St Simons Land Trust

TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL AND SCENIC CHARACTER OF ST SIMONS ISLAND

IN SEPTEMBER 2012, THE LAND TRUST ACQUIRED A 608-ACRE TRACT OF LAND ON THE NORTH-END OF ST. SIMONS ISLAND FEATURING MATURE MARITIME FOREST, SIX MILES OF MARSH SHORE LINE INCLUDING DEEP WATER FRONTAGE, AND UNIQUE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY IMPORTANT HABITAT FOR NATIVE PLANTS, WILDLIFE, AND MIGRATORY BIRDS. CANNON'S POINT PRESERVE IS NOW A MODEL OF COASTAL ECOLOGY, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND A PLATFORM FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.IN 2016, THE LAND TRUST BEGAN WORKING ON INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO CANNON'S POINT, INCLUDING ADDED FEATURES FOR VISITORS SUCH AS RESTROOMS, AN EDUCATION PAVILION, AND A COASTAL ECOLOGY LAB. THE VISION OF THE LAND TRUST IS TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE LAND ON ST. SIMONS ISLAND THAT IS MOST VULNERABLE TO HIGH-DENSITY DEVELOPMENT AND TO PRESERVE THAT LAND IN PERPETUITY.IN AUGUST 2015, THE TRUST REACHED AN AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE THREE PARCELS OF LAND CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 260 ACRES THAT WAS PART OF THE FORMER MUSGROVE PLANTATION (NOW KNOWN AS GUALE PRESERVE). THE PLAN INCLUDED PURCHASING THE PARCELS IN THREE PHASES OVER THREE YEARS WITH FUNDING COMING FROM A COMBINATION OF INDIVIDUAL DONORS, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FOUNDATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT GRANTS. ON MAY 17, 2016, THE TRUST COMPLETED THE PURCHASE OF GUALE PRESERVE PHASE I, CONSISTING OF 58.4 ACRES. ON FEBRUARY 14, 2017, THE TRUST COMPLETED THE PURCHASE OF PHASE II CONSISTING OF 90.225 ACRES. PHASE III CLOSED IN 2018 CONSISTING OF 109.2 ACRES. GUALE PRESERVE IS NOW AN IMPORTANT PROTECTED PROPERTY THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND LOW-IMPACT RECREATIONAL USE INCLUDING HIKING, RUNNING, BIKING, BIRDING. THE PRESERVE INCLUDES A MILE-AND-A-HALF LOOP KNOWN AS POLLY'S TRAIL ON PHASE II AND A QUARTER-MILE HIKING PATH KNOWN AS JANET'S TRAIL ON PHASE I. PHASE I ALSO INCLUDES A FAMILY PICNIC AND EDUCATIONAL BUILDING AND A BOAT RAMP THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR KAYAKERS, CANOEISTS, AND FISHERS USING MOTORIZED BOATS NO LONGER THAN 20 FEET IN LENGTH. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR LAUNCHING OF MOTORIZED BOATS. A THIRD HIKING TRAIL IS PLANNED FOR PHASE III.IN 2018, THE TRUST BEGAN AN INITIATIVE CALLED THE CANOPY CAMPAIGN, WHICH WAS ENVISIONED TO INCLUDE TWO TO FOUR PHASES. IT IS AN OVERARCHING STRATEGY TO PRESERVE ST. SIMONS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH THROUGH THE ACQUISITION AND CONSERVATION OF PROPERTIES WITH GREATEST ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL VALUES AND THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO DEVELOPMENT.