In June 2021, SCDHEC and USEPA issued a National Discharge Permit that set enforceable limits on two stormwater pollutants, namely sediment and total phosphorus, that could be discharged into the Reedy River Basin. This fact is contained in Section 9.1.3 and in Table 9.1 of Greenville County’s Stormwater Management Plan. Every engineer and developer should be aware of this.
What is needed to meet the Greenville County’s discharge permit obligations is a robust and sustainable stormwater pollution management system that will protect, under most rainfall conditions, the integrity of Bruce Lake and the Reedy River.
For many decades, Greenville County, the City of Greenville, and community groups have been working to restore the Reedy River watershed. For example, the City of Greenville is spending $millions for Unity Park’s stormwater system to control runoff and stormwater pollutants. In downtown Greenville, First Baptist Church installed a very large rain garden landscape feature to absorb stormwater and pollutants.
The Reedy River has shamefully suffered from historical abuse, but much progress has been made toward restoring this valuable aesthetic and economic gift. Greenville County does not need, and should not take a step back in time.
The Reedy River Water Quality Group in Greenville County, the City of Greenville and ReWa have lead the development of a comprehensive plan to help restore the Reedy River by reducing stormwater pollution. Using advanced monitoring and modeling techniques, progress is being made. Millions are being spent on this innovative effort that is receiving national attention and accolades. It would be unfortunate for all of Greenville County if the County abandons its commitment to this the mission by allowing any development to advance which poses risk to the Reedy River watershed.
All users of the Reedy River need to be part of the solution, and that includes Bruce Lake. There are solutions but everyone of these solutions will require sufficient surface area to reduce the stormwater velocity and turbulence as well as a robust system to remove the two pollutants as required by Law. The proposal put forth by the developers do not. The solution not only needs to be robust, and sustainable, but also transparent.