Streamflow Monitoring Workshops | South Carolina Department of Environmental Services

The Surface Water Program held workshops to highlight streamflow monitoring needs in the State and to solicit additional monitoring recommendations.

Overview

SCDNR hosted two streamflow monitoring workshops in early 2016 to highlight streamflow monitoring needs in the State and to solicit additional monitoring recommendations. The workshops were attended by a wide variety of stakeholders including local, state and federal agencies, water suppliers, power utilities and conservation groups. A total of 105 recommendations were made during these workshops. Since 2016, 40 of the recommendations have been funded by SCDNR or other State and Federal agencies. The map below shows the 105 recommendations and highlights the 40 newly funded sites (PDF version of this map - 8mb).

The 105 recommendations are also listed in the table below. The Reactivation Sites tab designates sites where the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has previously collected streamflow data but are not currently collecting data. The New Sites tabs are stream reaches or sites where the USGS has not previously collected data. Most sites are recommended for stream discharge measurements; however, conductivity monitoring also was recommended for several sites along the coast, while a few other sites in the State were recommended for stream discharge and water quality monitoring. The Funded Recommendations tab lists those sites or reaches that have been funded since the workshops in 2016.

USGS Real-time Streamflow Data

New Streamflow Monitoring and Reactivation Sites map image

Recommended New Sites

Site	Basin	Description	Designation
Ashepoo	Salkehatchie	Upper Mainstem	DNR Fisheries
Ashepoo River	Salkehatchie	Coastal	Coastal Studies
Ashley River	Santee	Mainstem	Coastal Studies
Big Pine Tree Creek	Catawba	Tributary to Catawba	SW Assessments, DNR Fisheries, Lack of gages in middle basin
Black Creek	Edisto	Tributary to Upper North Fork Edisto	WU/Regulation, SW Assessments, DNR Fisheries
Black River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, SC 41	DOT, Flood Forecasting
Black River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, SC 51	DOT, Forecasting
Black River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, US 701	DOT, Flood Forecasting, Coastal Studies
Broad River	Broad	Mainstem, above Parr Reservoir	SW Assessments
Broad River/Port Royal Sound	Salkehatchie	Coastal	Coastal Studies
Chauga River	Savannah	Tributary to Lake Hartwell	SW Assessments, DNR Fisheries
Clouds Creek	Saluda	Tributary to Little Saluda River	WU/Regulation, SW Assessments, DNR Fisheries
Congaree River	Saluda	Above Wateree River Confluence	SW Assessments
Coronaca Creek	Saluda	Tributary to Wilson Creek	Flood Forecasting
Crabtree Canal	Pee Dee	Tributary to Waccamaw River, upstream of Oak St.	Water Quality
Crooked Creek	Pee Dee	Tributary to Pee Dee River	SW Assessments
Cuffeytown Creek	Savannah	Tributary to Steven's Creek	Flood Forecasting
Duncan Creek	Broad	Tributary to Enoree River	SW Assessments
East Branch Cooper River	Santee	Near confluence of Quinby and Huger Creeks	Coastal Studies
Eastatoe Creek	Savannah	Headwater Tributary to Lake Keowee	SW Assessments, DNR Fisheries, lack of gages in Blue Ridge
Edisto River	Edisto	Mainstem or South Edisto River, Coastal	Coastal Studies
Edisto River	Edisto	Mainstem, US 17	DOT, Forecasting
Edisto River	Edisto	Mainstem, I-95	DOT, Forecasting
Enoree River	Broad	Mainstem, near confluence with Broad	SCE&G Recommended, SW Assessments, Flood Forecasting
Flat Creek	Pee Dee	Tributary to Lynches River	Ecological
Four Hole Swamp	Edisto	Tributary to Edisto, I-95	SW Assessments, DNR Fisheries, DOT, Flood Frequency/Forecasting
Four Hole Swamp	Edisto	Lower part of basin near Edisto confluence	DOT, Flood Frequency/Forecasting, SW Assessments
French Quarter Creek	Santee	Tributary to East Branch Cooper River	Flood Forecasting
