Charity Spotlight: Save Our Saluda
South Saluda, near Table Rock State Park
Save Our Saluda (SOS) is a nonprofit watershed organization founded in 2008 whose mission is to protect and restore the Upper Saluda Watershed. SOS identifies and monitors threats facing the Saluda River and its tributaries and seeks effective solutions through cooperation with partnering organizations and volunteers. We advocate for clean and sustainable river flows, river corridor protection, and public access to our waters. SOS responds to development and policy issues, has developed watershed plans, conducts and seeks funding for watershed restoration activities, helps facilitate land conservation, and participates in annual river cleanups in cooperation with our partners at Foothills Paddling Club. We work to educate our community and bring awareness about our watershed and the need to help protect our rivers. We are engaged with other river conservation organizations locally and across our state and region to address important issues that affect river flows and clean water.
Foothills Paddling Club members helping with a river cleanup on the South Saluda.
The Upper Saluda River Watershed originates from headwaters at the North Carolina-South Carolina border. These include the South Saluda River near Table Rock, the Middle Saluda River near Caesar’s Head and Jones Gap, and the North Saluda River above Poinsett Reservoir. The three main tributary rivers converge above Saluda Lake near Greenville to become the Saluda River. Below the lake, the Saluda flows south and southeast over multiple hydroelectric dams to eventually join with the Reedy River at Lake Greenwood. The Upper Saluda River Watershed encompasses parts of Greenville, Pickens, Anderson, Laurens, Abbeville, and Greenwood Counties and the municipal areas of Marietta, Travelers Rest, Greenville, Powdersville, Piedmont, Mauldin, Simpsonville, Fountain Inn, Williamston, Belton, Honea Path, Ware Shoals, and other smaller communities.
The Saluda River and its tributaries are vital water resources for local communities in the Upstate of South Carolina. Headwaters of both the North and South Saluda Rivers feed reservoirs which supply water to the greater Greenville area. The watersheds above the two reservoirs are protected through conservation easements and provide some of the highest quality drinking water in the country. Downstream, the Saluda River provides drinking water to many communities and multiple dams supply hydropower. The Upper Saluda Rivers also support business and industry, provide recreational opportunities to thousands of Upstate residents and visitors, and generally support a rich diversity of aquatic life.
David Blumberg enjoying a cool morning on the South Saluda
SOS has achieved significant progress in reducing pollution to streams and rivers in the Upper Saluda Watershed. These Accomplishments include a halted plan to discharge wastewater into trout waters in the North Saluda River, finalized agreements with Duke Energy, through Southern Environmental Law Center, for safe removal and storage of over 3 million tons of toxic coal ash from unlined pits on the banks of the Saluda River at the Lee Steam Station near Williamston (with assistance from Foothills Paddling Club member David Blumberg for river reconnaissance and sampling), and the development of partnerships with over twenty cooperating organizations. SOS has also initiated cooperative watershed planning and implementation projects to address sediment in the North and South Saluda watersheds and Saluda Lake.
We depend on annual memberships, donations, and grants to sustain our advocacy, education, and conservation efforts. Thank you for your support in helping to protect our rivers!
Note from the FPC Board:
Save Our Saluda is a long time partner of FPC whom we have supported with our time and financially. Like many other non-profits, this year has been tough for SOS due to COVID. As a partner, SOS will be receiving part of the proceeds from our 2020 FPC Conservation Fund. Please consider donating to that fund to support advocates like Save Our Saluda.