Saluda River

The Saluda River is a principal tributary of the Congaree River, about 200 mi (320 km) long, in northern and western South Carolina in the United States. Via the Congaree River, it is part of the watershed of the Santee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean.

Saluda River
The Saluda River at Pelzer, South Carolina
Map of the Santee River watershed showing the Saluda River.
Location
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Carolina
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationGreenville County, South Carolina, South Carolina
MouthCongaree River
 • location
Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina
 • elevation
118 ft (36 m)
Length200 mi (320 km)
Discharge 
 • locationCongaree River, Columbia, South Carolina
Basin features
ProgressionSaluda → Congaree → Santee → Atlantic Ocean
River systemSaluda River
Tributaries 
 • leftReedy River
 • rightLittle Saluda River

Course

The Saluda River is formed about 10 mi (15 km) northwest of the city of Greenville, on the common boundary of Greenville and Pickens Counties, by the confluence of its north and south forks, each of which rises in the Blue Ridge Mountains very near the border of North Carolina at Saluda, North Carolina:

  • The North Saluda River flows generally south-southwestwardly through northern Greenville County, past Marietta.
  • The South Saluda River flows generally southeastwardly on the Greenville-Pickens County border, receiving the Oolenoy River and the Middle Saluda River, which rises in Jones Gap State Park and flows generally southward through northwestern Greenville County.

From this confluence the Saluda River flows generally southeastwardly through the Piedmont region, through or along the boundaries of Pickens, Greenville, Anderson, Abbeville, Laurens, Greenwood, Newberry, Saluda, Lexington and Richland Counties, past the towns of Piedmont, West Pelzer, Pelzer, Ware Shoals and West Columbia. It joins the Broad River in Columbia to form the Congaree River.

Dams

Dams on the Saluda include:

Principal tributaries
  • The Reedy River flows into Lake Greenwood from the north in Laurens County.
  • The Little River flows into the Saluda from the north in Newberry County.
  • The Bush River flows into Lake Murray from the north in Newberry County.
  • The Little Saluda River flows into Lake Murray from the south in Saluda County; it is formed at the town of Saluda by the confluence of Mine Creek and Red Bank Creek.

Crossings

As it travels downstream, the Saluda river is crossed several times. (Note: this list may at times be incomplete)

Variant names

According to the Geographic Names Information System, the Saluda River has also been known as:

  • Chickawa
  • Corn River
  • Saludy River
  • Saluta River
  • Salutah River
  • Santee River
  • Seleuda River

The river is named after an Indian tribe that once lived along its banks near the community of Chappells, South Carolina.

Save Our Saluda

In 2008, a collective of local citizens (or Citizens Action Group) based in Marietta, Greenville County, South Carolina initiated a campaign to "Save Our Saluda" following what they perceived to be aggressive property development. Their mission is to "(protect) and (preserve) the headwaters of the Saluda watershed through concerned citizens action".

Endangered Status

In April 2009, the Saluda River was named by American Rivers, a leading river conservation group to a list of rivers in the United States that are under imminent threat by dams, industry or development. The article, posted on CNN on April 7, 2009 stated "Excess levels of sewage waste threaten the drinking water of more than 500,000 South Carolina residents, conservationists say. Sewage in the river increases phosphorus and algae levels, depletes oxygen, and kills fish and other aquatic life. American Rivers is asking the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to improve sewage-treatment standards and ensure the river reduces its phosphorus levels by 25 to 50 percent."

See also

Sources
  • Columbia Gazetteer of North America entry
  • DeLorme (1998). South Carolina Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-237-4.
  • U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Saluda River
  • U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Little Saluda River
  • U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Middle Saluda River
  • U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: North Saluda River
  • U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: South Saluda River
  • SC DNR Middle Saluda River
  • Save Our Saluda website

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