Green Swamp	Pee Dee	Tributary to Pocotaligo River	Flood Frequency, USGS recommended
Hard Labor Creek	Savannah	Tributary to Steven's Creek	Flood Forecasting
Jackson Branch	Salkehatchie	Tributary to Salkehatchie	SW Assessments, Flood Frequency, General lack of streamflow data in basin
Jeffries Creek	Pee Dee	Tributary to Pee Dee	Flood Frequency, USGS recommended
Little Pee Dee River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, US 378	DOT, Flood Frequency/Forecasting
Little River	Saluda	Reach between City of Laurens and Newberry County Line	Flood Forecasting
Little River	Broad	Tributary to Broad River	SW Assessments
Little Salkehatchie River	Salkehatchie	Tributary to Salkehatchie	DNR Fisheries, SW Assessments, Flood Frequency, General lack of streamflow data in basin
Long Cane Creek	Savannah	Tributary to Little River	SW Assessments, Flood Forecasting
Lumber River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, SC 9/US 76	DOT, Flood Forecasting, SW Assessments
Lynches River	Pee Dee	Upper Lynches Mainstem	SW Assessments
Lynches River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, I-95	DOT, Forecasting
Lynches River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, SC 41/51	DOT, Forecasting
North Fork Edisto Headwaters	Edisto	Mainstem, Chinquapin Creek or Lightwood Knot Creek	WU/Regulation, SW Assessments
North Fork Edisto River	Edisto	Mainstem, Hwy 321 or Slab Landing Rd	Flood Forecasting
North Fork Edisto River	Edisto	Mainstem, near confluence with South Fork Edisto	Flood Forecasting
North Santee River	Santee	Coastal	Coastal Studies
Oolenoy River	Saluda	Tributary to South Saluda River	SW Assessments
Pee Dee River	Pee Dee	Below Lynches River Confluence	SW Assessments
Pee Dee River	Pee Dee	Mainstem near NC-SC border	SW Assessments
Pee Dee River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, I-95	DOT, Forecasting
Pee Dee River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, Tom Blue Landing	Flood Forecasting
Pee Dee River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, US 15/401	Flood Forecasting
Pee Dee River	Pee Dee	Mainstem	Coastal Studies, SCDNR WMA
Pee Dee/Waccamaw	Pee Dee	US 17	DOT, Forecasting
Pocotaligo River	Pee Dee	Tributary to Black River, I-95	DOT, Flood Frequency/Forecasting, SW Assessments
Reedy River	Saluda	Upper Reedy River	Flood Frequency/Forecasting
Rocky Branch	Broad	Tributary to Bullock Creek	Flood Frequency, USGS recommended
Salkehatchie River	Salkehatchie	Upper Salkehatchie Mainstem	DNR Fisheries, SW Assessments, Flood Frequency, General lack of streamflow data in basin
Saluda River	Saluda	Below North Saluda River Confluence	WU/Regulation, SW Assessments
Saluda River	Saluda	Mainstem, I-26	Flood Forecasting
Saluda River	Saluda	Mainstem	Flood Forecasting
Sampit River	Pee Dee	Coastal	WU/Regulation, Coastal Studies
Shaw Creek	Edisto	Tributary to South Fork Edisto	WU/Regulation, SW Assessments
Simpson Creek	Pee Dee	Tributary to Waccamaw River	Water Quality
South Fork Edisto Headwaters	Edisto	Mainstem or Beech Creek	WU/Regulation, SW Assessments, DNR Fisheries
South Santee River	Santee	Coastal	Coastal Studies
Steven's Creek	Savannah	Mainstem, Garrett Rd	Flood Forecasting
Steven's Creek	Savannah	Mainstem, Woodlawn Rd	Flood Forecasting
Stoop Creek	Saluda	Tributary to Lower Saluda River	Water Quality
Swift Creek	Pee Dee	Tributary to Black Creek	Flood Frequency, USGS recommended
Thompson Creek	Pee Dee	Tributary to Pee Dee	SW Assessments, major tributary to Pee Dee River
Turkey Creek	Savannah	Tributary to Steven's Creek	Ecological
Twelvemile Creek	Saluda	Tributary Saluda	WU/Regulation, SW Assessments, Flood Frequency/Forecasting, Water Quality
Twentyfivemile Creek	Catawba	Tributary to Catawba	SW Assessments, Lack of gages in middle basin
Waccamaw River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, upstream of Buck Creek	Water Quality
Wateree River	Catawba	Mainstem, US 378	SW Assessments, DOT, Flood Forecasting

Download a CSV file of this table.

