Sharing a river is not easy, and being the
partner who lives downstream makes it even more difficult. But the fact
that two states share the Catawba River merely heightens the need for
cooperation between the two states to ensure that its waters are used
wisely.
Champions of the Catawba have clamored for years about the need to
establish a formal bi-state partnership to protect the more than 200
miles of waterways shared by the two states. This month, that
partnership became a reality with the signature of a bill creating
advisory commissions to assess water use and quality in the
Catawba/Wateree and Yadkin/Pee Dee River basins.
The bill was signed by Gov. Mark Sanford at a scenic site along the
Catawba in Landsford Canal State Park, a fitting location for
legislation designed, in part, to help preserve the natural beauty of
the river. The commission will work to coordinate conservation efforts
between the two states.
But these waterways are more than simply scenic rivers. South
Carolina receives a third of its water from North Carolina. A
significant part of Upstate of South Carolina, including York County, is
heavily dependent on the Catawba for a steady supply of water. Lake
Wylie, fed by the Catawba and straddling the two states, also is a
recreational destination for thousands of swimmers, boaters and anglers
throughout the region. And it is a significant magnet for development.
The establishment of this bi-state commission will, we hope, be the
first step toward compacts not only with North Carolina but also
Georgia, with which South Carolina also shares rivers and water basins.
As the region continues to grow, such agreements are likely to be
necessary in solving disputes over water use.
But this new bi-state commission is a welcome start and a big step
toward amicable sharing of this precious resource. Much of the credit
for this bill must go to state Sen. Wes Hayes, R-Rock Hill, who
introduced the original legislation calling for a bi-state commission
last year, and who has lobbied for such an agreement for years.
The waterways bill is a welcome step toward cooperative use of the
river by both states.
