Dataw Conservancy Draft Example

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Dataw Island Conservancy is a nonprofit 501(c)(3)organization formed in 2012 by the DIC and DIOA boards. Sincethat time it has worked to conserve, maintain and manage the natural areas and habitats of the Island and its surrounds; and encourage an appreciation of, and interest in, the Island’s natural resources by the residents of Dataw Island. If you are interested in finding out more about the Dataw Island Conservancy's work, please click below to email:

President’s Corner

Anne Hale Miglarese

It is my honor to be the President of the Dataw Island Conservancy. I am just five months into the job, and I am even more impressed with how Guy Apicella ran this organization for five years. But for me, as I am sure it was with Guy, it is a labor of love.

The love of the natural resources of Lowcountry SC and Dataw give me energy, hope, and inspiration. No matter how much time I spend working to conserve as much as possible and balance the rest with responsible development, it is time well spent in my life.

The Board has some new and aggressive goals for 2023 including significantly expanding our membership and improving our outreach and communication with members. I hope you have seen evidence of our increased communication and its quality. We are also implementing new operational business systems to better track our membership and what you are responding to in our communication. Chris Assaf our newest board member has led these changes.

Another goal is to publish communications in mostly digital formats. By going digital with Greenwood, we are saving trees, money, and time. We are hoping you find this more accessible. If not, we can always return to printing 

We have been busy working with Folk Land Management over the past six months to update the Dataw Land Use Map as described in Guy Apicella’s article published this month. These maps will be important reference documents in working with the Ad Hoc Committees and club management as they chart the way forward on desired future projects to bring to the membership for approval. The Conservancy looks forward to working with all the Committees to identify the most responsible way forward with the approved projects with the smallest amount of environmental degradation possible.

We are also updating the Ecology Guide of Dataw and hope to have that project completed by the Fall of this year. Speaking of the Fall, please put a hold on your calendars for October 15, which is the date of the Conservancy’s annual celebration.

Finally, as I am sure many of you have surmised by now we have several new projects:

• The joint project with the Garden Club on the National Wildlife Federationprogram to certify wildlife habitat in private yards

• The joint project with golf course management for planting wildflowers behind the pump house on Cotton Dike 13

• and my pet project, bringing the honeybees to Dataw.

All of these projects have one major component in common that will drive their success, they are done in partnership with individual owners, other clubs, Dataw committee governance and club management. It will take all these organizations and individuals working together to maintain and enhance the very best natural resource habitat on Dataw. On behalf of the Board, we look forward to working with all of you to achieve that goal.

Updating Dataw Island’s Land Use Map

Guy Apicella Project Overview

The Dataw Island ConservancydevelopedaLand Use Map in 2020to serve as the basis fora Habitat Management Plan. This month, we updated that map primarily using current data on residential and undevelopedprivate parcelsas well as DIOAparcels,in orderto take stockof the changesthat have occurredduring the last three years.This assessmentofdevelopment,along with the 2023 Land Use Map, are providedto the communityto help guide the necessaryand aspirational projects-the outgrowths of the recentMaster Planning process.TheConservancywill also considerthe recentland use changesin assessingwildlifehabitat and updating the Habitat Management Plan. Viewour Habitat ManagementPlan Here.

2020 Land Use Map

Werevisitedthe original 2020 Land Use Map to rectifycertain inconsistenciesthat were noticedafterits release.Five parcels(lots) owned bythe DIC were not shown as such in the 2020map but are shown as “Natural Area/DICParcel”.TheseDICparcelsare locatedwithin the Marina Upland Forest,which is one ofthe 20 Natural Areas delineated in the Habitat ManagementPlan. The five DICparcels,which comprisean area of 0.9 acre,are now shown as a separate land use categoryand the Natural Areaacreage was decreasedaccordingly.

Wealso discoveredthat a small numberofresident,undeveloped,and DIOAparcels were mis-identifiedin the original Land Use Map. Correctingthese misidentifications yieldeda maximum differenceof0.2 acre in any ofthe three parcel categories.Overall, the 2020and Use Map in Figure 1 is very similar to the map releasedin 2020

CURRENT

2023 LAND USE MAP

TheARBAdministratorprovidedinformationon vacant lots that reflectedall building permitsissuedthrough March 31,2023.Forthe purposesofall our land use mapping, a parcelapprovedforbuilding a new home is shown as a ResidentParcel.

