Friday, March 26

Watersheds: Easy as 04030201!


Where does your drinking water come from?

Obviously, clean water is essential to life. Watersheds supply drinking water, provide recreation and sustain life (just a little important, right?). Food, fiber, manufactured goods, and tourism depend on clean water and healthy watersheds, too.

Watersheds and drainage basins are natural ups and downs of the land surface that channel rainwater to a common waterway, such as a stream, lake, river, etc. The two major rivers in Florence County are the Lynches River and the Great Pee Dee River. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows the watershed for the upper area of the County is named the Lower Pee Dee River Basin (numbered 03040201 in the graphic above), containing the Great Pee Dee River. The southern part of the County is part of the Lynches River watershed (labeled ...202), and as the name implies, drains to the Lynches River.

The Pee Dee River has a lot of work to do accepting drainage from Jeffries Creek, Catfish Creek, the Lynches River (yes, one watershed drains into another!), the Little Pee Dee River and the Black River Basin.

Federal water legislation dates back to the nineteenth century when Congress enacted the River and Harbor Act of 1886, recodified in the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. The principal body of law currently in effect is based on the Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of 1972, which significantly expanded and strengthened earlier legislation. Major amendments were enacted in the Clean Water Act of 1977 and the Water Quality Act of 1987.

So you see, protecting our watersheds is imperative for our health and it's federally regulated! The City of Florence has recently completed a project with the help of a local Eagle Scout troop putting up these signs to educate residents on the importance of protecting our watersheds. There are approximately 15 signs installed noting to passersby of adjacent waterways.

Let's all join in the effort to protect Florence County's watershed!












Tuesday, March 9

Congratulations PDRTA!

Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority has received two SCDOT awards from the Transportation Association of South Carolina (TASC) conference. PDRTA was acknowleded as being the best Urban Transit provider of the year and Amy Ragin was given kudos for best driver of the year. Amy was commended for her assistance with a customer that was having a heart attack.

PDRTA's increased ridership has resulted in new routes that serve the outer areas of Florence. They have also increased the number of daily trips to Lake City and Myrtle Beach. PDRTA has developed partnerships with Northeastern Technical College, Francis Marion University, the US Census Bureau, the United Motorcoach Association and City/County governments providing great benefits to their service area.

We are fortunate to have a group that wants to serve the community in the best capacity available. PDRTA continues to pursue the need for bus shelters and bus stop areas at subdivisions and affordable housing projects.

Way to go PDRTA!

Monday, March 1

New FLATSPress available

The Florence Area Transportation Study has released the February 2010 newsletter.


From Newletters

This issue includes articles about air quality, the 2035 transportation plan, enhancement grants and the comprehensive plan.

Please send us your feedback and offer new topics for us to address in the next issue.