Ashley Scenic RiverManagement Plan

Ashley Scenic River Management Plan

Prepared byThe Ashley Scenic River Advisory Council

In partnership withThe South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

Project Manager and Plan EditorBill Marshall

South Carolina Department of Natural ResourcesLand, Water, and Conservation Division

2221 Devine Street, Suite 222Columbia, South Carolina 29205

January 2003

Report 25

Funding for publishing this plan provided bySouth Carolina Sea Grant Consortium

MeadWestvaco CorporationTerence L. Mills Endowed Preservation Services Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

andElizabeth R. Lewine Charitable Trust of The Community Foundation Serving Coastal South Carolina

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Table of Contents

List of Tables and Figures _________________________ ii

Summary ______________________________________ iii

Acknowledgements ______________________________ v

The Ashley Scenic River ProjectIntroduction _________________________________ 2Project Beginnings _____________________________ 5The Advisory Council __________________________ 8Creating the Management Plan __________________ 11Public Participation ___________________________ 13

The Ashley Scenic River Management PlanProject Area Description _______________________ 15Water Quality _______________________________ 25Recreational Use and Access _____________________ 33Preservation and Conservation ___________________ 40Land Management and Development _____________ 46Implementation ______________________________ 49

Appendix A: Landowner Options for Conservationand Financial Incentives __________________________ 52

Appendix B: Standards for Voluntary Buffers on theAshley Scenic River _____________________________ 57

Appendix C: Public Input, Summary Notes, andRecommendations from the July 2000 Community VisionWorkshop ____________________________________ 59

Literature Cited ________________________________ 72

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List of Tables and Figures

Table 1. Ashley Scenic River Advisory Council Members ___________ 9

Figure 1. Ashley Scenic River ________________________________ 7

Figure 2. Ashley River Watershed ____________________________ 17

Figure 3. Aerial View of the Ashley River Corridor: Landmarksand Property Lines from Cypress Swamp/Sland’s Bridge toBacon’s Bridge _________________________________________ 21

Figure 4. Aerial View of the Ashley River Corridor: Landmarks andProperty Lines from Bacon’s Bridge to Cedar Grove/White Hall ___ 22

Figure 5. Aerial View of the Ashley River Corridor: Landmarks andProperty Lines from Cedar Grove / White Hall to Drayton Hall ___ 23

Figure 6. Aerial View of the Ashley River Corridor: Landmarks andProperty Lines from Drayton Hall to below I-526 ______________ 24

Figure 7. Water Quality Monitoring and Point Source DischargeLocations _____________________________________________ 27

Figure 8. Land Use in the Lower Watershed of the Ashley River _____ 29

Figure 9. Access Facilities Available to the Public _________________ 36

Figure 10. Conceptual Plan for Park at Bacon’s Bridge ____________ 39

Figure 11. Historic Landmarks on the Ashley Scenic River _________ 41

Figure 12. Visual Characteristics of the Ashley Scenic River: (a) upperriver natural features; (b) mid-river natural and cultural features;(c) open river natural features; (d) historic property features _______ 44

Figure 13. Example Property on Ashley River Illustrating a LimitedDevelopment Approach: (a) Environmental Conditions Plan,(b) “As-Of-Right” Plan, and (c) Limited Development Plan _______ 56

Figure 14. Proposed Voluntary Buffers ________________________ 58

Figure 15. River Access Through Buffers _______________________ 58

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TTTTT he Ashley River was designated a State Scenic River by the South Carolina General Assembly in1998 and 1999. The scenic designation extends 22 river-miles from Highway 17-A at Sland’sBridge near the Town of Summerville to the crossing of Interstate-526, the Mark Clark Expressway.

With this designation the Ashley River became part of a program established by the South CarolinaScenic Rivers Act of 1989, the purpose of which is to protect unique and outstanding river resourcesthroughout South Carolina. To accomplish this purpose, the act provides for a voluntary, cooperativeriver management program to be administered by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources(SCDNR), a program that enables landowners, community interests, and the SCDNR to work togethertoward common river conservation goals.

Following procedures of the Scenic Rivers Act, an advisory council for the Ashley Scenic River wasformed in 1999 with members representing river-bordering landowners, river users, and communityinterests. The purpose of an advisory council is to assist and advise the SCDNR in the protection andmanagement of the scenic river. Creating a management plan for the river is the first major task of anadvisory council.

The Ashley Scenic River Advisory Council, in partnership with the SCDNR, conducted an open public-planning process spanning 2.5 years to create the Ashley Scenic River Management Plan. The planserves as a guide for ongoing program activities of the advisory council and the SCDNR for the AshleyScenic River. The plan does not impose new regulations.

The plan reflects public values, concerns, and desires for the river; it defines problems and opportunitiesand advocates goals and recommendations. The ideas of the plan come from the local community, fromlandowners, river users, and community leaders who wish to promote ongoing good stewardship of theAshley River to protect and enhance the highly valued natural, cultural, and scenic qualities of the riverfor the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. The plan acknowledges the legacy ofgood stewardship among many generations of landowners along the Ashley, and it offers ideas to supportthe continuation of good stewardship. No new regulatory restrictions are mandated by the plan.

The first chapter of this document introduces the Ashley Scenic River Project and describes the historyand processes of scenic river designation, creation of the advisory council, development of the plan, andpublic participation. The second chapter forms the core of the document. The significant resources andmanagement issues of the Ashley Scenic River are described and a plan is provided.

The plan specifies four management goals and 26 recommendations that address (1) water quality, (2)recreational use and access, (3) preservation and conservation, and (4) land management and development.Four additional recommendations address plan implementation. At the end of the document threeappendices supplement the plan, providing information and drawings that support recommendationsand public input notes that form the basis of the plan.

Summary

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Goals and recommendations of the plan include the following themes:

Water Quality❚ Maintain and improve water quality in the Ashley River to meet state water quality standards for the

river and provide safe and healthy conditions for desired river uses.❚ Initiate cooperative efforts with agencies and community groups to educate citizens in the watershed

about water quality issues, sources of water pollution, and practices to prevent water pollution.

Recreational Use and Access❚ Allow the Ashley, as a State Scenic River, to be reasonably accessible and navigable along its entire

course for responsible recreational use and enjoyment by landowners and the public.❚ Balance recreational use and access with care, respect, and conservation of the river. Manage use and

access to prevent overcrowding, trespassing, abuse of private property, and negative impacts on theriver’s outstanding resources.

❚ Encourage compatible low-impact uses of the river corridor and develop improved low-impact accessfacilities. (A conceptual design for a park at Bacon’s Bridge is provided.)

Preservation and Conservation❚ Preserve in perpetuity the unique cultural resources and conserve the outstanding natural and scenic

resources of the Ashley Scenic River.❚ Encourage municipalities and counties bordering the scenic river to develop meaningful and coordinated

standards for new construction that will preserve and enhance the appearance and resources of thescenic river. In particular, standards for use of vegetative buffers are encouraged. (Standards for voluntarybuffers with illustrations are provided.)

❚ Enact legislation and provide funding sources that will create incentives for voluntary actions amonglandowners to protect important scenic and cultural resources.

Land Management and Development❚ Preserve and enhance the scenic and water quality characteristics of the river corridor and encourage

landowners to continue voluntary good stewardship of their land.❚ Develop a communications network to inform and educate river landowners, river users, and elected

officials of success stories, activities, and issues related to the river.❚ Create landscape guidelines for future developments to reduce and eliminate visual and water runoff

impacts to the river and promote a seamless visual quality to the river corridor.❚ Conduct land stewardship workshops that inform the property owners of alternative land use planning,

illustrate good design, and identify financial incentives for various alternatives. (Drawings are provided.)

Implementation❚ Use the plan to inform and encourage citizens, landowners, developers, and leaders of the community

to take specific actions for better stewardship of the natural and cultural resources of the river corridor.❚ Pursue specific objectives for governmental coordination, funding, and education to accomplish the

goals of the plan.

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TTTTT hanks and appreciations are extended to the many people and organizationswhose support and involvement led to the creation of this management planfor the Ashley Scenic River. In particular, the members of the Ashley Scenic

River Advisory Council (listed in Table 1) are to be commended for their commitmentof time and service to bring this effort to a successful completion.

Specific staff members at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources(SCDNR) have made the plan possible. Alfred H. (Freddy) Vang, Deputy Director ofthe Land, Water, and Conservation Division provided consistent positive support forthe project. Barry Beasley, Director of the Scenic Rivers Program, provided ongoingencouragement, direction, insight, and assistance for the project managers and theadvisory council through the various challenges encountered in the course of the project.

Former SCNDR Board Member, Mary Pope Hutson, and the Ashley River ConservationCoalition, in particular, George McDaniel (chairman), George Neil and KatherineCampbell Powers, provided leadership and advocacy that was key to the Ashley Riverbeing designated a State Scenic River in 1998. Mikel Shakarjian, former SCDNR staffmember from 1997-98, conducted the scenic river eligibility study for the Ashley,managed the designation process, and organized initial steps to create the advisorycouncil.

The Town of Summerville, City of North Charleston, MeadWestvaco Corporation,and Ashborough Homeowners Association provided facilities for regular meetings ofthe advisory council. The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourismprovided canoes for a river outing of the council.

Bob Bainbridge and Irene Dumas Tyson of the South Carolina Design Arts Partnershipfacilitated public meetings, prepared plan drawings, and summarized results of the AshleyScenic River Community Vision Workshop of July 2000, which provided significantpublic input to this plan. Other contributing team members of the workshop includedJohn Tarkany, Bill Eubanks, and Morgan Bultman. Middleton Inn, River Club on theAshley, and Bethany United Methodist Church provided facilities for the public meetingsof the three-day workshop.

Diane Kennedy of the SCDNR Graphics Section designed this publication, convertingan array of text, photos, maps and drawings into an attractive presentation of information.

SCDNR staff, Malynn Fields, John Foster, George Sullivan, and Suzanne White wereinvolved in the creation of maps for public meetings and publications. Harunur Rashidof the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments provided map datafor land parcels. Ann Nolte of the SCDNR assisted with editing the document. NancyBrock of the S.C. Department of Archives and History reviewed the document andprovided comments.

Acknowledgements

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Photographs presented in the plan come from several sources including SCDNR, Drayton Hall, andMiddleton Place. The cover photograph is by Tom Blagden, Jr. as are photographs on pages 2, 14,20 (top), 32, 47, 48, 49 (left), and 51. Other photographs are by Bill Marshall, Barry Beasley, PhillipJones, Rick Rhodes, Mikel Shakarjiam, Ted Borg, Art Carter, Robert Clark, and Ron Rocz.

Finally, many individuals participated in the work of the committees of the advisory council andcontributed knowledge, expertise, time, and creative input into developing recommendations for themanagement plan and in editing the text. To give these people special recognition they are listed belowunder the subject areas where they made contributions. The first names listed recognize those whochaired the respective committees.

Water Quality❚ James Hackett, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Office of Coastal

Resource Management❚ Meta Carter, Ashley River landowner❚ Charlie Cuzzell, Summerville Commission of Public Works❚ Fred Holland, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources❚ Bill Marshall, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources❚ Dorothy McFalls, Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments❚ Andy Miller, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Bureau of Water

Recreational Use and Access❚ Ty Houck, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism❚ Howard Bridgman, Dorchester Boat Club❚ Robert H. Knight (CDR USN Ret), Drayton Athletic Association❚ Bill Marshall, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources❚ Brian Wilson, Middleton Inn

Preservation and Conservation❚ George Neil, retired consultant National Trust for Historic Preservation❚ Cornelia Carrier, Charleston Natural History Society❚ Jane Hanahan, Historic Charleston Foundation❚ Jack Keeter, Archdale Homeowners Association

Land Management and Development❚ John Tarkany, Design Works❚ Roger Sparwasser, MeadWestvaco Corporation❚ Patrick Ford, Ashley River landowner, builder/developer❚ Nat Malcolm, Lowcountry Open Land Trust

Implementation❚ Helmut and Ellen Fiedler, Ashley River landowners❚ Ercie Leach, Ashley River landowner❚ Bill Marshall, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources❚ George McDaniel, Ashley River Conservation Coalition❚ April Turner, South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium

1Ashley Scenic River Project

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Ashley Scenic River ProjectSOUTH CAROLINA’S RIVERS are an invaluable resource, forming acentral part of our rich natural and cultural heritage. Rivers provide numerousbenefits to people such as water for drinking, manufacturing and irrigation,electricity from hydropower production, transportation, and various recreationalopportunities. They also provide essential fish and wildlife habitat, channel floods,and assimilate wastes. In many places rivers harbor rare plants and animals aswell as relics of our past. As the population and economy of South Carolinacontinue to expand, our demands on rivers will increase, along with ourdependency upon these resources.

Rivers are ever changing, their physical, chemical, and biological characteristicsare directly affected by activities on the lands that they drain. Humandevelopment that proceeds without regard to conservation of riverine resourcesthreatens the ecological goods and services provided by our rivers as well as thenatural and cultural heritage associated with them.

Within South Carolina there are over 30,000 miles of flowing rivers and streams.In recognition of our dependence on riverine resources and the need to protectoutstanding river values, the Scenic Rivers Act of 1989 provides a process torecognize and conserve South Carolina’s most unique rivers for the benefit ofpresent and future generations. The South Carolina Department of NaturalResources (SCDNR) is charged to administer the provisions of the act.

Scattered throughout the state, approximately 265 miles of eight rivers arecurrently designated as South Carolina State Scenic Rivers. The largestdesignation includes a 75-mile stretch of the Black River. Other scenic riversinclude: a 70-mile section of the Great Pee Dee, a 54-mile stretch of the Lynches,10 miles of the lower Saluda, about five miles of the Middle Saluda River, a 15-mile segment of the Broad, and the lower 14 miles of the Little Pee Dee. On theAshley River, the focus of this document, a 22-mile section was designated ascenic river in 1998 and 1999.

The Ashley River is a tidally influenced, Coastal Plain river that extendsapproximately 30 miles from Cypress Swamp in Dorchester County to its mouthat Charleston Harbor on the Atlantic Ocean. The entire drainage of the AshleyRiver system, including its headwaters in Cypress and Wassamassaw swamps,extends approximately 60 river miles. Along its winding course, the river passesthrough a varied natural and cultural landscape of forested swamps anduplands, tidal marshlands, residential and commercial developments, historicsites and structures, and major urban development at the City of Charleston.

In the past and in the present, the natural and cultural landscape of the AshleyRiver corridor has been shaped and influenced by the river as it carves thechannels, floods the marshes and swamps, transports people and goods, and

Introduction

3

Introduction

attracts settlements and development along its shores.Likewise the river is affected by the activities thatoccur on the land from the river’s banks to the farthestreaches of the watershed. The Ashley Scenic RiverProject, as part of the South Carolina Scenic RiversProgram, has as its central focus this interactionbetween the land and the river, between man andnature. The project seeks to promote wise andresponsible stewardship of the river and itssurrounding lands by the entire community of river-bordering landowners, river users, and residents ofthe watershed.

This document, The Ashley Scenic RiverManagement Plan, represents the culmination of theinitial stage of the Ashley Scenic River Project andwill be the guide for ongoing activities of the AshleyScenic River Advisory Council. This plan describesthe resources and conditions of the river and outlinesa community vision for the river – defining river-related problems and opportunities and advocatinggoals and actions for addressing those problems andopportunities. The vision, values, goals, andrecommendations presented in this plan representthe diversity of river-bordering landowners, localcommunity leaders and citizens who participated inthe numerous public meetings (approximately 35public meetings) and forums hosted by the AshleyScenic River Advisory Council from July 1999through August 2001.

The advisory council acknowledges that this visionmay change over time as contemporary issues areresolved and new ideas and issues move to theforefront. On a regular basis, the advisory councilwill re-visit and update the plan to reflect the currentsituation. With continuing input and support fromthe local community, this plan can be responsive tochange.

Recommendations in this plan will be implementedon a priority basis in a voluntary, non-regulatoryframework. In many cases, implementation willdepend on independent decisions reached and

actions taken by landowners, residents of the Ashleywatershed, river users, local governments, stateagencies, corporations, and/or environmentalorganizations. The Ashley River Advisory Councilwill work with each of these groups to provideinformation and support decision-making.Hopefully, this process will unite the Ashley Rivercommunity in an effort to keep the river a viable andvaluable natural resource for the enjoyment of presentand future generations.

The Scenic Rivers Program

The purpose of the Scenic Rivers Program asdetermined by the South Carolina Scenic Rivers Actof 1989 is to protect unique and outstanding riverresources throughout South Carolina. To accomplishthis goal, a voluntary, cooperative managementprogram was created which allows landowners,community interests, and the SCDNR to worktogether toward common river conservation goals.