Updating land use on Dataw Island to 2023conditionsaccountedforotherchanges. The marina boatyard expansionclearedmaritime forested areain the Marina Upland Forest.This change fromNatural Areato RecreationalFacility is shown in the 2023 Land Use Map. The Conservancy’sacquisitionof Lot456(1465GleasonsLanding Drive) forwildlife habitat is labeled as the GleasonsLanding ConservationPreserve and shown as a new land use category,ConservationEasement.

Changes over the past three years

The changes in land use between2020and 2023are highlighted in a third map.The mostsignificantchange is residential constructionon undeveloped private parcelsas well as DIOAparcels.Atotal of 57 homeswere built on parcelscomprising19.3acres,which is a 42% reductionin the total undeveloped privatelotarea in 2020.Althoughthis developmentwas planned in Alcoa’spropertiesmap ofthe mid-1980’s,it neverthelessresults in a lossof habitat area forwildlife.One way to mitigate this loss is to create habitat on residentialpropertiesas promotedjointly by the Dataw Island GardenClub and Conservancythrough the National WildlifeFederation’sGardenfor WildlifeProgram.

The boatyard expansionoccupiesan area of 0.8 acre where valuable maritime forestexistedpreviously.This expansionwas clearly stated (as an exception)in the DIOA’sendorsement(May 2021)of the 17 Natural Areas under its purview. Ithopefullywill be the only loss ofany Natural Area.

The comparisonof2023land use to the benchmark2020conditionsprovides the means to gaugefuture developmenton Dataw Island.There were an average of 19 housesbuilt annually during the last three years.At this rate of development,the remaining undevelopedprivate resident(96)and DIOA parcels(14)will be occupiedbyhomesin 5.8 years. Thus, build-outis projected tooccurin 2029.Arelatively limited numberofundeveloped(DIOA, DICand private) parcelshave the potential to serve as valuable habitat in the long-term future.The Dataw Island Conservancyis working with the DIOA and DICto recognizethe importanceof natural habitats and conserve these beautiful areas beforebuildoutis a fait accompli.

CHANGES IN 3 YEARS

OGFN Executive Director Dr. Sarah Adloo presents a plaque to Chair of the Common Ground Committee, Susan Emons.

Oak Island — National Recognition and Local Expertise

John Claussen

April14th was a specialday on Dataw’s Oak Island. Sarah Adloo,the Executive Directorof the Old Growth ForestNetwork (OGFN),visited Oak Island to formally designatethe Island as a Network Old Growth forestand contemporaneouslytwo local expertson Lowcountryflora were presentto lead a tour of the Island’smaritime forest.

Designationof Oak Island as a Network forestby the OGFNis unique. Only 1% of historic forestsin the EasternU.S. remain due to developmentand forestry practices. Oak Island is part of that 1% and one of only about 100forestsselected to date by OGHN to forma network of protectedforestsacrossthe country.

To help Dataw residentsunderstand the uniquenessof Oak Island,Christi Henry returned to lead a tour of the trails identifying bothcommonand unique speciesof treesand bushes. Christi was assistedby Mike Murphy, a local arboristand contact forOGFN. Approximatelyeighty (80)species willbe labeledoverthe next few months with arboretum quality tags. Thosetags will help educate all ofus about Oak Island but there is another benefitto visiting the Island. The benefitwas succinctlystated by JoanMaloof, founderofthe OGFN:

Comevisit, understand and feelyour Oak Island!

“The forest is not only something to be understood, it is also something to be felt.”

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Certification of Gardens to Sustain Wildlife

Lori Thompson

In a combinedeffortbythe Dataw GardenClub and Dataw Island Conservancy,Garden flagsthat signifythat a gardenhas beenCertifiedas a National WildlifeGardenwill be available to those residentsthat have Certifiedtheir Gardens.

Residentsmustmeetthe following requirements:

1. FoodSourcessuchas plants or bushesthat have seeds,berries,fruits or supplementalfeedersthat help ensure a healthy ecosystem.

2. Watersources;suchas living near a freshwater pond,having a birdbath orrain garden.

3. Placesforcover;a woodedarea, shrubs/evergreensornesting boxes.

4. Placesto raise young; mature trees,deadtrees /snags,nesting boxes,host plants forcaterpillars.

5. Sustainable gardening practices;planting bufferaround bodiesofwater, water-wise landscaping,reductionor elimination of lawns. Drip or soakerhoses,removal of invasive exotic species (Likethe Conservancy’stallow tree program.)

