Highway 51 (Pamplico Hwy) Widening

I recently attended a Public Information meeting on the widening of SC Route 51 (Pamplico Highway). There were probably 150 citizens in attendence all wanting to know how their property would be affected. The proposed widening extends approximately twenty four miles from S-57 (Claussen Road) near Florence, to US 378 (East Myrtle Beach Highway) near S-225 (Sandpit Road).

The purpose of this meeting was not only to supply the public with as much detail as possible but SCDOT wants to hear what the public has to say. This preliminary design offers much conversation for the land owner. The best way to express your concerns is to fill out the provided comment sheet. SCDOT will take all of these comments into consideration to make the best choices for all involved.

The proposal will consist of four lanes instead of two with a 15-ft paved median/left-turn lane. There will be 10-ft shoulders with 2-ft being paved and the other 8-ft grassed.

The total estimated cost of this project is $151.5 million. This will be the fifth project to be funded through a combination of Local Option Sales Tax and State Transportation Infrastructure Bank funds.

I heard pros and cons regarding this widening. Some of you felt that this is a much needed project that will benefit the growth of Pamplico and others of you felt that Pamplico would lose it's quaint charm.

If this widening project affects you, how do you feel about it?

Logging On Lynches River

I joined a group of Lynches River residents along with officials from The Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the South Carolina Forestry Commission and The Morning News on a kayak trip along The Lynches River near Johnsonville where a logging operation was recently completely.

I'm an 'every now and then' kayaker, but when I do go, my favorite part is floating along the more open portions of the river, leaning back and enjoying the peaceful feeling of seeing nothing but trees and the habitat amongst them. This particular trip was a little more challenging for me. The experienced kayakers took me through narrow areas and slews where my kayak was like a magnet to the trees. That'll teach me not to go but 'every now and then'!

Anyway, back to the purpose of the trip! Some local residents were concerned about the thin canopy in some areas as a result of the recent logging activity. You may remember from one of my blogs last year about this portion of the Lynches River being designated as a State Scenic River.

Logging operations are protected by State Law; however, logging activities are subject to state and federal laws concerning water qualtiy and maintaining an adequate buffer. A buffer is riparian lands maintained immediately adjacent to streams or lakes to protect water quality, fish habitat, and other resources. The South Carolina Forestry Commission's Better Management Practices manual suggests a 40' buffer remain between logging activity and a river. There is always that potential for the accumulation of sediment in the riparian areas, which in turn leads to possible impacts on water quality and fisheries. A well established buffer from open land serves as a point to retain such to eliminate it from reaching the water.

During the float trip, we did notice areas where the logged area was apparant through the canopy. The trees in these areas were small and spaced out, but the 40' suggested buffer seemed to be there. It did however, take away from the serene feeling of the river.

Logging operations are very important to South Carolina's economy. It brings in billions of dollars to the state annually, and provides employment to thousands of people. Water quality, and protecting our environment are important as well, so it's always good to expand our knowledge on the awesome benefits nature has given us and anything we can do to assist.

On a different note, I'd like to share something I witnessed during the trip that made me smile. Two mother ducks appeared a few yards ahead of us. They'd fly slightly above the water, then drop and fluttering in the water, then fly again. They continued this display every few feet. One of the kayakers explained to me that they were trying to get us to follow them so we wouldn't notice their babies at the edge of the canopy. When they are comfortable that we've passed where their babies are, they'll fly back to them. Sure enough, shortly after he told me this, we saw the babies swimming along the edge of the canopy and soon thereafter, the mother ducks were gone.

Ae you smiling yet? Maybe you had to be there!

Freight Movement

A big part of the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan is freight movement.

Last Friday we decided to spend most of the day following freight. Don't tell me you never thought about doing this! The purpose was to document routes, light timing problems, congestion, interstate access, speed, travel time from point A to point B and anything else that may be an obstacle for the hauler.

We first tracked a truck going southbound from Lucas St. at 10:00am. We tried to determine what his destination may be by the type of truck but were proven wrong. He passed Pet Dairy, McCall Farms and W.Lee Flowers before stopping at Carolina Eastern in Scranton at 10:30am.

