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Conservation and Advocacy >
Conservation and Advocacy
Issues
Save the Tyger River
UPDATE
We are currently awaiting the results of the United States Army Corps of Engineers concept study.
THE ISSUE
The Tyger River is one of South Carolina's few remaining free-flowing rivers - traversing much of the Piedmont and passing through the heart of the Sumter National Forest. Now, the Union County Economic Development Board is proposing to construct a dam on the Tyger River and flood over 5,300-acres of federal forest and private lands, primarily for economic purposes. The project also proposes to convert an additional 1,300 acres of federal land to private ownership for purposes of development. Federal funding has been secured to pay for a Corps of Engineers study to determine the feasibility of this project.
Audubon South Carolina opposes this project. This project poses a grave risk to federally protected bird habitat. Expert analysis suggests that over 60,000 songbirds, including neo-tropical migrants, and their offspring will be destroyed by this project. Audubon has grave concerns over the loss of public lands to a private enterprise such as the creation of a county lake. Click HERE to download our position statement in Word format.
Audubon, in conjunction with the South Carolina Wildlife Federation and the Sierra Club, has developed a slide show designed to provide citizens with an in-depth look at the issues involved and our response to those issues. Click HERE (4MB PDF) for a presentation against the Tyger River project.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers has now undertaken the concept study to look at all aspects of building a dam on the Tyger River. The concept study is being performed at Union County’s request and will help determine whether the Economic Development Commission for Union County pursues the plan to build a dam and create a 5,300-acre lake in the heart of the Sumter National Forest. The concept study, also known as a Section 22 study, is being funded through the Planning Assistance to States program at the cost of $400,000 of taxpayers’ money, both federal and county.
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