The
Bluffton Blufft n Sun March 17, 2026 • Volume 29, Issue 6 • Complimentary • BlufftonSun.com
Bluffton Chamber honors businesses at Golden Oyster Awards 14A
SOBA presents High School Art Show
Historic easement protects 4,400 acres By Sasha Sweeney Editor
A vast stretch of coastal land in northern Beaufort County that was once eligible for commercial or residential development will now remain permanently protected under what Ducks Unlimited described as one of the largest private conservation easements in the country. The nearly 4,400-acre Clarendon Farms property has been placed under easement by the Cox family and Cox Enterprises, with stewardship provided by Ducks Unlimited. A conservation easement allows landowners to retain ownership of property while permanently limiting development to pro-
tect environmental or cultural features. The easement, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, preserves one of the largest remaining unprotected tracts in Beaufort County at a time when rapid development is reshaping much of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Instead, the Cox family chose permanent conservation. “Our family has always believed that it is important to protect wildlife and their habitats,” said Jim Kennedy, chairman emeritus of Cox Enterprises and chairman of the James M. Cox Foundation. “We have worked with Ducks Unlimited for many years and are proud to partner with them again. They have the expertise to ensure Clarendon remains a protected part of the Lowcountry and benefits the environment for years to come.” Located within the Port Royal Sound watershed, Clarendon Farms contains a diverse landscape that includes more than 40 miles of river and marsh frontage, nine islands, hammock islands and roughly 1,300 acres of upland forest.
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The 5th Black Family Wellness Expo 30A
The property’s wetlands include tidal marshes, forested wetlands, freshwater ponds and historic rice fields that provide critical habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. Beyond the wetlands, the property includes longleaf pine forests that provide habitat for species such as quail, deer, wild turkey and other native wildlife. “The most important thing we can do
EASEMENT CONT. ON PAGE 3
Bluffton and Okatie Breeze schedule change 45A