The passive park properties purchased through the Beaufort County Rural and Critical Lands Preservation Program have been deemed special by the community and acquired for their scenic views, water access, and/or natural or historic significance. Proper stewardship of these natural resources through land management activities is fundamental to the protection of the conservation values and ecosystem health of these properties, as well as the health and safety of the human communities surrounding these lands. Stewardship is a broader and more comprehensive type of property management than basic maintenance, and involves managing property resources with three achievable goals: sustainability, multi-use and revenue generation. Land management activities may include habitat restoration (i.e. timber harvest/reforestation), mechanical and/or chemical vegetation management, prescribed burning, invasive exotic species control and native species management. Any questions about land management activities on passive park properties can be directed to the Passive Parks Manager at snagid@bcgov.net. 

Habitat Restoration

Prior to European settlement, longleaf pine forests covered as much as 90 million acres throughout the southeast from Virginia to Florida and west to Texas. Longleaf pine forests have a rich biodiversity of understory plant species and rare and endangered wildlife species, such as fox squirrels, gopher tortoises, indigo snakes and red-cockaded woodpeckers. Habitat dynamics that provide the opportunity for such a diverse natural community include frequent but low intensity fires, an open overstory canopy, and nutritious pine-nut food sources. These historic forests were clearcut as settlers occupied the region due to the value of the longleaf pine heartwood for construction purposes. Today, longleaf pine has been lost in 95% of its historic range and only small patches of these forests are found. Various federal, state, and non-profit organizations encourage and provide incentives for landowners to replant longleaf pine when possible to restore this once thriving and important forest type.

Six passive park properties were identified for habitat restoration in the Forest Management Plan and Activity Schedule approved by County Council on June 22, 2020. These properties include Evergreen (Hwy 170 and Davis Road), Barrel Landing (Hwy 170 and 278), Garvey Hall (Hwy 46), Manigault Neck (Hwy 170 and Callawassee), Okatie Marsh (Hwy 170 and Pritcher Point Road), and Pinckney Point (Pinckney Colony Road). Habitat restoration on these properties include a mix of thinning the slash pine plantations, clearcutting the loblolly plantations, and replanting longleaf pine in the clearcut areas.

Hunting

Hunting is not allowed on Beaufort County Passive Parks, including those vacant lands currently closed to the public.

Hunting is only allowed on North Williman and Buzzard Islands as per the County/DNR agreement, which has authorized those islands to be included in the St. Helena Sound Wildlife Management Area. All State DNR hunting rules and regulations associated with the St. Helena Sound Wildlife Management Area apply.