Designating a State Scenic River requires legislativeaction by the South Carolina General Assembly.However, the designation process begins at the locallevel and requires the support of local citizens,landowners, and elected officials. The steps in thedesignation process are as follows:

4

Introduction

❚ First, a local request for scenic river designation ismade, and then the SCDNR conducts a scenicriver eligibility study.

❚ Second, all riparian landowners and the generalpublic are notified of the proposal and invited topublic meetings to ask questions or expressopinions.

❚ Third, each county council of all river-borderingcounties is notified of the scenic river proposal.

❚ Finally, the SCDNR Board approves the proposaland then a bill is introduced in the GeneralAssembly. When the bill is passed, a new StateScenic River is officially designated.

After the designation is completed, the SCDNRestablishes a local scenic river advisory council madeup of six to ten members, the majority of whom areriver-bordering landowners, with additional ex officiomembers representing a full range of river interests.The advisory council, which includes the membershipand assistance of SCDNR staff, is responsible fordeveloping a river management plan to address river-related issues of concern. The management planidentifies specific issues and suggestsrecommendations that can be implemented to guidemanagement of the scenic river.

A State Scenic River designation signifies thecommitment of the SCDNR in perpetuity topromote the conservation of the scenic river inpartnership with the local community. The benefits

The Ashley River and the corridor ofland that surrounds it has magic thatis difficult to describe in words. Whatis most remarkable is that this impor-tant part of Charleston’s geographyhas withstood the test of time for over200 years. If this area had beenlocated in other North Americancities it would have been developedseveral years ago.

I think that everyone wouldagree that there is a significantamount of historical and environmentalvalue inherent in the present state ofthe river corridor. The problem ishow will the next 25-50 years ofchange affect this quality. The threat

from urban sprawl and the inherentdependence on the automobile couldadversely compromise this valuablenatural water resource.

So far, we have been fortunate thatthe past and current landowners havebeen wise in their stewardship of theselands. However, as the land transfers tofuture generations and to developmentoriented interests the pressure to modifythis land will increase.

Guidelines or standards for sustain-able land use along the Ashley Riverare needed; guidelines that have aheavy emphasis on conservation andpreservation and are supported by thecommunity of landowners. If this can beachieved, the “magic” of the Ashley riverwill remain for generations to come.

It has been a privilege to be amember of the Ashley Scenic RiverAdvisory Council and we hope that thisdocument will be beneficial to all.

— John A. Tarkany, RLA, ASLA

of the Scenic Rivers Program can be numerous andtailored to meet the needs of the community byaddressing issues of local concern such as recreation,economic, or human health factors. When the Ashleywas designated a State Scenic River this program andprocess was set into motion.

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THE UNIQUE RESOURCES of the Ashley River and its role in theheritage and development of South Carolina have long been recognized. InNovember 1976, a portion of the Ashley River was declared eligible for theState Scenic River designation under the original South Carolina Scenic RiversAct of 1974. Based on outstanding natural scenic beauty and historicalsignificance, the Ashley River from Bacon’s Bridge (SC Highway 165) nearSummerville downstream to Bull’s Creek was recommended for the scenic riverdesignation. However, official designation under the 1974 Act did not occurbecause designation required substantial land acquisitions, making thedesignations nearly impossible. In 1989, the Scenic Rivers Act was amended,establishing the current process of a community-based approach to designatingand managing State Scenic Rivers.

In the 25 plus years since a portion of the Ashley River was originally declaredeligible for the scenic river designation, the river and its watershed have undergonesignificant change. The surrounding areas, including North Charleston, AshleyRiver Road, and Summerville have all experienced an influx of people and rapiddevelopment of the landscape. Charleston, a major metropolitan city, sits at theconfluence of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. It is one of the fastest growingcities in the United States and the most rapidly urbanizing area in South Carolina(Lacy 1997). Since 1973, the extent of the urban landscape across Berkeley,Charleston, and Dorchester counties has increased at least 5% annually,resulting in a total increase of 255% (Lacy 1997). Dorchester Countyhas experienced the greatest amount of urbanization, an increase of 868%since 1973 (Lacy 1997).

In response to the rate ofurbanization, population growth, andthe desire to maintain the uniquecharacter of the Ashley River area,several planning efforts have beenconducted over the last two decades.These involved state agencies, city andcounty governments, privateorganizations, and individuallandowners in efforts to create

management plans for specific areas associated with the river. However, becauseof the rapid development of the area and the lack of enforceable, coordinated,regional planning and zoning to protect the river corridor, the National Trustfor Historic Preservation named the Ashley River Historic District as one of thenation’s 11 Most Endangered Sites in 1995. In response, the Ashley River HistoricPreservation Coalition (now known as the Ashley River Conservation Coalition)was formed in October 1996 to address urban encroachment in the historicdistrict and on the river corridor. One of many measures sought by the coalition

Ashley Scenic River ProjectProject Beginnings

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Project Beginnings

to advance conservation in the Ashley Rivercorridor was to seek State Scenic River designationfor the Ashley.

Scenic River Designation

In 1998 and 1999 a 22-mile section of the AshleyRiver from Highway 17-A at Sland’s Bridge near theTown of Summerville to the crossing of Interstate-526, the Mark Clark Expressway, was designated aState Scenic River by the South Carolina GeneralAssembly (see map in Figure 1). The request for thedesignation was received by the SCDNR in August1997 from the Ashley River Conservation Coalition.Soon thereafter, the SCDNR conducted an eligibilitystudy for the Ashley.

Although the Ashley River was determined to beeligible for scenic river designation in 1976, thedesignation process was not completed. SCDNR staffdecided to conduct a study to reassess the eligibilityof the Ashley River in August 1997. SCDNRgathered information on the present conditions anduses of the river and the surrounding lands todetermine if the river exhibits unique or outstandingscenic, recreational, geologic, botanical, fish, wildlife,historic, or cultural values which merit protection.Based on the findings of the study, the Ashley wasconfirmed to be eligible for scenic river designation.The Ashley River Eligibility Study report (Shakarjian1998) summarizes the findings on the Ashley asfollows:

“Evidence of the first European settlers can befound throughout the proposed scenic segmentwithin the confines of a relatively undisturbed tidalecosystem. Wildlife finds sanctuary within the rivercorridor and its marshes. Due to its short lengthand diversity of habitats, proximity to a major city,and its role in the settling and development ofSouth Carolina, the Ashley River is perhapsunparalleled in its unique combination ofhistorical significance and natural value as arelatively undisturbed tidal ecosystem.”

Once the river was found eligible for scenic riverstatus, notification of the proposed scenic riverdesignation was provided to river-borderinglandowners by direct mail and to the general publicby newspaper ads. Two public meetings were held inNovember 1997 to explain the Scenic RiversProgram. In addition, the affected local governments(two county and three city councils) were presentedwith the scenic river designation proposal and eachgave approval to the action.

After state legislation was introduced and bills weresigned by the Governor, a 22-mile segment of theAshley was designated a scenic river in two parts in1998 and 1999. Following recommendations fromthe eligibility study, the first portion from Highway17-A to the CSX Railroad Trestle was designated aState Scenic River in June 1998. A second designationwas made the following year when citizens from theWando Woods community petitioned their statelegislators to consider an additional two miles of theAshley. After concurrence with the SCDNR, thelegislation was passed and signed into law in June1999 designating an additional scenic river segmentfrom the CSX trestle down to Interstate 526, theMark Clark Expressway.

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Figure 1. Ashley Scenic River Map

Project Beginnings

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THE ASHLEY SCENIC RIVER Advisory Council was formed in thespring of 1999 and was created according to the Scenic Rivers Act to assist andadvise the SCDNR in protection and management of the scenic river. Theleadership for all South Carolina scenic river projects comes from a local advisorycouncil. For the Ashley, letters soliciting advisory council participation weresent from the SCDNR in the fall of 1998 and spring of 1999 to river landownersand interested community members (about 500 people). The solicitation wassent twice because the Ashley Scenic River was designated in two parts. Thoseinterested in participating on the advisory council were asked to complete andreturn a nomination form. Nominations were received by the SCDNR and 31candidates were identified in May 1999. Twenty-two (22) individuals wereselected and invited by SCDNR staff in June 1999 to be members of the advisorycouncil; nineteen (19) people accepted the invitation and formed the originalAshley River Advisory Council (see Table 1 for members, past and present, ofthe Ashley Scenic River Advisory Council).

The advisory council held its first meeting on July 1, 1999, at the CuthbertCommunity Center in the Town of Summerville. Over the next two years, thecouncil met regularly at locations near the project area with the primary objectiveof crafting a management plan for the Ashley Scenic River. An important stepfor unifying the council and communicating their purpose and intentions tothe larger community was their creation of a statement of mission and goalsadopted on March 1, 2000.

Ashley Scenic River ProjectThe Advisory Council

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Table 1. Ashley Scenic River Advisory Council

Voting MembersHoward Bridgman: Dorchester Boat Club

Meta Carter: residential landownerHelmut Fiedler: residential landowner

Jane Hanahan: Historic Charleston FoundationJack Keeter: residential landowner

Robert H. Knight (CDR USN Ret): Drayton Athletic AssociationBill Marshall: SCDNR staff

George McDaniel: Drayton HallGeorge Neil: at-large community representative

Roger Sparwasser: MeadWestvaco

Ex-officio MembersAshley Chapman: Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site

Birdie Crosby: Clemson University Extension ServiceCharlie Cuzzell: Summerville Commission of Public WorksJames Hackett: Office of Coastal Resource Mgt, SCDHEC

Pat Hollifield: Kings Grant Homeowners AssociationChristopher Morgan: City of Charleston Planning Department

John Tarkany: Design Works (landscape architects)April Turner: SC Sea Grant Consortium

Michelle Wittouck: Lowcountry Open Land Trust

Former membersPatrick Ford: residential landowner, voting member, July 1999 to December 2002Debbie Henson: residential landowner; voting member, July 1999 to August 2001

Ty Houck: Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site; voting member,July 1999 to August 2001

Ercie Leach: residential landowner; voting member, July 1999 to October 2000Nat Malcolm: Lowcountry Open Land Trust, ex officio, August 2001 to July 2002

Taylor Nelson: Magnolia Gardens; ex officio member, July 1999 to September 2000Valerie Perry: SCPRT, S.C. Heritage Corridor; ex officio member,

July 1999 to December 1999Madelyn Robinson: Town of Summerville, Planner; ex officio member,

July 1999 to November 1999Carolyn Rogerson: Dicari Development Inc.; voting member, July 1999 to March 2000

John Sullivan: Kings Grant Homeowners Association; ex officio member, July 1999 to October 2000

The Advisory Council

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Mission Statement

The mission of the Ashley Scenic River AdvisoryCouncil is to promote ongoing stewardship of theAshley River to protect and enhance its natural,cultural, and scenic qualities for the benefit andenjoyment of present and future generations.

The goals of the advisory council (presented in asequential order):❚ Promote mutual respect for public and private

interests in the river among river users, propertyowners, and others.

❚ Increase public awareness and appreciation of theAshley by continually educating ourselves and thecommunity about the river’s resources, andpromote an ethic of stewardship for the riveramong property owners, river users, and the public.

❚ Encourage and facilitate public involvement in allour planning and decision-making, and buildpublic support for the Ashley Scenic RiverManagement Plan.

The Advisory Council

I have enjoyed the beauty, cultureand recreation on the Ashley Riverfor many years, but was concernedfor its future. I was happy when itwas designated as a Scenic Riverbecause I want my grandchildrenand others to be able to contine toenjoy it as I have. I volunteered toserve on the Council to help preserveit for this purpose and it has been apleasure working with the othermembers. The hard part is yet tocome: IMPLEMENTATION.I hope that we, and others after us,will work as hard to accomplish itsgoals.

— Bob Knight

❚ Establish partnerships with other groups andagencies to accomplish our mission and goals forbetter management of the Ashley River.

❚ Create and implement a management plan, withfull public involvement, that will focus thecommunity on priority actions for improvingprotection and use of the river and its natural,cultural, and scenic qualities.

❚ Protect and improve the river’s water qualityconditions, fish and wildlife habitats, scenic viewsand aesthetic qualities, cultural resources, andrecreational benefits.

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Ashley Scenic River ProjectTHROUGH THE ASHLEY SCENIC RIVER PROJECT, the rivercommunity created a common vision for future management of the river andits resources. The Ashley Scenic River Management Plan outlines that visionwithin the context of the South Carolina Scenic Rivers Program. Themanagement plan focuses on the 22-mile segment of the Ashley that wasdesignated a State Scenic River. While the river and its floodplains and theadjacent uplands are the principal focus of this plan, issues concerning the entirewatershed of the Ashley are also addressed.

The first step in the process ofcreating this management plan wasto assemble the Ashley Scenic RiverAdvisory Council with locallandowners and community leaders.The charge to the council was tocraft the plan though an openpublic-input process and then putthe plan into action. Councilmembership was selected by theSCDNR to represent the many anddiverse interests of the rivercommunity. Represented on thecouncil are river-borderinglandowners (private and corporateowners, geographically dispersed,with various land uses and interests),recreational users, conservation interests, local government, natural resourcemanagers, and the general public.

From their first meeting in July 1999 through August 2001, the advisory council’sprimary objective was crafting the scenic river management plan. In the courseof this two-year period the advisory council accomplished the following: theydeveloped their own statement of mission and goals; sponsored a river canoetrip; hosted a three day workshop to gather public input and defined rivermanagement issues of community concern; hosted an issue forum on waterquality; and held numerous meetings to define river management goals andrecommendations to address each issue.

Early in the process the advisory council made a decision to delay pursuit of themanagement plan in order to allow a public controversy to pass. The councilencountered the controversy at their second meeting (August 11, 1999) whenabout 30 disgruntled landowners attended and expressed anger at the ScenicRivers Program for somehow being responsible for a proposed Dorchester Countyordinance to increase development restrictions along the Ashley River. Two

Creating the Management Plan

12

meetings of the council and repeated distribution ofinformation about the non-regulatory emphasis ofthe Scenic Rivers Program helped to correct somemisunderstanding; however, a general mistrust of theprogram persists among some landowners. Thegeneral acrimony expressed among some Ashley Riverproperty owners in public meetings about theDorchester County ordinance led the advisorycouncil to delay its start-up of the scenic rivermanagement plan process for nearlynine months.

During the period ofcontroversy (late 1999,early 2000) theadvisory councildeveloped their ownstatement of missionand goals. This was animportant step forunifying the council andcommunicating theirpurpose and intentions tothe larger community.

Once the advisory council was formed andunified in their purpose, hearing from the publicabout the Ashley River was the second step in creatingthe management plan. Therefore, the advisorycouncil and the SCDNR hosted a communityworkshop (or charrette) in July of 2000 for thepurpose of gathering public input. This event waspromoted as a “Community Vision Workshop: aseries of public meetings to define common goals forbetter management of the Ashley River.” The publicwas encouraged to participate in the workshopthough advertisements in local newspapers, flyerscirculated in neighborhoods adjacent to the river, andinvitations mailed to the river-bordering landownersand others on the SCDNR mailing list. Theworkshop included six public meetings held overthree days, July 18-20, at Middleton Place Pavilion,Middleton Inn Conference Center, River Club onthe Ashley, and Bethany United Methodist Church.

Approximately 150 local citizens participated in thevarious meetings and provided nearly 400 commentsand ideas regarding the Ashley River.

The South Carolina Design Arts Partnershipsupported the workshop by assembling a team ofplanners and designers who facilitated the publicmeetings and produced drawings, summaries, andrecommendations that captured the public’s values,

concerns, and desires for the river aswell as directions for creating the

management plan. A range oftopics emerged from the

workshop regardingwhat issues need to beaddressed in themanagement plan andhow the plan can beaccomplished. (See

Appendix C forworkshop notes

regarding public valuesfor the river; and the

reference, SCDAP 2000).

The advisory council used the informationfrom the workshop to focus on the third step in theprocess: the fact-finding, analysis, and developmentof management goals and recommendations.Ultimately the advisory council decided to addressthe topics of (1) water quality, (2) recreational useand access, (3) preservation and conservation, (4) landmanagement and development, and (5) planimplementation. Committees of the advisory councilwere created to address each of the topics and draftrecommendations. From November 2000 throughAugust 2001, the committees met separately and thenbrought recommendations to meetings of theadvisory council for public presentations, discussions,and council approvals. The water quality committeemade an extra contribution to this process byorganizing a public forum featuring water qualityexperts on the Ashley River.

Creating the Management Plan

13

SOUTH CAROLINA’S PROCESS of designating and managing StateScenic Rivers is grounded in local support and public participation. Thedevelopment of a sound and workable management plan requires theinvolvement of those most familiar with the resource — the people of the rivercommunity. Through the citizen-based process, the local community takes thelead in producing and implementing the plan. The role of the SCDNR andother government agencies is to provide guidance and technical expertise.