Recommended Reactivation Sites

Site No.	Site	Basin	DA	Start	End	Years	Designation
2157490	Beaverdam Creek above Greer, SC	Broad	15.9	3/7/2002	9/7/2014	12	Flood Frequency, SW Assessments
2156370	Pacolet River near Saratt, SC	Broad	-1.0	8/22/2012	6/15/2014	2	SW Assessments, Sedimentation Studies, Flood Forecasting
2157000	North Tyger River near Fairmont, SC	Broad	44.4	10/1/1950	9/30/1988	38	Flood Frequency/Forecasting, SW Assessments, POR
2159000	South Tyger River near Woodruff, SC	Broad	174.0	10/1/1933	9/30/1971	38	Flood Frequency, DNR Fisheries, SW Assessments, POR
2159500	Tyger River near Woodruff, SC	Broad	351.0	10/1/1929	9/30/1956	27	WU/Regulation, SW Assessments, POR
2159810	Fairforest Creek below Spartanburg, SC	Broad	23.6	5/17/1988	4/2/1998	10	Flood Frequency
2160000	Fairforest Creek near Union, SC	Broad	183.0	7/1/1940	9/30/1971	31	Flood Frequency, DNR Fisheries, SW Assessments, POR
2162010	Cedar Creek near Blythewood, SC	Broad	48.9	12/1/1966	9/30/1996	30	SW Assessments, Flood Frequency, POR
2162080	Crane Creek at Columbia, SC	Broad	66.5	1/1/1968	9/30/1974	6	Water Quality, SW Assessments
2145940	Little Dutchman Creek Trib at Rock Hill, SC	Catawba	-1.0	8/19/1986	4/1/1986	12	Flood Frequency, USGS recommended
2147403	Fishing Creek below Fort Lawn, SC	Catawba	280.0	2/15/2001	10/1/2003	2	SW Assessments, Lack of gages in middle basin
2148300	Colonels Creek near Leesburg, SC	Catawba	40.2	9/1/1966	10/21/2007	41	Flood Frequency, SW Assessments, Lack of gages in lower basin, POR
2174250	Cow Castle Creek near Bowman, SC	Edisto	23.4	10/1/1970	2/24/2013	43	Flood Frequency, SW Assessments, DNR Fisheries, POR
2172640	Dean Swamp Creek near Salley, SC	Edisto	31.2	10/1/1980	9/30/2000	20	SW Assessments, Flood Frequency, POR
2174000	Edisto River near Branchville, SC	Edisto	1720.0	10/1/1945	9/30/1996	51	SW Assessments, Flood Forecasting
2131309	Fork Creek at Jefferson, SC	Pee Dee	24.3	8/27/1976	9/30/1997	21	SW Assessments, Flood Frequency, POR
2132500	Little Pee Dee River near Dillon, SC	Pee Dee	524.0	4/1/1939	9/30/1971	32	Flood Forecasting
2135300	Scape Ore Swamp near Bishpville, SC	Pee Dee	96.0	7/26/1968	9/30/2003	35	SW Assessments, Flood Frequency, POR
2135500	Black River near Gable, SC	Pee Dee	401.0	6/1/1951	9/30/1992	41	SW Assessments, Flood Forecasting, POR
2176380	Tributary to Coosawhatchie R at Allendale, SC	Salkehatchie	1.5	12/13/1985	11/21/2005	21	Flood Frequency, POR, USGS recommended
2176000	Combahee River near Yemassee, SC	Salkehatchie	1100.0	6/1/1951	6/30/1957	6	SW Assessments, DNR Fisheries, Coastal Studies
2176517	Coosawhatchie River near Early Branch, SC	Salkehatchie	382.0	10/1/1995	9/30/1998	3	SW Assessments, Coastal Studies
2176720	May River near Bluffton, SC	Savannah	20.9	6/6/2002	6/9/2004	2	Coastal Studies
2169505	Rocky Branch at Pickens St. at Columbia, SC	Saluda	2.2	6/7/1985	6/28/2004	20	Flood Frequency, POR, USGs recommended
2166970	Ninety-six Creek near Ninety-six, SC	Saluda	17.4	10/1/1980	9/30/2001	21	SW Assessments, Flood Frequency/Forecasting, POR
2169550	Congaree Creek at Cayce, SC	Saluda	122.0	10/1/1959	9/30/1980	21	SW Assessments, Flood Frequency/Forecasting, POR
2169630	Big Beaver Creek near St. Matthews, SC	Saluda	10.0	7/16/1966	9/30/1993	27	SW Assessments, Flood Frequency, POR
2169670	Cedar Creek below Myers Creek near Hopkins, SC	Saluda	66.9	11/13/1980	9/30/1985	5	SW Assessments
2185200	Little River near Walhalla, SC	Savannah	72.0	3/4/1967	9/30/2003	36	DNR Fisheries, SW Assessments, Flood Frequency, POR
2197315	Upper Three Runs at Road A (SRS), SC	Savannah	203.0	6/6/1974	9/30/2002	28	SW Assessments, DNR Fisheries, POR

