CAYCE, S.C. — South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and its partners have doubled the size of Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve with the purchase of the 644-acre Taylor Tract in Cayce.
With this addition, there is a total of 1,286 acres now protected by the preserve -- 241 acres of the addition are upland sandhill ecosystem and 403 acres are wetlands that will be protected from development.
For those who enjoy the outdoors, the property allows for 10 miles of hiking trails and 10 miles of canoeing/kayaking and fishing opportunities along the Six Mile and Congaree creeks.
The $7.3 million purchase price was covered by $6.3 million from the SCDNR Heritage Trust Program and $1 million from the SC Conservation Bank, in partnership with the Open Space Institute.
The purchase is significant not only because of its size, but the Taylor Tract addition creates an anchor to protect the watershed and "lays the groundwork for a more comprehensive watershed preservation project," according to SCDNR.
SCDNR also recognizes archaeological surveys have produced evidence of 12,000 years of human habitation on the property and fourteen plant species designated as critically imperiled have been identified within the protected area.