LKSWPT News & Events

Shoreline Protection and Taking Care of Our Watershed

By Melissa Higgs, Communications Manager, FOLKS

The Lake Keowee Source Water Protection Team (LKSWPT) held a workshop on April 3rd at the World of Energy, focusing on watershed protection and practical best management practices for minimizing erosion and runoff for properties around the lake and within the watershed. Several organizations, including FOLKS, Greenville Water, Advocates for Quality Development (AQD), South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) and Clemson Cooperative Extension Services hosted tables at the event for attendees to learn more about local conservation and advocacy efforts. Did you know that Lake Keowee provides water to three drinking water intakes? The LKSWPT, which includes FOLKS, AQD, Duke Energy, Greenville Water, Seneca Light & Water, Oconee and Pickens Counties, and Upstate Forever, along with support from Clemson Cooperative Extension developed watershed management plans for Cane Creek and Little Cane Creek in the Walhalla area and Little River and Keowee River near Lake Keowee. The action plans “proactively address potential sources of nutrients and sediment such as urbanization, agricultural activities, shoreline erosion, and inadequate riparian buffers” (Hottel and Hollis). One aspect of shoreline protection is vegetation management. Vegetated buffers reduce sedimentation and protect water quality. According to Brett Garrison with Duke Energy, non-native plantings can be a problem and are not permitted along company owned shoreline property. Duke Energy provides a list of plants native to SC and NC that are recommended for planting when property owners implement shoreline management activities. Shoreline and emergent aquatic plants “contribute to the overall health of a water body by providing food and shelter to many shoreline [terrestrial] and aquatic animals, filtering nutrients from land surface runoff, improving water clarity by allowing suspended silt and clay particles to settle, and increasing dissolved oxygen levels in the water and thus supporting aquatic life” (Duke Energy). In addition, areas six feet below Normal Full Pond Elevation or elevation must follow certain guidelines required by the FERC approved K-T Shoreline Management Plan (SMP). New stabilization projects, except when using bioengineering techniques, must not be within 50 feet of the lake at full pond level. Tree limbs should not be cleared and fallen trees should be left in place, if possible. All erosion control measures require a maintenance permit from Duke Energy. The Keowee-Toxaway Shoreline Management Guidelines and SMP are available at https://www.duke-energy.com/- /media/pdfs/community/ktshorelinemanagementguidelines.pdf?rev=5aebf042c612426bb71556b0ecf51666 .