Callawassie Island Community Wildlife Habitat (CWH) Project

By Dorothy Mosior, Chairman, Callawassie Island CWH Project

Midway between Beaufort and Hilton Head lies an island named by its forebearers as Callawassie. Along the sea-island’s shores are miles of marshland, surrounded by tidal creeks and rivers with vistas that seem to be endless.

This land has been blessed with an abundance of trees, tangles of wax myrtle, native palmettos and magnolias along with its sheltering thick underbrush. Numerous wildlife species found refuge on Callawassie long before the time when Native Americans called the island their home. Today, Callawassie’s wildlife still find the island a favorable place to roost and raise their young and the residents of Callawassie Island want to keep it that way!

Callawassie Island is approximately two square miles of maritime forest, and has approximately 500 year-round residents. The island has been developed since the late 1980s and presently, has reached about 60% of its build-out plans. It is a modern day golf and tennis community dotted with historic tabby ruins dating back to the days of growing cotton, rice and indigo crops. Until recently, much of the island’s natural resources were taken for granted. The numerous wildlife species that inhabit the 880-acre sea-island, well, they were taken for granted, too. However, as more people are finding their way on to the island, and the number of new homes increases, the residents have come to realize that unless they make a conscious effort to preserve the present state of Callawassie Island, the wildlife may not be here forever. The Callawassie Island Ecology Committee (CIEC) believes that the next few years will be crucial in determining whether or not the island will continue to attract and keep the wildlife that it now enjoys. Therefore, it has been the committee’s goal to educate and obtain community support regarding the preservation of the island’s precious natural resources. They feel that this can be accomplished by getting the community involved in an awareness/preservation program such as the NWF/SCWF Backyard and Community Wildlife Habitat Programs.

By the end of 2004, there were a mere four backyards that had achieved Backyard Wildlife Habitat status and the majority of the residents had not yet heard of the Federation’s Habitat programs. However, that all changed on March 30, 2005, when Rachel Dodgens, Volunteer Coordinator for South Carolina Wildlife Federation at that time, accepted an invitation from the CIEC to be the key speaker at their first community education program for 2005. In her presentation, Ms. Dodgens included the criteria for successful certification in both the Backyard and Community Wildlife Habitat programs. Her knowledge of the subject and her enthusiasm spilled over to the audience and the rest, so to speak, is history! Today, forty-seven backyards have achieved Backyard Wildlife Habitat certification!

By April 27, 2005, the Ecology Committee, having formed its CWH Project Team which included two members from the Ecology Committee and two members from the community at large, held its first meeting. The first task the group tackled was to carefully study the CWH application requirements to decide whether the community had the capability of taking on and succeeding at such an ambitious endeavor. In reality, this seemingly formidable task became much easier when the team reviewed, in earnest, the past and present projects that have been accomplished by the Ecology Committee with the support of the Callawassie Island community. It didn’t take long to realize that over the years the CIEC had progressed from being a peripheral community group with only a few activities to one that continues to lead many community ecology projects during each year. In addition, two of the twelve members are Master Naturalists and two additional members are currently enrolled in this year’s Master Naturalist program, sponsored by Clemson University.

The CIEC, under the guidance of Ed Pappas, Chairman, has formed and coordinated a group of residents to work with their Healthy Ponds Initiative concept. This program has utilized Clemson University’s Extension Program expertise and has been successful in raising the level of awareness of the community regarding the quality of water in the island’s ponds, and whether the ponds can continue to support the various wildlife species that are now contained in or around them. As a result, the HIP Team, with the CI Board of Directors approval, has been granted permission to create two “model” ponds by working with two of the existing ponds in the community. These ponds will have their water quality routinely monitored, and in addition, the team is in the process of planting native landscaping which will be conducive to supporting the pond’s native wildlife.

In January 2005, the Callawassie Island community was awarded a plaque and an accompanying letter signed by the President of the United States for its participation in the SCORE (SC Oyster Restoration Enhancement) program. The award was presented to the community for planning, implementing and tracking the development of an oyster reef near one of the community’s docks.

Every spring, CI participates in the National River Cleanup Week effort which is sponsored by America Outdoors. This year, fourteen volunteers walked the island’s shores to collect almost two hundred pounds of debris and trash that had been washed ashore. In addition to the above, several volunteers participate in the community’s monthly Adopt-A-Highway Program which has been in operation for several years.

