Roofer in Kiawah Island, SC

KIAWAH ISLAND — This sea island town and a local conservation group have purchased land near the municipal center to protect it from development.

Kiawah Island purchased 2.7 acres of land at 4455 Betsy Kerrison Parkway — adjacent to the town’s municipal center — thanks to a partnership with the Conservancy of the Sea Islands. The nonprofit contributed by paying for a conservation easement, effectively preserving the green space and ensuring it will not be developed.

The town purchased the property for $1.2 million in a deal that closed in October, and the conservancy purchased the conservation easement for $300,000, according to a joint statement from Kiawah Island and the nonprofit.

The easement will help preserve the rural character and views of the Betsy Kerrison Parkway, protect local watershed resources and prevent development incompatible with the surrounding community, according to the statement. The property will be used for civic, cultural, recreational, educational and other public purposes.

“The effort reflects a broader approach to conservation — one that protects not only wildlife habitat, but also watersheds, rural landscapes, sense of place and community character,” the statement reads. “The acquisition is a strong example of timely action, creative problem-solving and partnership producing a lasting benefit for the community and future generations.”

This isn’t the first time the conservancy has preserved land along the Betsy Kerrison Parkway, or around the sea islands. Since 2022, the conservancy has worked to purchase roughly 100 acres of land along the road, with plans to turn it into a nature trail.

The Conservancy of the Sea Islands also recently launched a fundraising campaign to permanently protect Captain Sams Spit, which was one of the most fought over pieces of land along the South Carolina coast and had been the focus of nearly two decades of legal wrangling and multiple state Supreme Court rulings.

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) — Town officials are considering an ordinance that would create a dedicated conservation fund aimed at protecting land and habitats on Kiawah Island.

The Kiawah Island Conservation Fund would work to shield land from overdevelopment, an issue officials say has affected multiple counties across the Lowcountry.

Town Council Member Lance Spencer said conservation is central to the island’s identity.

“Kiawah has a big focus on living with nature,” Spencer said.

Spencer said the fund would be used to pursue conservation easements and remove land from the development market. He said the focus would likely center on a specific area.

“We’ll probably be more in the Kiawah watershed area, which is more focused on southern Johns Island, which will help with quality of life, water quality, wildlife, air quality, traffic, all the things that make life more enjoyable in this part of the country,” Spencer said.

Collie Farah, a land preservation specialist with the Conservancy of the Sea Islands, said conservation provides tangible benefits to the region.

“Clean air, conservation means clean water, it means food sources, local food sources,” Farah said.

Farah also said the Lowcountry’s natural landscape serves a protective function.

“Produce natural infrastructure against hurricanes and natural disasters, so we depend on the land,” Farah said.

Farah added that the fund’s purpose extends beyond environmental protection.

“We’re protecting culture, a way of life,” Farah said.

If the ordinance passes, the town would establish an advisory board to guide the fund’s decisions.

“We’ll start recruiting board members to be part of that, and we’ve delineated some key qualifications we’d like them to have, so we can make some really informed recommendations,” Spencer said.

The ordinance is scheduled for its second reading on Sept. 1.

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KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – It’s first light on Kiawah Island. Down at the beach, there are 10 miles of sand and hardly a soul on it: just tide, wind, waves, and the marks left behind overnight.

The morning was spent with Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol in the final stretch of turtle nesting season. Hatchlings were just getting started, emerging from their nests ready to make the journey out to sea.

The number of turtle nests is staggering. Last year saw around 200, but this year, we’re nearing 500 and still counting.

Kiawah’s beach is wide, dark at night, and protected; everything a loggerhead sea turtle wants. It’s why this island is one of the most important nesting grounds in the Lowcountry.

Alison Frey, who has spent 14 seasons with Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol, said the year has exceeded expectations.

“We’re really excited for 2026 because it has been a banner year. It’s not our highest year, but we have surpassed our second highest year, which was in 2022. Currently, we have 495 nests,” said Frey.

Each morning before sunrise, turtle patrol volunteers and staff cover roughly 10 miles of beach on foot and by truck, locating and documenting nests under permits issued by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Some nests may be carefully relocated if they are vulnerable to flooding or other threats.

The busy season has generated excitement among volunteers and conservationists.

“We’re coming off one of our lowest years- we were around 200. I was just talking to David, and he’s like, I didn’t even get to do an activity last year. So he’s like, now I have three in one day! So that kind of excitement is fun. But yeah, the energy is definitely up here.”

While nesting numbers are high, the work is far from over. Sea turtle eggs spend about two months incubating beneath the sand, where nests face threats from storms, predators and environmental conditions. Ghost crabs, coyotes, raccoons and seabirds can all impact hatchling survival.

That’s why the patrol screens them, numbers them, and moves those sitting too low or in a bad location. To help protect the turtles, patrol members encourage beachgoers to do their part by filling in holes, removing trash, and avoiding artificial light at night.

“If you are out on the beach at night, please do not turn on your flashlight. There’s enough natural light,” Frey said.

After approximately 60 days beneath the sand, hatchlings emerge and make their way to the ocean. Only a small fraction survive to adulthood, with patrol members estimating about one in every 1,000 hatchlings will make it.

Those that survive may return decades later to nest on the same beaches where they hatched.

According to turtle patrol members, hatchlings are expected to continue emerging through October, keeping conservation crews busy throughout the remainder of the season.