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Upstate Chapter News, Field Trip Reports & Newsletters Upstate Chapter NewslettersThe current issue of "Upstate Happenings" can now be read online (using Adobe Acrobat Viewer software which is available free here). "Upstate Happenings" - August 2008 Upstate Chapter News & Field Trip ReportsJune 8, 2008: Station Cove Partners: An Update
In early 2006 the SC Native Plant Society began work, in concert with SC State Park Service, US Forest Service, and other groups, to improve the trail into To date our SCNPS has provided more than 780 volunteer hours to this trail project. Work has been completed on rerouting of the trail, construction of rock steps, and other improvements. During the past year, the Partners have focused on the development of two new information kiosks for the trail. Our SCNPS efforts have included successful application for a $3,000 grant from the Mountain Lakes Region of the SC National Heritage Corridor. The Partners hope to have the kiosks in place in 2008. All is not work however. On Saturday May 31 members of the SCNPS, US Forest Service, and SC State Park Service picnicked together at Oconee Station State Historic Site. This was the second annual Station Cove Partners Picnic. Scott Alexander, Park Manager, and other members of the park staff, hosted the event again this year. Good food, thanks very much to Carolyn Alexander, and nice door prizes, were the featured items. Also featured was the partnership itself. Scott Alexander of SC State Park Service, Rick Huffman, Upstate President for SCNPS, and Vern Shumway of US Forest Service all shared their thoughts on the importance of the delicate natural features of Station Cove and the benefits of working together to help protect these resources and the compatible public access facilities. In conjunction with the above “protection goals”, the SCNPS members at the picnic announced a new effort to help monitor and maintain the trail. Teams, consisting of SCNPS members, will walk the trail on a scheduled basis to implement, or otherwise report, any needed trail maintenance work. More details on this process will be available for SCNPS members in the near future. The Station Cove Partners include: SC Native Plant Society SC State Park Service Palmetto Conservation Foundation January 8, 2008 - Upstate Chapter members attend DHEC public hearing On January 8, 2008, DHEC held a public hearing at North Greenville University on a permit application by a public utilities contractor for the Cliffs Communities to discharge approximately 175,000 gallons of sewage effluent per day into the North Saluda River near the intersection of Highway 11 and Highway 25. At the beginning of the public hearing, it was announced that the Cliffs Communities had submitted additional materials to DHEC for permission to spray sewage effluent onto its golf course instead of discharging directly into the river, but also seeking permission to discharge into the river in circumstances such as persistent freezes, rain, or flood when it was not feasible to spray the effluent onto the golf course. However, the application to discharge directly into the river has not been withdrawn. Because this public hearing was recorded, we are making available several of the audio files of comments made by the public. These are just a sample of the arguments made against the permit. The DHEC officials and members of the public comment both on the application to discharge directly into the North Saluda and the plans to spray the effluent on the golf course, with the possibility of discharge into the river. Concerns included the effect of the discharges and the spray on the river, whether there would be adqequate natural buffers along the river to control runoff of the effluent and other materials, whether there would be adequate monitoring, who would enforce the requirements of the permit, who would operate and oversee the sewage treatment plant, and the impact on trout and people using the river. Mary Anne Inglis on behalf of Rep. Bob Inglis John Tynan, Upstate Forever Kenneth Curtis Upstate Chapter Board of Directors meets with representatives from the Conestee Foundation to discuss long range plans for Lake Conestee Nature Park
Members of the Upstate Chapter's board of directors met at the Lake Conestee Nature Park with Jeff Beacham, Executive Director of the Conestee Foundation to view the property and look together at long range plans for the park. Also present were some members of the Conestee Foundation's board of directors who helped answer questions about future plans for the park. The Conestee Foundation has asked that the SC Native Plant Society be involved in providing input for the plan and play an active role in establishing a prairie site at the park. SCNPS could also be involved in working with developing an education program and materials for secondary school students. The park is a valuable asset for our community and we look forward to working with the Conestee Foundation to make this a very special place! Stumphouse Mountain Land Protected For Future Generations Citizens of Walhalla and Oconee County banded with environmental and conservation groups to raise the funds to complete the purchase of a large tract of land on Stumphouse Mountain, including Issaqueena Falls and the historic Stumphouse Tunnel site, to protect it for the use and enjoyment of future generations of South Carolinians. For more information, please read about it on the Nature Conservancy's website May 12, 2007: Station Cove Trail Project Workday
On Saturday May 12 a group of SC Native Plant Society volunteers continued work on the planned improvements to the trail leading to Station Cove Falls. In addition to a scenic waterfall, this trail leads to one of the finest and most diverse native wildflower areas in upstate South Carolina. Over the past year SCNPS has worked with partners (SC State Park Service, and US Forest Service) on an overall improvement plan for this trail. Some of the specific items already completed include construction of a new 1,300 ft trail segment and the building of rock steps at appropriate locations along the trail. The work on May 12 involved construction of a series of split rail fences (using locust rails) to help protect sensitive wildflower areas and to encourage visitors to stay on the constructed trail route. SCNPS Volunteers participating on May 12 included:
Scott Alexander of the State Park Service and Vern Shumway of the USFS provided significant assistance during this fence work. To date (since spring 2006) our SCNPS members have contributed more than 700 volunteer hours to this important trail and wildflower conservation project. We look forward to continuing this work in partnership with the State Park Service and USFS.
