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VOLUME 18 ISSUE 1
APRIL 5, 2024
A Greener Island for All
KIAWAH GOES GREEN CONTINUES T O TA C K L E WA S T E ISSUES BY THERESA STRATFORD
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For The Island Connection
n an ongoing effort to go green, the Kiawah Goes Green initiative has recently tackled one of the most important issues facing the community: composting and recycling. More specifically, the Kiawah Goes Green volunteers have made a push for a compost drop-off site, more hazardous waste events and increased education with contaminating recycling bins. They have also made an attempt to eliminate single-use plastics throughout the island. Town Council Member Michael Heidingsfelder, who heads up the Kiawah Goes Green initiative, said that education is the most important aspect of their mission. “It’s really about teaching people how to do all this correctly,” he said. The Town recently conducted a survey about composting efforts on the (continued on page 2)
Renters and Rules
KIAWAH PROVIDES C O M M U N I C AT I O N W I T H S H O RT- T E R M R E N TA L S BY THE TOWN OF KIAWAH ISLAND
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For The Island Connection
arlier this month, the community raised a concern about how the island’s rules and regulations were communicated to the public, specifically short-term rentals. Here is an overview of what is currently being done to communicate island rules and what improvements are planned. Current Island Rules Communications: Before renters arrive, all of Kiawah’s large property management companies provide rules as a part of their agreement and welcome process. Most rental agencies communicate the rules several times before arrival, and the majority require renters to sign and agree to Kiawah’s rules (continued on page 3) before setting foot on
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SHOREBIRD STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM TA K E S O N A N O T H E R Y E A R BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
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s Kiawah Island’s Shorebird Stewardship Program kicks off for the 2024 season, a new shorebird educational campaign is wrapping up. The educational campaign featured a different shorebird in the Town of Kiawah Island’s weekly newsletter for 12 weeks. “Education is such a big part of what we do,” said Kiawah Island Shorebird Steward Coordinator Bette Popillo. “There is a huge reach with the Town’s newsletter to residents and tourists.” For example, many people don’t know that since 1970, 2.9 billion birds have vanished. According to the Shorebird Stewardship Program, 68% of shorebird species are declining. The Red Knots have declined 70% to 80% from the 1980s to the early 2000s, and the Ruddy Turnstone has decreased 80% since 1974. For these reasons, the Shorebird Stewardship Program on Kiawah Island is always looking for new members, and they recently kicked off the 2024 season. They currently have 57 members who help protect the shorebirds from
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disturbances, like beachgoers and dogs. The purpose of the Kiawah Island Shorebird Stewardship Program, which is in its seventh year, is to protect and conserve the island’s shorebirds through outreach and education. The current focal species of shorebirds are Least Terns, Wilson’s Plover, American Oystercatcher, Piping Plover and the Red Knot. Most recently, the Shorebird Stewardship Program created detour signs PHOTO BY PAMELA COHEN that they hold up around flocks of shorebirds on the beach. “We found that having a simple sign that says ‘detour’ is a gentle way of asking people to go around,” Popillo explained. “It is pretty effective, and many people don’t even ask why; they just go around naturally.” The Shorebird Stewardship Program is broken up into different times of the year. The red knot season is from March through May. The general nesting season is from April through July, and the fall/winter migration season is September through February. Stewards are on the beach (continued on page 4)
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