From the onset, the Ashley Scenic River Project encouraged the activeinvolvement of the river-bordering landowners, local citizens, and their localgovernments. Efforts to inform the public and to encourage public participationin the project began with the scenic river designation process in 1998. Theseefforts continued with the establishment of the Ashley Scenic River AdvisoryCouncil in 1999, and into the management plan process of 2000-01. Alllandowners and other interested community members were invited by letter toparticipate in the public meetings about the proposed designation and sharecomments and concerns; the same people also were invited to apply formembership on the advisory council and participate in a community effort tocreate the management plan.

During the early phases of the project, SCDNR staff compiled a 500-personmailing list. Over the course of the project, the mailing list grew to includemore than 650 people. Regular mail-outs provided information to the localcommunity on project progress, upcoming meetings, and opportunities forparticipation. The public has been invited to participate in all meetings, serveon committees, and go on field trips. Special events such as the July 2000Community Vision Workshop, which lasted for three days, and the November2000 Water Quality Forum were advertised in the local newspapers encouragingpublic participation.

The advisory council,which represents theAshley Rivercommunity, and theSCDNR will continueto invite publicparticipation in effortsto pursue their missionof stewardship toprotect and enhancethe resources of theAshley River forpresent and futuregenerations.

Ashley Scenic River ProjectPublic Participation

14

Ashley Scenic RiverManagement Plan

15

Ashley Scenic River PlanMANY LANDOWNERS and community leaders have passed down alegacy of conservation and wise use of the river and its surrounding lands, andthanks to many generations of good stewards, we can enjoy the Ashley Rivercorridor for what it is, an area rich in natural beauty and historic treasures.There are, however, many factors thatthreaten to spoil the special character andresources of the area; factors ranging frompoorly designed development on the landto unsafe boating on the river. The AshleyScenic River Management Plan offersideas and information that address riverissues of public concern and encourageongoing stewardship that will conservethe Ashley River. The ideas presented inthis plan were generated from the localcommunity, from landowners, river users,and community leaders who desire toprotect and enhance the highly valuednatural, cultural, and scenic qualities ofthe river for the benefit and enjoymentof present and future generations.

The plan does not impose newregulations, nor does it mandate new regulatory restrictions. The plan providesa guide for ongoing activities of the Ashley Scenic River Advisory Council andinforms individuals and organizations of ways to improve their stewardship ofthe river.

In this chapter, the significant resources and management issues of the AshleyScenic River are described and a plan specifying management goals andrecommendations is provided. Following a description of the project area, thechapter addresses four Ashley River management topics:

Water QualityRecreational Use and AccessPreservation and ConservationLand Management and Development.

Under each of these topics is presented a set of findings, a management goal,and a list of recommendations. “Findings” describe river resources, theirconditions, and/or related problems and opportunities of public interest.“Management Goals” and “Recommendations” define the plan objectives. Thechapter closes with recommendations for implementation, which are guidelinesfor moving forward to accomplish the goals and recommendations of the plan.

The Ashley River Management Plan

16

THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA targeted by this management plan is the22-mile long corridor of the Ashley Scenic River (Figure 1). Generally, thesurrounding roads define the extent of the river corridor. U.S. Highway 17-Aand Interstate 526 cross the river and define the northwestern (upstream) andsoutheastern (downstream) ends of the scenic river, respectively. S.C. Highway642 (Dorchester Road) provides a boundary on the north/east side and S.C.Highway 61 (Ashley River Road) defines a general boundary on the south/westside of the river. While the interests and concerns addressed by this managementplan are focused on the river corridor, they are not restricted to the corridor.Water quality concerns for the river require attention to the entire watershed,particularly the areas drained by tributaries to the scenic river. Interests inconservation and managing development in the river corridor also extend to thespecial character of Ashley River Road, which is a National Scenic Byway.Recreational use and access interests extend to potential connections with landand water trails or greenways that could link the river to parks and recreationfacilities beyond the defined corridor, such as Charles Towne Landing StateHistoric Site.

The watershed of the Ashley River is approximately 215,000 acres in size(SCDHEC 1999) and includes portions of Berkeley, Dorchester, and Charlestoncounties and the major populations centers of Summerville, North Charleston,and Charleston (see Figure 2). There are approximately 394 miles of streams inthe watershed of the Ashley, which includes the tributaries of Wassamassaw andCypress Swamps, Dorchester Creek, Eagle Creek, Coosaw Creek, Olive Branch,Popperdam Creek, Macbeth Creek, Keivling Creek, Church Creek, and BullsCreek.

The headwaters of the Ashley River begin in Cypress and Wassamassaw Swampsat an elevation of less than 80 feet above mean sea level. The river system flowsfor approximately 60 miles in a southeastern direction from its headwaterstowards the City of Charleston. The swamps meander for about 30 miles untilthey form the channel given the name “Ashley River,” which flows for another30 miles where it meets the Cooper River at Charleston Harbor (and as thelocals say, the Ashley and Cooper rivers “form the Atlantic Ocean”).

Along its course, the streamenvironments of the Ashley transitionfrom the freshwaters of a swamp andblackwater river to a freshwater tidalriver, and to a saltwater tidal river. Muchof the upland forest adjacent to the riverremains intact and human developmentis visible for approximately 30 percentof the 22-mile scenic river segment.

Ashley Scenic River PlanProject Area Description

17

Figure 2. Ashley River Watershed Map

18

Animal species commonly seen in and along the riverinclude: kingfishers, wood ducks, red-wingedblackbirds, ospreys, anhingas, herons and otherwading birds, turtles, snakes, alligators, and crabs.

The Ashley River takes its name from Lord AnthonyAshley Cooper who was originally granted a King’scharter to the Carolina colony. Europeans first settledon the Ashley in 1670 and eventually created CharlesTowne between the Ashley and Cooper Rivers in1680. Over the century that followed, the Ashleyprovided transportation inland and access to naturalresources to support early European settlement ofSouth Carolina. Today many features of those earlysettlements can be seen and experienced. The AshleyRiver corridor contains 26 separate sites listed in theNational Register of Historic Places. Visitors canreadily observe a variety of historic structures such asantebellum plantations, gardens, rice fields,outbuildings, and fortifications.

The natural conditions and scenic transitions of thetidal river ecosystem, the presence of significanthistoric properties dispersed along its length, and itsaccessibility to a major urban population – these arecharacteristics that make the Ashley River a specialplace worthy of ongoing community support forconservation.

Project Area Description

Characteristics of the Ashley ScenicRiver Corridor

As mentioned above, the Ashley is not just one river,but has four or more distinct sections with differentcharacteristics; and different people may choosevarious ways to divide the sections. Below, severalsections are described including three sections withinthe 22-mile Ashley Scenic River plus one upstreamand one downstream of the scenic river.

Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 provide an aerial view of landuse characteristics in the corridor, the location oflandmarks, and property lines that show landownership patterns. (The images in Figures 3 to 6are derived from 1999 color-infrared aerialphotography and the property (parcel) lines depictownership at about 1999 or 2000.)

Upstream section (to Cypress Swamp) - Above thedesignated Ashley Scenic River from Sland’s Bridgeup to Cypress Swamp, the Ashley is very narrowexcept for two lakes in the channel. This sectioncurrently has a low level of use due to inaccessibilitybut is attractive to local anglers.

Section I - From Sland’s Bridge to ColonialDorchester State Historic Site, the Ashley isa narrow blackwater stream with overhangingtrees at the banks including bald cypress,tupelo, sweet gum, red maple, and willows.About half of this seven-mile section is tidal,with Bacon’s Bridge (SC Highway 165)marking the approximate upstream limit ofthe tides. Just above the bridge is the formersite of a dam once used to impoundfreshwater on the river. Downstream ofBacon’s Bridge, the Ashley gradually makesthe transition from a freshwater tidal to asaltwater tidal river. Species associated withthe freshwater environment become lesscommon downstream, dropping out of thecommunity as the river becomes morebrackish.

19

Project Area Description

Much of the land adjacent to this section of thecorridor is undeveloped, forested wetlands oruplands; exceptions include the sand mines and Tealon the Ashley subdivision, which are located nearSland’s Bridge, and two larger subdivisions downriver.Development at Walnut Farms subdivision, sited onthe north bank two milesabove Bacon’s Bridge, is setback and not visible fromthe river. Ashboroughsubdivision, below Bacon’sBridge, occupies about one-half mile along the northbank with houses and docks.Thereafter, the house andproperty known as TheLaurels appears on the southbank followed by the fortand wharf structures at Colonial Dorchester StateHistoric Site, visible from the river on the north bank.Also sited on the north bank, below ColonialDorchester, are the building and dock of theDorchester Boat Club.

Section II – Extending from below ColonialDorchester to just above the CSX railroad trestle,this 13-mile segment of the Ashley opens up to awide tidal river with broad vistas framed by the marshedge and distant trees. The floodplain foresttransitions to riparian marshland, dominated bypickerelweed, bull rushes, and cattails. Furtherdownstream the brackish water turns saline and themarsh vegetationchanges frompickerelweed andcattails to blackneedlerush, andfinally, smoothcordgrass. Theold plantations,marl bluffs, andpilings from the old phosphate docks are located here.Views to and from the plantations, especially DraytonHall and Middleton Place, help define the specialcharacter of this section.

The upland areas on the north/east side of the rivercorridor adjacent to Dorchester Road are mostlydeveloped in this section. Approximately 16 largeresidential and/or commercial developments extendfrom Kings Grant to Evanston Estates and the land

is divided into thousandsof parcels, mostlyresidential home lots. Incontrast, on the south/westside of the river adjacent toAshley River Road theupland areas are mostlyforested and much of theland is held in large tracts.A few residentialdevelopments are locatedsoutheast of Drayton Hall.

Along the river, beginning just downstream ofColonial Dorchester is a complex of public structuresall sited on the north/east bank for one-quarter mile;these include the Summerville Wastewater Treatment

20

Project Area Description

Plant and discharge pipe and the Jessen’s Landingramp, parking area, community dock, and board-walk. Soon thereafter, the Kings Grant subdivisionoccupies about two miles of the north/east bank withhouses and docks and a golf course. Below andopposite the golf course are several houses with dockson the south/west bank of the river at Mateeba.Downstream from the golf course, a set of powerlinessupported by towers crosses the river, visibleapproximately one-quarter mile in either direction.Along the next few miles of the river an old plantationsite, Cedar Grove, is located on the north/east bankfollowed by the gardens, buildings, and rice fieldstructures at Middleton Place on the south/west.

Downstream of Middleton Place, two separate areasof clustered residential development (Archdale/AshleyPoint and Riverbend/Lambs Road) occupy about oneand one-half (1.5) miles along the north/east bankwith docks and houses. Several other developmentsare located in this section and do not extend to theriver’s edge. Historic properties, RunnymedePlantation, Magnolia Gardens, and Drayton Hallare visiblefrom the riverchannel onthe south/west bank.In 1989,approximately17 percent ofthe viewshedsfrom thehistoric plan-

tations were visually affected bydevelopment (Townsend and Brock 1992).

From Drayton Hall to the railroad bridge,residential developments and docks(Covington, Evanston Estates, Drayton onthe Ashley) occupy about one mile of thenorth/east bank and one-half mile on thesouth/west bank.

Section III – The final segment of the designatedAshley Scenic Riverextends from justabove the railroadbridge to the MarkClark Expressway(I-526). In this two-mile section the river

corridor is more heavily urbanized includingsubdivisions (Ashley Town Landing, Pierpont,Wando Woods, Faber Place), utility lines, and thetwo bridges. Nearly all the upland areas in this sectionare developed.

Downstream section (below I-526) – From the MarkClark Expressway (I-526) to the confluence with theCooper River at Charleston the Ashley River is muchbroader, heavily urbanized, and accessible to ever-larger watercraft. This section includes Charles TowneLanding State Historic Site that has strong ties tothe story of the upper Ashley.

Figure 3. Aerial View of the Ashley River Corridor: Landmarks and Property Lines fromCypress Swamp / Sland’s Bridge to Bacon’s Bridge

Figure 4. Aerial View of the AshleyRiver Corridor: Landmarks and PropertyLines from Bacon’s Bridge to CedarGrove / White Hall

Figure 5. Aerial View of the Ashley RiverCorridor: Landmarks and Property Linesfrom Cedar Grove / White Hall to DraytonHall

Figure 6. Aerial View of the AshleyRiver Corridor: Landmarks andProperty Lines from Drayton Hall tobelow I-526

25

Ashley Scenic River PlanWater Quality

FINDINGS ON WATER QUALITY

Among the various issues of public concern for the Ashley River, water quality ismentioned most frequently. This is true among the river users, river landowners,and interested citizens who participated in the Ashley Scenic River CommunityVision Workshop of July 2000 (SCDAP 2000). Local citizens want to be able toswim the river and eat its fish without health hazards, and they want to see theriver without floating litter drifting back and forth with the tide.

Water quality in the Ashley River is impaired; State water quality standardsare not being met in many areas of the river system. Based on stream-monitoringdata, significant water quality problems exist in the Ashley River throughout itswatershed, from its headwaters in Wassamassaw Swamp to Charleston Harbor,and on many of its tributaries.

❚ Water quality in the Ashley regularly falls short of the state standards set forthe river. The common problems identified are elevated levels of fecal coliformbacteria and depressed dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations (SCDHEC1999; Artuso and McKellar 1996).

❚ Consistent failure to meet water quality standards has resulted in the state'sdetermination that many areas (9 of 10 monitoring stations) in the AshleyRiver watershed are not supporting, or only partially supporting, aquatic lifeand recreational uses (SCDHEC 1999).

❚ Phosphorus and nitrogen in the Ashley River were found to be significantlyhigher than in the rest of the Charleston Harbor estuary, with especiallyelevated levels (5-10 times) near Dorchester Creek (Van Dolah et al. 1990).A USEPA study revealed that conditions on the mainstem were grosslyenriched exhibiting high levels of chlorophyll a (measurement used todetermine algal content) and the potential for very high levels of algal growth(SCDHEC 1996).

❚ High levels of copper contribute to non-supporting conditions for aquaticlife in the Ashley near Magnolia Gardens (SCDHEC 1999). Very high levelsof zinc appear localized, in association with the swamps. Even though industrialmetals, such as chromium and copper are widespread throughout theCharleston Harbor Project study area, levels in the water or sediments didnot exceed published USEPA orUSFDA standards. Because thesemetals have the potential tobioaccumulate and data indicatesthis is occurring, metal levels in theAshley River may be of concern dueto their sublethal effect on estuarineorganisms (Van Dolah et al. 1990).

❚ Some areas of the river do support

26

Water Quality

water quality standards and others are improving:Four stations fully support aquatic life uses(Wassamassaw Swamp, Cypress Swamp, EagleCreek, SC 7 Bridge) and two stations fully supportrecreational uses (SC 7 Bridge, Charles TowneLanding) (SCDHEC 1999). Improvements inbacterial pollution and/or dissolved oxygen (from1994 to 1998) occurred at three Ashley Rivermonitoring stations (Bacon’s Bridge, SC 7 Bridge,Charles Towne Landing). Improvements areindicated in other areas of the watershed(Dorchester and Eagle Creeks) with declininglevels of BOD, bacteria, and nutrientconcentrations.

Natural conditions of the Ashley River systemcontribute to some water quality problems.❚ The swamps in the upper Ashley watershed can

have naturally low dissolved oxygen levels causedby high input of organic material from the trees.

❚ The Ashley has a very low freshwater flow rate andexperiences strong tidal flood and ebb currentsfrom Charleston Harbor extending upstream asfar as Bacon’s Bridge (SC Highway 165). Theseflow conditions can cause the waters of the Ashleyto be retained, and not flushed, for many days.

State water quality standards for the Ashley call forfishable, swimmable waters. Water classifications(defined in S.C. Regulations 61.68 and 61.69)determine specific water quality standards and desireduses of the river that govern discharge-permittingrequirements regulated by SCDHEC.

❚ Upstream of Bacon’s Bridge, the river is classifiedas freshwater (FW). Class FW sets water qualitystandards intended to protect multiple uses suchas swimming, boating, fishing, drinking watersupply, survival and propagation of aquaticorganisms, and industrial and agricultural uses(SCDHEC 1999).

❚ Downstream of Bacon’s Bridge, the river isclassified as tidal saltwater (SA). Class SA sets waterquality standards intended to protect many of the

same uses as FW with the exception of drinkingwater, irrigation, or industrial uses. In addition,the SA classification is not intended to protectthese waters for shellfish (clams, mussels, oysters)harvesting for market purposes or humanconsumption (SCDHEC 1999).

Permitted wastewater discharges to the Ashley.There are 10 active point-source discharges in theAshley River watershed (see Figure 7) (dischargespermitted by SCDHEC under the NPDES (NationalPo l l u t i o nD i s c h a r g eEliminationS y s t e m )program ofthe FederalClean WaterAct).