*DA: Drainage area in square miles, -1 denotes that drainage area is not listed on USGS website or the site is a tidal creek

Download a CSV file of this table.

All Funded Recommendations

Site	Basin	Description	Designation	Notes
South Fork Edisto Headwaters	Edisto	Mainstem or Beech Creek	WU/Regulation, SW Assessments, DNR Fisheries	Real Time Discharge
North Fork Edisto Headwaters	Edisto	Mainstem, Chinquapin Creek or Lightwood Knot Creek	WU/Regulation, SW Assessments	Real Time Discharge
Shaw Creek	Edisto	Tributary to South Fork Edisto	WU/Regulation, SW Assessments	Real Time Discharge
Thompson Creek	Pee Dee	Tributary to Pee Dee	SW Assessments, major tributary to Pee Dee River	Real Time Discharge
Black River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, SC 41	DOT, Flood Forecasting	Real Time Discharge
Little Salkehatchie River	Salkehatchie	Tributary to Salkehatchie	DNR Fisheries, SW Assessments, Flood Frequency, General lack of streamflow data in basin	Real Time Discharge
Salkehatchie River	Salkehatchie	Upper Salkehatchie Mainstem	DNR Fisheries, SW Assessments, Flood Frequency, General lack of streamflow data in basin	Real Time Discharge
Twelvemile Creek	Saluda	Tributary Saluda	WU/Regulation, SW Assessments, Flood Frequency/Forecasting, Water Quality	Real Time Discharge
Ashley River	Santee	Mainstem	Coastal Studies	Real Time Stage
Chauga River	Savannah	Tributary to Lake Hartwell	SW Assessments, DNR Fisheries	Real Time Discharge
Eastatoe Creek	Savannah	Headwater Tributary to Lake Keowee	SW Assessments, DNR Fisheries, lack of gages in Blue Ridge	Real Time Discharge
Congaree River	Saluda	Above Wateree River Confluence	SW Assessments	Real Time Stage
Pee Dee River	Pee Dee	Mainstem near NC-SC border	SW Assessments	Real Time Discharge
Edisto River	Edisto	Mainstem, US 17	DOT, Forecasting	Rapid Deployment Gage
Edisto River	Edisto	Mainstem, I-95	DOT, Forecasting	Real Time Discharge
Pee Dee River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, I-95	DOT, Forecasting	Real Time Stage, Pier Scour
Pee Dee/Waccamaw	Pee Dee	US 17	DOT, Forecasting	Real Time Stage
Lynches River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, I-95	DOT, Forecasting	Real Time Stage, Pier Scour
Lynches River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, SC 41/51	DOT, Forecasting	Rapid Deployment Gage
Black River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, SC 51	DOT, Forecasting	Rapid Deployment Gage
Black River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, US 701	DOT, Flood Forecasting, Coastal Studies	Rapid Deployment Gage
Lumber River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, SC 9/US 76	DOT, Flood Forecasting, SW Assessments	Real Time Discharge
Little Pee Dee River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, US 378	DOT, Flood Frequency/Forecasting	Rapid Deployment Gage
Pocotaligo River	Pee Dee	Tributary to Black River, I-95	DOT, Flood Frequency/Forecasting, SW Assessments	Real Time Stage, Pier Scour
Saluda River	Saluda	Mainstem, I-26 (I-20)	Flood Forecasting	Real Time Discharge, Installation site upstream on I-20 crossing
Coronaca Creek	Saluda	Tributary to Wilson Creek	Flood Forecasting	Real Time Discharge
Little River	Saluda	Reach between City of Laurens and Newberry County Line	Flood Forecasting	Real Time Discharge
French Quarter Creek	Santee	Tributary to East Branch Cooper River	Flood Forecasting	Real Time Stage
Steven's Creek	Savannah	Mainstem, Woodlawn Rd	Flood Forecasting	Real Time Stage
Pee Dee River	Pee Dee	Mainstem, US 15/401	Flood Forecasting	Rapid Deployment Gage
North Fork Edisto River	Edisto	Mainstem, Hwy 321 or Slab Landing Rd	Flood Forecasting	Real Time Discharge
Pacolet River	Broad	USGS 2156370, Pacolet River near Saratt, SC	SW Assessments, Sedimentation Studies, Flood Forecasting	Real Time Discharge
North Tyger River	Broad	USGS 2157000, North Tyger River near Fairmont, SC	Flood Frequency/Forecasting, SW Assessments, POR	Real Time Discharge
South Tyger River	Broad	USGS 2159000, South Tyger River near Woodruff, SC	Flood Frequency, DNR Fisheries, SW Assessments, POR	Real Time Discharge, Installation at USGS 2158408 upstream
Tyger River	Broad	USGS 2159500, Tyger River near Woodruff, SC	WU/Regulation, SW Assessments, POR	Real Time Discharge
Fairforest Creek	Broad	USGS 2160000, Fairforest Creek near Union, SC	Flood Frequency, DNR Fisheries, SW Assessments, POR	Real Time Discharge
Fishing Creek	Catawba	USGS, 2147403, Fishing Creek below Fort Lawn, SC	SW Assessments, Lack of gages in middle basin	Real Time Discharge
Edisto River	Edisto	USGS 2174000, Edisto River near Branchville, SC	SW Assessments, Flood Forecasting	Real Time Discharge
Little Pee Dee River	Pee Dee	USGS 2132500, Little Pee Dee River near Dillon, SC	Flood Forecasting	Real Time Discharge
Upper Three Runs	Savannah	USGS 2197315, Upper Three Runs at Road A (SRS), SC	SW Assessments, DNR Fisheries, POR	Real Time Discharge, Installation site upstream of original recommendation