Providing neededhabitat forbirds,and animals will greatly enhance the beauty of Dataw Islandand our gardens. If you are interestedin certifying your garden, just contactus at datawconservancy@gmail.com

Dataw Conservancy Volunteer Spotlight

Anne Hale Miglarese

The Dataw Conservancyis an all-volunteer organization with no paid staff. You seeand hear from the Conservancy’sBoardmembersmostregularly, but mostof our work and impactis drivenby Dataw residentvolunteers that you rarely seeorhear from. So, with this issue ofGreenwoodwe are starting a new columndedicatedtohighlighting the Volunteersthat do the heavy lifting and drive impactforour mission.

There is no betterplaceto start than to highlight the work of Bill Krebs. Bill and his wife Jayne movedto Dataw in 2009fromNorthern Virginia. Bill has beena volunteer forthe Conservancysincehis arrival on the Island.Fornine years Bill has managed the Islands Purple Martin program.The Conservancyhas ThreePurple Martin House towers across the Island.

Bill starts his work in late February orearly March bymaking sure the housesare clean and in goodworking orderwhen the birdsfirstarrive fromSouthAmericain March. FromMarch through late July or earlyAugust,Bill inspectseverybox(there are 14 individual boxesoneach tower) everysevendays. He uses a winch to lowerthe nests from12’to eye level and then raises the nests aftercompletingthe inspection.

Bill inspectsthe boxearly in the seasonto seethat the nestis being created,then shortly afterthe birds start laying eggs,which progressto hatchlings then nestlings and finally fledglings. Bill keepsa count of how many eggswere laid in eachboxand of those eggshowmany progressedthroughthe growth cycle. Bill keepsvery accurate spreadsheetsofthis annual activity and is able to track the health of the Purple Martin populationon Dataw. Once the Purple Martins leave Dataw to return to SouthAmerica Bill compilesall the data foreachboxand providesthat to The GolfSuperintendent, Brian Hollingsworth, who transmits the data to the National AudubonSociety’sPurple Martin program.You can learn about the how the AudubonSocietyuses the data by visiting this website .

I had the pleasure of joining Bill in early May to inspecttwo of the Purple Martin Houses. Itwas obviousto me that overthe past decadeBillhas developeda very efficientroutine to accomplishhis inspections. But evenmore obviousis how passionatehe is aboutthe birdsand how much pleasureit giveshim to supportthese coloniesonDataw. Ifyou would like to join Bill in this missionhe is looking fora little extra help. I am sure he would love to share his joy of tending forthese birdswith you.

On behalf ofall the membersofDataw IslandConservancy,thank you Bill!

Fora completeoverviewofthe Purple Martin monitoring results,click here.

Honeybee Update

Anne Hale Miglarese

Aftermuch planning and a fewfalse starts the beesarrived on the evening ofApril 14th . Our Beeteam metthem at their new but temporaryhomenear the Community Gardens. Our original site gotmore shade than sun and they appeardissatisfiedwith their surroundings.Weobserved their activity fordays beforedecidingthey neededto be movedto a sunnier location.

Workingwith CommonGrounds,Greg Bowersoxand the Communitygardeners and the gardenersat the ButterflyGarden we decidedto move them to a site at the ButterflyGarden. Wepickedthe exactspotwith the help of Brian Hollingsworth who has an app on his phone that can tell you exactly how much sun a site will getthroughout the year. Once the locationwas finalized Greg Bowersox and his crew leveledand clearedthe ground.

The bee’shives were relocatedto the ButterflyGarden onthe morning ofthe 27th ofApril. I am happy to reportthat they are very happy in their new location and are hard at work pollinating acrossthe Island.

A huge thank you to Susan Emonsand Ida Amaral of CommonGrounds,Greg Bowersoxand Brian Hollingsworth fromthe staffand the Communitygardeners,The ButterflyGarden gardenersand last but certainly not least the VisualArts Club members whopainted the hives.

Itreally doestake a village to raise bees

Conservancy Nature Talk

Pete Bongiovanni

On February9, Heather Kraus, the Educationand Outreach Coordinatorforthe NemoursWildlife Foundationcame to Dataw to talk about the ACE Basin and the developmentofRice Fieldsin the 18thand 19th centuries.Heather has a graduate degreein biology,biodiversityand ecology. Her experienceincludesbird banding,bat conservationresearchand preparing educational materials forcommunicating scientifictopicsfor audiences.

