The Open Land Trust, together with the Rhodes family and the United States Navy recently protected 898 acres in Dale, South Carolina known as Essex Farms through a voluntary conservation easement. 

The conservation easement ensures the land will remain primarily undeveloped and dedicated to agriculture and forestry for future generations. The Rhodes family will continue to own the land, pay property taxes, and retain the right to sell, give away, or bequeath the property. However, the conservation easement is permanent (in perpetuity) and remains in effect regardless of future ownership.

Fifth-generation Landowner Molly Rhodes observed that “My family has a strong conservation ethic and we are excited by the opportunity to preserve this land in perpetuity.” 

The conservation easement was funded with support from the Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program, a program that funds land protection to ensure land uses do not interfere with or restrict military operations or long-term mission sustainability of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, thereby maintaining optimal training environments and readiness. Essex Farms lies within the flight path of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

Additional funding was provided by the Beaufort County Green Space Program and the South Carolina Conservation Bank, each contributing 14% of the total project cost. This marks the third project funded by the Green Space Program, and its first dedicated to farmland preservation. Of the total acreage, 816 acres (91%) contain highly productive soils, ensuring the land will remain available for farming and forestry.

“With support from federal and state partners, our local dollars can go further and protect irreplaceable resources like farmland in Beaufort County for future generations,” said Tim Evans, Green Space Program committee member for the Northern Geographic Region.

The SC Conservation Bank recognizes its contribution to the conservation easement helps the landowner manage their property best long-term. “Knowing property like Essex will be protected forever, and managed well by the landowner, will provide incredible public benefit to anyone who depends on a healthy rural economy or clean water in the ACE Basin,” said Raleigh West, Director of the SC Conservation Bank.

Essex Farms lies within the Lowcountry Sentinel Landscape and in the ACE Basin conservation area; specifically, this conservation easement protects 2.3 miles of shoreline along Barnwell and Briars Creeks, draining into the Wimbee and Combahee River system. The property is proximate to an additional 20,000+ acres of land protected forever, including Nemours Wildlife Foundation, Duncan Farms, Oak Point, Coosaw Plantation, the Talley Tract, Dopson, Bowers Farm and Chisolm Plantation.