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York County Forever reports 11,700 acres conserved; commission seeks to expand outreach
Summary
York County Forever staff briefed the committee on the land‑conservation program’s history, funding and recent projects; the commission said it has conserved about 11,700 acres and that staff will pursue more proactive outreach and partnership options.
York County Forever staff told the York County Environmental and Healthy Environmental Protection Committee on Sept. 18 that the county-run land-conservation program has protected more than 11,700 acres through 41 projects since the commission formed in 1998.
Trish Dehaan, open space planner in the County’s Planning and Development Services division, summarized the commission’s role, history and funding. Dehaan said the commission was established by county council in 1998 to preserve natural, cultural and historic resources and that the program’s operating language is codified in York County code. She said the commission’s original target — a 10,000-acre conservation goal tied to earlier work with the Palmetto Conservation Foundation and Nation Ford Land Trust — has effectively been met, with continued projects since then.
Dehaan provided recent examples of conserved properties and described the program’s typical approach: York County Forever coordinates with Nation Ford Land Trust, which holds conservation easements and performs annual monitoring. Dehaan noted the commission has used a mix of acquisition and conservation easements and that due-diligence costs for an easement (appraisal, survey, legal work and proportional Land Trust costs) typically range from about $25,000 to $40,000 per project, prorated by property size. The current fund balance was reported as approximately $1.9 million; the commission no longer receives a dedicated millage of 1 mill (the millage was zeroed out in FY2010 and reestablished later at one-quarter mill).
Committee members asked about outreach and proactive acquisition. Dehaan said the program’s recent emphasis is on more active outreach — attending Ag & Art events, Earth Day and similar public programs — and that staff could expand targeted outreach to larger landowners or specific interest groups. Dehaan said the commission will seek additional opportunities and partners, including Farm Bureau, the South Carolina Conservation Bank and municipal partners, to support conservation and due-diligence funding.
Dehaan highlighted recent conservation wins in areas with connected properties, noting examples where neighboring landowners pursued easements and where the county has layered protections (including expansions to historic Brattonsville). She also described conservation of working farms that protect watershed areas and historic burial sites.
Ending Dehaan asked committee members to refer outreach requests back to York County Forever staff and to consider partnership and funding options; the committee voted to have staff return with the prior foundation materials and a recommended approach to broaden support for parks and trails funding.