❚ W i t h i nthe scenicriver section there are four permitted dischargesdirectly to the Ashley. Three of these are domesticwastewater and one is industrial wastewater. Thereare also two domestic discharges on tributaries tothe scenic section, one at Church Creek and oneat Coosaw Swamp.

❚ Upstream of the scenic section, there are twoindustrial discharges, one located on Mill Branchof Wassamasaw Swamp and one on Platt Branchof Cypress Swamp.

❚ Two permitted industrial discharges are locateddownstream of the Ashley’s scenic section betweenthe I-526 and US 17 bridges, one site is atBrickyard Creek and one at the Ashley.

❚ The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council ofGovernments (BCD-COG) is designated theWater Quality Management Agency for the regionby the South Carolina Department of Health andEnvironmental Control (SCDHEC). The BCD-COG reviews all point-source wastewaterdischarges for conformance with the RegionalWater Quality Management Plan (a.k.a. the 208

27

Figure 7. Water Quality Monitoring and Point Source Discharge Locations

28

Water Quality

Plan); however, SCDHEC remains the regulatoryagency that issues all the permits and oversees theBCD-COG. The 208 plan defines a regional planwith policies to guide the permitting of allwastewater discharges requiring NPDES permits.Goal #1 of the 208 plan is: “All surface watershould meet state standards” (BCD-COG 1996).

Polluted runoff and other non-point sourcepollution impact the Ashley. When it rains,pollutants are washed off the land into surroundingwaters. Land use activities throughout the watershedcan have an impact on the river. The land next to theriver and its tributaries will have a direct andimmediate impact on river water quality.

❚ Land use becomes increasingly urbanized movingfrom the upper watershed to the lower watershedof the Ashley. The upper Ashley River watershed(areas drained by Wassamassaw and Cypressswamps) is over 75 percent forestland, 8 percentagricultural land, and 5 percent urban land. Incontrast, the lower watershed (area of Dorchester/Eagle Creek and Ashley River) is 41 percentforestland, 2 percent agricultural, and 45 percenturbanized (SCDHEC 1999). Figure 8 illustratesthe pattern of developed land in the lowerwatershed of the Ashley River.

❚ Urban areas likely produce the most seriouspolluted-runoff problems affecting the Ashley.Major pollutants found in urban runoff include

sediment, nutrients, heavy metals, oils and grease,and disease-causing bacteria. Pollution sourcesinclude sediment from construction sites, fertilizerand pesticides from lawns and gardens, leakingautomobiles on pavements, improper disposal ofhousehold and other chemicals, leaking septicsystems, and improper disposal of pet wastes. Mostpeople in urban areas are unaware that theycontribute to non-point source pollution.

❚ Mining in the Ashley River watershed includes 21permitted mines for sand and/or clay extraction.The mines are dispersed: nine mines are in theupper Ashley watershed in Cypress andWassamassaw swamps, six are located in thevicinity of Slands Bridge, one is near Bacon’sBridge, two are adjacent to Sawmill Branch, twoare near Popperdam Creek, and one is west ofAshley River Road near Middleton Place. Waterquality impacts from mining can include alterationof hydrology and sedimentation to surroundingstreams during mine development, extraction andprocessing, product storage and transportation,and reclamation.

❚ Forest land uses may involve timber harvesting.Potential pollutants associated with this land useinclude sediment from erosion, nutrients, organics,and pesticides. Water quality impacts can resultfrom harvesting during wet soil conditions,removal of riparian (stream-side) vegetation,improper road construction, and disposal of woodydebris in streams.

❚ Agricultural land uses may involve row crops orlivestock. Potential pollutants associated with cropproduction include soil, nutrients, and pesticides.Potential pollutants associated with livestockproduction include nutrients, oxygen-demandingsubstances, and disease-causing bacteria.

❚ Marinas and concentrated areas of recreationalboating have the potential of polluting the riverwith fuel spills and illegal dumping of on-boardwastewater, which can result in depletion ofdissolved oxygen, high concentrations of toxicmetals in aquatic animals, and increased levels of

29

Figure 8. Land Use in the Lower Watershed of the Ashley River

30

Water Quality

disease-causing bacteria. One marina is located justoutside the Ashley Scenic River segment below theI-526 bridge; others are located downriver inCharleston.

Land development has a negative impact on aquaticlife of coastal streams. Research conducted by theMarine Resources Research Institute of the SCDNRon tidal streams in South Carolina (including severaltributaries to the Ashley) shows directrelationships between impervioussurfaces (rooftops, parking lots, androads) and the degradation of streams.

❚ Impervious surfaces in developed areasresult in rapid rain runoff (largeflushes) to streams causing majorchanges in hydrology, salinity,dissolved oxygen, as well as a directinflow of toxic pollutants from thosesurfaces (Holland 2000).

❚ When development of a watershedexceeds 30 percent impervious surface(rooftops, parking lots, and roads), thehealth of a tidal stream's aquatic lifebecomes irreparably degraded. Atlower levels of land development the food chainsupporting juvenile fish is seriously altered(Holland 2000).

Additional water-quality monitoring is needed. Theroutine sampling frequency utilized by SCDHEC is

not adequate to accurately discern the various sourcesof pollutants (point and non-point) to the Ashley.

❚ SCDHEC has ten (10) water-quality monitoringstations in the Ashley River watershed (see Figure7). Seven of these are “primary stations,” whichare routinely sampled once per month all yearround. Primary stations are located as follows:three are on the Ashley River at Bacon’s Bridge,Magnolia Gardens, and Charles Towne Landing;three are on tributaries of the Ashley at DorchesterCreek, Eagle Creek, and Church Creek; and oneis on Wassamassaw Swamp at U.S. Highway 176.

❚ Two of the monitoring stations are “secondarystations,” sampled once per month from Maythrough October. One secondary station is locatedon the Ashley River at S.C. Highway 7 (NorthBridge), the other is on Sawmill Branch at U.S.Highway 78. One monitoring station, located inCypress Swamp at U.S. Highway 78, is a“watershed station” sampled by SCDHEC duringtheir watershed assessment studies.

❚ The routine sampling may not detect acute waterquality problems caused by pollution pulses to theriver such as rainfall runoff from urbandevelopment or farm fields, a sewage treatmentplant malfunction, or an industrial discharge thatis temporarily out of compliance.

31

❚ More detailedm o n i t o r i n gdata (moresample sites,more frequentsampling) canhelp to betterdefine sourcesof water quality problems and support moreeffective targeting of future actions andinvestments in water quality improvement, suchas further restrictions at wastewater treatmentplants or better management of polluted runoff.Choices for new sampling locations will be animportant consideration for all monitoring efforts.

Management Goal for Water Quality

Maintain and improve water quality in the AshleyRiver to provide safe, healthy conditions for desiredriver uses, which include swimming, fishing,shrimping, crabbing, and aquatic life support; andconsistently meet or exceed established biological,chemical, and physical standards for Freshwaters(Class FW) and Tidal Salt Waters (Class SA) of SouthCarolina.

Recommendations

1. The advisory council should track water qualityissues affecting the Ashley River watershed over timein the following ways:

a. Track changes in water quality conditions andwatershed-related conditions over time. On acontinuing basis, acquire data from SCDHEC’smonitoring network, special studies, land useinventories, and other water quality andwatershed information. The information shouldbe used to assess progress and problems inmaintaining and improving water quality overtime and to inform the public on these issues.

b. Track public permitting and planning activitiesaffecting water quality and provide input to

public decisions as appropriate to pursue waterquality protection and improvement in theAshley River watershed. Examples of activitiesto track include wastewater permits, RegionalWater Quality Management Plan amendments,development of Total Maximum Daily Loadrequirements, stormwater management plansand permits, funding sources to support waterquality improvement projects.

c. Track and advocate enforcement of existing lawsdesigned to protect water quality. Becomeinformed of the laws and regulations; getacquainted with the related staff and decision-making boards which affect implementationand enforcement of the laws; advocateenforcement; and keep records on the cases ofnon-compliance and their related enforcementactions.

2. The advisory council should form a standingcommittee to address water quality issues andspearhead related implementation efforts.

3. The advisory council should initiate cooperativeefforts with agencies and community groups toeducate citizens in the Ashley River watershed aboutwater quality issues, sources of water pollution, andpractices to prevent water pollution in the followingways:

a. Initiate an education campaign throughcooperation with schools, local governments,and the media.

b. Emphasize the role of individual citizens,landowners, associations, and businesses incausing and preventing pollution, recognizingthat activities on all lands of the watershed,especially those bordering streams, have a directimpact on the river.

c. Work with landowners and property managersin the watershed to control non-point sourcepollution: inform them of best managementpractices, the Scenic Rivers StewardshipProgram, and available assistance / incentives

Water Quality

32

to address land management needs.

d. Identify and recruit local citizen groups to“adopt” segments of the river for water qualitymonitoring (from simple observations to theactual collection of samples) and litter control.

e. Promote cooperation among all groups andorganizations working to keep the Ashley Riverclean.

4. The advisory council should encourage state andlocal governments to restore degraded habitats andwater quality in the tributaries to the Ashley especiallywhere the tributary is a major source of pollutedrunoff.

5. The advisory council should encourage theapplication of land management and developmentpractices that will limit impacts to water quality inthe Ashley River. Towards this end, the following isrecommended:

a. Future development in watersheds of the AshleyRiver must be planned in ways that controlstormwater runoff and limit impacts to waterquality; therefore, local governments,landowners, and developers should plan anddesign developments in ways that:

❚ Limit the degree of alteration to normalfreshwater inflows.

❚ Minimize the amount of impervious surfacecreated.

❚ Establish and/or restore vegetative buffersalong all river, creek, and marsh boundariesto trap pollutants.

❚ Maintain vegetated open spaces withindevelopments to decrease runoff and allowthe recharge of shallow aquifers.

b. Scientifically sound guidance forenvironmentally friendly development(development that reduces impact to waterquality and aquatic resources) of coastalwatersheds is needed. State and localgovernments and the advisory council should

promote and support development of suchguidance and provide it to developers, localgovernments, and landowners.

c. Land conservation should be encouraged in theAshley River watershed for the purpose ofprotecting water quality. Protecting natural areasand traditional forestry and agricultural landfrom being over developed (covered withimpervious surfaces) will protect the Ashleyfrom polluted runoff. Landowners, land trusts,and state and local governments should beencouraged to support this objective and utilizeconservation easements to establish permanentprotections.

6. The advisory council should encourage additional,more detailed, water quality monitoring in the AshleyRiver watershed by agencies and research scientiststo more accurately determine the various sources ofwater pollution and to detect acute water qualityproblems. Wet weather sampling in the tributariesof the Ashley is recommended to better understandthe pollution contributions from non-point sources.

Water Quality

33

Ashley Scenic River PlanRecreational Use and Access

FINDINGS ON RECREATIONAL USE AND ACCESS

Many recreational opportunities are available in the Ashley River corridor.Recreation activities include the following:FISHING. Anglers on the Ashley seek a variety of fish species throughout the

length of the river in a mix of salt and fresh water environments frompublic and private docks, landings, boats, or marinas. Freshwater speciesinclude catfish, bream, bass, eels, and crappie. Saltwater species includesea trout, red drum, black drum, striped bass, mullet, and flounder. Alimited amount of shellfishing for shrimp and blue crab occurs.

CANOEING AND KAYAKING. The public has opportunities to paddle andexplore the river from various public landings. Access at other locationsrequires permission from the property owners. Upper reaches of theriver are suited to canoeing and kayaking. The lower reaches can bewide-open waters with winds and waves making them better suited tothe kayakers and more experienced canoers. Middleton Inn offers boatrentals and guided paddling programs.

CAMPING. No public camping is available in the Ashley Scenic River corridor.Use of property for camping requires permission from the affectedproperty owners, otherwise the activity is considered trespassing.

SWIMMING AND SCUBA DIVING. There are no designated publicswimming areas on the Ashley Scenic River; however, swimming mayoccur where access is available or from watercraft. Impaired water qualityconditions in some areas of the river impose health risks to swimmers.Most scuba diving done in the Ashley is related to artifact and fossilhunting.

NATURE STUDY, BIRD WATCHING, PHOTOGRAPHY. The mixtureof freshwater and saltwater environments supports a diversity of floraand fauna and provides many opportunities to study and observe nature.Natural and historical settings provideample photographic opportunities.Spanish moss hanging from oaks, wildrice, bald eagles and osprey, songbirds,wading birds, redwing blackbirds,shipwrecks, plantations, tidalmarshes, otters, dolphins, andalligators — all these and more arepart of the beauty and diversity of theAshley River. Magnolia Plantation,Drayton Hall and Middleton Placeprovide opportunities for structurednature programs and each of thesehistoric sites offers birding guides.

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EXPERIENCING HISTORIC ANDARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES. TheAshley River corridor provides public accessto significant historical resources. Privatefacilities open to the public (for a fee) includeDrayton Hall, Magnolia Gardens, andMiddleton Place. Colonial Dorchester StateHistoric Site, a state-owned facility, is opento the public (for a fee). These sites provideopen grounds and historic structures forviewing and offer guided tours. The publiccan witness and sometimes participate asvolunteers in archaeology at these sites. Manysites and structures can be observed from aboat in the river including plantationbuildings, fortifications, rice field water-control structures, shipwrecks, and remainsof wharfs, all relics of the river’s history fromthe colonial period up to the present.

MOTOR BOATING, SAILING, AND WATER-SKIING. Everything from sneak boats tosailboats to 40-foot cabin cruisers can be seenplying the waters of the Ashley, whichtransitions from a narrow, tree-canopiedfreshwater stream to a wide and open tidalriver. Most water-skiing occurs in the areabetween the I-526 Bridge and Drayton Hall;and outside the no-wake zones at DraytonHall, Magnolia Gardens, Middleton Place,and Colonial Dorchester.

HUNTING. On the large tracts of private landaround the Ashley River, people hunt deer,waterfowl, doves, feral pigs, turkey, raccoon,and fox. Some land is leased by hunting clubs.Hunting activity has been on the decline withincreased development and use in the area(BCD-COG 1980).

NATURE TRAILS. The public can find access towalking trails located at Middleton Place,Drayton Hall, Magnolia Gardens, Jessen’sBoat Landing, and Colonial Dorchester StateHistoric Site. Colonial Dorchester has aninterpretive trail that has a nature

component. Each trail has various forms ofinformation available to the public.

GOLF. An 18-hole golf course is available (for a fee)at River Club on the Ashley in the King'sGrant subdivision.

PICNICKING. Public picnic opportunities areavailable at Colonial Dorchester StateHistoric Site, Magnolia Gardens, DraytonHall, Jessen’s Landing, and County FarmLanding.

Desire for recreational use and access in the AshleyRiver area is increasing. The combination of naturaland cultural resources in close proximity to a majormetropolitan area place the Ashley River corridor inhigh demand for recreational use and access.

❚ The Ashley River is in close proximity to majorurban areas, including Summerville, NorthCharleston, and Charleston. Population statisticssuggest that this area will continue to experiencerapid growth, reaching numbers close to onemillion in the first half of the 21st century. Aspeople move into this area the demand forrecreational opportunities of increased variety willcontinue to grow.

❚ Many people seek water-based recreational activityand the numbers are expected to increase. Yet,while the demand is great, a phone surveyconducted as part of the Charleston Harbor Projectin 1995 revealed a desire among many respondents

Recreational Use and Access

35

that facilitiesand access towater resources beestablished withoutc o m p r o m i s i n gnatural resourcevalues (Cunning-ham 1996).

❚ Participating inoutdoor recreationor visiting mu-seums or historicsites is a leading useof vacation timeamong tourists in South Carolina (SCPRT 1997).One of the most popular activities of visitors toDorchester and Charleston counties is visiting ahistoric site or museum; and in 1996, tourism inthe Historic Charleston area generated 1.8 billiondollars in revenue (SCPRT 1997).

A variety of recreational access facilities are availableto the public. Both private and public access facilitiesare available to those who are interested in seeingand experiencing the resources of the Ashley ScenicRiver (see Figure 9).

❚ Private facilities that are open to the public (feesrequired) include Drayton Hall, MagnoliaGardens, and Middleton Place.

❚ Public facilities include Colonial Dorchester StateHistoric Site (fee required) and four public boatlandings (free access) that include Jessen’s Landing,Wando Woods Landing, County Farm Landing,and Pierpont Landing.

❚ The public boat landings vary in terms of thefacilities provided. Jessen’s Landing, which ismanaged by the Town of Summerville, has park-like facilities including a boat ramp, boat dock,parking lot, fishing pier, picnic shelter, nature trailand a boardwalk along the river. The County FarmLanding, managed by Charleston County, has alarge ramp, large parking lot, boat dock, and picnicshelter (and a private marina is located next to this

landing). The landings at Wando Woods and atPierpont simply provide a ramp for boat launches.Several subdivisions including Ashborough, KingsGrant, and Drayton on the Ashley have privateboat landings on the river.

