The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) has commended the conservation efforts at The Ponds, a 1,950-acre master-planned community in Summerville.
According to a September letter from the SCDNR, The Ponds’ 1,100-acre nature preservation is home to a pair of bald eagles who successfully raised a chick during the 2008 nesting season.
Though the bald eagle was removed from the nation’s list of threatened and endangered species in August 2007, rapid growth and development continues to be a key area of concern.
“We are proud to have done our part to increase the bald eagle population right here in our very own conservation area,” says John Morgan of Greenwood Communities and Resorts, General Manager of The Ponds. “We are committed to protecting the natural beauty of this land and the wonderful creatures who called it home long before we did.”
According to the SCDNR letter, The Ponds’ bald eagle chick is one of 305 born in South Carolina this year. This number is substantial, considering South Carolina reported only 13 at the low point of this majestic bird’s endangerment.
“Reaching the status of ‘recovered’ has been a long journey for our nation’s bald eagle population,” writes Thomas M. Murphy, State Coordinator for the SCDNR. Records from the late ‘60s show as few as 417 nesting pairs across the lower 48 states. Today this population exceeds 10,000 nesting pairs, thanks in part to considerate development and protection of eagle nesting areas.
Greenwood Communities and Resorts will continue to honor its commitment to the environment through The Ponds Conservancy, a not-for-profit organization created to enhance the quality of life and sense of community at The Ponds. Major functions of The Conservancy include educational programs, social events, cultural endeavors and environmental stewardship. For more information, please call 843.832.6100 for details, or register online at www.DiscoverThePonds.com for ongoing updates.