Climate & Environment
South Carolina Transfers 2,600‑acre Timber Tract to State as Part of 7,600‑acre Conservation Initiative
A 2,600‑acre timber property near the Lynches and Great Pee Dee Rivers in South Carolina has been transferred to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). The tract, known as River Forks, is part of the Snow’s Island Assemblage conservation project, which covers 7,600 acres and includes more than 60 miles of riverfront. The transfer, announced on Tuesday, adds 11 miles of riverfront to the project’s first phase.
The Snow’s Island Assemblage consists of two properties in Florence County: the 5,000‑acre Snow’s Island and the adjacent 2,600‑acre River Forks. OSI, a non‑profit conservation organization, acquired both properties in 2024 and then transferred them to SCDNR. The area is historically significant because Revolutionary War commander Francis Marion used the swamps where the Lynches and Great Pee Dee Rivers meet as a base for raids against British forces.
The conservation effort aims to protect wildlife habitats, historic sites, and flood‑control wetlands. River Forks alone provides habitat for 140 high‑priority species, including 15 federally or state‑listed at‑risk species such as the Swallow‑tailed Kite and Spotted Turtle. The project also strengthens a network of protected lands that includes the 25,000‑acre Woodbury Wildlife Management Area.
Flood protection is a key component. The property’s forested wetlands and floodplains act as natural sponges, absorbing water during heavy rains and releasing it slowly. During Hurricane Florence in 2018, the floodplain between the Pee Dee, Lynches, and Little Pee Dee Rivers stored over one million acre‑feet of water, which was released over ten days and helped protect downstream communities.
Funding for the River Forks acquisition included $3 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The broader project also received support from the South Carolina Office of Resilience, the South Carolina Conservation Bank, the Darla Moore Foundation, and the Knobloch Family Foundation. Florence County Council approved a $1.5 million contribution from its capital sales tax fund in July 2024, marking the county’s first land‑conservation investment.
The properties were previously owned by Manulife Investment Management and Weyerhaeuser before OSI purchased them. The transfer of River Forks is the first stage of bringing the entire Snow’s Island Assemblage under state management; the remaining land is expected to be transferred to SCDNR in early 2027. Once completed, the state will manage the area through its Wildlife Management Area and Heritage Trust programs, allowing public access in the future while keeping the land closed during the transition.