News & Reporter

Governor makes river board a reality

By Travis Jenkins/Staff Writer

A long period of work between legislators from two states came to fruition in Chester County yesterday.

Gov. Mark Sanford visited Landsford Canal State Park where he signed into a law a bill that created the Catawba/Wateree River Basin Bi-State Commission.

The commission will continually assess the use and quality of the water of the Catawba River as it flows through Lake Wylie crossing state lines to Lake Wateree. The commission will promote communications between those who use the river for industry, utilities and recreation and will insure that North and South Carolina's regulatory agencies cooperate to provide the purest water possible for the Piedmont area.

This new commission is a big step in the right direction, especially for this region, said Catawba Riverkeeper Donna Lisenby.

"This is great news for South Carolina particularly," Lisenby said. "When two states share a river, the downstream state is sort of at the mercy of the upstream state. If there are abuses of the water by industry or other entities, the downstream state is obviously at a big disadvantage. Ultimately, it is better to work with them than to sue them."

Lisenby said this new commission would go a long way toward ensuring the cleanliness and purity of Landsford Canal, which she called the "crown jewel of the Catawba."

The House sponsor of the bill that created the new commission is Wes Hayes of York County. Phil Land, of Hayes' office, said a number of people and entities cooperated to bring this commission into being.

"Sen. Linda Short really helped us in the Senate," Land said.

"Duke Power was very influential in this. The York County Regional Chamber, the Lake Wylie Marine Association ... there were a lot of elements at play here. This will allow all those groups and many others to speak with one voice for the good of the people."

Governor's office spokesman Will Folks said that the governor has been looking at ways to improve water quality since his inauguration.

"Quality of life issues were one of the thrusts of his campaign," Folks said. "There are dozens of South Carolina municipalities that use the Catawba and its tributaries for their water supply, and for waste disposal. It is a source of economic strength and part of everyday life. This is something the governor has been focused on ... water, and other finite resources are important to safeguard."

The commission will not have legislative power, but will serve an important advisory roll, Folks said. The bill Sanford signed also created a bi-state advisory board between South Carolina and Georgia to protect the Yadkin/Pee Dee River basin.