You could tell that the driver was wondering why someone in a Florence County vehicle was following him so we explained the situation. He was willing to answer several questions pertaining to transportation and was glad that this was the only reason he was being followed!

We followed a flatbed truck at 11:05 from Scranton that appeared to be hauling a piece of heavy equipment. This truck continued until the destination of Nucor was reached at 11:53am.

Was his travel time reasonable from A to B? We did notice that there may be some signal timing issues going through Lake City. It's hard to stop in time at a light when you have just accelerated your speed from the previous light.

The next truck we followed was hauling lumber. We tracked him at 1:06pm from Williston to a lumber company off Francis Marion Rd. You could tell that the driver had made this trip many times before and did not seem to have any issues.

Our last hauler left Smurfit Stone at 1:45pm and continued past the Florence County line approaching Marion County at which point we turned around and returned to the office. We were trying to determine where his load had originated.

We came to the conclusion that milk and lumber are two commodities that seem to dominate the freight world in Florence on Fridays and perhaps Mondays may be a busier day for freight movement.

Beware of the vehicle following you! We want your feedback.

What are Your Transportation Ideas?

We want to know and here's your opportunity to tell us! Could your concerns be congestion, speed limit too high, transit route needed, sidewalks needed, freight congestion, or ?????? There are no wrong answers!

Florence County Planning Department is in the process of preparing the Transportation Element. This document was recently legislated as an addition to the Florence County Comprehensive Plan. This element will examine the transportation facilities, including major road improvements, new road construction, transit projects, pedestrian and bicycle projects, and other elements of a transportation network.

This element must be developed in coordination with the land use element, to ensure transportation efficiency for existing and planned development. In addition, the plan considers the FLATS (the local metropolitan planning organization) long-range plan and future municipal plans.

Do you remember how much fun the 'let's play dots' land use map was? We received tons of input from you. Thank you! Let's play again! Maps will be on display at all six Florence County library locations and in the lobby at the Florence County Planning and Building Inspections Department, 518 S. Irby Street by Monday, April 26th. Just place your dot on the area of concern, number it and write your concern on your number on the 'Idea List' at the bottom of the map.

We're also hosting three public meetings in three different locations for your convenience. Pick one or join us for all...

• Thursday, April 29th, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Lake City Senior Center, 198 N. Acline Street;
• Tuesday, May 4th, 6:30 p.m. , Johnsonville City Council meeting, 111 W. Broadway St.;
• Thursday, May 6th, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library meeting room, 509 S. Dargan St.

We'll compile all of your ideas/concerns and present them to the Florence County Planning Commission on May 21st during their workshop on this element. We'll be looking for you!

A Blue Trail For Florence?

How awesome it would be if a portion of Jefffries Creek could become a Blue Trail! The Congaree, Wateree, Wacammaw and Reedy Rivers, are just a few Blue Trails you may be familiar with. Until I started educating myself on Blue Trails, I had no idea the length of Jeffries Creek. It's headwaters begin just south of Hartsville flowing through Florence and Darlington counties for approximately 34 miles before reaching the Great Pee Dee River. Pretty amazing!


Not familiar with what a blue trail is? It's water equivalent to a hiking trail benefiting paddlers, anglers, hikers, picnickers or for those of us just seeking a bit of solitude. I DO love group recreation, but ahhhh...., solitude!

Several interested Florence residents met for a brainstorming session recently. Representatives from American Rivers and Greenville County were there to offer suggestions and share their success stories. Research is on the way to see if this is a possibility. Lots of work would need to be done to make this happen. The group will meet again soon. If you're interested in attending, send me a comment and I'll make sure you know when and where.


Check out the list of SC Water Trails. Can we add Florence County to this list? What's your thoughts? More to come later........

Florence Falling off the Census Ranking

A look at today's Census return ranking shows Florence lagging behind the statewide and national averages.

Check out our status: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/

Just perusing the map show that some of my colleagues in Aiken County are enjoying a 3 point lead over the Florentines!

We are running neck and neck with Charleston and trailing Greenville!!

Let's go Florentines - return those Census questions and get a gold star!

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!