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[krazeeboi]

Santee River "Most Endangered"
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
By: Amy Souers Kober

Santee # 6 on annual list released today

American Rivers * South Carolina Coastal Conservation League

(Washington, D.C.) American Rivers and its partner named South Carolina’s Santee River as one of the nation’s Most Endangered Rivers for 2005, citing Santee Cooper’s reluctance to alter hydropower dam operations that are damaging the river and the surrounding forest. The annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers report, now in its twentieth year, highlights rivers facing the most uncertain futures rather than the worst chronic problems. The conservation groups called on state regulators to stand up to the utility and demand that some of the water be put back in the Santee River.

“The Santee has been called South Carolina’s ‘forgotten river,’” said Rebecca R. Wodder, president of American Rivers. “With a little more cooperation from Santee Cooper, it could be an unforgettable river.”

The state-owned electric and water utility Santee-Cooper operates an expansive system of dams, canals, and reservoirs on the Santee River. Under most circumstances, the utility allows just 3 percent of the natural water volume into the Santee River. Instead, most of the water is redirected into the adjacent Cooper River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean in Charleston harbor.

With river flows significantly reduced, much of the rich, flooded bottomland forests of the Santee River basin are transforming into an ordinary forest of oaks and sycamores, and many of the river’s back channels have dried up. The Santee’s fish population has plummeted to the point where scientists had to examine other coastal rivers to determine which fish species should be found in the river.

Entire article can be accessed here.

[krazeeboi]

This is really a shame. One of the most important rivers in our state, and we don't think enough to preserve as much of it while utilizing it? SC has a treasure in the Congaree Swamp National Forest; if current trends continue, that's one less natural preserve for the state and the nation (since it's one-of-a-kind in the US).

Edited by krazeeboi, 13 April 2005 - 04:33 PM.

[teshadoh]

Something I've wondered in my youth - but never realized how the ecology has altered. Very unfortunate, & even more so - most unlikely it can be saved due to importance of Lakes Marion & Moultrie.