2005 Town of Kiawah Island Aerial Photography
Blue Heron Pond Rd
66 Blue Heron Pond Road
The property at 66 Blue Heron Pond Road is located in the eastern end of the Blue Heron Pond enclave, just northeast of the intersection of Blue Heron Pond Road and Chinaberry Lane. The area of the property is 1.73 acres. It is bounded by marsh to the south, 68 Blue Heron Pond Road (undeveloped home site) to the east, and Blue Heron Pond Road itself to the north and west. The far reaches of Blue Heron Pond are located across the street from the property, where there are no platted home sites. The lot is unique when compared to other preserved lots as its key habitat type is the salt shrub thicket (as opposed to the maritime forest found on most interior home sites). Other areas on Kiawah Island that display the salt shrub thicket habitat type are Mingo Point and Little Bear Island.
Property Description
Salt shrub thickets occur on slightly elevated sites, adjacent to salt marsh, that are only occasionally flooded by high tides. At 66 Blue Heron Pond Road, as one moves from the marsh (southern edge of the property) toward higher ground and the northern side of the property, the following plants are encountered in the salt shrub thicket:
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Smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)
Smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)-Black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus)
Black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus)-Sea ox-eye (Borrichia frutescens) which extends in some places almost to the northern boundary of the property
Sea ox-eye (Borrichia frutescens) which extends in some places almost to the northern boundary of the property-Glasswort (Salicornia europaea) and saltwort (Batis maritime) were also dispersed throughout the marsh edge
Glasswort (Salicornia europaea) and saltwort (Batis maritime) were also dispersed throughout the marsh edgeContinuing northward, and moving to higher ground, larger shrubs and trees characteristic of the salt shrub thicket are encountered. Most notably:
-Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)-Cabbage palmettos (Sabal palmetto)
Cabbage palmettos (Sabal palmetto)-Loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) and slash pines (Pinus elliottii)
Loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) and slash pines (Pinus elliottii)-A few stunted live oaks (Quercus virginiana)
A few stunted live oaks (Quercus virginiana)-Groundsel tree (Baccharis halimifolia) and false-willow (Baccharis angustifolia)
Groundsel tree (Baccharis halimifolia) and false-willow (Baccharis angustifolia)As one continues into the forested upland of the lot and approaches the northern boundary of the property, the following plant species are present in the forest canopy:
-Loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) and slash pines (Pinus elliottii)
Loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) and slash pines (Pinus elliottii)-Cabbage palmettos (Sabal palmetto)
Cabbage palmettos (Sabal palmetto)-Live oak (Quercus virginiana) and laurel oak (Quercus hemisphaerica)
Live oak (Quercus virginiana) and laurel oak (Quercus hemisphaerica)And these plants are present in the understory and on the forest floor:
-Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria)
Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria)-Fringed greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox) and dune greenbrier (Smilax auriculata)
Fringed greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox) and dune greenbrier (Smilax auriculata)-Yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)
Yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)-Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)-Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum)
Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum)-There is considerable leaf litter on the forest floor – mostly in the form of pine needles
There is considerable leaf litter on the forest floor – mostly in the form of pine needlesThe northern boundary of the property (highest elevation), adjacent to Blue Heron Pond Road is dominated by:
-Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera)
Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera)-Loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) and slash pines (Pinus elliottii)
Loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) and slash pines (Pinus elliottii)-Cabbage palmettos (Sabal palmetto)
Cabbage palmettos (Sabal palmetto)-Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)-One Chinese tallow tree / popcorn tree (Sapium sebiferum) was present in the northwestern corner of the property, along its edge
One Chinese tallow tree / popcorn tree (Sapium sebiferum) was present in the northwestern corner of the property, along its edgeThe plant community at 66 Blue Heron Pond Road is not as diverse as what is found at other interior lots, but that is simply because the salt shrub thicket habitat type is generally less diverse than the maritime forest. The quality of the habitat at 66 Blue Heron Pond Road is exceptional and the size of the lot (1.73 acres) also attributes to the value of the habitat. One additional feature that makes this property unique is the existence of a small water body in its northwest corner. It appears to be a low-lying area that may be flooded during extreme high tides, then drains very slowly. This feature could provide an extra habitat niche, in addition to what is afforded by the salt shrub thicket’s marsh edge and forested upland.
Wildlife Values
Bobcat data collected since 2000 shows considerable bobcat activity in the area. There are 16 GPS locations (from two cats) from the 2007 study and 5 radio-telemetry locations (from the 2000 and 2005 studies) within or along the property boundaries. The latest GPS data from the 2008 study (downloaded May 20, 2008) shows substantial activity in the area as well. In addition to bobcats, the property also likely provides habitat for white-tailed deer, raccoons, opossums and rodents. The property also provides good habitat for birds.
This property was preserved by the Conservancy in July 2008.
