This year, the National Park Service has an opportunity to acquire the 1,840-acre Riverstone property for Congaree National Park. An appropriation of $5.6 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund through the FY 2008 Interior Appropriations bill is needed to preserve this land.
Though funds have not yet been allocated for this project, the House version of the bill contains unallocated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, out of which important land protection projects like Congaree might receive funding.
In 2003 Congress declared Congaree National Park as the first national park in South Carolina. Congaree hosts the nation’s largest tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, and protects some of the tallest trees in the eastern United States. The dense overgrowth and high forest canopy provides habitat for 190 species of birds. Congaree also offers the public excellent recreation opportunities. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy canoeing, birding, kayaking, picnicking, camping, and fishing.
In FY 2005, following the enactment of a park boundary expansion, $6 million was secured from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to protect the 2,395-acre Bates Fork tract. In FY 2008, there is an opportunity to protect the immediately adjacent 1,840-acre Riverstone tract. This tract is important to the national park for natural resource protection and, if protected, would consolidate a conservation corridor, connecting the Congaree National Park to the Wateree River and other protected state and federal lands further downstream. The property will buffer Congaree National Park from encroaching timbering and other incompatible uses and provide new and diverse recreational and historical preservation opportunities to park visitors while protecting significant natural resources.
Congress is now considering its priorities for the Land and Water Conservation Fund for FY 2008. Please contact your legislators and encourage their support for $5.6 million for Congaree NP through the Land and Water Conservation Fund in the FY 2008 Interior Appropriations bill.
(NOTE: There is a significant delay in the delivery of letters to Members of Congress due to security concerns. Instead, we strongly encourage you to fax, call, or electronically contact your Member of Congress in order to ensure prompt receipt. For online contact, please go to the congressional websites listed below and follow instructions for constituent contact.)
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The Honorable Lindsey Graham U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202 224-5972 Fax: 202 224-3808 Website: http://lgraham.senate.gov |
The Honorable James Clyburn U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: 202 225-3315 Fax: 202 225-2313 Website: http://www.house.gov/clyburn |
Last modified:
May 11, 2008 by Edward Kujawski
(ed@kujawski.org)
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