Welearned that the ACE Basin (Ashepoo,Combaheeand Edisto)is over300,000acres of natural habitat forbirds,animals, shellfishand recreational use.The land has either beenpurchasedby conservanciesorland trust organizations. Theyhave also developed land use easements which allow owners to use their land but are restrictedfrommaking major changesthat would inhibit the habitats. Its moniker is “One ofthe Last Great Placeson Earth”.

Weall know that Carolina Gold rice was a LowCountry economicstaplein the 18thand 19thcenturies.Many a plantation owner becameverywealthy using enslaved peopleto build and farm the fields.Ittook long and hard labor by slaves to move the pluffmud into channels and create damswhich keptthe brackish water fromcontaminating the fields. Theseold riceplantations, now called impoundments,have becomehomeformany local and migratory birds.They are managed muchthe same way as the old rice fieldsto keep water levelsappropriate forthe bird populations.Take a trip to Bird Island Wildlife managementarea near Edistofora goodlookat the fieldsand beautiful birds.

Mighty Oaks From Little Acorns Grow Lori Thompson

In celebration of Arbor Day, The Dataw Island Conservancy, Garden Club, and Golf Maintenance worked together to plant two Oak Trees on our golf course.

These trees were grown from acorns and donated by Dataw community member, Holly Dolan. They are descendants of the Grandaddy Oak Tree in the Cemetery. Come watch them grow at Morgan River #1 and #7.

Botany Bay

Pete Bongiovanni

Have you had the opportunityto visit Botany Bay BeachPark in Edisto? Withmorethan 4,600acresof maritime forest,beach,freshwaterpondsand historical buildings onthe property,Botany Bay offers alittle somethingforeveryone.There is a driving plantation tour with an 18th century beehivebut I found the beachto bemuch more fun.

Much like Hunting Island,Botany Bay has its own boneyard. This beachis accessiblevia a half-mile walk acrossa shell-packedtrail that cuts through the marsh and winds through a maritime forest.It’s commonto see numerousbirds,fiddlercrabs,and othernative animals during the walk to the beach.Be sure you know the tide becausesometimesitgets wet on the walk during high tidesand can make the beachimpassible.Thebeachitself has sunbleachedwhite sand, tide poolsfilledwith seacreaturesand seashellsand endlessviews.

It’s a good90-minute drive up route 17. Take the right turn towards Edisto.But when you getthere, you’ll make this beautiful drive along the accessroad.However, be careful! It’s a dirt road,but worth it. Pleasebe aware that the collectionofseashells,shark’s teeth or anything else on the beachis strictly prohibited.So,obeythe rules and have fun!!

Marsh Memorial Sunset Dinner Cruise Pete Bongiovanni

The evening was warm and sunny as we setofffromthe Port Royal Maritime Center forthe Marsh MemorialSunsetDinner Cruise aboard the Salty Dog.Wecastoffafter a deliciousmeal ofshrimp,appetizers,a low country boil, key lime pie fordessertand maybe a few adult beverages.

The Salty Dogis a large and comfortablyappointed catamaran that seatedthe 74 Dataw Conservancysupporterseasily. Welaunched into the ChechesseeRiver heading east. Wecruisedalong the marsh where we could seethe Spartina grass, pluffmud and oysterson the shoreand the egrets,laughing gulls and commonterns flying overhead.I was hoping we’d geta sight ofthe WidgeonPoint Park Eagle soaring or maybe an Ospreybut no luck there.

ConservancyPresidentAnne Miglarese welcomedeveryoneto the cruise with the goodnews that we have surpassedlastyear’s membershipdrive. Then she turned the mike over me. As a masternaturalist, I spenta fewminutes talking aboutthe Port Royal Sound Foundationand then discussinghow the Spartina grass grows and how it providesfoodand shelterforall the growing shrimp, oystersand crabs while those same growing creatures providefoodforthe otheranimals.

Did you know 13,000years ago the coastwas 60 milesout? The tide changesevery 6 hours, 12 minutes and 27 secondsand is the highestsouth of Maine?

Wealso talked about how the things we eat fromthe sea like shrimp,oystersand crabs live, growand are caught here. The shrimp industry started in Fernandina ,FL and came here in 1924and grew to 1500boatsin 1980.Now there are lessthan 100. Oystershere in the low country live in the intertidal range betweenlow and high tide. Many are now farmedright here near Lady’s Island and Hudsons restaurant on Hilton Head.

As we headedinto the setting sun, we caught a glimpseofseveral dolphins swimming. Itwas just a beautiful evening.Thanks to all of you who attended and setthe tone for sucha nice experience.