Lower Saluda River

The original Lower Saluda River Corridor Plan was developed by a local Lower Saluda Scenic River Advisory Committee in 1990. This plan presented over 70 recommendations for the long-term management of the river. The corridor plan was updated in April 2000. The plan is implemented through voluntary efforts by riparian landowners. 

Striped bass are present in the Lower Saluda during their spawning season. Striped bass from the Santee Cooper lakes migrate upstream to the Congaree, Wateree, Lower Broad, and Lower Saluda rivers to spawn in the spring, and also use the cooler Lower Saluda River as a thermal refuge during the summer months. American Eel also exist in the Lower Saluda.

In 2006, SCE&G sponsored a comprehensive mussel survey of Lake Murray and its tributaries, the Lower Saluda River, the Broad River, and the Congaree River. Sixteen freshwater mussel species were collected and identified within the areas surveyed, including: common elliptio, variable spike, Carolina lance, northern lance, Atlantic spike, Roanoke slabshell, Carolina slabshell, Florida pondhorn, paper pondshell, eastern floater, creeper, eastern creekshell, yellow lampmussel, rayed pink fatmucket, and lilliput species (Toxolasma parvus). 

Distribution of mussel species varies according to habitat, with species tolerant of lacustrine habitat occurring within Lake Murray, and lotic species more common in riverine habitat.

Saluda Shoals Park’s extensive riverside and powerline easement trail system affords the opportunity to see many of the same bird species as seen in Columbia’s downtown parks, along with many field species. The park is often one of the best places near Columbia to see spring and fall migrants, so a near-comprehensive list of migrating warblers has been included here. Some piedmont species are highlighted as well. 

Sightings include: Hooded Merganser, Green Heron, Mississippi Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, American Kestrel, Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, Blue-winged Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Palm Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Prothonotary Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Swainson’s Warbler, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, Kentucky Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler, Canada Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Scarlet Tanager, Swamp Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, and Painted Bunting.

The Trout Water classification supports a popular trout fishery created by deep coldwater discharges from Lake Murray. The Department of Natural Resources stocks about 30,000 Rainbow and Brown trout annually to maintain the trout population, which is unable to reproduce. However, these same deepwater (hypolimnetic) discharges also result in low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the Saluda River. Since 1999, SCE&G has reduced the problem by making modifications to project operations and equipment to improve aeration. 

Even though the daily average DO has increased from 2.7 mg/L to 7.2 mg/L and instantaneous levels have improved, DO levels still do not meet state water quality standards all the time. Consequently, DHEC has included in its 401 Water Quality Certification for the relicensing of the project the requirement that SCE&G must make additional modifications to meet state DO standards in the river "under all operating levels and conditions" within an agreed upon time frame.

The table below lists all waters in the Lower Saluda River Basin identified by DHEC as impaired, that is, not meeting recreational and aquatic life water quality criteria. High fecal coliform levels are the greatest water quality problem causing impaired recreational use in the basin. Recreational use is impaired at seven locations including Kinley Creek, Lorick Branch, Rawls Creek, the Saluda River, and Twelvemile Creek. Poor macroinvertebrate assemblages account for impaired aquatic life uses at five sites. High turbidity and low DO impair aquatic life uses at two sites and one site, respectively. 

Many sites have had approved TMDL's since 2004 but still do not sufficiently meet water quality criteria. Fish flesh analysis from the Saluda River below Lake Murray Dam indicates high levels of mercury (Hg). Consequently, DHEC has issued a public health advisory for consuming certain fish species in the Saluda River from the Dam to its confluence with the Broad River. They advise that people limit consumption of largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and bowfin (mudfish) to one meal per week.