Travelers Rest Bunched Arrowhead Preserve

Naturaland Trust, backed by a coalition of local residents, philanthropic landowners, the Native Plant Society, SCDNR, US Fish and Wildlife, Greenville County Trust, and the SC Conservation Bank, has made tremendous strides in protecting robust populations of the federally endangered bunched arrowhead and its equally imperiled habitat, the piedmont seepage forest. Travelers Rest is the epicenter of this plant’s existence—a town that is experiencing tremendous development, growth, and expansion. Proactive conservation in this region will be vital for the long-term survival of this unique ecosystem and the rare plants that call it home.

1,500 feet from Blackwell Heritage Preserve, across Highway 25 from the complex of Bunched Arrowhead Preserves, and at the intersection of E Bowers Road and Coleman Road in Travelers Rest, are two parcels totaling approximately 50 acres. The two tracts share the Enoree River as their southern border and have been annexed and rezoned by the City of Travelers Rest and are under contract with a developer, Deer River South, for $3,000,000 ($60,000/acre). The developer plans to build 87 lots on the interior portion of the property.

During the zoning and permitting process, a robust population of bunched arrowhead plants was found on the western property, surrounded by a striking piedmont seepage forest and other spectacular native plants. DNR staff have confirmed there are 400-500 Bunched Arrowhead and two other rare plants, Thalictrum macrostylum (Small-leaved Meadowrue) and Scutellaria lateriflora (Mad-dog Skullcap).

The original development plan impinged upon this sensitive area and the recharge zone for the seepage forest. Because of opposition from the local community and the Southern Environmental Law Center, the developer proposed selling the sensitive area for conservation and accordingly changed its plans to avoid building in these sensitive areas. We now have the opportunity to permanently protect this population and the mature forest that sustains the plants. With funding from the SCCB, Greenville County Trust, the Broad River Mitigation Fund, and DNR's support, we hope to create a new Heritage Preserve for an endangered plant and a threatened forest type.

When SCDNR is ready to take over ownership, they will create a new Heritage Preserve on the property to protect the Bunched Arrowhead and its habitat. In the meantime, Naturaland Trust will own and manage the property and will work to remove invasive species within the wetland area. We will also seek to create a parking area on Coleman Road for appropriate public access.