Coastal Conservation League

06/10/2026

Advocate for green space, bike and pedestrian access, and public transit by telling Charleston County Council to vote YES on the 2026 Transportation Sales Tax (TST)!

The TST would continue an existing half cent sales tax that is paid by tourists and residents alike. So, the sales tax would continue to remain as-is. The continuation of the TST would provide millions of dollars for land conservation, expand bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and fund public transit over the next 25 years. This could raise $690 million for the greenbelt program, which would help fund land conservation, $75 million for improving bike and pedestrian access, and $860 million to fund public transportation.

The Charleston County Council needs to hear from the public on this! Attend the County Council meeting on June 11th at 6:30 PM, sign up to speak at the meeting to provide your thoughts on how the TST could be utilize to shape Charleston County's infrastructure, or send written comments to [email protected] before noon on June 11th.

Tell County Council to support conservation initiatives and use the funds to make Charleston County more sustainable for all!

06/08/2026

Take action this World Ocean's Day by supporting the Beaufort County Plastic Ordinance!

Today is the day for the third and final reading of the Plastic Ordinance. This ordinance would help eliminate single-use plastic pollution in the county and set the framework for other municipalities in the county to work toward reducing waste.

So what exactly does the Plastic Ordinance entail? This ordinance would regulate "thick" and "thin" plastic bags, eliminate polystyrene (styrofoam) "to-go" clamshells and cups, and make carry-out cutlery and plastic straws available "by request." These steps would help reduce the amount of plastic entering our environment, prolong the life of our landfills, keep storm drains flowing, mitigate microplastics, and align Beaufort County with policies outlined already in other counties in coastal South Carolina.

The ocean needs you to show up to the Beaufort County Council meeting today at 6:00 PM to voice your support for this! If you cannot attend, please submit a comment using the link in our bio!

Image credit to Miles Sanders.

06/05/2026

Agriculture is one of the many things that makes the Lowcountry so special.

We are excited to share the story of one of our partners with GrowFood Carolina through the story of Coosaw Farms. Coosaw is based on St. Helena Island and specializes in blueberries and watermelons (especially this time of year), among other in both conventional and organic practices. They have been a partner of GrowFood for years, delivering their produce for our CSA boxes to bring Lowcountry food to the community. Coosaw has even protected over 500 acres in conservation easement, helping to work with the land while growing food for our communities.

Supporting local farmers is essential in preserving the history and natural landscapes. We encourage you to help us support our local farms and continue to bring fresh, local food to our community!

06/03/2026

We are grateful for Sophie Brown, a recent graduate of Beaufort High School and incoming freshman at Vanderbilt University, for using their voice to support the Beaufort County Plastic Ordinance. Sophie is part of the Port Royal Sound Foundation's Next Wave Program, which advances research and conservation in the Port Royal Watershed. Watch and listen to Sophie's powerful words!

The Plastic Ordinance is coming up for its THIRD and FINAL reading on June 8th! We need people like you to show up and support this ordinance to eliminate single-use plastic in Beaufort County. The ordinance includes some key aspects that would benefit residents and the environment alike.

The revised single-use plastic ordinance will prohibit "thick" and "thin" plastic bags, eliminate polystyrene foam products, and make carry-out cutlery and straws available by request. Ultimately, this would improve the longevity of landfills, keep storm drains flowing, reduce waste entering the environment, mitigate microplastics for people and wildlife, and align Beaufort County with policies already adopted in the Charleston area.

We need your help to get this across the finish line! Show up to the meeting on June 8th. If you cannot attend, please use the link in our bio to tell Beaufort County Council to vote YES on the Plastic Ordinance!

Thank you to the Port Royal Sound Foundation and Sophie Brown for usage of the video material.

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

Attention Georgetown --> Public Meeting Next Week!

Earlier this year, Winyah Rivers Alliance, South Carolina Environmental Law Project, and Coastal Conservation League worked together to request a public meeting that will facilitate community engagement and education around the Voluntary Cleanup Contract at the former steel mill downtown. SCDES has agreed and the meeting details can be found below. Bring your questions and concerns to the meeting in person on June 11th, or if you are unable to attend, there is an email contact listed below for question submissions through June 10th.

A Sampling of our questions are:

1. What sort of stormwater runoff mitigation will be in place, to prevent pollutants reaching the Sampit River?
2. What sort of drinking water source protections and groundwater monitoring will be in place to protect nearby public water wells and protection zones.
3. Will a thorough Phase II site investigation take place to fully assess contamination at the former steel mill property?
4. What are the public health and air quality risks (such as asbestos) during demolition?

06/01/2026

Last week, we joined our parters at SCDNR's SCORE program and the Sustainability Institute to install a Manufactured Wire Reef at Parris Island! Look at all those units hitting the water!

We are so thankful for the collaborative effort to build and install these reefs, which will help restore oyster populations, bring back salt marshes, and stabilize shorelines for years to come.

If you are interested in joining our next volunteer opportunity, check out the link in our bio to see our upcoming event dates!

05/21/2026

Thank you to Horry County Council for allocating funding to consider alternatives to filling in 102.4 acres of wetlands. We look forward to working with the Solid Waste Authority to increase recycling and other diversion measures to extend the lifespan of the landfill and avoid such significant impacts to Steritt Swamp and the Waccamaw River.

05/19/2026

Ever wondered what oyster restoration looks like in the Lowcountry?

We parter with SCDNR's SCORE program and the Sustainability Institute to create Manufactured Wire Reefs (MWRs) with a mix of coconut coir and recycled oyster shell. These units get deployed across South Carolina's coast to stabilize shorelines, prevent erosion, and restore oyster and marsh populations. In fact, each MWR can recruit up to 7,000 oysters!

You can help at our next MWR installation! We will be working throughout the next few months installing new reefs with SCDNR to establish new habitat along our coast. Use the link in our bio to register to volunteer with us at our next event!

05/18/2026

Today is the day! Show your support for the conservation of the Cainhoy Peninsula and come to our Cainhoy Community Meeting at 6:00 PM at the Philip Simmons Elementary School.

We have a lineup of guest speakers from around the community, including from our own at the Coastal Conservation League, as well as Charleston Waterkeeper, the College of Charleston, and members of the community around Cainhoy.

Register using the link in our bio, as space is limited.

Thank you for showing up for the places that make the Lowcountry home.