Central Carolina Community Foundation, the Midlands’ center for philanthropy, announces the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) as the inaugural grant recipient of the Lynches River Conservation Grant with a one-time $270,000 award.

The grant funds land acquisition projects to improve the water quality and ecological integrity of the Lynches River watershed. The awarded grant will assist in the purchase and permanent protection of 158.72 acres of a Flat Creek Conservation area adjoined with SCDNR’s Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management area in Lancaster County. The property will be open to the public year-round and serve as a prime wildlife habitat, a sustainable forest resource, protector of water, and a recreational outlet for outdoor enthusiasts. Improving and conserving this area is anticipated to have a positive impact on downstream conditions in the broader Pee Dee River Basin.

David Thomas, vice-president of OceanaGold, the donor of this fund, states, “OceanaGold is proud to be engaged with efforts to expand the Flat Creek Conservation Area, the additional land purchased by SCDNR, and their stewardship, which contribute greatly to this significant area of Lancaster County.”

The Lynches River Conservation Board consists of an elected official and representatives from Conservation Voters of South Carolina, South Carolina Coastal Conservation League, Winyah Rivers Foundation, South Carolina Wildlife Federation, National Wildlife Federation, and Haile Corporation. The fund is administered by Central Carolina Community Foundation.

Applications for the next cycle of the Lynches River Conservation Grant, including a newly expanded service area, are now being accepted through December 31, 2018. Find eligibility requirements and online-only applications at https://www.yourfoundation.org/lynches-river-conservation.