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March-April 2016
Warpath Landing Update
Duke Energy officially notified the FERC on March 4, 2016,
that they have invoked the lease cancellation clause for Warpath
Landing. Duke Energy will be responsible for the maintenance of the
Access Area and for any future amenities that might be required by the
FERC. E
Contents
President’s Corner by Jack Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The Land Before the Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Practical Limnology: Heat: The Science and The Mystery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Winter Storm Recovery, Oconee Station. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
FOLKS Forum at World of Energy, Thursday, April 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Around the Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Preliminary FEMA Flood Insurance Maps for Seneca Watershed. . . . . . . . . 8
Keowee-Toxaway and Pumped Storage Fundamentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
DNR Signs for Docks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Golden Corner Lakes Sail & Power Squadron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Carolina’s Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network . . . . . . 14
Lake Keowee Beaches Water Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
New Young Birders Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
SCBG Happenings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Why Go Fishing? by Bill Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Birders Eye View: Sharing the Upstate with Birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
FOLKS Membership & Donations Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Relicensing Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
FOLKS Corporate & Business Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Status of Possible Changes to
the SC Boating Regulations
Following the removal of all buoys placed on Lake Keowee by
residents, SC DNR set a number of meetings around the state to establish
what the public thought should be changes to the SC Boating Regulations.
The Oconee-Pickens-Anderson meeting was the largest of all the meetings
with nearly 200 people. In fact we believe the attendance at the Strom
Thurmond Institute Auditorium was greater than the total of the other
meetings held.
All of the information from all the meetings was compiled and a
report was written. The link to that report is: <http://www.dnr.sc.gov/
pubs/BoatingSafetyForumsFinalReport.pdf>. The overall survey results
are summarized as follows:
Both discussion and electronic survey results revealed that a
majority of participants at all forums and online respondents feel that:
t Boating education should be required for an individual to
operate a boat on state waters;
t More DNR officers and additional funding are needed to
enforce boating laws;
t Boat operators are largely ignorant of the rules of navigation;
and
t Anyone operating a boat should be required to carry a photo
ID.
Recommendations for changes to boating regulations were
provided by DNR to the appropriate legislative committees. A decision
was made to go forward with an increase from 50’ to 100’ no-wake
zones from docks, bulkheads, shorelines, swimmers, etc. The House
subcommittee on Agriculture and the Environment and the Committee
passed that change. Within a short period of time an issue arose, namely
that the Intercostal Waterway had areas where the distance from dock
to opposing dock evidently did not measure 200’. The change has been
returned to the Committee for resolution of this issue.
FOLKS is taking the position that the baby should not be thrown
out with the bathwater and that it is reasonable for an exception to be
made for the Intercostal Waterway. That, however, evidently runs afoul of
there being “special legislation,” which is a “no-no.” FOLKS is on the list
of organizations to be notified of all subcommittee meetings, and we plan
on supporting the 100’ change.
It was probably rightly decided that the issue of requiring boater
education will be presented separately. There was a strong feeling that
pushing both regulation changes together would meet with resistance and
nothing would be passed. E
Resources (DNR) meetings throughout the state, we have learned
of an agreement between the DNR and state legislature to present
the 100’ no-wake zone proposal separate from the boating safety
course recommendation. The change from a 50’ to a 100’no-wake
zone passed the house, but the legislation was pulled back because
the narrow intercostal waterway with docks on either side would
be too narrow to implement the new no-wake zone. The no-wake
zone legislation is being resolved, and plans are to have the more
controversial safe boating course legislation handled separately.
Because of the importance of these two bills, FOLKS plans to be
in Columbia when the subcommittee considers the bills again.
There are errors in the Federal Emergency Management
Agency’s (FEMA) map for the Seneca River side of Lake Keowee
resulting in banks requiring homeowners and lot purchasers to
acquire flood insurance. The maps have been corrected as pointed
out in an article in this Sentinel (p.8). There is now an online
map and a meeting will be held in Anderson on March 30.
We have learned that Bob Heinz, a long time and original
FOLKS member, passed away on January 28. Bob served FOLKS
as treasurer, was very active in our early 319 grant work and was
part of the lake sweep program. We express our condolences to
Marge and the Heinz family.
President’s
Corner
by Jack Lewis
Spring is just around the corner, and we have survived
another “brutal” Carolina winter – two days of snow and one
day of melting. Having spent the better part of 30 years in the
snow belt of Upstate New York, I can’t tell you how much I enjoy
the short winters and early springs of this area.
Spring is here so it is time to think about the upcoming
lake sweep on May 7-17 and the first trip to your adopted island.