December 3, 2005: Plant Rescue at Greenville County Landfill Site
Members of the Upstate Chapter of SCNPS joined forces with Friends of the Reedy to rescue native plants from the new Greenville County Landfill site and re-plant them along the Reedy River corridor restoration project at the Church Street bridge in downtown Greenville. This is an ongoing project and we anticipate that there will be additional "rescues" scheduled in the first quarter of 2006. May 21, 2005: Upstate Chapter Float Trip on the Tyger River
It was early on Saturday, May 21. The temperaure was in the 50's when we met at the old Lowes at 6:30 AM to ride Sunrift's van to the Tyger River. Bill Sharpton drove and we had a van full when we pulled out with 9 canoes and one kayak. According to the river gage the water temp in the Tyger was 19.8 C, not much colder than the forecasted air Temp of low 70's. It was going to be a cool day. Also, the gage showed a rising river from all the rain Friday. We met the others, 19 boats in all, at the Little Cricket in Cross Anchor and caravaned to the River. The water was up alright and a bit muddy. It took until 10 AM to set shuttle, get everyone unloaded and briefed on what to expect. The sun was out, the wilderness scenery was beautiful, the atmosphere was brisk, and we were floating downriver at a rapid clip. The flow was so great that not much paddling was required, just enougth to steer. There were a total of 31 souls in 19 boats, including 7 from the Sierra Club and 8 who saw the article in the newspaper. Everyone got home safely with a few scratches, some sunburn, wet clothes, bug bites and a few less articles which were claimed by the river. April 2, 2005: Upstate Chapter Native Plant Sale in Greenville a Huge Success!
The Upstate Chapter's spring native plant sale at Buncombe Street United Methodist Church in Greenville was a huge success - in spite of somewhat uncooperative weather. Many thanks to all of our members who volunteered their time to help organize, load & unload, make "buying" trips, and answer questions about the plants. Special thanks to Susan Lochridge for another fine job of bringing it all together. February 20, 2005: Upstate Chapter Transplants "Rescued" Natives at SC Welcome Center on I-85
On Sunday, February 20, several members of the SC Native Plant Society gathered at the I-85 Welcome Center at Fair Play, SC to transplant rescued plants into a native meadow site we are developing there. It tried to rain the entire time we were there, but fortunately we were able to complete our task in relatively dry conditions. Previously, the site had been ripped with a sub-soiler to a depth of 8 to 12 inches in rows 8 feet apart. This gave us very workable conditions for digging holes to transplant into. Also, the plants will have an easy time of getting roots down to a reasonable depth before the heat and drought of summer arrive. Earlier this year, the following species had been transplanted on the site: bushy bluestem, cardinal flower, and woodland sunflower. On Sunday we added: little bluestem, indiangrass, silky oatgrass, big bluestem, river oats, grass-leafed aster, beardtongue, late purple aster, meadow beauty, whorled coreopsis, St. John's wort, and more woodland sunflower. The transplanted plants will develop and make a showing this upcoming growing season. In early spring we will rough-till the areas between the rows, and put down seeds of the above species and more. By the growing season of 2006, the site should be well covered with a diverse community of native grasses and wildflower forbs, similar to meadow sites found in much of South Carolina prior to the arrival of Europeans. Any questions? Contact Bill Stringer at 864 979 8034 January 15, 2005: Upstate Chapter Native Plant Rescue
Eighteen members of the SCNPS and Friends of the Reedy River participated in a day long plant rescue and replanting project. The rescue took place in an undeveloped portion of the new Greenville County landfill site. Native grasses, forbs, ferns, and shrubs were loaded into trucks and transported to two sites on the Reedy River. The forbs, grasses, and shrubs were planted in the Urban Reforestation site beside the Church Street bridge in downtown Greenville and the ferns were planted in the woodland site owned by the Friends Of the Reedy below Cleveland Park . August 10, 2004: Upstate Chapter Board of Directors works behind the scenes to encourage US Forest Service and SC PRT to relocate portion of the new Oconee Connector bicycle trail.
August 10, 2004: Upstate Chapter Board of Directors adopts policy for native plant rescues. The Upstate Chapter's Board of Directors unanimously approved a set of guidelines for native plant rescues which had been drafted by Wes Burnett and Bill Stringer. Included with the guidelines is a form to be signed by all those who participate in any native plant rescue operation sponsored by the Upstate Chapter. Native Plant Rescue Policy & Guidelines (PDF) June 17, 2004: Field Trip Report - Upstate Chapter visits Wayah Bald
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