CHARLESTON S.C. (WCBD) – The South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP) has filed a lawsuit to protect a historic creek in Downtown Charleston from being partially filled and built upon by developers. Those with the firm say there will be an automatic stay—which means WestEdge cannot continue their plans of construction for a number of months.

The request for the contested case by the law firm on behalf of the Friends of Gadsden Creek, a group consisting of 850 community members, comes after state health officials said the development could begin on Gadsden Creek back in June.

The firm says not only is the creek still functioning and is one of the last remaining tidal creeks on the peninsula, but is known as a Critical Area. A Critical Area, according to Ben Cunningham, a Staff Attorney for South Carolina Environmental Law Project says should have been protected better by the state’s own provisions.

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