About the Saluda-Reedy Watershed Consortium

The Saluda-Reedy Watershed Consortium, active between 2003 and 2007, was a collaborative effort by organizations and individuals concerned about the impacts of changing land use on the purity and abundance of water in the Saluda-Reedy basin. The Consortium included a wide variety of partners from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Its work earned the support of a growing list of community leaders in government, business, and academia.

Our work was motivated by the knowledge that, as our region grows, the transition from rural to urban land use has the potential to do lasting damage to our rivers and lakes – unless we develop with care. As organizations and individuals with a longstanding commitment to our rivers and lakes, we are also deeply aware of the impacts of past land use on the watershed. While we know that the watershed will always show the signs of human use, we believe that economic growth and high-quality water resources are not only compatible – they are inextricably linked. This vision is not ours alone. It is shared by a number of foundations, corporations, and governments throughout the watershed. Funding for this project reflects this diversity of interest. The V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation, a charitable foundation that supports causes in Greenwood and throughout South Carolina, was our principal sponsor. Fuji Photo Film Inc., whose principal U.S. manufacturing facility is in Greenwood, was also a major supporter. A variety of local governments throughout the watershed also indicated their interest in cooperative efforts. This is a project with roots in the watershed itself.

Consortium Goals

The consortium focused on three basic goals, with two to three strategies under each.

GOAL ONE:
Promote increased knowledge and changed perceptions about the watershed and its value

• Water quality and quantity analysis
• Growth modeling and economic valuation
• Watershed identity development and public outreach

GOAL TWO:
Improve water quality policies and land development regulations throughout the watershed

• Assessment of water quality policies, regulations, and practices
• Consensus-building for improved land development regulations

GOAL THREE:
Build local capacity for engaging in integrated watershed conservation and management

• Watershed leadership development
• Grassroots partner capacity building