Lake Bed Parcel

The Conestee Foundation acquired the 145-acre Lake Conestee parcel in 2000. At the same time, the Foundation acquired an adjacent 5-acre parcel providing access to the historic Lake Conestee dam. These parcels were acquired fee simple using a grant from the State of South Carolina’s Colonial Pipeline Mitigation Trust Fund. This grant was administered by the SC Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). The agreement with SCDNR stipulates that once the environmental status of the lake is addressed, the property be made available to the public for use as public greenspace, wildlife habitat, and environmental education. The Foundation has satisfied this obligation to the Mitigation Trust Fund through a conservation easement held by Upstate Forever, and has constructed a trail system on this property with funds provided by SC Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The trail system opened to the public in October 2006.