By Melissa Higgs, Community Engagement Director, FOLKS
The theme for this year’s Rose Parade was “The Magic in Teamwork.” It was all about collaboration and community. The hours that were spent building the floats and preparing musical performances were immense, and the messages were about the power of teamwork. Although the Rose Bowl is all the way across the United States in California, people from South Carolina were in this year’s parade–a college student who played in the Band of America, the Clover High School band, and Leeza Gibbons, the commentator for KTLA News and former WSPA TV host. Everyone could appreciate the beauty of the parade, even if they weren’t from Pasadena or football fans.
The Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS) strives to bring that same community spirit together in order to conserve Lake Keowee and the Upper Savannah River Basin (USRB) Watershed. Members and local businesses support the publication of the KEOWEE magazine that includes informative articles about the safety and health of Lake Keowee’s watershed. A unique partnership with the Blue Ridge Arts Center (BRAC) has allowed everyone to appreciate the beauty of the watershed through conservation art featured at their shows and on display in the FOLKS calendar. FOLKS also organizes Lake and Island Sweeps and participates in Duke Energy Habitat Enhancement Program (HEP) grant initiatives. Sponsoring such programs enhances community.
The organization also offers grants to schools and other local groups that support its conservation mission. For example, FOLKS contributes to the Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) that South Cove County Park and Oconee 4-H host. WHEP teaches students how to create habitat plans that recognize the value of plants and animals to ecosystems. In addition, scholarships are awarded to students who qualify and complete water sampling around Lake Keowee in conjunction with FOLKS and the SC Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) Adopt-a-Stream.
In order to educate lake users about regulations and safety, FOLKS partners with America’s Boating Club–Golden Corner Lakes, TowBoatUS Lake Keowee, and the SC Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) . FOLKS publications include dates for boating classes, and their Speaker Series addresses a variety of topics, such as boating safety, fishing tips, energy, sustainable gardening practices, hiking locally, law enforcement, and land trusts.
Supporting a lake community requires careful planning and maintenance. As a founding member of the Lake Keowee Source Water Protection Team (LKSWPT), FOLKS supports the use of grant funds to remediate septic systems around the lake and to provide support for conservation easements. Shoreline protection is critical as development continues to grow. The Pickens Soil and Water Conservation District and Clemson Extension Water Resources work with FOLKS to educate others about runoff prevention. FOLKS has been a stakeholder in meetings with Duke Energy for relicensing, ensuring that fellow environmental organizations receive conservation funding, and has participated in discussions with Duke regarding their Shoreline Management Plan.
FOLKS is also a part of meetings with the SC Department of Natural Resources. The SC DNR is required to develop a State Water Plan. There are eight water basins in the State. Lake Jocassee, Lake Keowee, and Lake Hartwell are all within the USRB Watershed, which is largely affected by surface water withdrawals for energy and water supply. After conducting surface water and groundwater assessments and water demand projections, the draft river basin plans have been developed. FOLKS serves as a stakeholder on the committee. Although the Corps of Engineers’s Drought Management Plan and the Duke Energy Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license are still the guiding mechanisms for the lakes, the State Water Plan provides strategies for managing water resources.
Partnerships are the key to successful programs. FOLKS is looking for opportunities to connect with those who live at the lake and those who visit, but the lake is important to everyone because we all need clean water. Because of this, FOLKS is looking for opportunities to expand and for others to get involved. Visit their Instagram @friends_of_lake_keowee, their Facebook @KeoweeFolks, or their website at keoweefolks.org and become a member. Your support is needed!
You may also consider joining other organizations that are working in the Savannah River Basin. The Friends of Jocassee works to preserve the Jocassee Gorges in northern Oconee County. Their spring event at Devil’s Fork State Park, BellFest, celebrates the unique ecosystem around Lake Jocassee and the Oconee bells. Find them at friendsofjocassee.org or on social media. The Lake Hartwell Association acts as an advocate and steward for Lake Hartwell. They work with the Corps of Engineers, local governments, and other groups/organizations concerned with lake level, cleanliness and safety. They are members of the Georgia Water Coalition that addresses interbasin water transfers. Find them at lakehartwellassociation.org or on social media.
