Here’s USC’s plan to save a Beaufort Co. barrier island. Its initial cost is about $1.25M
After over a decade of neglect by the University of South Carolina, a Beaufort County barrier island could enjoy a renaissance under a plan proposed Thursday by the university.
The plan, presented in a meeting between USC Beaufort officials and the island donor’s family, is an effort to revive Pritchards Island. The island has gone largely unused by the school since 2009 because of erosion, lack of staffing and dried-up private, state and federal funding, USCB officials have said.
In December 1983, Philip Rhodes gave USC half the island. By February 1989, he donated the other 50% to the university. The deeds between the then-Carolina Research and Development Foundation and Rhodes said the island was to be used for scientific, educational, charitable and general public purposes.
But in June, The State reported that the Rhodes family said the university wasn’t living up to its agreement. Further, The State reported a stipulation in the deeds that USC could lose the island if it balked on the contract. The next benefactor could be the University of Georgia.
On Thursday, faculty members with USCB’s natural sciences department made presentations to the Rhodes family that envisioned research efforts and programming on Pritchards that would serve the university’s faculty, staff, students and community members. Afterward, the family said they were “impressed” by the thorough plans and widespread enthusiasm.
Steve Rhodes, the island donor’s son, said it was the “most encouraged” he’s been in at least 12 years regarding the use of the island by the university.
USCB’s plans “absolutely” fulfill the deeds’ requirements, said the donor’s granddaughter, Martha Rhodes. The detailed presentations by the schools’ natural sciences faculty showed the “hunger to apply their disciplines to the island,” she said.
Plans range from establishing a summer undergraduate research program to monitoring and characterizing the rich ecology of the island. Notably, because of Pritchards’ untouched and rugged nature, the 1,600-acre plot serves as a strong comparison to surrounding barrier islands that are highly developed, USCB professors noted. The juxtapositions are important in understanding erosion over time, sea level rise and climate change’s impact.
USCB ensured its proposals included educational opportunities that span multiple majors, said Anna Ponder, the university’s vice chancellor for advancement.
“The real takeaway from today is how excited we all are about this project and that excitement has in no way diminished,” Ponder said Thursday evening. “In fact, it’s multiplying quickly, exponentially.”
The next hurdle is nailing down funding to put the plans into action. The estimated budget for the first year is about $1.25 million.
- $700,000 in one-time equipment and set-up costs, including purchasing transportation.
- $300,000 in recurring costs, including salaries, maintenance and a docking fee.
$200,000 in annual operating costs.
The university is looking to secure funding from the South Carolina legislature, state and federal grants, nonprofits and private donors.
Ponder said that USCB has tripled its number and volume of grant money recently and expects faculty would be able to garner grant support for Pritchards Island. She added that she hoped the open communication with Gov. Henry McMaster’s office would continue after officials there made it “quite clear that they’d like to be supportive of the projects.”
McMaster promised to keep the Beaufort County barrier in the hands of the university. In a July 6 voicemail message to Martha Rhodes, he said “South Carolina will live up to every single thing that is in the agreement, which is between the… university and your grandfather.”
The Rhodeses reiterated Thursday that they hope the governor “will be excited about and supportive of the university’s plans.”
The governor’s office could not be immediately reached for comment.
Looming still is the removal of a former research lab on stilts that was deemed unsafe for use over a decade ago. Ponder said the demolition is expected by late-October. To ensure there is no adverse environmental impact, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control will monitor the lab’s removal.
Future plans for Pritchards do not include building any permanent structures on the island.
This story was originally published September 24, 2022 at 5:30 AM.
