The Daufuskie
Barrier Island Project
The South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Low Country Council of Governments consider Gullah heritage areas in Daufuskie's Historic Districts as ineligible to receive Federal funding support for community development.
In 1982 the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) was passed. The goal of the CBRA was to limit Federal funding for the development of fragile, high-risk, and ecologically sensitive coastal barrier areas. The high-risk and sensitive areas have all been clearly identified, labeled, and coded by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in an online tool called the Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS Mapper). The following image from the Coastal Barrier Resources System depicts such an area of Daufuskie Island labeled with a code of “M13.” It includes Bloody Point, the majority of Oak Ridge, and Melrose as indicated by the red line.
Per the letter of the law, the regions enveloped by the red border cannot receive Federal funding support for any type of activities. However, any areas outside of an encircled “fragile/high-risk/ecologically sensitive” region should be eligible to receive such support. This is a significant detail that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has confirmed. Despite the stance of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service on allowing non-high-risk areas the opportunity to apply for Federal grants, there are state entities that have a conflicting interpretation.
Former slaves arriving at Daufuskie Island after the Civil War were allowed to purchase home sites on the Maryfield and Cooper River Plantations. These two areas were known as Historic Districts prior to designating the island in its entirety as a Historic District. The South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Low Country Council of Governments consider these areas ineligible to request Federal funding support for community development projects as if they were within range of the fragile/high-risk/ecologically sensitive M13 sites within Bloody Point, Oak Ridge and Melrose.
What's Next...
CPZADI has identified a point of contact in the Department of Interior’s US Fish and Wild Life Service (e.g. the Regional Coastal Barrier Resources Act Coordinator) who will assist with interpreting the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) as it relates to Daufuskie Island’s eligibility for federal funding support, and specifically what types of projects can be supported.
“Under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA), federal agencies must consult with the Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) before making expenditures pursuant to statutory exceptions in certain relatively undeveloped coastal areas. These areas, designated as the Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS), help defend the mainland from coastal storms.” Specifically, it is the role of FWS to provide consultation when requested, to help ensure compliance with CBRA. (Coastal Barrier Resources Act: Fish and Wildlife Service Should Better Ensure It Carries Out Required Consultation and Mapping Activities (gao.gov))
