While the Midland's rivers are valuable resources, there are many significant problems that are likely to worsen over time without a management framework oriented toward finding solutions. Most of the problems on the river have been ongoing for years, but can be readily abated with proper attention.
Specifically, the problems include the user safety concerns in a corridor that experiences rapid fluctuations in water level; water quality concerns, sedimentation, and domestic wastewater disposal; motor vehicle abuses that contribute to erosion and blight in the corridor; vagrancy; larceny; vandalism; trespassing; littering; and drug and alcohol abuses.
The river's use is not without its risks, as the river rises and falls, sometimes fluctuating as much as four feet in one hour in response to peak hydroelectric generation needs. Although average daily flow over the period of record is about 3000 cubic feet per second (cfs), streamflow is quite variable and can change from a minimum of 200 cfs to a maximum of 20,000 cfs over a period of hours. The rapid rise of water becomes dangerous to boaters, waders and fishermen. Rising water occasionally strands people on rocks or islands in the river, requiring expensive and hazardous river rescue efforts. Also of concern is the issue of property rights.
Much of the land surrounding the rivers are privately owned. Few public access points presently exist in the river corridor. Trespassing presents concerns to landowners since legal access points are few and access to the river is sought by various river users. There is little question that the river will remain a high-demand recreation area but there are outstanding questions regarding how, and how much, river access should be made available.
Trespassing in the river corridors takes a variety of forms and causes several problems. Trespassing on residential property is only one type of problem. Several areas along the river are utilized by off-road vehicle owners. The use of these vehicles in the river corridor and occasionally in the river itself, causes the loss of significant vegetative ground cover, erosion, sedimentation of the river and leaves ugly scars which harm the aesthetic character of the riverine environment.
Other significant problems include vandalism to cars left at boat access ramps and vandalism to facilities along the river such as the remains of the old Saluda Mill and facilities at the boat ramps. Illegal use of firearms, as well as illegal use of drugs and alcohol, have also been problems in recent years in the lower Saluda River corridor.
Note: Thanks to the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism and to the Water Resources Commission. Much of the information and a few of the images in these pages came, in part and with some amedndment, from their publication The Lower Saluda River Corridor Plan.
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