Plan
The Chauga River originates from its headwaters in the Blue Ridge region of the Appalachian Mountains near the community of Mountain Rest, SC. Its 70,539-acre watershed is entirely within Oconee County. The river flows for approximately 54 miles to the Tugaloo River branch of Lake Hartwell near the town of Westminster, making it a sub-watershed of the larger Savannah River Basin. The Chauga’s headwaters consist of two free-flowing tributaries (East and West Village Creeks) and several that have been dammed by small man-made lakes (Village Creek, Taylor Creek, and Jerry Creek). These man-made lakes include Oconee State Park lake, Crystal Lake, Mountain Rest Lake, Moxley Lake, Chattooga Lake, and Lake Becky. The upper reaches of the watershed contain both public and private land, with primary land uses including agriculture and forestry. The middle reach of the Chauga largely passes through public USFS land popular for recreation. The lower reach of the river becomes more urban as it reaches Chau Ram County Park and the outskirts of Westminster before emptying into Lake Hartwell.
The Chauga River is situated near the border of the Blue Ridge and Piedmont biogeographical regions and supports many unique biological communities. The Chauga Crayfish, Cambarus chaugaensis, is one species that has been listed as imperiled by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and documented as being “particularly sensitive to sedimentation”. According to the SCDNR, the Chauga River also provides one of the best remaining refuges for Bartram’s Bass (Micropterus sp. cf. coosae) in response to the invasive Alabama Bass. The Chauga is also one of the few coldwater fisheries in the state and is stocked by SCDNR, but also reportedly has some wild trout. As sedimentation is known to reduce the chance of a self-sustaining trout population (Argent and Flebbe, EBTJV), recommended measures included in this plan will help enhance trout habitat and populations with remediation in the Chauga Watershed.
The Chauga River provides the source water intake for the City of Westminster, SC, which provides water services for approximately 7,500 residents. In the recent past, sediment impairment of the Chauga has caused the Westminster water plant to shut down following large rain storms. The facility was updated in 2006 to provide additional protections against heavy rain events that were causing water supply interruptions.
Pictured left: The City of Westminster’s source water intake is located just above Chau Ram County Park.
The Chauga River is popular for recreation for both residents and visitors to the county, as much of its middle portion flows through public land in the Sumter National Forest. Many users enjoy activities such as fishing, hiking, camping, hunting, swimming, and sight-seeing at attractions like the popular Riley Moore Falls. One of Oconee County’s biggest developed tourist attractions is Chau Ram Park, located on the banks of the Chauga River.
Due to the river’s popularity and the entirety of its flow being within the county, there are numerous entities interested in restoring and protecting it. This includes the City of Westminster, U.S. Forest Service, Oconee County, Chattooga River Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Oconee County Soil and Water Conservation District, and SCDNR, as well as the countless residents and visitors who enjoy the river each year.
The development of the Chauga River Watershed Plan is led by the Chattooga Conservancy with the assistance of our cooperating and supporting partners, each of which are involved in their own unique way in accordance with their skillsets, manpower, and funding capabilities. Following US EPA and SC DES guidelines for watershed planning, the Chauga WP development process includes assessing current best management practices (BMPs) to determine if they have been effective in reducing pollutants; engaging local stakeholders, governments, and other organizations; and evaluating and updating issues of concern and land-use data. Water quality data is currently being collected and analyzed with additional grant funding from the Pete and Sally Smith Foundation (see the “Water Sampling Sites” layer on our Interactive Map to view locations and find links to results). Following this in-depth watershed analysis, additional BMPs will be recommended with targeted implementation milestones, and a long-term monitoring plan will be designed.
If you have any questions or would like to share information that may be helpful as we develop this plan, please reach out! We will also be hosting a public meeting at Chau Ram in late summer to share progress and solicit feedback. Details will be shared here, on social media, and via our mailing list.
