Horry County is proud to announce a ceremonial unveiling for the Independent Republic Heritage Preserve Wetland Mitigation Bank.
In 2018, using funds from the RIDE Program, the County purchased the roughly 3,700-acre property bordering the southern side of International Drive across from the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve.
The land is now protected by a permanent conservation easement restricting future development and improving the unique Carolina Bay and wet pine savanna ecotypes of the Coastal Plain.
The bank will also provide wetland mitigation credits offsetting any unavoidable impacts associated with future projects included in the RIDE Program.
Environmental restoration work is now underway and will continue for the next 7-10 years. This will include, among other activities, the installation of several miles of fire breaks as well as prescribed burns, which will reduce wildfire potential in the surrounding areas.
The objectives of the Wetland Bank are to:
• Re-establish a robust prescribed fire program to the Bank’s relic wet pine savanna communities in order to enhance these fire-dependent communities.
• Reduce the density of the existing shrub/scrub layer on the project site which has proliferated in the absence of prescribed burns (low cover classes).
• Reduce the overstory density to allow for an open understory, promoting the propagation of the herbaceous layer of flora.
• Increase the overall number of species in the herbaceous layer on the project site (species richness).
• Increase the density of desirable herbaceous species on the project site including rare and endemic species (identified in the reference area).
• Management of any invasive species that may be present or may occur in the future on the project site.
The ceremonial unveiling is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17 at 11:30 a.m.
Those wishing to attend can use the address of 177 Environmental Parkway, Myrtle Beach to access the bank. Signs will also be posted in the area to assist with finding the event location.