With the high water much of the debris has been washed into the
lake, which should make the lake sweep easier, but I have been
on some of the islands and they need some serious work. Those
of you who have not received a long-handled net for picking
up floating debris can do so by contacting the FOLKS office to
make arrangements to pick one up. If you plan to continue with
your island, let us know at the FOLKS office. If you would like
to volunteer as a lake sweeper or an island keeper, please let us
know. To those of you who have already volunteered, we have
your names and will be in touch once we know what islands are
available.
FOLKS has been busy this winter with its ongoing
operations, a drive to increase membership and the
implementation of two Habitat Enhancement Program (HEP)
grants along with the work required for the redo of a submittal
for a third grant: the Blue heron rookery. A location has been
staked for the osprey platform in the southern part of the lake,
and the fish attractors will be positioned under fishing piers at
South Cove and High Falls Oconee County Parks. The herons
have returned to the island rookery and appear to be picking out
and working on their nests. These projects are very important
to us at FOLKS because through our efforts we will be able to
provide and enhance the various wildlife habitats of the lake that
are sure to gain additional significance over time.
As you are aware, we are concerned about membership, so
if you have a friend or neighbor who should be a member, please
let them know how important our efforts for the lake are and
have them sign up. Ben has also asked me to point out to you that
you can join and renew your membership in FOLKS by using
PayPal on our website at no cost to you. E
In regards to the potential changes in South Carolina
boating regulations resulting from the Department of Natural
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The Land Before the Waters
In late February, the staffs of Oconee County Public Library and the Oconee
Heritage Center received notice that we had been awarded a grant from South Carolina
Humanities in the amount of $4,626. The grant, which is collaboration between both
institutions, will enable OCPL and OHC to present “The Land Before the Waters,” a
speaker series of nine lectures in the spring and summer of 2016
The purpose of South Carolina Humanities seeks to increase public understanding
of and support for the humanities; telling the human story by awarding grants for highquality public programs; by generating special humanities initiatives; and by bringing
humanities perspectives to bear on contemporary issues.
The humanities are how we understand ourselves, our world and how we
communicate that understanding to others. The goal of OCPL and OCH is to engage our
community through this speaker series by addressing the significant changes to Oconee
County that occurred with the creation of Lakes Hartwell, Keowee, and Jocassee. By
focusing on the creation of the lakes, the hope is to start conversations in our community
that will allow us to reflect on our history and to teach the next generation about a time
that directly impacts the way they live today. The goal is to share with others stories
about entire communities that no longer exist in their original locations, individuals who
remember places like High Falls before it was under water, and those who have family
members that sold land to Duke Power for the creation of the lakes. Each story creates a
glimpse into our past and gives insight into the lives of our families and friends who lived
and experienced something we can only imagine.
The scholars, authors and historians involved in this project offer another level
of credibility to the overall project. Their input, expertise and perspective will help
to highlight a specific time frame in the history of Oconee County that will aid in the
discussion among our community members and help to preserve the memories of the
impact of the lakes on Oconee County. One of these perspectives includes the creativity
of author Ron Rash who wrote the book One Foot in Eden, which is set in Oconee
County. The story involves a local sheriff trying to solve a murder before the inundation
of Lake Jocassee covers up much needed evidence. Ron Rash is the author of the 2009
PEN/Faulkner Finalist and New York Times bestselling novel Serena, in addition to
four prizewinning novels, including The Cove, One Foot in Eden, Saints at the River,
and The World Made Straight; four collections of poems; and six collections of stories,
among them Burning Bright, which won the 2010 Frank O'Connor International
Short Story Award, and Chemistry and Other Stories, which was a finalist for the 2007
PEN/Faulkner Award. Twice the recipient of the O. Henry Prize, he teaches at Western
Carolina University.
Besides the creative look at the coming of the lakes, we will also look at the
environmental, historical and economic impacts of the coming of the lakes. The
speaker series will serve to complement our ongoing Oral History Collection Project
titled “Voices of Oconee.” The initial focus of the oral history project is the significant
change to the landscape of Oconee County with the creation of the three lakes: Hartwell,
Keowee and Jocassee. Our goal is to highlight the unique history of Oconee County
while preserving the stories of residents who remember the coming of the lakes. We
hope to foster discussion among residents and generate interest in preserving the stories
of those who remember life before the lakes and their recollections of the development
of the lakes in relation to their life here at that time.
The speaker series will begin later this spring and will go through early summer.
Ron Rash is currently scheduled to speak at the Westminster Music Hall on May 5, 2016
at 6:30 p.m. Stay tuned for more information about dates and times for each speaker.