Download a CSV file of this table.

Definitions Table

Designation	Purpose
Flood Frequency Site	Will be used to determine flood frequencies and magnitudes.
Flood Forecasting Site	Will be used for forecasting flood events and are important for public safety.
SW Assessment Site	Will be used to improve UIFs (Unimpaired Flows) for model development as part of the State's Surface Water Assessment Project. These UIFS are used to develop inflows to the surface water allocation models being developed by the SCDES and a consultant (CDM Smith).
POR Site	Period of Record (for reactivation sites only) - site has 20 or more years of historic data from which to compare new streamflow data.
DNR Fisheries Site	Will be used by SCDNR biologists for monitoring and fisheries assessment, management and protection.
Coastal Studies Site	Will help define location of the saltwater/freshwater interface and help determine rate of salt water intrusion.
WU/Regulation Site	Site is regulated or has impairment (downstream of a reservoir, notable water use/withdrawals, etc.), and data will be used to assess water availability concerns.
DOT Site	Will be at a bridge crossing and will address DOT infrastructure and transportation concerns.
Water Quality	Will be used to monitor water quality
Ecological	Will be used to monitor and study a stream of noted ecological value or concern
Other purposes include the general lack of data availability on a mainstem, a major tributary, or in a particular part of a basin. Though not listed explicitly, many of the proposed sites can also be used for low flow studies (7Q10 estimates, for example) or for drought monitoring.

Workshop Presentations

Streamflow Workshop I (2/3/2016)

An Overview of High-and Low-flow Statistics and Why Record Length Matters
Toby Feaster - USGS
tfeaster@usgs.gov
Coastal gaging –Monitoring the effects of Riverine and Tidal Forces
Paul Conrads - USGS
tfeaster@usgs.gov
SERFC Operations - Forecasting in South Carolina
Todd Hammill - NOAA –Southeast Regional Forecast Center
todd.hamill@noaa.gov
Workshop Goals and How SCDNR uses Streamflow Data
Scott Harder - SCDNR
harders@des.sc.gov

Streamflow Workshop II (3/10/2016)

Workshop Goals and an Overview of Streamflow Monitoring Needs in South Carolina
Scott Harder - SCDNR
harders@des.sc.gov

For questions regarding these presentations, please contact Scott Harder by phone (864-986-6254) or email (harders@des.sc.gov).