Bay Point Shoal Heritage Preserve
Contact Information
SC Department of Natural ResourcesHeritage Trust Program
PO Box 167
Columbia, SC 29202
(803) 734-3886 (Columbia)
Hours of Operation
Due to bird nesting activity, this Preserve is closed to public use from April 1 thru October 15. The area may be viewed from boats during these months. Visitors may access this shoal during winter months.
Contributions to the Endangered Wildlife Fund on the South Carolina Income Tax Form help to make the identification and management of these preserves possible.
Important Information for Vistors
Photographs
Description
The preserve is a sand spit island formed by deposits from associated river systems. It shifts in position and structure due to erosion and deposition of sand. The only plant community on the preserve is an intertidal beach community, which is characterized by shifting sand beaches and regularly flooded mud flats. If present, vegetation is sparse and consists of smooth cordgrass, glasswort, marsh hay, and sea purslane.
Bay Point Shoal supports colonies of nesting water birds due to its isolated nature and lack of mammalian predators. Species nesting on the island include the least tern (state threatened), royal tern, black skimmer, gull-billed tern, sandwich tern, common tern, laughing gull, Wilson’s plover (state threatened) and American oystercatcher. The preserve also provides winter-feeding and resting habitat for the federally threatened piping plover.