Town of Hilton Head Island
Broad Creek Management Plan

The 1999 Comprehensive Plan recognized Broad Creek's importance to the island as a "blueway" (a corridor of water, such as a creek or river, and its shoreline). That plan recommended that a separate management plan be created for the creek, to identify ways to protect it from further degradation. The 1999 Comprehensive Plan stated that the Town must "commit to protecting Broad Creek because it is the most significant and most vulnerable natural resource on Hilton Head Island."

After adoption of the 1999 Comprehensive Plan, Town Council voted to commission a comprehensive plan for Broad Creek. Concurrent with the Town's concerns about Broad Creek, Beaufort County was investigating the use of the Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) program to address water quality concerns throughout the county. The Town applied for and received a SAMP grant through the SC DHEC from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and thus became part of the Beaufort County SAMP.

The focus of the SAMP program in Beaufort County is the protection of water quality. To that end, five areas of concentration were identified: stormwater management, wastewater management, water quality monitoring and enforcement, boating management, and public involvement and education.

This Broad Creek Management Plan combines the goals of the Town of Hilton Head Island's Town Council and those of the SAMP program - the Plan goes beyond the focus of the SAMP to include other issues such as the impact of development on the scenic beauty of the creek, and includes an entire chapter devoted to wildlife and wildlife habitat on the creek. It is truly a comprehensive plan for Broad Creek, covering all aspects of the environment and man's impact on it.

Goals of the Broad Creek Management Plan

1. Improve the quality of the water in Broad Creek:

2. Improve the natural resources available for wildlife in and along Broad Creek:

3. Maintain the natural beauty of the creek.

4. Improve the accessibility of the creek to the public:

5. Improve safety for boaters and other users of the creek.

6. Educate the public about all of the above issues.

Please contact Jill Foster, Deputy Planning Director at 843-341-4694 for more information.