Preserve the unspoiled natural treasure of Morris Island

As I monitor the potential fate of Morris Island, I am compelled to express my concerns.

For many years, I have been following the fate of this local landmark and valuable ecosystem through The Post and Courier and the Morris Island Coalition. The roller-coaster of good news then bad has been disheartening. The people have been heard, the diligent research is almost complete and the results should be crystal clear. Leave Morris Island alone!

Back in May when I read the news about Morris Island in the newspaper, I was pleased to hear that there is hope for its total preservation. Then, Mayor Joe Riley's column left me wondering about the fate of this incredible place. His comments with respect to the best way to allow easy public access were upsetting.

Easy access can be extremely hard on this fragile island. Low impact is paramount to its existence and for good harmony between man and the island's ecosystem.

There is no justifiable reason to install docks on Morris Island. Docks are costly, they must be maintained, and they are constantly subject to vandalism. A Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission presentation confirmed that there would be no physical security presence on the island to supervise these potential structures. Additionally, they are unsightly, they can be a liability, and pleasure boaters will argue over dock space, etc.

The only reason to build docks, so I have read, is to allow public access. Have you gone by the island on a sunny Saturday? Public access is not a problem. There are many ways for the public to access the island without having a boat or the installation of docks. At the present time, there are two ecologically minded companies that operate in the Charleston Harbor that will take you to the island and drop you off on the beach.

You can learn about the importance of the island, how to respect it and how it's an example of a relatively undisturbed barrier island. The beauty of using these tour operators is that when you leave the island and look behind, you see no signs of man, no docks, no boardwalks, no kiosks, no restrooms and no buildings for sun shelters — only a few foot prints. This is an extremely low-impact solution to public-access concerns. Have you seen the unspoiled view of Morris Island from the top of Fort Sumter? It is stunning and a credit to South Carolina and Charleston.

What a treasure to have Morris Island, and what an incredible opportunity to keep this island preserved. Let's lead other coastal cities by example. Let's leave this island as it stands and dedicate it to our children and others who will continue to cherish it for play, education and the simple knowledge that the wildlife and history that we value are preserved. How incredible it would be to take our children and grandchildren there years from now and show them what a unspoiled island looks like.

I am confident they would be grateful that the people of Charleston came together to keep the island as it has been for thousands of years, a key component of our local natural beauty and ecological health, and for the past hundreds of years, as a protector of our wonderful city. We only get one chance to do the right thing with Morris Island. As we have learned from our past mistakes along the coast, we cannot go back and replace what we have destroyed.

We are pleading for your support, Mr. Riley. I have always supported you. I trust you will support those who agree with me, and make the right decision to leave Morris Island alone.

Alex Toline

Highwood Circle

Charleston