2005 Town of Kiawah Island Aerial Photography
2005 Town of Kiawah Island Aerial Photography
579 Oyster Rake

The property at 579 Oyster Rake, preserved in December 2008, is located in the central region of the Oyster Rake / Conifer Lane enclave, on the western end of Kiawah Island – not too far from the Main Security Gate.  It is bounded by Oyster Rake (street) to the north, 578 Oyster Rake (developed home site) to the east, KICA bicycle path and associated common area to the south, and 580 Oyster Rake (developed home site) to the west.  The property backs up to a sizeable KICA common area (99 year master lease) that provides a buffer for the bicycle path.  The area of 579 Oyster Rake is 0.19 acres.  The lot displays the typical flora indicative of maritime forest habitat on Kiawah Island: 

Forest Canopy
The forest canopy at 579 Oyster Rake is dominated by loblolly pines, especially along it northern and southern edges.  Other dominant canopy trees found within the lots interior (where the canopy is more diverse), include laurel oaks, live oaks and Southern magnolia. 
Trees observed:
-Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)
-Laurel oak (Quercus hemisphaerica)
-Live oak (Quercus virginiana)
-Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

Sub-Canopy (Understory)
The sub-canopy at 579 Oyster Rake varies in density, with the boundaries of the property being thick with vegetation – although the southern edge of the property is not as dense as the northern edge.  The lot interior is more open and easier to move through.  Along its perimeter, the sub-canopy is comprised mostly of wax myrtles, dune greenbrier, fringed greenbrier, American beautyberry and immature cabbage palms.  Within the lot’s interior, the following plants are found:  red bay (unhealthy, likely because of blight), wax myrtle, American beautyberry and immature cabbage palms. 

Sub-canopy plants observed:
-Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera)
-Dune greenbrier (Smilax auriculata)
-Fringed greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox)
-Red bay (Persea borbonia)
-American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
-Immature cabbage palms (Sabal palmetto)

Vines (Understory)
The property displays a variety of vines in reasonable densities throughout the property.  Vines are very dense along the northern edge of the property.
Vines observed:
-Muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia)
-Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
-Cross-vine (Bignonia capreolata)

Forest Floor (Understory)
The forest floor is well covered with leaf litter and plant material (mostly pine needles and magnolia leaves).  Bracken fern is evident.  There are also several stumps and dead trees on the property, including one large live oak snag.
Plants observed:
-Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum)

The property’s interior is shielded from the surrounding area by buffers on its northern, eastern and western edges – providing cover for wildlife.  The topography of the property changes throughout with several small ridges and swales.  The snags and stumps on the property likely provide habitat for mammals and birds.  There is no evidence of bush-hogging or other habitat damage on the property.  Preserving this property will effectively extend the green space area managed by KICA along the bicycle path, and will limit further fragmentation of this forested area. 

Bobcat data collected since 2000 (including the GPS pilot study points) show bobcat activity in the area; there are two points located within the KICA bicycle path buffer property.



Main Security Gate