(CHARLESTON COUNTY) – The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) maintains 19 popular public boat landings throughout the county, and the agency is seeking groups to adopt landings and help keep them and area waterways clean.
Boat landings are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are self-managed facilities not manned by staff at all times. During the busy summer boating months, these sites are used on a regular basis. CCPRC encourages boat landing visitors to practice the “pack it in, pack it out” litter control program, which is based on visitors taking away all trash they brought with them. Additionally, CCPRC is seeking out businesses and organizations to regularly visit and clean the area’s popular boat landings through the “Adopt-A-Landing” program.
Volunteers in the Adopt-A-Landing program help remove fishing line and trash at the landings to make sure they don’t impact propellers, entangle swimmers, or kill wildlife including sea turtles, dolphins, birds and more in the region’s waterways, including area marshes and beaches. Participants receive recognition via a sign at the boat landing of their choice. Three of the area’s 19 landings are currently sponsored, and the organizations participating at this time include the College of Charleston Waterkeepers, the South Carolina Aquarium, and the South Carolina Power Squadron. The program is also a great teambuilding program for organizations like church groups, schools and service organizations. For more information and to sign up a group to adopt a boat landing, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com/AdoptALanding.
To make the use of Charleston County’s boat landings an easier experience, below are tips and educational information.
- Landings with the highest traffic volume are Folly Beach, Wappoo Cut (West Ashley), Remley’s Point (Mount Pleasant), Shem Creek (Mount Pleasant), W.O. Thomas Jr. (North Charleston), and Battery Island/Sol Legare (James Island). Lesser-used landings to consider include Dawhoo Landing and Steamboat Landing, both on Edisto Island.
- Canoes, kayaks and stand up paddleboards are better suited for launching at the Pierpont on Church Creek (West Ashley), Penny Creek (Willtown), Gadsonville and Paradise (both in Mount Pleasant). Standard-sized or larger boats are not recommended at these landings.
- Arriving at a Landing and Preparing the Launch: CCPRC encourages boaters to be courteous to others. Use the make-ready lanes to prepare a boat for launching. After launching, patrons should move away from the ramp to allow access for others, and they should not stay at the dock for an extended period if tying off a boat.
- Parking: On weekends and holidays, vehicles without boat trailers are prohibited from parking in spaces dedicated for boat trailers. Failure to heed this Charleston County ordinance carries up to a $500 fine from local law enforcement.
- Rules and Regulations: Boaters should read and follow all Department of Natural Resources (DNR) boating regulations at dnr.sc.gov/regs/boating.html. Information can also be found at boat landing kiosks. For a full list of rules, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com/Boating.
- Issues: If a structural or maintenance-related issue arises that warrants attention at any landing, please call 843-795-BOAT for assistance. Local police departments have jurisdiction over their municipality’s boat landings and should be contacted for law enforcement reasons.
- Safety Awareness
- Caution should be exercised at all public boat ramps. Tides, currents and natural conditions can greatly affect usage of ramps at any time. Serious drop-offs may be present at low tide.
- Two boat landings, Shem Creek and W. O. Thomas, have a life preserver (PFD) loaner program. This service is provided by a private business and PFD availability is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Vehicles should be locked and valuables removed from view. CCPRC is not responsible for any lost, damaged, or stolen property.
- More Helpful Hints
- Check your fuel levels
- Make sure someone who is not going with you knows your plan
- Make sure the boat is plugged before launching your boat
- Boat and trailer maintenance should be done prior to boat landing arrival
- Understand the rules and regulations of the water. DNR is a valuable resource
- Consider visiting the Cooper River Marina, located two miles north of the Ravenel Bridge and 15 minutes from downtown Charleston
For further information on CCPRC’s boat landings, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com/Boating.