❚ Historic sites of the Ashley River (ColonialDorchester, Drayton Hall, Magnolia Gardens, andMiddleton Place) each have their own specialfeatures of interest to recreational users. Each siteoffers trails with access to their respective groundsand vistas along the river.

Additional public access sites are desired. Conceptsfor additional public recreational access supportedby participants in the Ashley Scenic RiverCommunity Vision Workshop of July 2000 (SCDAP2000), included the following:

❚ The need for a safe boat (canoe/kayak) launch siteon the upper river, possibly at Sland’s Bridge and/or Bacon's Bridge.

❚ The opportunity for creating a public park atBacon's Bridge.

❚ The desire for more walking and bicycle trails, asthere are few existing public opportunities alongthe Ashley. Two trail (or greenway) concepts,proposed by local governments, could enhancerecreational opportunities in the Ashley ScenicRiver corridor: (1) Sawmill Branch Bike / HikeTrail, a greenway proposal to connect ColonialDorchester State Historic Site with downtownSummerville and other points of interest, and (2)The Ashley River Road Path, a proposal to createa pedestrian/bikeway paralleling 11-miles ofHighway 61 and connecting the area at ChurchCreek with Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site(CCPRC 1995).

Overuse and abuse of the river is a concern. Manyparticipants in the Ashley Scenic River CommunityVision Workshop of July 2000 (SCDAP 2000)expressed concerns that more access leads to moreuse and more use will threaten the river with increasednoise, litter, vandalism, bank erosion, and reduced

Recreational Use and Access

36

Figure 9. Access Facilities Available to the Public

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safety and security. Suggestions from workshopparticipants include the following:

❚ No additional sites for public boat ramps areneeded on the Ashley Scenic River and powerboataccess to the upper river, above ColonialDorchester, should not be encouraged.

❚ Visitor/user-impact studies should be conductedbefore new facilities are sited and designed.

❚ River education efforts should target recreationalusers to inform them of rules and values of theriver.

Management Goal for RecreationalUse and Access

Allow the Ashley, as a State Scenic River, a to bereasonably accessible and navigable along its entirecourse for responsible recreational use and enjoymentby landowners and the general public. Balancerecreational use and access with care, respect, andconservation of the river. Manage use and access toprevent overcrowding, trespassing and abuse ofprivate property, and negative impacts on the river’soutstanding natural, scenic, and cultural resources.Encourage compatible low-impact uses of the rivercorridor and develop improved low-impact accessfacilities.

Recommendations

1. The advisory council advocates low-impact designsfor any new public access facilities proposed for theAshley Scenic River. Low-impact designs minimizethe negative affects that access facilities andrecreational users can have on the river corridor andits natural, cultural and scenic resources. The advisorycouncil recommends the following:

a. Before recreation facilities are sited anddesigned, the needs, proposed uses, andpotential impacts should be evaluated anddocumented for public review. Issues thatshould be addressed in the siting and design ofaccess facilities include minimizing overuse,

noise, and pollution, and protecting publicsafety, sensitive resources, and aesthetics.

b. Facilities should be designed to encouragecompatible recreational uses and discourageundesirable uses, both of which may varydepending on the purpose of the facility and itsproposed location on the river.

2. The advisory council recognizes that areas atBacon’s Bridge (Hwy 165) and Sland’s Bridge (Hwy17-A) can provide desirable public access points tothe Ashley Scenic River and recommends thatDorchester County pursue opportunities forestablishing safe and appropriate access in these areasafter obtaining consent of the affected landowners.The advisory council will assist in these efforts.

Recommended design features for low-impactaccess facilities at these sites are illustrated in thedrawing of a conceptual plan for Bacon’s Bridge(Figure 10) and include the following:

a. Safe parking, limited to about 25 spaces to avoidover-use of the facilities.

b. Carry-in access for small boats. A stepped canoeand kayak put-in allows easy access for smallboats and discourages use by large ones (no boatramps are recommended). Small boat access inthese areas would allow people to float to Jessen’sLanding or beyond and experience thetransition of habitats from fresh to brackish tosaltwater environments.

c. Other features include picnic areas, a walkingtrail, and restroom facilities.

d. The site is gated to control access at night, andto allow for the possibility of charging a modestfee to defray operating costs.

3. The advisory council supports greenway trailconcepts such as the Sawmill Branch Bike / Hike Trailwhich improve walking and biking access to theAshley River corridor and enhance recreationalopportunities overall.

4. To address concerns of safety and wake damage/

Recreational Use and Access

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erosion related to increasing motorboat activity onthe river, the advisory council advocates the following:

a. Increased law enforcement on the Ashley of the“No-Wake” zones and other boating safety rules.

b. No new public or community boat ramps andno new public or private marinas should be sitedon the Ashley Scenic River (there is now ampleaccess to launch motor boats; no new ramps ormarinas are recommended).

c. Increased public education on boating rules,especially “No-Wake” zones. Post signs at boatramps discussing the effects of wakes and thefines involved for disobeying the law. Alsothrough education efforts, encourage waterskiers to limit skiing to wider, straighter areasof the river.

d. Rather than prohibiting powerboats in theupper river, leave fallen trees and underwaterobstructions in the river, clearing only as neededto allow for canoe passage. Keeping fallen treesand snags in the river, and not clearing them, isrecommended to provide for fish habitat.

e. Establish “No-Wake” zones on the entire riverabove the landing at King’s Grant.

5. Managing the negative effects of recreational users

Recreational Use and Access

on river resources will be an ongoing challenge. Theadvisory council, in partnership with otherorganizations, will target education efforts, lawenforcement actions, and other remedies to addressproblems such as: littering, illegal camping /trespassing, illegal collection of underwater artifacts,as well as unsafe boating and wake erosion.

6. The protection and improvement of water qualityand wildlife habitat are essential to ongoingrecreational enjoyment of the Ashley River; therefore,the advisory council advocates the following:

a. Water quality in the Ashley River shouldconsistently meet or exceed the established Statewater quality standard in order to provide forthe desired recreational uses of fishing,shellfishing, swimming and related water-contact activities.

b. Wildlife habitats of the Ashley River corridorshould be conserved in order to support healthypopulations of native plants and animals andto provide for recreational uses such as birdwatching, nature viewing and photography,hunting and fishing. (For specific actions, referto recommendations on Water Quality andPreservation and Conservation.)

The Ashley River is a special place to me in many ways. It was a great place to take myfamily for a peaceful outdoor experience or to fish alone. The blending of salt and freshwater habitats resulted in surprising catches and surprising sights with dolphins as farupstream as Bacons Bridge.

The Ashley is a great link with our collective past, having artifacts of the plantationtimes exposed along the banks. The remnants of a tabby fortification dating back to colonialdays and historic rice plantations and gardens along the lower river evoke days gone by.The winding blackwater section of the upper river provides intimate contact with nature.

The river has a tremendous amount of history and scenic beauty in a relatively shortdistance. It lends itself very nicely to human powered craft and needs only improved accessto make it an important tourist destination. Wildlife is both diverse and abundant allowing theviewer to forget the proximity of “civilization”.

We have made many mistakes with the Ashley River but thankfully rivers can recoverfrom most. Unplanned development and consequent loss of wildlife habitat will damage itirreparably. Educated people have told me that the river to them is only a conduit for wastewater. We need to change that perception as well as the idea that riparian buffers detractfrom property values and owners rights.

In order for the Ashley River to remain a special place worthy of its scenic designationwe must make the entire scenic length accessible to the public.

— Howard Bridgman

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Recreational Use and Access

Figure 10. Conceptual Plan for Park at Bacon’s Bridge(Drawing by Bob Bainbridge)

Clean water, a healthy habitat for fish and other river wildlife, a beautiful naturalriverfront...it is essential to balance development and recreational use of the Ashley Riverwith its’ preservation. A healthy, beautiful river is a priceless natural resource that mustbe preserved for future generations.— Meta Carter

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Ashley Scenic River PlanPreservation and Conservation

FINDINGS ON PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION

The outstanding cultural, natural, and scenic resources of the upper Ashley Riverare the primary reasons for its designation as a State Scenic River, and so arecentral to this management plan.

Cultural resources of the Ashley Scenic River are nationally significant. Theseinclude historic sites that are of major economic importance to the region,fostering tourism (over 400,000 visitors per year), public education (17,000students per year), and local pride (see Figure 11).

❚ Two National Historic Landmark sites, Drayton Hall and Middleton Place,with buildings, gardens and rice fields dating back to the 1700’s.

❚ Three National Register-listed properties, Colonial Dorchester State HistoricSite (ca. 1696), Magnolia Gardens (ca. 1840), and St. Andrew’s Parish Church(ca. 1706).

❚ The State’s oldest highway, Ashley River Road (ca. 1691), is listed in theNational Register of Historic Places and is a National Scenic Byway.

❚ More than 40 significant archaeological sites are found here, including NativeAmerican sites, the ruins of former plantations, a colonial village, defensivefortifications, early industrial sites, ferry landings, bridges and wharves, andthe wrecks of colonial and 19th century ships and workboats.

❚ Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site is one of the earliest settlements inSouth Carolina. This townsite (ca. 1696) includes the remains of two wharves,a shipyard, church, school, town square, and forty homes, in addition toperhaps the best preserved tabby wall fortification in the United States.

❚ Drayton Hall (ca. 1738) is the only plantation house left on the Ashley thatsurvived the Revolutionary and Civil Wars intact. Drayton Hall is consideredone of the finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture in America.

❚ Magnolia Gardens is a 300-year-old plantation that has been in the samefamily since the arrival of Thomas Drayton from Barbados in 1671. Magnoliaincludes one of the country’s oldest gardens.

❚ Middleton Place is the location of America’s oldest landscaped gardens, laidout in 1741. This property was the home of four distinguished SouthCarolinians, including: a President of the First Continental Congress, a signerof the Declaration of Independence, a Governor of South Carolina andMinister to Russia, and a signer of the Ordinances of Secession.

❚ Shipwrecks dating back to the eighteenth century lie along the river channelof the Ashley Scenic River. Some are visible in the mud banks at low tide. Atleast thirteen underwater archaeological sites are known to exist betweenBacon’s Bridge and Magnolia Gardens.

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Figure 11. Historic Landmarks on the Ashley Scenic River

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The Ashley is rich in natural and scenic resources.In addition to its cultural resources, the river corridorincludes miles of near-pristine natural beauty(drawings in Figure 12 depict visual characteristicsof the Ashley River valued by local citizens).

❚ A dense moss-draped, fern-carpeted, floodplainforest borders the upper river to Bacon’s Bridge,with branches forming a canopy over the stream.

❚ Below Bacon’s Bridge the river opens to the sky,allowing freshwater marshes — stands of wild rice,cattails, and pickerel weed — flanked by wild rosethickets and towering oaks, maples, sweetgums andriver birches.

❚ At Ashborough and King’s Grant, limestone bluffsrise along the east side of the river and the riverwidens.

❚ At Middleton Place and below, the tides create anew riverscape, with acres of Spartina grass at river’sedge giving way to higher stands of blackneedlerush, then to salt-tolerant shrubs —baccharis, wax-myrtle, willows, and hollies — andfinally to the trees and shrubs of the uplands.Residential and commercial development increasesas one moves farther down river.

❚ The Ashley’s changing landscape supports myriadwild creatures, from deer, bobcats, raccoons, andriver otters, to alligators, turtles and water snakes,to flocks of songbirds, wading birds, and migratory

birds which feed and take shelter in theriverside vegetation.

Intense growth and land developmentpressures pose a threat. Poorly plannedand designed development can degradethe appearance and character of theAshley Scenic River corridor.

❚ Currently, approximately 25 majorparcels of undeveloped land exist alongthe scenic river corridor, from Sland’sBridge to the CSX Railroad Trestle. Ifthe scenic appearance of the river is tobe maintained, the cooperation of theselandowners is essential.

❚ Urban sprawl in the Charleston/Summerville areais a growing concern, with the urban footprint ofthe tri-county area expected to expand from160,000 acres to 386,913 acres by 2015, accordingto Clemson’s Strom Thurmond Institute.

❚ More marginal land is being developed; roads,water and sewer lines are being expanded; andresidential and commercial growth is proceedingat a rapid pace in the Summerville/NorthCharleston/upper Charleston County area.

❚ Local jurisdictions are attempting to enactcomprehensive land use plans, creating “overlaydistricts” along the Ashley, re-zoning areas, andproviding for building height and density limits,sign restrictions, setbacks, “greenbelts,” buffers, etc.to control development and to minimize its impacton the natural and cultural landscape. Oppositionhas arisen from landowners and developers whoview these efforts as unconstitutional “landtakings.”

Vegetative buffers are essential for resourceconservation. Buffers along the river and itstributaries are essential to maintain the scenic andhistoric appearance of the Ashley River. As notedelsewhere in this plan, buffers are also essential tomaintain the water quality by preventingsedimentation and by filtering pollutants from the

Preservation and Conservation

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Preservation and Conservation

runoff of urban, suburban, and agricultural areas.

❚ The Ashley River Special Area Management Plan(SAMP) was created in 1992 by the S.C. CoastalCouncil (now the Office of Ocean and CoastalResources Management (OCRM) at the S.C.Department of Health and EnvironmentalControl) and the S.C. Department of Archives andHistory (Townsend and Brock 1992). The SAMPincludes provision for protection of historicproperties, archaeological sites and scenic naturalareas from Bacon’s Bridge to the CSX RailroadTrestle.

❚ The SAMP recommends that new developmentson the Ashley be required to provide 50 to 100-foot vegetative buffers along the river and itstributaries (Townsend andBrock 1992). Under theauthority of the S.C. CoastalZone Management Act,OCRM regulates activitiesin two ways: (1) directpermitting of constructionactivities in “critical areas”or tidal areas (thisaffects activities such asdocks and bulkheads), and(2) “certification” forstormwater management and wetland protectionfor development activities requiring other state orfederal permits in coastal counties of SouthCarolina. Through this existing authority, OCRMcan require buffers for an activity such as a newsubdivision development.

Visual intrusions degrade river aesthetics. Intrusionsthat may threaten the river’s appearance and characterinclude:

❚ The ever-increasing number of communicationtowers.

❚ More docks and bulkheads.

❚ Buildings over two-stories high cannot beeffectively screened by topography in the lower-river areas below the Dorchester County line.

These areas fall in the jurisdictions of both NorthCharleston and Charleston County.

❚ More building of high-rise offices, apartments orindustrial buildings, such as those near the MarkClark Bridge, is likely.

❚ The possible loss of wildlife habitat and the beautyof the riverscape by:

▼ Timber harvesting in the flood plain forestsalong the upper river.

▼ Clear-cutting of privately-owned building lotsdown to the river.

▼ The clearing of large construction sites on highground bordering the river.

Increasing powerboattraffic is a concern. Boattraffic degrades the culturaland scenic qualities of theriver:

❚ The whine of high- speedmotors drowns out thesounds of nature andinterferes with thevisitor’s desire to “stepback in time” toexperience a sense of thepast.

❚ Wakes generated by powerboats accelerateshoreline erosion that results in a loss of privateproperty. Shoreline erosion increases the turbidityof the water endangering shellfish and essentialmarine organisms.

Litter and illegal dumping impact the scenic river.Litter comes from many sources and degrades theriver:

❚ Litter accumulates in the marshes and backwatersand along trails paralleling the river, degrading theviewscape and endangering wildlife.

❚ At places readily accessible by road, such as Bacon’sBridge and Jessen’s Landing, illegal dumpingblights the landscape and introduces pollution.

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Management Goal for Preservationand Conservation

Preserve in perpetuity the unique cultural resourcesand conserve the outstanding natural and scenicresources of the Ashley Scenic River.

Recommendations

1. Municipalities and counties bordering the AshleyRiver should develop meaningful and coordinatedstandards for new construction to preserve andenhance the appearance of the scenic river.Included in these standards should be the 50 to100-foot vegetative buffers specified in the AshleyRiver Special Area Management Plan (SAMP).

2. OCRM should exercise its authority under theCoastal Zone Management Act to enforce thepolicies of the Ashley River SAMP, particularlythose that address buffers and docks:

a. Require vegetative buffers along the river in all

Preservation and Conservation

Figure 12. VisualCharacteristics of theAshley Scenic River:(a) upper river naturalfeatures(b) mid-river natural andcultural features(c) open river naturalfeatures(d) historic propertyfeatures(Drawings by Bob Bainbridge)

A

B

C

D

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new developments, through the entire scope ofpermit review and certification. Additionally,OCRM should require developers to showrequired vegetative buffers in all deeds forindividual land parcels or building lots, so as tomaintain requirements along the Ashley ScenicRiver through successive changes in propertyownership.

b. Require docks to be limited in number, allowingone community dock for developments; limitsize and structure, allowing no roofs, handrails,or second story decks; and consider location,avoiding visual impacts to historic propertieson or eligible for the National Register.

