Land Preservation

The LowCountry Institute has helped private landowners in the Low Country develop conservation-based management programs. For previous clients, we have mapped habitats using GIS and GPS technology, surveyed for rare species, and suggested management options. Because of our experience working at the wildland-urban interface, we offer an additional approach to compliment traditional advice from wildlife or forestry consultants. For example, we have helped local golf courses identify ways they can improve their wildlife habitat in the out-of-play areas, while lowering maintenance costs.

golf course

We have assisted Beaufort County and the Open Land Trust in creating conservation-based plans for public parks. In 2009, we partnered with the SC Forestry Commission to restore prescribed fire to Widgeon Point, a magnificent property located along Hwy 170. We are working to establish a native ecosystem that can provide habitat for local wildlife and recreation opportunities for regional residents.

Zooplankton Studies in Port Royal Sound

Plankton Research photo by Pete Johnson A two-year study of the zooplankton of Port Royal Sound and the Okatie, Colleton, and Chechessee Rivers was concluded this summer. The study was conducted by researcher Bill Weiss through a grant from LCI.

A wide variety of invertebrate planktonic organisms were collected throughout the study, including copepods, sea spiders, jellyfish, larvae and post-larvae of clams, oysters, snails, squid, segmented worms, barnacles, mud crabs (including stone crabs), swimming crabs (including blue crabs), porcelain crabs, white and brown shrimp, spider crabs, fiddler and ghost crabs, starfish, sea squirts, bryozoans, and hydroids. Planktonic phases of fish collected included menhaden (eggs), bay and striped anchovy, striped mullet, northern puffer, spotted seatrout, weakfish, other drum, and hogchoker.

The high zooplankton abundance and diversity found in this study suggests the Port Royal Sound system presently is a unique and relatively pristine water body, benefiting from ideal conditions including: physical structure (sand and mud bottom and tidal marsh), latitudinal (temperature) location, and salinity conditions allowing it to function as a well-balanced and productive estuary, at the higher end of productivity and diversity of marine life of any estuary in the southeastern U.S. and Gulf of Mexico coasts.

Zooplankton Studies in Port Royal Sound by Bill Weiss

Native Plant Grants

Since 2010, the LowCountry Institute in partnership with the Spring Island Trust Native Plant Project has been making grants of native plants available to local schools and nature education centers. The purpose of this grant program is to increase habitat available for native wildlife such as birds and insects, restore habitat to native vegetation, and create outdoor learning spaces for K-12 students and adults.