No matter how much Charleston County grows in the future, the coastal area of Little Goat Island is likely to remain a pristine, undisturbed sea island.
In late March, owners Gary and Kim Chesson donated Little Goat Island to Lowcountry Land Trust as a full conservation easement, with the intention of preserving its natural wildlife habitat, beauty and water quality, such that it will look the same 200 years from now as it did 200 years ago.
“The land trust acts as the steward of the land’s conservation status,” said Elizabeth Cross, senior marketing manager with Obviouslee, a Charleston marketing company affiliated with Lowcountry Land Trust. “The Chessons will retain ownership of the island but have given up the right to develop or alter the land in certain ways in order to protect its conservation values.”
Narrowly situated between Isle of Palms and the Intracoastal Waterway, Little Goat Island comprises 28 acres of upland habitat surrounded by 393 acres of salt marsh.
Keeping it in this natural form has become a harder challenge in recent generations, as surrounding areas are constantly subjected to more land development, coastal erosion, rising sea levels, growing populations and year-round visitors to Isle of Palms – which can number 20,000-60,000 per day in peak season.
“Little Goat Island is part of a broader vision to work to continually protect land and water across the Lowcountry,” said David Ray, chief conservation officer with Lowcountry Land Trust. “It adds coastal resilience to have these kinds of areas undeveloped, and it was done through the generosity of private landowners. No public funds were used to protect it.”
He added that without the donation, any development on Little Goat Island could eventually affect this sanctuary for birds, butterflies and even aquatic wildlife.
“The lack of development also means that the fish habitat nearby isn’t negatively impacted by runoff,” Ray said. “For generations, its waters and shores have sustained oysters, fish, birds and native plants that are deeply woven into the area’s history and culture. This island serves as a crucial refuge for rare, threatened and endangered species while strengthening the network of protected lands within the Bulls Bay watershed.”
Although it is only a very small part of the Lowcountry, the hope is that in time, Little Goat Island could serve as a model for a balance between nature and progress.
“We’re so excited to be able to preserve Little Goat Island in perpetuity,” said Kim Chesson. “My parents lived across from this island for over 20 years, and now we have a house that overlooks it. We love that it will stay undeveloped for our family and for our Isle of Palms neighbors to enjoy.”
By L. C. Leach III
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