3. The State General Assembly should enactlegislation to encourage scenic easements anddonations of buffer lands or greenspace. State andlocal funds should be made available to purchasedevelopment rights or to secure easements forcritical greenspace bordering the scenic river.Incentives and funds should be provided for bufferplanting, using native plants, along alreadyestablished properties.

4. The owners of forested lands bordering the scenicriver should be encouraged to donate easementsor, as a minimum, to selectively harvest timberfollowing South Carolina’s Best ManagementPractices for Forestry (SCFC 1994), in order tominimize visual impact, bank erosion,sedimentation, and stream pollution.

5. Local governments should require structures forutilities, such as communication towers andpower-transmission lines, to be built in ways thatminimize visual impacts to the scenic river. Thecollocation of equipment for multiple users onexisting and new towers or corridors isrecommended. Wherever possible, utilitystructures should be screened from the scenic riverby topographical features. Where this is notpossible, structure height and design should besuch as to minimize visual impact.

Preservation and Conservation

6. The S.C. Department of Natural Resources(SCDNR) and the advisory council shouldincrease education of boaters as to wake damageand responsible boat operation, to minimizeerosion, property damage, and noise pollution.Special consideration by SCDNR should be given,for reasons of public safety and the peacefulenjoyment of the river, to the creation of a “No-Wake” zone for the entire river above the landingat King’s Grant subdivision.

7. Conservation Officers and local police shouldincrease their surveillance of chronic litter andillegal dumping sites (such as Sland’s Bridge andJessen’s Landing), enforcing the law morerigorously, and encouraging fishermen and boatersto help remove debris around them. In addition,the advisory council urges the state and localagencies involved to increase the number of “RiverSweeps” to at least two per year.

Actions:

1. The advisory council will approach state, county,and municipal representatives; river-borderinglandowners; and other organizations to activelyadvocate implementing these recommendations.

2. The advisory council will encourage voluntaryactivities that will protect important scenic andcultural resources.

Example of voluntary activity: Since 1992, partnerswith the Lowcountry Open Land Trust havesucceeded in obtaining several land conservationeasements within the upper Ashley corridor toprotect the views from historic properties. A majorlandowner has made possible, through donationand bargain sale, the preservation of marshes andbuffering high ground facing Drayton Hall. Mostrecently, land developers have consideredestablishing “linear parks” across the river fromMiddleton Place.

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Ashley Scenic River PlanLand Management and Development

FINDINGS ON LAND MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

This management plan promotes a voluntary and cooperative approach to landmanagement and development and acknowledges the fundamental rights andresponsibilities of property owners to guide what happens to their own property.This approach is workable because there are only a small number of propertiesthat can be developed in a way that would dramatically impact the river. Thesenumbers make personal contact, discussions, and exchange of information andplans possible. As the mission of the advisory council is to promote ongoingstewardship of the river, this mission is pursued recognizing the legacy of goodstewardship among the landowners.

Major issues affecting land management and development that must be dealtwith to promote goals of good stewardship include the following:

Recent regulatory proposals and plans are not successful.❚ Regulatory efforts have been a major thrust employed thus far to achieve the

objective of protecting resources of the Ashley River corridor. Many in thecommunity have met regulatory proposals with much resistance on morethan one occasion.

❚ Several comprehensive management studies and plans have been producedin recent years. Although well-intended, these studies tend to be difficult toimplement.

Local zoning codes are inconsistent among jurisdictions. There is a lack ofuniformity in zoning and other regulations of the five jurisdictions havingauthority and influence over the Ashley Scenic River corridor, resulting in alack of coordination and much confusion among property owners and users.

Alternative, non-regulatory approaches to conserving land are poorlyunderstood.❚ There are various non-regulatory approaches to conserving land that can be

financially viable for the landowner such as donating conservation easements,or selling development rights, or incorporating special design features forlimited-impact development.

❚ Because these approaches are relative new and poorly understood, they areoften met with distrust by local landowners.

Concern over loss of forestry and agriculture. There is much concern that thetraditional land uses of forestry and agricultural practices in the Ashley ScenicRiver corridor may be lost due to intense growth and development pressures.More change could occur over the next 20 years than during the past 150 years.

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manage the land with as uniform standards aspossible.

c. Create landscape guidelines for futuredevelopments that preserve vegetation along theAshley River, Ashley River Road, and adjacentproperties. These guidelines should address waysto reduce and eliminate visual and water runoffimpacts to the river and promote a seamlessvisual quality to the river corridor.

d. Schedule land stewardship workshops thateducate the property owners on alternative landuse planning. The goal of these workshopswould be to illustrate good design and identifyfinancial incentives for various alternatives.Workshops would be most effective if actualproperties could be used to test various designalternatives.

2. The advisory council will produce a concise LandUse Guidebook that illustrates land stewardshipprinciples on a site-specific basis. (See AppendixA and B for examples of components for aguidebook.)

3. The advisory council will advocate continuedforestry and agricultural practices in the corridorto protect its rural character. These uses can becompatible within conservation areas.

Land Management and Development

Traditional development practices can degrade theAshley River corridor. Development practices thathave occurred in other parts of the greater Charlestonarea could have a devastating effect on theenvironment of the Ashley Scenic River corridor. Thetypical cookie-cutter maximum approach tocommercial and residential development will degradethe natural, cultural, and aesthetic qualities of theAshley Scenic River.

Proposed Glen McConnell Parkway extension willexpose the Ashley to greater development pressure.The parkway extension will increase developmentpressure on formerly undeveloped lands west ofAshley River Road. The location and character ofthe parkway is uncertain at this time.

Management Goal for Land Manage-ment and Development

Preserve and enhance the scenic and water qualitycharacteristics of the Ashley River corridor andencourage landowners to continue voluntary goodstewardship of their land.

Recommendations

1. To develop a program that builds partnershipspromoting mutual respect among landowners,developers, local government agencies and riverusers, protecting individual property rights toaccomplish the management goals, theadvisory council in cooperation with otherorganizations will pursue the following:

a. Develop a community association and acommunications network to inform andeducate Ashley River landowners, river users,and elected officials of success stories, activities,and issues related to the river.

b. Maintain contacts and communications withrepresentatives of all local governments havingjurisdiction in the Ashley Scenic River corridorto spearhead a coordinated regional effort to

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4. There are currently about 25 to 40 major parcelsof undeveloped land along the Ashley Scenic Rivercorridor. Advisory council members will work withconservation organizations to present to theselandowners (on an individual basis) the moreconservation-oriented options available shouldthey decide to develop their property. The advisorycouncil, working with conservation partners, willalso seek to communicate with new landownersto explain these options in the future. Thefollowing are examples of options to be addressedfor conservation and development of properties:

❚ Conservation easements

❚ Purchasing development rights

❚ Tax incentives and other incentive-basedoptions

❚ Limited development/maximum yield

❚ Setback and buffer guidelines

❚ Deed restrictions

5. The advisory council will explore and promoteoptions for helping developed areas in the AshleyRiver watershed to retrofit stormwater drainagesystems and bring the old systems in line with currentstandards for stormwater management.

Faced with increasing changes and stresses of urbanization, we need to preserve a fewspecial places where people can escape the traffic, noise, and visual clutter. The upperAshley River is just such a place. Here we can paddle through floodplain forests, driftpast old tabby walls and beautiful gardens, listen to the chatter of blackbirds in the wildrice, and see up close the stiff-legged herons, basking turtles, and troops of fiddler crabs.Here our children can thrill to the surge of good fish on the line, and can learn that there’smore to life than video games and shopping malls. A few hours on the river canstrengthen our ties to nature and the past, and recharge our spirits. Whether we livealong the river or in the communities nearby, it’s in everyone’s interest to keep the AshleyScenic River our “special place” close to home.

— George Neil

Land Management and Development

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Ashley Scenic River PlanImplementation

THIS ASHLEY SCENIC RIVER Management Plan contains fourmanagement goals and 26 recommendations that address problems andopportunities regarding the river. The creation of this plan with its manyobjectives is an important accomplishment because it represents a consensusamong a diversity of local citizens and it reflects community values, concerns,and desires for the river.

The plan serves as a guide for promoting good stewardship of the Ashley ScenicRiver. The challenge now is to put the plan into action and produce tangibleresults. Through implementation, the local community can take steps to achievecleaner water in the river, a park/put-in at Bacon’s Bridge, litter-free boat landings,beautiful trees and shrubs along the shoreline enhancing natural views, andexemplary development designs that conserve the open spaces and natural/cultural character of the Ashley River corridor.

The Ashley Scenic River Advisory Council will advocate this plan to the broadercommunity and take actions to implement specific recommendations. Not allthe recommendations can be implemented at once. Some recommendations

will require a short-term effort, while otherswill be ongoing and never ending, and stillothers will require much time and effortorganizing and building partnerships andfunding to be achieved. People andorganizations such as landowners, riverusers, community interest groups,developers, or governmental entities thatsimply decide that this plan presents anappropriate way to manage the river canimplement many of the recommendations.

Local citizens and organizations are encouraged to become involved with theadvisory council to pursue the goals of this plan. The advisory council willcontinue to meet regularly in the Ashley River area and invite interested citizensto be informed of and involved in their ongoing plans and actions.

Recommendations for implementation are presented below to serve as guidelinesfor moving forward with advocacy, governmental coordination, funding, andeducation efforts to accomplish the objectives of the plan.

Recommendations for Plan Implementation

1. The advisory council will pursue the goals and recommendations of theAshley Scenic River Management Plan and will use the plan to inform andencourage other citizens, landowners, developers, and leaders of the

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community to take specific actions for betterstewardship of the natural and cultural resourcesof the river corridor.

2. The advisory council will seek to understand newand existing regulations, ordinances, codes,comprehensive plans, and transportation plans andseek to conform them to goals of the Ashley ScenicRiver Management Plan.

a. The plans and regulations of each governmentshould be analyzed and compared to understandthe similarities and differences, the level ofenforcement, what works and does not work,and what needs to be updated or changed. Withthis information and analysis, the advisorycouncil will more effectively address the actionsof local, state, and federal agencies.

b. The advisory council will seek to review andprovide comments on plans and permitapplications for development projects that havepotential impacts on the natural and culturalresources of the Ashley Scenic River corridor.

3. The advisory council and partnering organizationswill identify and access sources of funding andincentives to facilitate the goals of the Ashley ScenicRiver Management Plan. Funding will be neededfor programs, public education and publicrelations. Incentives will be needed to encourageresource conservation and conservation designs for

development among the river-bordering landowners. Relevantexpertise will be sought andconsulted to assist the council inunderstanding the sources of fundsand grants and the processes ofproviding incentives.

4. Public education and informationprograms will be created by theadvisory council to accomplish thefollowing:

a. Communicate the vision captured in themanagement plan and build partnershipsamong landowners, developers, designers, andlocal governments to bring about the goals ofconservation and compatible development inthe river corridor. Build partnerships with thosewho can provide assistance in conservation,design, development, and funding. Identifysuccessful models that demonstrate economicvalue in blending conservation goals withcompatible development.

b. Engage, inform, and educate the public aboutthe values of the Ashley Scenic River, the goalsof the management plan, the facts leading tothe creation of the plan, and the role of theadvisory council. Build consensus and broadcommunity support for the plan and the goalsof good stewardship of the Ashley River. Addresscommunity groups such as: scouts, schools, riverusers, churches, civic associations, business andindustry, chambers of commerce, tourismassociations, neighborhoods, governments, andelected officials.

c. Communicate the values of the Ashley ScenicRiver and the goals and recommendations ofthe management plan by providing brochures,river maps, group presentations (speakersbureau), news articles, field trips and tours,lesson plans, service projects like river sweeps,and signs or markers at points of access and sitesof interest/importance.

Implementaton

Appendix

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Ashley Scenic River PlanAppendix A

LANDOWNER OPTIONS FOR CONSERVATIONAND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

Introduction

Many landowners along the Ashley River own land that is largely undevelopedand has special natural, ecological, and historic resources. These special resourcesremain intact, thanks to many generations of good stewards. Today’s landowners,interested in continuing the legacy of good stewardship, have a number of options,some of which contain financial incentives to encourage and ensure ongoingprotection of the Ashley’s natural, scenic resources.

All of the options presented below are entirely voluntary for the landowner.Private, voluntary action has proven over time to be the surest protection methodagainst all threats. Note that this management plan proposes to preserve andimprove the current scenic, historic, and ecological resources of the Ashley Rivercorridor, and the alternatives listed below are presented for information andconsideration. Further information may be obtained from attorneys, land trusts,or other entities specializing in conservation.

Options presented include the following:

1. Deed Restrictions2. Conservation Easements3. Purchase of Development Rights4. Fee Simple Donation5. Bargain Sale6. Life Estate or Donation by Will7. Setback and Buffer Guidelines and Easements8. Limited Development or Conservation Design

Deed Restrictions

This is the simplest alternative to enact. The landowner, in conjunction withheirs or assigns, lists the conservation covenants that he or she expects to befulfilled by all future owners of the property. This is included as a codicil(supplement or appendix) on the deed and recorded. It then has the force oflaw; however, it begs the question of who will enforce the covenants. It may beadvisable to appoint a trustee, usually a corporation that has an extended life, tomonitor the property in the future and be ready to enforce the terms of thecodicil. There are no tax or financial incentives involved in this option and afund may need to be set aside to aid in enforcement.

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Appendix A

Conservation Easements

The conservation easement provides a voluntary andflexible means of protecting private property, whiledesignating someone to provide stewardship andenforcement, when necessary. It also usually offerstax incentives. In a conservation easement, the ownerand subsequent owners maintain title to the land,but enter into a legally binding contract with a landtrust that permanently removes some of the rights tofully develop a property. The landowner promisesto preserve the conservation values of the propertyas outlined in the terms of the agreement, and theland trust is granted the right (and responsibility) tomonitor the property and enforce the terms. Theowner and heirs may continue to live on the land,use the land for traditional uses (such as farming,hunting, and forest management) and transferownership, if desired. The IRS usually considers thisa charitable donation and is willing to allow adeduction for the difference in value of the propertybetween its worth if development were allowed andits worth with the restrictions.

The terms of an easement usually include bothrestrictions and reserved rights. Restrictions generallyprohibit industrial and most commercial uses, restrictthe number of subdivisions, limit the number andsize or nature of structures, docks, roads, etc., andspecify that most vegetation, wetlands, topography,hydrology, and significant habitat remainundisturbed. Reserved rights are exceptions to therestrictions and may include the right to farm,manage timber, build a homestead, run home-basedbusinesses, hunt, fish, have stables, and manage thewildlife and ecology. The restrictions are designedto maintain residential and recreational uses, whilenot limiting the income-producing prospects of theproperty so severely that it becomes a financial burdenon present and future owners.

The landowner is generally responsible for obtainingand paying for attorneys, appraiser, surveyor, andappropriate consultants, as required. However, the

tax advantages can offset most if not all of these costsand will carry forward for up to six years (the year ofdonation, plus five) on federal and state income taxes,should there be insufficient income to carry the entirededuction in one year. There is generally also areduction in estate taxes and property taxes due tothe documented loss in value of the property. Changein value for tax purposes means little in comparisonto the worth of ecological and scenic valuesmaintained. Some properties with conservationeasements have been shown to appreciate in valuebecause of the easement.

Purchase of Development Rights

This alternative involves the outright purchase of theright to develop the property, usually by aconservation-minded second party, who is notinterested in developing the land at all. It could be anon-profit corporation or it could be a state or federalagency. Recently passed state legislation known asthe Conservation Land Bank Act provides for fundsto be used for this purpose, beginning in 2004. Theagreement for the purchase of development rightswill generally specify the nature and extent ofdevelopment intended. There are no tax incentivesassociated with this option, as consideration is made,and it is not necessarily permanent, as developmentrights can be resold at a later date.

Fee Simple Donation

Of course, the landowner may donate land to aconservation interest. Under this strategy, all interestin the property or portion of the property is gifted toa land trust or other agency and the charitablecontribution reflects the full value of the property.One caveat with this strategy is that title must beclear. In a recent court decision, marshland titlestraced back to a “Kings Grant” allow for the donationof marshland or lowland areas below the mean hightide mark. Many Ashley River owners can trace theirtitle thusly.

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Appendix A

Bargain Sale

This strategy is similar to donation, except it is anactual sale but at a consideration noticeably belowmarket value. The difference between the sale priceand market value would be a charitable contribution(provided it is made to a qualifying charity or agency)and treated as such for tax purposes.

Life Estate or Donation by Will

There are many options available in estate planning.Either property or easements may be donated at thetime of the landowner’s death, both of which willreduce estate taxes. Provisions may be made for anumber of options for the landowner’s survivors andheirs. A specific example of this is the Life Estate,where a remainder interest in the property is donatedto a land trust, for instance, but a designated familymember is given the right to live on and use theproperty until their death, at which time the landtrust acquires full ownership.

