Lowcountry Land Trust, a nonprofit committed to preserving Lowcountry landscapes and waterways for future generations, is proud to announce the new conservation easement permanently protecting the ACE Basin’s Little Fee Tract. The fully donated conservation easement, with 1.77 miles of direct river frontage along Fee Farm Creek, is adding 314 acres to the nearly 14,340 acres of protected land along the Ashepoo River and its tributaries, safeguarded by Lowcountry Land Trust. This significant contiguous landscape also connects to the 8,048-acre Donnelley Wildlife Management Area and contributes to over 300,000 acres of conserved lands within the renowned ACE Basin conservation project area.
"Conserving the Little Fee Tract continues the ACE Basin’s legacy of committed landowners who prioritize conservation,” said Josh Bell, Lowcountry Land Trust’s rural land program director. “We are honored to expand this vital corridor of protected land, ensuring the region’s natural beauty and ecological health are preserved for generations to come.”
This acquisition highlights the generous contributions of private landowners collaborating with Lowcountry Land Trust in land conservation. The protection of the Little Fee Tract was made possible through the generosity of J. Ashley Twombley and his wife, Carson, who fully donated the conservation easement to Lowcountry Land Trust.
Ashley Twombley, landowner and donor of the conservation easement, expressed his commitment to protecting the region's natural resources: ”My wife. Carson and I are honored to contribute to the ongoing conservation efforts in the ACE Basin. Preserving the Little Fee property ensures that this land, its wildlife, and the Ashepoo River’s watershed remain protected for future generations. We are grateful to partner with Lowcountry Land Trust in their mission to safeguard the natural beauty and ecological integrity of the Lowcountry.”
The ACE Basin is one of the largest and most intact estuarine ecosystems on the East Coast, and protecting the Little Fee Tract further strengthens efforts to safeguard the Ashepoo River by preserving one of its vital tributaries, Fee Farm Creek. In addition, Lowcountry Land Trust has protected critical segments of the watershed that extend north of Highway 17 including upstream areas, and additional tributaries. This ongoing conservation effort reinforces the long-term health of the Ashepoo watershed, ensuring lasting environmental benefits, improved water quality, and ecosystem health for the region.
To learn more about Lowcountry Land Trust and how you can support their mission to protect vital Lowcountry lands, visit www.LowcountryLandTrust.org.
Stay connected by following @LowcountryLandTrust on social media and signing up for their email newsletter to receive the latest updates on conservation efforts and ways to get involved.
