There are 2 great events scheduled to benefit the MPLC on Sunday, October 17th, 9am-7pm.

All paddle participants receive a free Shem Creek Sundown poster.

Great fun for the entire family! Experience the beauty of Shem Creek, while helping us raise awareness and necessary money to continue working to ensure our sense of place is preserved.

PADDLE EVENT DESCRIPTION:
2-hr Naturalist Guided Group Kayak or Canoe Paddle from Shem Creek to Crab Bank Island. All equipment provided.

Four departure times from Nature Adventures Outfitters’ ramp to choose from:
9am, 11am, 1pm or 3pm.

Paddle Donation Per Person
(Tax-Deductible)
$40 – Adults (13 years and up)
$25 – Children (4 years to 12 years)

Thanks to the generosity of Nature Adventures Outfitters, 100% of the proceeds from this paddle will go directly to the MPLC!

Reserve your seats by calling the MPLC office directly at 843-884-1060.

Then, stick around ’til 7pm for the “Post Paddle Party” at the Lighthouse on the Creek.

Live Music with BBQ, Oysters, and Beer for purchase.

Free Entry for Paddlers!

$5 Entry Fee for General Public.

Even if you don’t join for the Guided Paddle, hopefully you’ll come enjoy the Post Paddle Party here on beautiful Shem Creek.

Special Thanks to the Sponsors:

Red Drum Capital Group

Lucasville Investments

The Lighthouse on the Creek

Experience the beauty of Shem Creek, while helping us raise awareness and necessary money
to continue working to ensure our sense of place is preserved.
Credit: Mount Pleasant Land Conservancy

From the Shem Creek blog.

Shem Creek Paddle and Party 2010

Wanna participate?

1. Just go to the beach at 11 AM for one hour, rain or shine.
2. Join hands for 15 minutes at 12:00 forming lines in the sand against oil drilling in our coastal waters.
3. That’s it!

It sounds like a small deal, but if enough people come out, hopefully big media’s helicopters will be flying around filming it all – just like they did back when the Hunley was raised (an incredible event btw!).

The Hands Across the Sand web page for SC has locations listed already, be sure to visit them and sign up today!

From the Shem Creek blog.

Do you oppose expanding offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean too?

“The computer simulations indicate that, once the oil in the uppermost ocean has become entrained in the Gulf of Mexico’s fast-moving Loop Current, it is likely to reach Florida’s Atlantic coast within weeks. It can then move north as far as about Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, with the Gulf Stream, before turning east. Whether the oil will be a thin film on the surface or mostly subsurface due to mixing in the uppermost region of the ocean is not known.” – National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)

From the Shem Creek blog.

Hurricanes would only make BP’s oil spill disaster even worse

It also discusses development along the coastline – including over 2000 islands that could foreseeably have bridges connecting them to the mainland. Thanks to Nancy Vinson and several other citizens’ hard work, 95% of those proposed bridges were denied development!

It is well worth your time to watch this short video from the Coastal Conservation League if you are at all interested in the pristine environment that so much of South Carolina has to offer.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Coastal Conservation League celebrates 20 years

Interviews, photos, video: Dr. Doug Woodward, professor and researcher, University of South Carolina Moore School of Business; Natural Resources Society Board Members; South Carolina Natural Resources Director John Frampton and others. Digital images and video of South Carolinians using and enjoying the state’s natural resources will be available for attending media.

For more information, read SCDNR’s Green Report, which states that S.C. natural resources contribute $30 billion to the economy.

From the Shem Creek blog.

The Economic Impact of SC’s Natural Resources

A few key elements to be aware of:

• Income Tax Credits
• Catastrophe Savings Accounts
• Storm Risk Mitigation and Premium Discounts
• Cancellation and Non-Renewal of Insurance Policies

For fact sheets on “Preparing for Hurricane Season,” “Coastal Homeowners’ Insurance,” and a summary of the law, visit the Resource Center at www.scinsurance.net.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Check your insurance BEFORE Hurricane season

“The recreational and aesthetic value of wetland areas also helps the states tourism industry.”

“Although wetlands serve as a vital link between land and water, they are historically misunderstood and under appreciated,” said Preston. “In the past, they were often used as dump sites and, unfortunately, appeared to be of value only when drained and developed.

“However, wetlands are starting to gain recognition as some of the most productive natural areas in the world,” Preston said. “DHEC is pleased to join Gov. Sanford and the citizens of South Carolina in celebrating May as Wetlands Month.”

“The goal of this months celebration of South Carolina’s abundant wetlands, which coincides with American Wetlands Month, is to educate and involve the public in local activities,” she said. “DHEC has information emphasizing the importance of wetlands and wetland activities, which is available to civic groups, school groups and individuals.”

For more information about the state’s wetlands, visit DHEC’s Web site at: http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/water/401.html

From the Shem Creek blog.

May is “South Carolina Wetlands Month”

The annual trip is swapped between the East and West coast and will kickoff a week from today up in N.H., but they won’t be stopping here in Charleston, or any other city in S.C.

Here’s NOAA’s Atlantic Coast Hurricane Awareness Tour Schedule:

From the Shem Creek blog.

NOAA more worried about hurricanes in N.H. and N.Y. than S.C.

Dr. Maria Whitehead will be heading a nature and bird walk as well. She has impressive credentials, including:

• B.S., Biology, Davidson College
• M.S., Wildlife Ecology, University of Georgia
• PhD., Natural Resources, Clemson University

and currently teaches Biology at The Citadel, so it should be a great experience for nature lovers and people wanting to learn and experience something new.

10:00AM to 2:00PM.
$50 Includes Lunch

Black Mingo Creek is a blackwater tributary of the Black River. It derives its name from “mingo” or “minko” – the Chickasaw word for chief. It was a center of the eastern Chickasaws in colonial times, a special hunting preserve.

The area is part of the proposed Francis Marion Trail due to the battle site of the Battle of Black Mingo of the American Revolution, which routed the British from their attempt to fortify and hold the area.

Credit: Coastal Conservation League / Wikipedia

From the Shem Creek blog.

Black Mingo Creek kayak trip and bird walk

When I read this, the first thing I thought of was The Edge of America, a.k.a. Folly Beach. We all know about their history with erosion, I’m just not sure whether or not they fit the bill here. Anyway, it’s something the local officials may want to look into.

Here’s information on NOAA’s Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Projects”, and of course, the Administration’s Recovery.gov, which will feature information on how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is working, tools to help you hold the government accountable, and up-to-date data on the expenditure of funds.

To ensure relevance, readiness and accountability, the solicitation requires that projects be “shovel-ready”.

From the Shem Creek blog.

NOAA ready to hand out money for restoration projects