Setback and Buffer Guidelines andEasements

Should a landowner decide to develop part of his orher property, it is important to at least comply withthe Standards for Voluntary Buffers on the Ashley ScenicRiver presented in Appendix B. In addition, Figure13 presents two different levels of development for apiece of property, both of which include theconservation of buffers and natural open space andsetbacks that move development away from thestreams, wetlands, cultural resources, and thehighway. The essential function of the buffersand open space is to ameliorate the negative effectsof development on scenery, water quality, and wildlifehabitat; however, these features also enhance themarket value of the lots or home sites. Placingsetbacks or buffers in conservation easements beforeselling or developing property can result in some taxoffsets to the income derived from the sale or

development. As this management plan seeks tominimize development impacts to the river corridor,meeting setback and buffer guidelines isrecommended as an essential practice for alldevelopment.

Limited Development orConservation Design

Landowners who need to consider selling all or partof their property should be aware of a developmenttechnique known as conservation design or limiteddevelopment. This process allows development inonly a limited portion of the property, dedicatingthe major portion to conservation, usually throughthe vehicle of an easement. The combination of taxadvantages accruing from a conservation easement,the sale of higher-valued, more prestigious lots, andlower development costs can make the financialreturns of a limited development option comparableto selling the land outright to a developer. Thisapproach is particularly beneficial to a landowner whomay wish for him/herself and his/her family theopportunity to continue living on the property andenjoying its special resources.

In the way of further explanation of this alternative,an example is included as an attachment to thisAppendix containing three drawings. The first, anEnvironmental Conditions Plan (Figure 13-a),illustrates the physical and cultural attributes of theproperty. It identifies the opportunities andconstraints for its development. The second drawing,the “As of Right” Plan (Figure 13-b), illustrates theactual development yield of the property based oncurrent zoning/buffering requirements and physicalcharacteristics of the property. This plan establishesthe full development potential (highest and best use)for the property and can be used to establish acorresponding financial value. The third drawing,(Figure 13-c) the Limited Development Plan,demonstrates a use of the property with only fivehome sites, with the rest of the property placed in

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Appendix A

conservation easement, donated to a land trust. Theappraised value of this plan will be subtracted fromthe highest-and-best-use value to arrive at the valueof the charitable deduction.

Several conditions are required for the limiteddevelopment technique to be successful (most ofwhich exist along the Ashley River):

❚ The land has significant conservation value (i.e.,water edges, wetland, scenic views, archeologicalsites, and/or wildlife habitat).

❚ There is little or no debt on the land (easementsrequire subordination).

❚ The land has a high interest for development,causing property values to rise significantly.

When these conditions are met, this form ofdevelopment can make sense economically as well aspreserve much of the conservation values. It can allowsomeone who is “land-rich” but “cash-poor,” whovalues their land and wishes to remain on it, toconserve it, obtain some return, and still be able topass the use and legacy on to his or her heirs.

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Appendix A

A

B

C

Figure 13. Example Property on Ashley River Illustrating aLimited Development Approach: (a) Environmental ConditionsPlan, (b) “As-Of-Right” Plan, and (c) Limited Development Plan(Drawings by John Tarkany)

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Ashley Scenic River PlanSTANDARDS FOR VOLUNTARY BUFFERS ONTHE ASHLEY SCENIC RIVER

Comments and Drawings by Bill Eubanks with Morgan Bultman

While mandatory buffer requirements have been discussed and are in place at afew locations, voluntary buffer standards that could be applied to the AshleyScenic River are presented in drawings (Figures 14 and 15) and described below(SCDAP 2000).

It is not the goal of the designs to illustrate a totally opaque or impenetrablebuffer. Much of the desire to live on the Ashley comes from a desire to be ableto see the river. If you can see the river, then, to some extent, you can be seen aswell. The goal for voluntary buffers is to preserve the character of the views andprovide filtering of water going to the river, while preserving access and views tothe river.

The Middleton Inn provides some good examples. It has good views to thewater, and as a result can be seen, but only in short glimpses through the trees.There is access for canoes and kayaks, but it is through a tunnel of trees thatmake it virtually invisible from the river.

The proposed standards call for a 100-foot buffer. The first 50 feet will be a “NoTouch” buffer extending inland from the OCRM critical line. The next 50 feetof the buffer will allow for selective clearance to create views to the river. Anythingfarther inland could be cleared.

Even within the buffer zone, clearing for access would be permitted. For each100 feet of bank frontage, 20 feet can be cleared for paths, boardwalks, or docksto the river edge. The walk itself could be up to 10 feet wide.

Raised boardwalks are preferred, especially in the 50 feet closest to the river, inorder to minimize disturbance to the landscape.

While not shown in the drawings, creating a bend in the path will visuallyreduce the impact of the walkway cuts. The bend is easily accessible, but makesit impossible to see straight in to the property from the river.

If all 20 feet of the allowed clearing area is needed for construction ofimprovements, then the fringes on either side of the path should be allowed togrow back, preferably with a full canopy of mature trees. If buildings are seen atall, they are seen through gaps below the continuous canopy of trees.

Appendix B

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Appendix B

Figure 15. River Access Through Buffers

Figure 14. Proposed Voluntary Buffers

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Ashley Scenic River PlanAppendix C

PUBLIC INPUT, SUMMARY NOTES, ANDRECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE JULY 2000COMMUNITY VISION WORKSHOP

By Robert W. Bainbridge, AIA, and Irene Dumas TysonSouth Carolina Design Arts Partnership

The Values of the Ashley River

Four questions were asked during public input sessions of the July 18-20, 2000workshop and used to understand the importance of the river as it is now and asit could be in the future. The questions asked about a perfect day on the river,the value of the river, treasures along the river, and visions for the river. Whilethere are duplications between the four lists, each question evoked slightlydifferent perspectives and fresh ideas (SCDAP 2000).

What would be a Perfect Day on the Ashley River?Sneak boat, crickets, and brim buster to go fishingCrabbing w/ grand kidsCanoeing with wife on upper Ashley, fishing on banksLying in hammock, under trees, with cool breezeWatch ospreys huntSee a lot of wildlifeNot having to chase duck hunters out of pondFishing . . . catching fishA day without new development popping upNot wondering what will be left next yearSkiing from Bacons Bridge to the harbor againA day without government management oversightViewing old plantation houses from riverA day without litter — styrofoam cupsPaddling from Sland’s Bridge, hearing man’s sounds melt to natural soundsSharing river with adults and students and teaching about nature and historyBeing able to see and enjoy archaeological resourcesNot seeing a jet skiWater skiing on the riverFloat by where Cedar Grove was and other historic sitesTell kids about history of village of Dorchester as they peer over fort wallsTake water taxi from Colonial Dorchester to Charles Towne Landing, stopping at plantations along the way for breakfast, lunch, or dinnerNot having to worry about water qualitySwimming in the river

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Appendix C

What are the Special Treasures of the Ashley River Corridor?

Saw Mill Branch into river — fossilsBream fishing upriver from Sland’s BridgeTidal river makes interestingMarshes in Fall — blue sky and waterSeeing and hearing birds in the wild riceAt extremely low tide — alligatorsPlantations as seen from riverCatching spot-tail bass, stripers, and crabsSeeing historic sitesSurprises in what you’ll see — naturalParties / oyster roasts at boat clubCooking pig / breakfast at sunriseSt. George’s Church tower at Colonial DorchesterCanoeing / kayakingSwimming, boating, skiingClose place to test seaworthiness of boatGreat place to grow tomatoesSunsetsListening to ducks and geese in FallSounds of nature

What is Valuable about the Ashley River?SunsetsOther worldlyNumber of people who passionately care aboutpreservation - conservationIt has maintained its historic value over the yearsIt is quiet, most of the timeKnowing it used to be people’s livesThe stories it tellsThe people you meet on riverIt calls you to improve, nurture, and to be involvedThe diversity of the environments and the viewsThe narrow and sweeping view shedsVaried vegetation in marshes and higherBirdsHistoric sitesDiverse wildlifeA remarkable combination of nature and history

in short distanceSheer beauty

Easily accessible tourban areaIt is a place thatinspires reflection,connection, and asense of place

What is yourVision for theAshley River?

Coordinated regional planning and zoning alongriver

Limited developmentEco-tourismHave safe public access on the upper river for

canoes and kayaksHave a pristine clean riverMaintain and restore view sheds and vegetationMaintain historic sites — protect their view shedResolve divisive property rights issues, work

cooperativelyMore emphasis on prehistory, geologic history, not

just 16-18th centuryHistorical markers and signage for the scenic area,

education programsTell the story of the RiverCamouflage or hide visual intrusions such as cell

towers and power linesConserved 17th century birthplace of the south,

nation; early civilized settlementDevelop ways to preserve large family properties;

to thrive, make living and not have to subdivideGreater DNR presence on the river, regulations

and protection, pay staff moreUse quasi-public land for public access — parks,

nature trails, along riverAshley Scenic River extent to Wappoo Cut, to its

mouth, up to Cypress SwampPreservation of natural and historic / archaeological

landscapes and resources so stories can continueto be told

Involve US Coast Guard in Scenic River ProgramPublic education programIncentives to get landowner cooperation

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MANAGEMENT PLAN OUTLINE / FRAMEWORK

The following lists were taken from public input sessions of the July 18-20, 2000 workshop and organized ina set of five categories about WHAT needs to be done to protect and enhance the river and three categories oftechniques on HOW to go about doing it. The categories may form the basis for committees or task forces ofthe advisory council. First, public comments regarding the matters of property rights and corridor definitionare listed (SCDAP 2000).

Appendix C

Property Rights IssuesCooperative and voluntary emphasisDon’t need new regulations that limit what ownerscan do

Fear of too many government restrictionsFear of “creeping” regulations

Corridor DefinitionScenic River: 22 miles 1998 to RR bridge, 2 miles1999 to Mark Clark

Extend down to: Charles Towne Landing (statepark to state park)? To mouth of river? ToWappoo Cut?

Extend up to Cypress SwampInclude area west of Ashley River RoadScenic By-way as well as river

What Needs To Be Done

1. Water Quality Water Quality & QuantityUpper river: not advised for swimming,shellfish: fin fish OK

Point source: treated wastewater, toxicsfrom RR and industry

Non-point source: urban run-off(Summerville ditches?) impervioussurfaces

Long-term drainage plan forSummerville area

Flooding and flood plain, storm surgeEagle Creek? unknown qualityQuality may vary day-by-daySwales, ditches, intermittent also

importantLitter in water is a different kind of pollutionAn Environmental Baseline is neededWater quality, pollution, monitoring, erosion

ThreatsToxic contaminants: manufacturing, RRInadequate buffersDevelopmentWater pollution from treatment plants, industryNon-point source pollution“Historic” pollutants already in river or riverbedSedimentationNoise pollutionNon-point pollution, not fully treated sewage,parking lots, new development

Intro of toxins, hazardous materialsCould come from what is crossing the river- trains,pipelines

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Hazards may be downstream and upstream dueto tidal action

Destruction of wildlife habitatsCan’t eat fish or shellfishErosion of riverbanks, cleared landToo many lights could blot out the starsLack of understanding importance of riverLack of scientific understanding

2. Recreational Use and Access Uses and UsersRecreational Uses, active and passivePaddlers: canoe, kayak, rowingLevel of Powerboat traffic and speedWater skiing?Water taxis?SailboatsJet skis? Racing problemJon boats, bank fishing, fishing piers: catfish,bream, red drum

Tubing: round trip?Bird watching: waterfowl, eaglesNature watchers, bird watchersSwimmers? (Bacon’s bridge historically)Picnickers:Colonial Dorchester, plantationsJust watch the river: hammock and cool breeze,sit on deck, listen

Scuba diversNature photographyHuntersGolfersShrimping, crabbing, oysters?Visit plantations, historic sites, look for artifacts?Nature programs for childrenRestaurants, dining

Public Access PointsNear roads nowNeed safe launch points in the upper river: tube,paddlers;

Limit powerboats on the upper river, no boatlandings: control litter

Near Bacon’s bridge, public park

(Summerville Water, Charleston Southern ownland)

Avoid vulnerable sites: archaeological, etc.Do visitor impact studyConcern: more access leads to more useTie in to public transportHazardous parking on Hwy 17, at Sland’s Bridge

NeededNature trails (1996 CHATS study-Ashley Trail...)Biking trails

ThreatsExplosive growth of boat trafficNoise from boats and jet skisBank erosion accelerated by boatsLitterOver-useVandalism to landingsTrash left behind or dumpedLack of safety and security

3. Visual Quality and Character Viewsheds / Visual QualitySetbacks, buffers. Width?Utility linesBridges (RR & Highway) (RR bridge is onnational register)

Sunlight, moonlight, shadowViewscapes, waterscapesCellular towersDesign quality of docks

Character of the RiverTidal River, diverse in short distance, four in oneBluffs: High bluffs, lower marl bluffsCanopy of trees at upper reachesMarsh lined by treesWild Rice, Spartina grass, cattailsHistoric sites

Character of the CorridorSpecial treasureTransitional

Appendix C

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Urban/ruralTidal wetlandPrivate and public, large and small ownersHistoric and archaeological sitesWildlife HabitatDiverse governancePotential development sitesErodingUtility easementsResidential areasRecreationScenic & uglyInteractive with river: side streams, wetlands, etc.Both sides of riverScenic vistas, aestheticsVegetative buffers

Bank TreatmentDocks? quantity, spacing, size: 1992 special areamanagement plan with Archives and History

Deed restrictions? Planned development?ErosionArmoring: rip-rap?, concrete block?Geosynthetics plus sandbags and plantings(Drayton Hall)

Downed trees in water slow power boats, diminish waves

Character of Ashley River RoadTree canopy recovering: thirty years to goNational Register management plan in preparationCut back some after Hugo at Summerville end

Threats to Visual QualityCommunication towers— tall

Utility blight / infrastructureBridgesTree cuttingDocksUnattractive erosion and rip-rap

4. Preservation and Conservation Ecological ResourcesWildlife Habitat, diversity,Marshes, limestone or marl bluffs (don’t erode)Stocked Red Drum (DNR) testing effect on localfish

Environmental integrity of river itself but alsoadjacent land

Restore damaged habitats (industrial area clean-up)

Historic, Archaeological and Cultural ResourcesDrayton Hall, Middleton, Magnolia?, St. AndrewsChurch, Colonial Dorchester,

Relation of people to the landArchaeological resources (protection withoutpublicity)

Phosphate docks? Narrow-gauge bridgeabutment?

Native AmericanRevolutionary and Civil Wars,Ferries (Bee’s Ferry)

ThreatsHabitat DestructionGrowth of boat traffic: congestion, safety, erosionIgnorance of resourcesToo much huntingVandalismPoachingNatural disasters — hurricanes

5. Land Use / Appropriate Development Types of PropertiesStable, long-term public ownership or easementExisting developed residential lotsSubdivided but unbuilt lots

Appendix C

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Developable propertyCommercial development, multi-familyPublic buildings, churchesGolf courses, recreation facilities

DevelopmentHow much? Where?Remediation of poor projectsUncertainty about plansChurches & Public facilities can cause problems,too

Growth, balance of uses, commercial enterpriseEcotourismDeed restrictions? Planned development?

ThreatsDevelopment — cutting down treesStormwater runoffConcern about well financed developers fromoutside of area

Press of development — effect on appearancePoorly designed development - no considerationof area impact

Clearing of vegetation from edge of river or marshConflicting uses: residential, industrialCommunication towers— tallUtility blight / infrastructure: power lines, sewerlines, roads

GreedNatural disasters — hurricanesPoorly maintained properties

How To Do It

Implementation StrategiesPurchase of development rights, conservationeasements

Public education and awarenessLearn from others: case studies, pitfalls andopportunities

Economic incentivesTax incentivesReferendum process

Design Review/Design GuidelinesCoordinated Land Use PlanCoordinate with plans for Ashley River RoadScenic BywayConsensus and advocate or lead groupTangible early projectMake plan fit within existing regulatory structure:find common ground between existingordinances: land use, subdivision, treeprotection, sedimentation

Break down into sections with different rules?Overlay districtIncentives for good conservation designAwards, testimonial program for good examples“Voluntary” partnership for development orvoluntary guidelines

Develop scenarios based on existing regulations(STI/Sea Grant)

Transfer fee for funding?More flexible zoning: PDR, density variations, incentive zoningPromote positive models: I’on, New PointWhat can be done regarding exploitative growthsuch as cutting all trees? consideration for thoseconcerned?

