How Does Kiawah
Stay in Balance?
Story by Christopher Widuch,
photographs by Pamela Cohen
K
iawah is home to wild animals such as deer,
bobcats, and bald eagles; it boasts broad
sections of maritime forests and is blessed
with healthy dunes protecting and leading
to an unspoiled beach. It is a stunning dot of natural beauty
amidst ever increasing development. It remains a stunningly
beautiful environment, even with the intrusion of humans.
There are 1,700 full-time residents, and on any given weekend
during the summer, an additional 10,000 visitors. Natural
beauty is the very reason people are drawn to this place, yet
that draw poses a risk to its continued well-being.
Over the past 40 years or so, Kiawah has been transformed
from a quiet island with few residents into a world-class
resort, home to man and beast alike. How has it happened
that the very qualities we most admire about Kiawah, such as
its ecosystem, have remained in relative balance in spite of all
the changes that have occurred?
Kiawah’s sustainability is made possible by a combination
of good human stewardship and Mother Nature’s generosity.
The early developers of Kiawah committed to themselves
and those who would follow to keep nature at the forefront
of their vision. An extensive environmental assessment was
conducted on Kiawah in 1976, providing great insight into the
Island’s ecosystem, and providing a baseline against which to
compare the Island’s current habitat to its status 40 years ago.
The developers wanted to ensure that Kiawah’s strengths
were not sacrificed through poor development. They
prioritized buffer zones and implemented deep setbacks
along the beach, beyond those required by state regulations.
Importantly, a lower population density was targeted than
allowed on comparable barrier islands. Through the years,
these original density numbers have been decreased further,
allowing more areas of habitat to survive than initially
envisioned.
Beyond these human influences, Kiawah is graced with
natural environmental strengths. Kiawah’s long and narrow
shape is a blessing for wildlife. It offers a 10-mile stretch of
habitat, providing ground cover for small animals, food for
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Naturally Kiawah