Lunz Conservation Activities

  • January

    • Endorsed the Campaign for Charleston Wetland Preservation

    • Sent public comments in favor of pike/ped/public transit in relation to Northbridge to CHATS Charleston Area Transportation Study (CHATS) Study Team CHATS Charleston Area Transportation Study (CHATS) Study Team 

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  • February

    • Clean up efforts: Amanda led a cleanup effort in the Francis Marion in Feb and has one on Shem Creek coming up in June.

    • Support local Climate Action Planning:  Group Chair, Christine vonkolnitz attended the Feb 26th City of Charleston Resilience and Sustainability Committee meeting which focused on ReLEAF, climate action planning, the Just Corridor, and regional resilience planning and communications.

  • March 

     

    • Walterboro Public Comment Workshop  CVSC/Friends of the Edisto, Charleston Climate Coalition, and South Carolina Environmental Law Project in-person in Walterboro to learn all about the public hearing, from registration, to drafting your comment, to hearing night. Dinner will be provided.  Monday, March 9, 2026 6:00 PM  Walterboro Wildlife Center, 100 S Jefferies Blvd, Walterboro, SC 29488

    • March 28:  Pollinator Garden planting at _____ X time

  • Virtual Public Comment Workshop

Dominion and SanteeCooper want to build an expensive, polluting gas mega-project on the banks of the Edisto River in Colleton County. The clock is ticking towards the final decision in June 2026, and now is the time to use your voice and oppose the plant at public hearings. Join our webinar with Charleston Climate Coalition to learn about the public hearing, from registration, to drafting your comment, to hearing night.

Join the SC Conservation Coalition—a statewide alliance of over 50 conservation organizations—on Tuesday, March 31, for our 23rd Annual Lobby Day and Oyster Roast! Make your voice heard at the Statehouse, connect with elected officials, and celebrate conservation with fellow advocates and partners.

SELC: Amended Mt. Holly Smelter Notice of Intent to Sue

Sierra Club has amended its Notice of Intent to sue for Clean Air Act violations at the Mt. Holly smelter and sent it out to Century Aluminum and state and federal regulators this morning. Please see attached for a copy. 
 
The plant has violated its new (relaxed) PM limits for its potrooms, which we still think were invalidly issued, and has had its total fluorides (TF) violations continue into this year as well, not to mention that they are burning pet coke with a higher sulfur content than we think they should be permitted to burn.  
2025-11-13-final-amended-notice-letter_ca-of-sc-inc.pdf
 

HEAT WATCH CHARLESTON LINKS

COURTESY CASEY CONRAD

City of Charleston HeatWatch Data: 
https://www.charleston-sc.gov/2513/HeatWatch-Charleston-2021#:~:text=The%20HeatWatch%20event%20will%20provide,areas%20that%20need%20it%20most. 

Tree Canopy Tools: 
https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c6436d1c82324e59a29e2ef115177d35 

Street Tree Canopy Storymap: 
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/593cdef7583444949e70845a6bf1f8fd

 

Horseshoe Crabs Issues

Defenders of Wildlife Document about Horseshoe Crab A Call For Intervention. Download here:  PDF

Charleston Post and Courier and  Columbia The State newspaper articles about Horsehoe crabs:

https://www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article259836620.html?fbclid=IwAR3XIrD9jBkx2TvmewJhJZvzwEQwJZIG4L18Yr-yBP0qM08FVc5j8ZKoFnI

https://www.postandcourier.com/environment/sc-officials-may-privately-allow-lab-company-to-harvest-horseshoe-crabs-in-off-limits-zone/article_4b9859b2-aed2-11ec-9bca-97aef1b41cde.html

Horseshoe Crab Recovery talk with Christian Hunt Defenders of Wildlife Zoom Recording:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-sm6-n7iY8&t=13s

 

 

OTHER CONSERVATION ISSUES:
 
 
 
 
 
People’s Energy Plan: Sign On and Contact List  
 

 

Video Recordings of Dialogues

Also check out the South Carolina Chapter Conservation page: https://www.sierraclub.org/south-carolina/issues