Pee Dee Land Trust

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS

PEE DEE LAND TRUST HOLDS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON 42,720 ACRES OF PRIVATE PROPERTY IN THE PEE DEE RIVER WATERSHED AND SURROUNDING AREAS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT THE PROACTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN PRIORITY HABITATS, INCLUDING BOTTOMLAND HARDWOOD FORESTS, LONGLEAF PINE FOREST, ISOLATED WETLAND DEPRESSIONS, AND FRESHWATER EMERGENT WETLANDS IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA COASTAL PROGRAMS INLAND COASTAL PLAIN FOCUS AREA. THE LAND TRUST HAS A STRONG HISTORY OF CREATING CORRIDORS OF PROTECTED LANDS ALONG THE PEE DEE AND WACCAMAW RIVERS NEAR PUBLIC LANDS SUCH AS THE WACCAMAW NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, MARSH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA, AND WOODBURY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA. THE COASTAL PROGRAM WILL LEVERAGE THE LAND TRUSTS STRONG EXPERIENCE AND REPUTATION IN THE CONSERVATION COMMUNITY TO PROTECT HABITATS FOR PRIORITY SPECIES. SPECIES IDENTIFIED IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA COASTAL PROGRAM STRATEGIC PLAN WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS PARTNERSHIP. THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE CREATION OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON PRIVATE LANDS. IN ADDITION, CONSERVATION EASEMENTS INITIATE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE SOUTH CAROLINA COASTAL PROGRAM AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS AND MAY LEAD TO FUTURE HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS.

TO PROTECT AND CONSEVE PRIVATE LANDS IN THE PEE DEE REGION.

LAND PROTECTION SUPPORT IN THE USFWS COASTAL FOCUS AREA WITHIN THE PEE DEE REGION

PEE DEE LAND TRUST HABITAT PROTECTION IN THE PEE DEE WATERSHED

ADD FUNDING TO CURRENT AGREEMENT

SPECIFICALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL: 1. PROVIDE NECESSARY IN-KIND LEVERAGE TO SECURE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON PRIVATE LANDS. 2. ENSURE APPROPRIATE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL PERMITS AND AUTHORIZATIONS ARE OBTAINED PRIOR TO BEGINNING WORK, AND THAT THE PROJECT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS. 3. COORDINATE CLOSELY WITH THE SERVICE'S PROJECT MANAGER DURING THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSED ACTIVITIES. RECEIVE WRITTEN CONCURRENCE FROM THE SERVICE FOR ANY DEVIATION OF PLANNED MILESTONE ACTIVITIES. 4. PROVIDE A PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE TO THE SERVICE'S PROJECT MANAGER, WHICH SHOWS EACH MAJOR PLANNED MILESTONE FOR THE PROJECT AND AN ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE WITHIN 45 DAYS OF THE SERVICE'S SIGNATURE DATE ON THIS AGREEMENT. 5. DOCUMENT EACH MILESTONE ACTIVITY RELATED TO THIS PROJECT AND PROVIDE THE SERVICE WITH PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS (PHOTOS, WRITTEN REPORT ETC.).