth Harpham Brandon Heitkamp Mike Hosang Steve Hulbert Linda Prior Hunley Susan Kleinbub Louise Leguizamon is a proud sponsor of the Hughes McGlone Cherie Moritz Spence Charles Rice Paul Rideout Harry Shealy Margaret Shealy Allen Struthers Bennett Tucker Rick Wilson Dikran Yapoujian Staff Katie Roth, Executive Director Shotgun Team Janet DePrince, Administrator Aiken Land Conservancy, Inc. P. O. Box 3096, Aiken, SC 29802 855.252.5263 ConservationChronicle 2018 Vol. 2 Page 3 [email protected] www.ConserveAiken.org Dear Friends, Neighbors, Supporters, Nature Lovers, Tree Huggers and River Protectors: After theWater. Land TrustWe drink Alliance it. We granted cook thewith Aiken it. We Land bathe Conservancy in it. Our animals, the prestigiousour seal flowers, of national and accreditation our vegetable last gardens year, the depend Board on of it. Trustees Our bodies are moved from60% the water.arduous, It regulatesdry four-year our processtemperature, of organizational delivers oxygen examination to our cells, to the excitinglubricates business our of joints, establishing aids in conservationdigestion, and priorities flushes for waste the nextproducts out five years—prioritiesof our bodies. that Although reflect issues you ofcould current live importance for up to three to the weeks Aiken without community—andfood, you develop will die a strategic without planwater to inaddress three tothose four issues. days, depending on the We startedoutside with temperatures.an examination of this question: What makes Aiken such a special and unique place? The answer, in part, is Aiken’s unparalleled Clean water, like clean air, is essential to live, yet if you are lucky combination of history and natural resources. enough to live in a place like Aiken County, you’ve never had to think: Aiken is rich in tradition and history: wide boulevards and parkways lined What if I run out of water? with majestic trees, the meticulously preserved homes built in the early 20th century byUntil the Winter recently, Colony, that andis. Last an historic year, the equestrian industrial district mega-farming so vibrant operation that, after athat century moved of continuousinto Aiken useCounty by polo from players, out-of-state foxhunters, in 2013 carriage pumped two drivers andbillion racehorse gallons trainers, of water the streetsfrom the remain ground unpaved. to support The theirpast andoperations. present perfectlyOver the harmonize past five in years, Aiken scientists to create froma refreshingly the South unique Carolina quality Department of southernof life Health and experience and Environmental that is neither Control precious (DHEC) nor pretentious.have measured as much Then thereas a is5 theto 15-foot extraordinary drop in Edisto the underground River—the longest,water level, unimpeded increasing to a President’s black water40-foot river in drop the Unitedduring States.the heavy The irrigation headwaters periods of both during forks ofthe the summer— Edisto originateenough on to Aiken cause County’s residential northern and small-farm border, traverses wells toacross dry upthe in the Report County andsurrounding through the areas.coastal plains and the low country, and drains into the Joanna Dunn Samson Atlantic Ocean at Edisto Beach. Aside from being a critical water source for the County,Should the Edisto we besupports worried? a wide You diversity bet we ofshould. habitat, The fauna dry andwells flora in theto eastern part of the county are just the beginning. Groundwater and the delight of generations of outdoor enthusiasts, hunters and naturalists alike. surface water (like the Edisto river and its tributaries) are connected—as those two billion gallons are pumped out of the aquifer, If these the historic aquifer and will natural draw from resources connected are the groundwater precious assets sources that makeand then Aiken from so thespecial surface and water.unique, Without then they intervention, must morebe preserved wells will for rungenerations dry in the to countycome. Hence, and eventually the crux ofShaw’s the Board’s Creek, deliberations: a major tributary what ofcould the ALCEdisto do Riverto assist and in athe backup waterpreservation source of for those the assets? city, will be affected as well. We started with downtown Aiken and the historic districts. Ever since the fall of the mighty oak, Maid Marion, Finally,and the damageon November to Aiken’s 8th, trees at the from urging the epicof local ice stormgovernments, of 2012, citizens,there has water been utilities,heightened the public Aiken sensitivity Land Conservancy, to the and conservationcare, maintenance groups and state-wide, replacement DHEC of the voted trees unanimously on the parkways to start and waterCity right-of-ways, planning and so regulation ALC