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The J. Strom Thurmond dam, located just north of Augusta, Georgia
Photo © Mark Godfrey/TNC
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Overview
Under a partnership called the Sustainable Rivers Project, The Nature Conservancy and the Army Corps of Engineers are working together to improve dam management to better protect the natural splendor and health of America’s rivers, while still providing services such as flood control and power generation.
Partners
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
- The University of Georgia
- Savannah State University
- Augusta State University
- Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy
- Clemson University
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The Savannah River Basin
River Restoration and Dam Management
Beginning in the Blue Ridge Mountains of north Georgia, the Savannah River flows for more than 300 miles to the Atlantic Ocean. Supplying drinking water to more than 1.5 million people, hydropower and a large port, the Savannah River is among the most highly impacted of southeastern rivers. The lower Savannah River watershed encompasses more than 10,577 square miles and supports extremely high species biodiversity, including the greatest number of native fish species (108) of any river draining into the Atlantic.
The Savannah River Basin is a haven for more than 75 rare and endangered species, such as the robust redhorse fish, the swallow-tailed kite, the shoals spider lily and the wild cocoa tree. Towering cypress and tupelo trees adorn bottomland hardwood forests, while wetland communities support the endangered flatwoods salamander, and game fish like striped bass and shad. The river and estuary are also critical habitat for the federally endangered shortnose sturgeon, of which only about 3,000 are know to exist in the Savannah River. The abundant diversity of life rivals that found in the South American rainforest.
Despite its scenic beauty and natural diversity, the ecological health of the river system — from the headwaters to the estuary — is declining. The construction of dams and reservoir systems just 50 years ago has negatively altered the natural flow patterns that support the wildlife and natural communities of the Savannah River, its floodplain and its estuary. Additionally, large-scale timbering, municipal water needs and harbor dredging and expansion are contributing to the degradation of the entire ecosystem.
In cooperation with federal, state and local partners, as well as academic researchers and other nonprofits, The Nature Conservancy has developed a prescription for river health through land protection and sound science. One priority project is a scientific endeavor to answer the question, “How much water does a river need?” Named the Sustainable Rivers Project, this effort is a national partnership between The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which seeks to manage dams for ecological benefit, while preserving important human uses such as flood control and hydropower.
Since 2004, the Conservancy and this model partnership have conducted several controlled floods on the Savannah River to mimic flow conditions prior to the construction of dams. Through this process, the Conservancy and our partners have gained valuable insight to the water flow patterns necessary to support native wildlife, with an ultimate goal of protecting and restoring more than 200 miles of free flowing river, 70,000 acres of bottomland hardwood forests and 20,000 acres of estuary.
Scientists are continuing to measure the ecological effects of the water flow restoration efforts through a number of projects, including monitoring the potential regenerative benefits to floodplain forest, tracking the movement of shortnose sturgeon, monitoring floodplain invertebrates and fish, and measuring the effects of the controlled floods on the salinity of the estuary. The ultimate goal of the project is a fully functioning river, floodplain and estuary.
For More Information:
- Where We Work: The Nature Conservancy in Georgia
Working with partners, local communities, and people like you, The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 220,000 acres in Georgia.
- Places We Protect: Savannah River Basin
The Savannah River Basin is home to more than 75 species of rare plants and animals, including 18 species of fishes tracked by the Georgia and South Carolina Heritage programs as species of concern.
- How We Work: Sustainable Waters Program
Freshwater ecosystems — including rivers, lakes, and wetlands — provide virtually all of the easily accessible drinking water on the planet, and support a wide variety of other species, including fish and other aquatic organisms, wildlife and plants.
- Success Story: Sustainable Rivers Project
The Nature Conservancy and the United States Army Corps of Engineers in July 2002 formed a partnership to restore and preserve rivers across the country.
- How We Work: Nature Conservancy Partnerships
The Nature Conservancy pursues non-confrontational, pragmatic, market-based solutions to conservation challenges. This makes it essential for us to work collaboratively with partners – communities, businesses, government agencies, multilateral institutions, individuals and other non-profit organizations.