This will be a series of events you will not want to miss. For additional information about
the speaker series or for more information about how you can share your stories about
the coming of the lakes, please contact Emily Embry at [email protected] or by
phone (864) 364-5701. E
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Friends Of Lake Keowee Society
4065 Keowee School Road
Seneca SC 29672
e-mail: [email protected]
Board of Directors
Jack Lewis, President
Greg Buck
Gary Burns
Bob Cassam
Carl Dunn
Cathy Reas Foster
Dave Goeckel
Dot Jackson, Emeritus John Kent
Rod McGinley
John Schmid
Rick Sommer
Ed Weiland
Brooks Wade (Friends Of Jocassee)
Executive Director
Ben Turetzky
Committee Chairs
Buildings & Grounds
Endowment/Finance
HEP Committee Rep.
HEP Committee Alt.
Membership
Technical Chl “a”
Technical E. coli
Intern
Web Administrator
open
Greg Buck
Carl Dunn
Dave Goeckel
Ben Turetzky
William J. Miller
Bob Swank
Namrata Sengupta
Judy Koepnick
The Sentinel
Advertising
Editor/Layout
Rod McGinley
Judy Koepnick
Advisors
Dr. Jeffrey Adelberg
Dr. Larry Dyck
Dr. Alan Elzerman
Dave Kroeger
Dr. Patrick McMillan
Lois Ardelean
Bill Ebeling
Dr. John Hains
Dr. Drew Lanham
Dr. Calvin Sawyer
Ombudsmen
Bob Cassam
The FOLKS Sentinel is published six times a year
and mailed to all active FOLKS members. Any
reproduction or duplication of this publication, or any
part thereof, must be done with the publisher’s written
permission. FOLKS is not responsible for the claims
made by the advertisers.
Sentinel advertising rates can be found at:
http://www.keoweefolks.org/FOLKS/Sentinels.html
864-882-3655
Practical Limnology
Heat: The Science and The Mystery
by Dr. John Hains, Clemson University, College of Agriculture, Forestry & Life Science
Kurt Vonnegut once suggested that we should go through
life making a collection of delicious ironies and indeed there are
plenty to be collected. At one time I was among those who took
the concept of ‘heat’ for granted. It was later during college that
I began to appreciate how an ancient concept that seemed so
simple was actually complex and confusing. And this applies to
Lake Keowee and what I sometimes think of as its ‘heartbeat’
at Oconee Nuclear Station (ONS). This analogy will be clearer
soon and it illustrates not only the amazing things that happen
in Lake Keowee but also the amazing process and progress of
science itself.
iterative improvements, and the evidence of the success of this
approach to ‘understanding’ is in the practical success of such
things ranging from the Global Positioning System to computers
to medical technologies to ONS. They all work. They are all
based on the same fundamental governing principles with
respect to matter and energy, and they all have achieved their
present status as a result of this same iterative, self-correcting
process of exploration called ‘science’. So what about Lake
Keowee?
For that we must revisit the concept of ‘heat’. When I
ask my students: “who knows what ‘heat’ is”, they are all very
confident. It takes only a few minutes of questions to shake
that sufficiently to begin to build an alternative way of thinking
about it. The easiest route is to think of heat as ‘thermal energy’.
In simple terms, all objects at temperatures above absolute
zero have ‘heat’. This means that the intensity of molecular
vibrations of any material can be measured as a positive
temperature, greater than zero. Temperature is a measurement
of intensity of the kinetic energy of that molecular vibration.
If sufficiently intense, it can change water into steam, the force
of which can turn the blades of a turbine thus transferring
some of that energy to the turbine shaft to turn a generator
which will produce the electricity. In doing so, the temperature
of the steam decreases as the energy is transferred. Of course
the electricity then serves to transmit that energy, perhaps, to
heating coils which increase the intensity of vibration in, say,
the water in a coffee maker. In this manner the energy of the
original steam is dissipated, ultimately, in the coffee which cools
slowly in your cup as you read this article or otherwise go about
your day-to-day activities. But that only accounts for a little
more than 1/3 of the massive energy released during the fission
process in those nuclear reactors. The rest is dissipated mostly
into Lake Keowee which involves the massive water movement
through the condenser cooling water system (CCW), which I
described in my previous article last fall.
If you have read my past words, you will remember that
the vast majority of energy produced in those hellish processes
inside the ONS reactors is not converted to electricity but rather
is dissipated as ‘waste heat’ into Lake Keowee. But what does
this really mean? What exactly IS this ‘heat’ stuff? The answer to
that is not as simple as it might seem.