Appendix C

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1. Public Education ApproachTarget interest groups: schools, boy scouts,homeowners associations, Wal-Mart, COC,tourist groups, preservation groups, SummervilleDREAM, property owners on river, media,owners of developable land

StorySame with improvements: buffers, bury utilities;better recreational access, cell towers hidden

Living history lesson — sunken ships, tunnels atfort, wharf

Maintain character — mother nature did a greatjob, nature taking its course, trees in river; balanceaccess (man made) with nature’s cycles

Be able to tell story of how community saved theriver

Voluntary, cooperative processGrass-roots effort, not imposed plan

Telling the storyIntegrity of landscapeInterpretation but not a clutter of signsEducation programsField trips, get on the riverRiver event, festival: tie to SC Wildlife Expo (Feb),Earth Day (April)Historical markers, signs, but not clutterAshley River Sweep, September 16Interpretive center

Sources of InformationBrochures,OutfittersPR campaignMedia: newspapers, radio, televisionMaps

SignageGood information and interpretive signsRegulatory signs that get the point across but don’tblot out the scenery

Clutter

Threats, obstaclesLimited number of people who know and use theriver

General lack of experience of the riverPeople who don’t support and understandApathyFeeling that river is already protectedIgnorance and misinformation regarding historicand environmental resources

Unsuccessful or misleading interpretation(Magnolia Plantation)

2. Intergovernmental Cooperation Government/leadershipDorchester County slow, Charleston Countygrowing fastNorth Charleston, SummervilleCoordinate information, sampling, ...Coordinated rather than conflicting plansJoint government commissionInclude Coast Guard & Coast Guard auxiliaryCoordinated regional planning and zoning alongthe river

Make plan fit within existing regulatory structure:find common ground between existingordinances: land use, subdivision, treeprotection, sedimentation

Threats, obstaclesLack of coordination of set backs betweenmunicipalities and counties

Big differences in priorities and constituenciesChanges in leadership, political influence

3. Organization, Partnerships and Funding Who should be involved?Define who we is and who will do whatJoint communication between municipalities,counties, state, federal agencies

Developers should be involvedLandownersUsersEducators

Appendix C

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MediaNeed more political/public leaders to be involvedBalance of different interestsBuilding permits, laws with proof (no wake zonesonly if proof of erosion); river is better now; donot want government telling what to do with land

Group efforts — landowners, educationAdvisory council needs specific expertiserepresented: legal, small and large landowner,local government, coordinator/administrator,finances, realtor, business, developmentrepresentatives/experts, county economicdevelopment

Need to manageNo restrictions — keep river freeAccess controlsNatural resourcesCoordinated rather than conflicting plansEducation, interpretation, public informationHopperdam Creek, Sawmill Branch, DorchesterCreek, Eagle Creek, Church CreekOxygenate water?Constructed wetlandsVegetative buffers

HowDevelop a shared / agreed upon vision with publicand private strategies

Hold fundraisersStage a river event - big regatta, run etcEnforce current laws, compile list of existing rulesCreate a road map of coordination withcommunities, owners, municipalities

Turn advisory council issues into referendums -for public discussion / debates define thearguments

Public education for public involvementBetter tax breaks, or purchase of developmentrights; make proposals financially attractive forlandowners

How is the information processed into the plan?Advisory council will lead process

Build broad community support - promote,educate, implement

Find fundingFinding the balance between protection ofhomeowners and protection of river

Public education and info programClearly define and communicate process ofmanagement plan development andimplementation

Focus the plan - it cannot do and be everything,prioritize issues, goals

Do a demonstration project - make it a greatsuccess, build momentum

Look at other modelsTruly understand diversity and character along theriver

Document the complexities of water qualityLook beyond river into region and all waterwaysthat feed the Ashley

Make the advisory council the unified voice onissues — bring in experts to help on each issue

Law Enforcement and RulesNo wake areas: expand?Better enforcement of current lawsHow can you prevent litter?What is the impact of Antiquities lawsWho is in charge?What can they control? Life preservers? drinking?litter? dumping?

DNR: 1-800 #: boating and fishing lawsDocks: OCRMSheriff ’s department, Coast GuardPublic education on rules and courtesiesApathy and misinformation: Many think river isalready saved

Disobedience to rules: no wake, etc.

ThreatsNot obeying rulesPeople who don’t respect river, people aroundthem, or landowners

Lack of enforcement of existing rules andregulations

Appendix C

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Appendix C

REFLECTIONS ON THE ASHLEY RIVER COMMUNITYAND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

By Irene Dumas Tyson, South Carolina Design Arts Partnership

Opening Session at Middleton Place, July 18, 2000

I had one of those perfect summer days today.

I met a group of new and old friends on the bank of a river. I got into a boat and traveled upriver. The sun was high and hot, but the company and conversation was excellent. I sawegrets, cranes, turtles, but no gators or snakes. We went somewhat fast, we went slow; I wavedto people. I learned about South Carolina’s history of rice plantations, sunken ships, a lostcolonial town, earthquakes, and old family names. I learned about geography and about floraand fauna. I just missed seeing a bald eagle.

We were in wide-open spaces, and we were in tight curves shaded by canopies of oaks, cypressand moss. We had snacks – wonderful homegrown tomatoes and cucumbers! We discussedarchitecture, landscape architecture, and I finally saw Middleton Place and Drayton Hall.Dr. Fazio, my architecture history professor would have been thrilled – I learned to drawDrayton Hall in plan, section and elevation; and, behold, there she was! It was a specialmoment.

We rode the tide in, then rode it back out. I got a bit of sunburn but was cooled by the breezesmade by the boat. I learned that mullets jump and that shrimp spawn up river. We walked onwater, marsh and terra firma. I did my first river trip in South Carolina. It was a perfectsummer day.

Chief Seattle: “When we lose the four corners of our land, we cease living and begin surviving.”

Closing Presentation at Bethany United Methodist Church, July 20, 2000

On your perfect day you will watch the sun rise over the marshes of the Ashley River, then youmay fish for bream, spot-tail bass or stripers, maybe shrimp or crab or water ski or swimbecause the water is fine and good. You may kayak, canoe or row upriver or down or teach andlearn with your children the wonders of the natural habitats and historic sites.

But, mainly, your perfect day will be an amazing and diverse sensory experience.

You will see osprey hunting, bald eagles landing, blue herons in the wild rice. You will see thebrown of the marsh against a blue autumn sky, a deer, an alligator, a porpoise, oaks, cypress,a plethora of greens dotted by flowers of pinks, purple, red, and orange, the majesty of Drayton

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Hall and the grandeur of Middleton Place, the secrets of the sunken ships... you will imagine lifeas it might have been.

You will hear the water lap, the call of the red-winged black bird, the peeps and croaks of familiesof frogs, the splashes, bubbles and gurgles of life beneath the water; you will hear the ducks andgeese signing off to summer; you will hear Mother Nature’s lullaby.

You will taste oysters freshly roasted, bream freshly grilled, a cool drink.

You will feel the sun on your face, a cool breeze on your skin, the stings of mosquitoes on your legs,the brush of moss on your head as you pass beneath the oaks and cypress.

You will share the River with people who know it, respect it… respect you.

You will be surprised with each bend of the River but confident it will be the same tomorrow,maybe a bit better.

The River presents what came before and opens windows to what is ahead while being totallyimmersed in now.

You will end your perfect day just sitting and watching the sun slip behind the River Road and youwill smile.

Thank you for sharing your perfect day with us.

And there is no doubt that you value and love the Ashley River. You value the rich diversity inviews, in histories, in cultures, in habitats, in geography, in flora, in fauna. You value preservationand conservation and the show of past generations. You value the views and scenic qualities. Yourespect the fact that the River was, is and will be the sustenance of peoples’ lives. You value thequiet, the tidal nature, this rural gem in a growing urban area. You value the stories the River tellsand that it inspires reflection, connection, good times, and a sense of place.

But what you value and love is threatened by a lack of a comprehensive, coordinated, regionalapproach in addressing point and non-point run-off and drainage, pollution and what crossesover and travels by the River. These things are threatened by growth and development that is notmanaged or done without consideration of the contexts; by erosion, litter, natural disasters, conflictinguses and hazardous parking on Highway 17 and Sland’s Bridge. The River is threatened byapathy and a lack of public knowledge about the natural, cultural and environmental resourcesand scientific data; by growth of motorboat traffic, inappropriate management of vegetation anddestruction of wildlife habitats. It is threatened by lack of government coordination and lack ofrespect for the rights of property owners. It is threatened by development driven by the dollar andoutsiders, not by respect for the River.

And, yet, you have great hope and faith in this river. You have a vision of the scenic character

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maintained from the banks and from the River. A river that is pristine with improved water quality andimproved fishing. You want the River to continue as a historic and cultural treasure and to continue to build itslegacy. You want a consistent and visible law enforcement, a comprehensive public education program. You wantsafe, public access for canoes and kayaks. You want to extend the scenic river designation from the Cypress Swampto the mouth. You want a coordinated plan by local governments. You want nature trails and a park at Bacon’sBridge. You want all development, whether residential, commercial, utilities, or tourism, managed in order toenhance and celebrate the natural, historic and cultural resources. You want an understanding of the diversityand character along the River. You want to preserve large family properties with the ability for families to thrive/live because of their properties.

You want balance. Balance in motor versus non-motor boats, in the uses on the River, in the protection of therights of landowners versus protection of the River, and in man-care and maintenance vs. nature’s cycles of life.As Chief Seattle warned, “When you lose the four corners of your land, you cease to live and begin surviving”…you want the Ashley River to live, not survive… to live freely.

This is your story – your chapters to the River’s stories. It is, as was mentioned last night, the beginning of how acommunity nurtured a river for generations. And, it has been a joy and a privilege to hear your stories for they arethe foundation of our team’s recommendations.

Recommendations for Implementation:1. First and foremost, it is the responsibility of the

advisory council to take these recommendationsand craft them into the beginning of themanagement plan.

2. One of the first steps the advisory council musttake is to get the appropriate expertise to researchand develop a funding and incentives program.Funding will be needed for programs, publiceducation and public relations. Begin researchingsources of funds, grants and the processes ofproviding incentives such as tax breaks, easementsand development rights.

3. Coordination of local governments is imperative.This is a tremendous effort but is absolutelynecessary. Dorchester County, CharlestonCounty, Summerville, North Charleston, andCharleston – no small task. Before any newguidelines or plans are developed, the regulations,ordinances, master plans, comprehensive plans,and codes of each government must be analyzedand compared. Where are the similarities? Thedifferences? What is being enforced? Not

enforced? What truly works? What needsupdating? Pay attention to previous master planssuch as the 1987 study for Highway 61. Withthis information and analysis, design theappropriate guidelines for the Ashley Scenic Rivercorridor that address the five elements and thefive segments of the River.

4. Public Education and Information Programs:

a. Develop a program to engage and educate thepublic about the management plan - keepingpublic officials and local governments informedand educating the public about the facts leadingto the creation of the guidelines. This programis necessary in order to build consensus andbroad support… to build your advocates.Target all community groups – scouts, schools,churches, retailers, chambers, tourism, andneighborhoods. They must become involvedand help shape the plan. In turn, they willbecome the plan’s advocates as well. Themessage must be that this is a management planfor living and leaving a legacy.

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b. A program that builds partnerships betweenlandowners, developers and local governments– You must communicate your vision and valuesto developers, architects, landscape architects,and government in order to ensure appropriatedevelopment and growth. Building thesepartnerships can provide assistance in design,development and funding. Use successfulmodels to show economic value in relationshipto appropriate development.

There exists a very good model of balance andpartnerships right on the River in MiddletonPlace. Middleton Place has discoveredbalance in a few key areas.

Views and visual quality – The verynatural framing of views to theRiver and respecting the viewsfrom the River, particularlywith the Inn

Preservation, con-servation and newdevelopment – There isa wonderful balancebetween the ruins, inter-pretation of farm life, thegardens, and the wildlife. Yet,they dared to introduce new architecture intothe historically hallowed ground. WG Clark’sdesign and the challenge of establishing theInn were well known in the architectureprofession – his design rocked theestablishment a bit. But a true respect for andunderstanding of the plantation’s historyallowed a modern interpretation of thehistoric and the classical. And it worksbeautifully.

Earning a living on family property – Onthe Middleton Property, a fine balance hasbeen found with residential development, aninn, a museum, gardens, outdoor recreation,a restaurant and research.

Coming to the table with the Ashley River

Conservation Coalition and the AshleyScenic River Advisory Council anddevelopers across the River to work outappropriate development solutions thatpreserve views and respect the riverenvironment and history.

The work of Middleton Place is not perfect orwithout significant challenges, but it isworthy as a model.

c. Recreational Opportunities – You have a storyto tell about this river. Even though you maynot welcome droves of new river users, there isan existing community and those who do want

a new experience who want and need toknow where public access points are,where historic and cultural sites are,where they can rent kayaks and canoes.People need maps and they need the rules

of the River. Invite people to the AshleyRiver, then educate them on its value andits rules. Encourage responsible use andrelate the balance in awareness andprotection.

d. The History – Relate the River to theScenic By-way (Highway 61); tell the history

and the present through maps, historic markersand brochures. Historic markers throughout theRiver can interpret the archeological resources,the historic sites, the wildlife habitats, and userguidelines and cater to non-motor boatsthrough sensitive designs and locations. Helpothers fall in love with the River, and they willbecome stewards, too.

You have a beautiful story to tell. In closing, I sharewith you the “Citizenship Oath of Ancient Athens:”

We will strive unceasingly to quicken the public senseof civic duty; and, thus, in all ways we will strive totransmit this city not less, but greater, better and morebeautiful than it was transmitted to us.

This is your calling.

Literature Cited

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Ashley Scenic River PlanArtuso, A. and H. McKellar. 1996. Charleston Harbor Project: Water QualityManagement Focus Group Research Summary Report. S.C. Coastal Counciland S.C. Dept. of Health and Environmental Control, Office of Coastal ResourceManagement. Charleston, S.C.

Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCD-COG). 1980.Regional Outdoor Recreation Plan: 1980. Charleston, S.C. Cited In:Cunningham, M. G. 1994. Need Assessment of Outdoor Recreation for theCharleston Harbor Project Area. Clemson University, S.C. Office of Oceanand Coastal Management and NOAA. Charleston, S.C.

Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission (CCPRC). 1995. TheCHATS and Charleston County Bikeway and Pedestrian Master Plan, an elementof the Charleston Area Transportation Study. Charleston, S.C.

Cunningham, M.G. 1996. A Long-Range Plan for the Provision of OutdoorWater-related Recreational Opportunities in the Charleston Harbor Project Area.Clemson University, S.C. Office of Ocean and Coastal Management and NOAA.Charleston, S.C.

Holland, A. Fred. 2000. “Coastal Sentinels,” in South Carolina WildlifeMagazine, November-December, 2000 issue. S.C. Department of NaturalResources, Columbia, S.C.

Lacy, R. B. 1997. Twenty Year Time Series Analysis of Satellite Remote SensorData to Detect Environmental and Developmental Change along Coastal SouthCarolina and Georgia. NASA Research Grant NAGW-4014. S.C. Dept. ofNatural Resources, Univ. of South Carolina, BCD Council of Governments,Berkeley County GIS Consortium, Georgia Tech Research Institute, GeorgiaWildlife Federation, Savannah Area SAGIS Consortium. Columbia, S.C.

Shakarjian, M. 1998. Ashley River Eligibility Study for the South Carolina ScenicRivers Program, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, WaterResources Division. Columbia, S.C.

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC).1999. Watershed Water Quality Management Assessment: Santee River Basin.Technical Report No. 012-99. Columbia, S.C.

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC).1996. Watershed Water Quality Management Strategy: Catawba-Santee Basin.

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Technical Report No. 002-96. Columbia, S.C.

South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SCPRT). 1997.The Tourism Industry in South Carolina 1996 Annual Report: SignificantContributions to the Economy andQuality of Life of South Carolina.Columbia, S.C.

South Carolina Design Arts Partnership(SCDAP) 2000. Summary presentation and notesfrom the Ashley Scenic River Community VisionWorkshop conducted July 18-20, 2000; withrecommendations for an outline of the Ashley ScenicRiver Management Plan. Provided by Robert W.Bainbridge and Irene Dumas Tyson. Available from theS.C. Department of Natural Resources, Scenic RiversProgram. Columbia, S.C.

South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC). 1994. SouthCarolina’s Best Management Practices for Forestry.Columbia, S.C.

Townsend, A and N. Brock. 1992. Ashley River Special AreaManagement Plan. S.C. Coastal Council (now the Office ofOcean and Coastal Resources Management at the S.C.Department of Health and Environmental Control) and S.C.Department of Archives and History. Charleston and Columbia,S.C.

Van Dolah, R.F., P.H. Wendt, E.L. Wenner and P.A. Sandifer. 1990.A Physical and Ecological Characterization of the CharlestonHarbor Estuarine System: Executive Summary. S.C. CoastalCouncil, S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, S.C.Sea Grant Consortium, S.C. Dept. of Health andEnvironmental Control, Univ. of South Carolina and TheCitadel. Charleston, S.C.