Conservation Leadership Spotlight: Protecting the Catawba River’s Legacy
A recent land protection success along the Catawba River in Lancaster County demonstrates how collaboration, leadership, and shared vision can safeguard South Carolina’s most meaningful places.
A bend of the Catawba River in Lancaster County—home to an invaluable Catawba Nation clay pit—will now be protected forever. The 600-acre Nisbet Tract, which includes nearly a mile of riverfront, has been preserved for community members, wildlife, and future generations as part of a planned South Carolina state park. Once slated for large-scale housing, the property will instead support clean water, recreation, and cultural continuity: a lasting win for both people and nature.
This remarkable effort was led by the Open Space Institute (OSI), which collaborated closely with the landowning family to secure and preserve the property for public benefit. Funding support came from the South Carolina Conservation Bank, Lancaster County, and philanthropic partners, including the Arras Foundation, Knobloch Family Foundation, and Duke Energy. Once transferred to state ownership, the land will be managed for the benefit of all South Carolinians.
Projects like this happen when South Carolina’s leaders maintain steady support for conservation funding. Your delegation members: Senator Everett Stubbs (R, District 17), Senator Michael Johnson (R, District 16), Representative Mike Neese (R, District 44), and Representative Brandon Newton (R, District 45) have been strong advocates for the Conservation Bank’s mission to protect the state’s most significant natural and historic places. Their leadership helps ensure that South Carolina remains prepared to act when opportunities for meaningful land protection, such as the Nisbet Tract, arise.
The local impact of this conservation success is already clear. Families gain new places to walk, paddle, and connect with the outdoors. The river runs cleaner and cooler, floodwaters have more room to spread safely, and habitat connections improve for migratory birds and native pollinators. The Catawba Nation’s historic clay pit—central to centuries of artistry and tradition—remains protected for future generations. And as outdoor recreation expands, local guides, outfitters, and businesses stand to benefit from a stronger year-round economy.
The protection of the Nisbet Tract exemplifies what’s possible when state leaders, nonprofits, and community partners come together to protect what makes South Carolina special.
CVSC thanks the legislators, partners, and funders who made this project possible. Their collective leadership keeps South Carolina’s conservation momentum strong.
Learn more about OSI and this exciting project here: (https://www.openspaceinstitute.org/news/nisbet2)