What is the Saluda-Reedy Watershed?
The Saluda-Reedy watershed is – quite simply – the entire land area that drains to Lake Greenwood. It encompasses nearly 1200 square miles, is over 80 miles long, and includes nearly 1400 miles of streams. It includes parts of eighteen municipalities and seven counties. The Saluda-Reedy Watershed is part of the larger Saluda Watershed which continues past the Buzzard Roost Dam at Lake Greenwood to Lake Murray, near Columbia.
Though its boundaries are subtle and pass unnoticed by most of its residents, what happens within our watershed has a real impact on our rivers and lakes – and on our quality of life. Most of the drinking water that watershed residents consume comes from the resevoirs, rivers and streams of the Saluda-Reedy watershed. These same rivers and streams receive stormwater and treated sewage from hundreds of thousands of streets and homes. And much of the growth in the watershed is fueled by a desire to live along the shores of these same rivers and lakes.
From the clear, cold streams of the Mountain Bridge wilderness to the falls of the Reedy in downtown Greenville to Lake Greenwood’s tranquil shores, the rivers and lakes of our watershed are central to what makes the Upstate such a special place. They also are a critical element of the natural infrastructure that keeps our economy strong. Future growth depends on protecting water quality – not just in the rivers themselves, but across every acre of the watershed as a whole.
Please click the link below to see a full map of the watershed.
Not a resident of the Saluda-Reedy Watershed? Then click this interactive link to explore watersheds in your area [EPA's Surf Your Watershed].
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