The Reedy River is a tributary of the Saluda River , about 65 miles (105 km) long, in northwestern South Carolina in the United States. Via the Saluda and Congaree rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Santee River , which flows to the Atlantic Ocean.
7-508: Conestee Nature Preserve , formerly Lake Conestee Nature Preserve/Park, opened in 2006, is a 400-acre (160 ha) preserve along three miles of the Reedy River in Conestee , South Carolina , with 13 miles (20.9 km) of trails, more than 6 miles (9.7 km) of them paved and 1 mile (1.6 km) of boardwalk . The Preserve contains both hardwood and evergreen forest, extensive wetlands, and
14-595: A rich diversity of reptiles, mammals, and birds. At least 223 bird species have been reported, and the National Audubon Society has designated the park as an Important Bird Area of Global Significance. In 2016 the state of South Carolina made the privately owned facility a wildlife sanctuary. Lake Conestee was created when the Reedy River was dammed at the Conestee Mill in about 1892. At its largest extent,
21-744: Is a large waterfall that flows through Falls Park in Greenville, South Carolina . It is overseen by the Liberty Bridge . Sliding down the falls is illegal according to Greenville law, but it is still practiced by many kayakers and other adventure seekers. The Reedy River rises in Greenville County in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains , about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of the city of Greenville, and flows generally south-southeastwardly through Greenville, Lake Conestee Nature Park , and
28-452: Is now discouraged by signage and mild policing. Though it's not necessarily unsafe to wade in the waters, it's under studied. There are ongoing efforts to improve water quality along the whole of the Reedy River by the city, volunteers, and private companies. Educating on clean water practices (e.g. Cleaning up after pets in the park) and Enacting programs such as 319 grant that offer grants to people with septic malfunctions instead of letting
35-663: The Piedmont region into Laurens County . It joins the Saluda River in Laurens County, 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Greenwood , as part of Lake Greenwood , which is formed by a dam on the Saluda. The pollution in the river was identified to be unfit for humans because of E. coli. Children were commonly seen sliding down rocks in a section of the river in Falls Park and the practice
42-532: The foundation used settlement funds from a June 1996 Colonial Pipeline spill to purchase the lake and the dam. Once safety studies of the brownfield were complete, it was determined that no harm would result if the toxic sediment were left in place. In December 2016, inspectors from the state Department of Health and Environmental Control rated Conestee Dam, which is not keyed into the bedrock, in poor condition due to deterioration of mortar and water seepage. Reedy River Big Brother, or "The Falls",
49-462: The lake covered about 130 acres (53 ha), but years of upstream industrial waste and discharge filled about 90 percent of the lake with sediment so toxic that the lake was classified as a Superfund site. In 2000 the Conestee Foundation, a 501(c)(3) conservation organization, was formed to lead the revitalization of the lake as a wetlands through the development of the nature preserve, and
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