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Dominion Energy grant helps remove invasive plants, restore wetlands at popular nature park.
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$33,000 grant will help preserve 10-acre wetland at Saluda Shoals Park in Irmo, South Carolina.
An environmental grant from Dominion Energy is helping a popular South Carolina park launch a multiyear project to restore one of its most celebrated natural attractions.
The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation awarded the Saluda Shoals Foundation a $33,000 grant last year to preserve a 10-acre wetland area at Saluda Shoals Park in Irmo. The 480-acre Saluda Shoals Park invites visitors to experience the treasures of the Saluda River through educational, recreational, and cultural opportunities.
Saluda Shoals' naturally occurring “Wetlands Preserve” is at the center of the park's environmental education program, which plays host to more than 6,000 visiting students each year. The site functions as an outdoor classroom and laboratory to increase awareness of the importance of properly managing the park's natural resources.
However, invasive plants have crowded out native species in the area.
The grant will support the removal of non-native plants and restore native varieties across 10-acres of wetlands. The park will also install a well and pump to help maintain water levels. It will also expand environmental education programs for more than 1,300 students who visit the park with their classes each spring. The outdoor classroom helps classes meet South Carolina state science standards.
“In South Carolina, we are fortunate to be blessed with the environmental resources and natural beauty across the communities we serve,” said Keller Kissam, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina. “We are proud to support the Saluda Shoals Foundation and their commitment to the restoration and preservation of this amazing sanctuary along the banks of the Saluda River, where native plans and wildlife will thrive for generations to come.”
Dominion Energy Environmental Education and Stewardship grants are awarded each year to eligible nonprofits and schools for projects that work to create a cleaner, greener world and teach citizens of all ages to better care for the outdoors.
“Dominion Energy has been an amazing partner in providing funding to support the park as well as our educational programs,” said Christina Bickley, Saluda Shoals Foundation director. “We are thankful to have been rewarded $33,000 from Dominion towards our wetlands project.”
Last year, Dominion Energy gave approximately $236,000 in Environmental Education and Stewardship grants to 15 organizations across South Carolina. In addition, more than $1.3 million of environmental stewardship grants supported organizations across eight states in Dominion Energy's service territory. Since 2006, the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation has donated $40 million to a variety of environmental projects across its footprint.
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