To read the full article on the Post & Courier website or watch a recording of the forum, CLICK HERE.
The Post and Courier Rising Waters Lab forum “Coastal Resilience: Balancing Conservation and Development in Port Royal Sound” brought together experts on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, to examine the challenges posed by real estate development and “coastal squeeze” in an area of South Carolina that remains largely rural and natural.
This engaging panel discussion was co-hosted by the Coastal Community Foundation and held at the Port Royal Sound Maritime Center in Okatie. Moderated by Education Lab Reporter Lydia Larsen, the panel featured:
- Kerri Forrest, senior vice president of grantmaking and community leadership, Coastal Community Foundation
- Courtney Kimmel, director of conservation, Port Royal Sound Foundation
- Kate Parks Schaefer, chief conservation officer, Lowcountry Land Trust
- Juliana Zadik, environmental long range planner, Beaufort County
The conversation focused on Port Royal Sound and surrounding habitats that protect Beaufort County by filtering pollutants, storing carbon, supporting fisheries and providing a buffer to storm surge. The salt marshes, already at risk because of sea level rise, are increasingly pressured by a development boom across the watershed. The panel discussed how to conserve these critical areas and monitor the impacts of development.
More public conversations about climate and environment issues in South Carolina are planned for 2026 and beyond.
The Post and Courier’s Rising Waters Lab focuses on impacts of climate change and related policies and practices. It is supported by donations and grants to the nonprofit Public Service and Investigative Fund, whose contributors are subject to the same coverage we apply to everyone else. For more information and to make a donation, go to postandcourierfund.com.