Conservation Leadership Spotlight: Shaws Creek Preserve in Aiken afforded permanent protections
The recent protection of the Shaws Creek Preserve in Aiken County by the Aiken Land Conservancy and the City of Aiken is an impressive conservation victory for the region that will have widespread benefits for generations to come.
This years-long land protection effort came to fruition in 2024 after the Aiken Land Conservancy received a 1.9 million dollar grant from the South Carolina Conservation Bank (SCCB) to place the property under a conservation easement. This crucial funding by the SCCB was made possible through continued support from our state legislators, and CVSC extends our most sincere gratitude to Representative Bill Hixon (R, District 83) for voting in favor of the SCCB and other conservation funding mechanisms at the statehouse. His enduring leadership in the general assembly will continue to advance natural resource protection in Aiken and Edgefield counties, secure South Carolina’s place as a national leader in conservation, and help us get closer to Governor McMaster’s goal of protecting 10 million acres.
The Shaws Creek Preserve places a staggering 2,658 acres under a conservation easement in a part of Aiken County that is well worth protecting. The property contains a vast array of habitats and wildlife in its dense, forested acreage and also includes 403 acres of wetlands along Shaws Creek and five of its tributaries. Shaws Creek and its associated waterways are a significant source of drinking water for the City of Aiken, making their protection all the more important as the surrounding area continues to face increasing pressures from growth and development.
CVSC commends the City of Aiken for having the foresight to protect this immense and important property from development and the Aiken Land Conservancy for their tireless efforts to secure the necessary easement. This project is a prime example of what our state can achieve when partnerships between conservation organizations and local governments are further strengthened by the support of conservation champions in the statehouse.
When we make land and water protection a priority at the statehouse, we all benefit. Please join CVSC in thanking the Aiken Land Conservancy, the City of Aiken, and Representative Hixon for their commitments to conservation in Aiken County.
Learn more about the Aiken Land Conservancy and their impressive project here: https://conserveaiken.org/shaws-creek-preserve-alcs-largest-conservation-project-to-date/