Each year the CIEC sponsors at least five Community Education Programs which include at least one field trip. Local naturalists are invited to speak to the residents on a variety of topics with all programs having stewardship as their theme. The above mentioned program provided by Rachel Dodgens was one of such programs.

During 2004, a CIEC sub-committee, led by Reggie Holter, created the newly revised Ecology Guide for the Callawassie residents. The loose-leaf binder guide contains information and resources on the local wildlife species, native plants and non-desirable invasive plants or trees. The Guide, which has received accolades from the Board of Directors, is updated periodically with the new information distributed to the community.

CIEC member, David Harris, has created and implemented the island’s Bluebird Nest Monitoring program. Dave, a Master Naturalist, along with several other creative volunteers, have built 30 bluebird houses that will be erected along the perimeter of the island’s golf courses during December 2005. The sale of additional houses to community residents for their personal use is one of CIEC’s fund-raisers which, in turn, will provide funds for the island’s participation in the CWH program. Another fund-raiser is the creation of the beautiful Callawassie Island 2006 calendar which features the island’s beauty through the photography of Hank Hearn and Dorothy Mosior.

The community Chinese Tree Eradication Program has been in existence for over one year. Twelve island volunteers, under the leadership of CIEC member, Rick Baugh, have been working towards eradicating the Chinese Tallow Tree on CI by cutting down the trees on all common properties. Having accomplished most of this, the group is now making recommendations regarding tree removal on private property.

The CI Garden Club maintains two walk-through parks which have been designated to be left in their natural state. Members of the GC maintain both Magnolia and Sequoia Parks by periodically removing unwanted debris from these areas. The CIGC also has planted and maintains a community Butterfly Garden which has been existence for several years.

In December of each year, volunteers participate in the Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Early morning risers are enticed to participate by gathering first for hot coffee, hot chocolate and home-bakes goodies. This year’s count will be held on December 18th.

Working with The Citadel, CI has participated in a year-long study concerning noticeable dieback of Spartina Alternaflora in isolated marsh areas surrounding the island. Since it has been documented that there has been an increase in the low country’s Periwinkle snail population, The Citadel’s study will focus on whether or not the Periwinkle has contributed to the dieback problem. The study is nearing conclusion and the results will be forwarded to the CIEC to share with the community.

On September 10, 2005, CI hosted South Carolina Wildlife Federation’s Habitat Stewards Workshop. Sara Green, Director of Education, SCWF, and Rachel Dodgens, SCWF Volunteer, presented an exciting, informative, educational day-long program to over 40 attendees that traveled from as far away as Charleston, SC.

The newest project, Wildlife Habitat Preservation, which is in the early stages of implementation, is a joint effort between the CIEC and the CI Green Committee. Both groups have collaborated on identifying “pockets” of vegetation along the community’s golf courses that are conducive to supporting various species of wildlife. These pockets will be protected against any future change in vegetation and will remain among the safe habitat areas for the island’s wildlife. The CIEC particularly views this project as “high priority” considering the island’s build-out status. In addition, the CIEC, partnering with the Garden Club, will design and create a model wildlife habitat on one of the island vacant lots. Upon completion, this lot will serve as an educational tool for the island’s residents.

After reviewing all of the above programs, along with the community’s overwhelming response to the Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program, the CWH Project team had no doubt that Callawassie Island should move ahead and strive for certification in the NWF/SCWF Community Wildlife Habitat certification program. In mid July 2005, the CWH Project Team, under the leadership of Dorothy Mosior, Chairman, completed the NWF CWH registration application, created one, two, three and five year goals for Callawassie Island, obtained the support of the community’s governing body and were on their way!

On August 10, 2005, Callawassie Island received the much welcomed news that they had met all of the registration criteria and had been admitted into the NWF CWH program. The CWH certification process promises to be an incredible journey and a vast learning experience as Callawassie Island works towards their ultimate goal … That of being designated as one of South Carolina’s first communities to become certified as a Community Wildlife Habitat, joining only a handful of other communities across the country who have achieved this prestigious status. There seems to be little doubt that this energetic, ecology-minded community will successfully reach its goal!