Aiken's Forest Land to Become State Park

Aiken City Council has granted initial approval for the transfer of 2,658 acres of forested land near the Mason Branch Reservoir to the South Carolina Forestry Commission. This significant transfer, located north of Interstate 20, is intended to create a new state forest, the Brunswick Tract, and expand conservation efforts around the Shaws Creek Preserve. The city purchased this land in 2020 to buffer its reservoir, and together they form the Shaws Creek Preserve, which was protected by a conservation easement in 2024.

If the transfer is finalized, Aiken will feature a nearly 3,200-acre state forest offering public access, with adjacent conservation lands totaling over 4,000 acres. This arrangement promises long-term benefits, including public access, revenue sharing where 25% of generated revenue will go to the Aiken County Public School District, and the potential construction of a greenway. The Forestry Commission's management is expected to reduce the burden on the city while ensuring the land is maintained as a forest in perpetuity, open for recreation and protecting water quality.

Furthermore, this initiative could lead to the inclusion of the adjacent, highly threatened 549-acre Hilton tract. The Nature Conservancy is assisting in securing this piece, and the Forestry Commission has agreed to incorporate it into the potential state forest. This consolidation of over 4,000 interconnected acres of conservation land aims to protect drinking water, habitat, and provide economic benefits, solidifying Aiken's commitment to land conservation.