Come sing the successes of the Central Savannah River Land Trust at its annual Bash on the Banks of the Savannah River

Everyone should enjoy the natural resources in the area, but the Central Savannah River Land Trust is showing its appreciation for those who support its conservation efforts as well.

The Land Trust will hold its 13th annual Bash on the Banks of the Savannah River at the River Island Clubhouse on Thursday, October 27. About 250 people have attended the event, which is open to people age 21 and older, in the last several years.

“It’s an opportunity for us to celebrate the projects that we have done in 2016 and share our plans for 2017,” says Veronique Marchal, the Land Trust director of communications.

The menu will include Southern barbecue and an oyster roast, and a cash bar will be available. The Unmentionables will entertain the party-goers with live music. The event also will include a raffle and a live auction. Raffle items range from a kayak and Belgian chocolate to a day at the National Wild Turkey Federation and an activity at Sharpe Shooters. Local artist Richard Worth will paint a nature scene during the first part of the evening, and the watercolor will be auctioned off at the event.

“He will be painting along the banks of the Savannah River,” says Marchal. “People can bid on the painting, and the winner can take home a little bit of the river.”

Funded entirely by donations and grants, the Land Trust focuses its efforts on protecting large areas of natural habitat, the major sources of our drinking water, larger forests that purify the air and grand vistas that offer scenic views.

Since 2001, the Land Trust has protected almost 6,000 acres of land in Columbia, Richmond and McDuffie counties in Georgia and Aiken, Edgefield and Barnwell counties in South Carolina. The organization’s reach extends as far upstream as Hart County and as far south as Statesboro.

The Land Trust has worked with local governments as well as individual neighborhoods and communities to preserve areas for public recreation and for residents’ recreation in neighborhoods such as River Island. The Land Trust also has joined forces with private landowners, farmers and ranchers to preserve natural resources in the area. 

Currently, the Land Trust is working on projects such as the CSRA Regional Greenway Program, Greystone Preserve, a neighborhood conservation initiative and farmland conservation in upper Columbia County and Clarks Hill Lake. 

The Greenway Program will connect more than 70 miles of multi-use trails in Columbia, Richmond and Aiken counties. The project encompasses Euchee Creek Greenway, Savannah Rapids Pavilion and the Augusta Canal Trail in Columbia County, and the trails will connect to downtown Augusta, south Augusta, Fort Gordon and North Augusta, South Carolina. The Greystone Preserve project includes the construction of a new outdoor educational campus on the preserve, which has more than 260 acres of running or hiking nature trails, in North Augusta.

Through the neighborhood conservation initiative, the Land Trust is working with Columbia County neighborhoods such as Farmington, Sumter Landing and River Island to preserve greenspace. So far, more than 300 acres have been preserved in and around Columbia County neighborhoods. As part of its farmland conservation efforts, the Land Trust has preserved 2,300-plus acres of farms in and around Columbia County and Clarks Hill Lake.

If You Go:

What: Bash on the Banks on the Savannah River 

When: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Thursday, October 27 for ages 21 and older

Where: River Island Clubhouse

How Much: $50 per person; cash bar available 

More Info: csrlt.org