MONCKS CORNER, S.C.–Berkeley County officials recently announced the county’s selection as the pilot project for the development of the state’s Green Infrastructure Guide. This guide, which explains how to conduct a green infrastructure assessment, will feature Berkeley County as a case study.
The project is expected to last several months and will be conducted by the Green Infrastructure Center (GIC) in conjunction with Berkeley County’s Planning & Development Department. The team will locate and map all of the County’s green infrastructure, including interconnected natural systems such as intact forests, woodlands, wetlands, dune systems, parks and rivers and agricultural soils that provide clean water, air quality, wildlife habitat and food.
They will then determine how to conserve and/or restore these resources. Berkeley County planning officials will use the results to assist with outlining future development standards in the County’s overall comprehensive plan.
“We can think of our natural resources — trees, streams, lakes, wetlands, soils — as infrastructure because they provide things we need such as shade, good air quality, drinking water, food and recreation,” explains Karen Firehock, Executive Director GIC. “We need to know where our best forests, wetlands or farms are located in order to better protect them. The GIC will build a computer model to analyze Berkeley County’s green infrastructure. This will be a pilot test for South Carolina. Results will inform the new state planning guide for green infrastructure planning.”
Berkeley County is considered the 35th fastest growing county in the nation. The County’s population increased by 9.1% from 2010 to 2013, compared to the state’s increase of 3.2% (source: U.S. Census Bureau).
“Maintaining the delicate balance of infrastructure expansion with the sustainability of natural resources has always been on the forefront of our minds,” explains Berkeley County Supervisor Dan Davis. “We are very excited about participating in this study because it will further help us preserve Berkeley County’s beauty and resources as new industries come in and the population of the county continues to grow.”
