ASRAC Behind The Scenes

 

The Conservation of South Carolina’s Ashley River

The Ashley Scenic River Advisory Council Meeting – March 2019

 

The designation of the Ashley River as a SC State Scenic River by the Dept. of Natural Resources in the late 1990s called into being the Ashley Scenic River Advisory Council (ASRAC), of which I’m now chairman. I was a founding member, representing Drayton Hall, and I now represent the Dorchester Trust Foundation, which owns Rosebrock Park on the river. Every two months we meet at the Summerville Chamber of Commerce, with good discussions being the norm. Our March meeting was an example.

Giving presentations were:

Jay Byars, Dorchester County Councilman,who loves kayaking on the river, especially with his family, and who supports conservation;

Doyle Best, Director of Summerville’s Parks and Recreation Department, which has just acquired new river frontage for conservation and recreation;

Noah Letter, new Manager Colonial Dorchester State Park, located on the Ashley, and who wants to engage us conservationists and the wider community;

Bruce Binney, Mid-Coast Manager of the Lowcountry Land Trust, which has easements along the river and is looking for more; and

Howard Bridgman, ASRAC Vice Chairman, a steadfast conservationist and leader.

Each provided information, generated questions, and prompted discussions about the future of the river region.

 

Behind the scenes at the ASRAC March Meeting:

 

 

Click here to learn more about the designation of the Ashley River as a SC State Scenic River.

 

Read about our efforts to keep this national treasure clean. You’ll be amazed at the quantity of junk that volunteers collected and removed from the Ashley – it filled two big dumpsters and included tires, televisions, toys, plastic bottles, cans, paper, and much more.

 

 

Header Image:  ASRAC Members and others attending the March 2019 meeting; ASRAC meetings are open to the public.