If a fisherman with a modern temperature sensor were
to survey the water temperatures at various locations on Lake
Keowee, he would observe what we all know already, the
warmest surface temperatures during winter are at the ONS
discharge structure and they diminish with distance from that
location. We would rightly conclude that ONS is the source of
that heat and those elevated temperatures. But the application
of this same approach led to a profoundly wrong conclusion
during the days of antiquity. Keep in mind that the concept of
‘temperature’ itself is a relatively modern scientific development,
but ‘heat’ or ‘hotness’ was well-known in ancient times, if not so
well-understood. Although the modern thermometer would not
be developed until the mid-17th century, the temperature of the
human body was obviously less in the extremities and greatest
at the body core – and heat was assumed to have its source in
the heart. This led the likes of Plato and Empedocles to surmise
that breathing must have served to cool the heart. This idea
of ‘animal heat’ and the later derivative scientific theories were
refined and survived until scientists such as Hooke, Boyle and
Mayow developed a theory closer to our modern understanding
of respiration. But in producing this new way of explaining our
observations about body heat, they employed the analogy to
simple combustion as in the flame of a candle. Also keep in
mind that our fisherman, in his conclusions about the source
of heat in Lake Keowee, employs the same approach as did the
early philosophers and scientists with respect to ‘animal heat’.
And while he would be ‘correct’, while ‘they’ were obviously
wrong.
ONS not only modifies the Lake Keowee ecosystem
with the pumping energy of the CCW, it also adds most of
the thermal energy (heat) that is released by those three nuclear
reactors. The combined energy subsidy is massive and I have
written previously about it. If I return, however, to my original
analogy, we find one of those delicious ironies that Vonnegut
so enjoyed: the ‘blood’ of Lake Keowee (which is the water in
my analogy) is circulated by the heart of the system (ONS),
but unlike those ancient philosophers who misinterpreted the
thermal patterns of the human body, the extremities of Lake
Keowee really are cooler and yes, the source of the heat is ONS
– its heart, and THAT ‘blood’ really IS circulated in order to
cool that heart. It’s almost as if the entire system is analogous
to a very large organism….a ‘superorganism’. H’mmm… that
idea, I’m afraid, will have to wait until the next column. E
We should not scoff at the mistakes of early philosophers
and scientists who were brilliant thinkers, obviously very
inquisitive, but mistaken. They and every investigation
afterwards were part of a wonderful pageant of how science
constantly attempts to explain our observations, often with
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by providing rehabilitation services that enable young men to
return to their families and live productive lives in their own
communities. Camp Ghigau students visit Oconee Station State
Historic Site to learn about South Carolina History and to do
community service projects.
On January 22, 2016 the upstate was blanketed with
a carpet of snow and ice. Oconee Station State Historic Site
received five inches. Even though the park roads were closed to
traffic during the storm and the days that followed several visitors
were able to find creative ways to access the grounds. One family
sledded into the park while another family arrived on cross
country skies.
Although beautiful the snow was also destructive. Virginia
pines within the park collapsed under the weight of the wet snow
bringing down fences with them. By the time the snow had
quit falling the trail connecting the parking area with the historic
buildings was impassable.
Within less than two hours the trail from the parking area
to the historic site was completely restored. This would have
taken the park staff of only two employees days to accomplish.
Without volunteers and partnerships with friends such as Camp
Ghigau it would be difficult to operate Oconee Station State
Historic Site and the other forty six South Carolina State Parks.
Oconee Station State Historic Site is operated by the
South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, & Tourism.
The park is open from 9am – 6pm daily. Tours of the historic
site are offered Saturday and Sunday afternoon. For more
information please call (864) 638-0079 or visit our web site at
www.southcarolinaparks.com. E
The following Wednesday a dozen volunteers from Camp
Ghigau came to assist with the cleanup. The students removed
logs and brush and then helped to rebuild fences knocked down
in the storm.
Camp Ghigau is operated by the Clemson University –
Youth Learning Institute. The camp works with at risk youth
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FOLKS Forum
Duke World of Energy
Thursday, April 14
6:00 p.m. refreshments, 6:30 p.m. presentation
Meet naturalist and author John Garton to learn about
the Clemson Experimental Forest: 17,500 acres of woodlands
surrounding Clemson University where wildlife, waterfalls
and wildflowers abound! See pages of
the wonderful book, Quiet Reflections:
The Clemson Experimental Forest,
where John’s lyrical prose is matched
with the beautiful photographs of
the late Tommy Wyche. Learn about
public recreational opportunities
in the forest such as walking trails,
fishing, bird watching and picnics.
The forest is home to beautiful
wildflowers and diverse wildlife populations. The variety
of habitats such as meadows, wetlands, ponds, streams and
upland forests makes it a perfect outdoor laboratory for
research and teaching. The history and cultural resources of
the forest also help make it a destination not to be missed!
Time permitting we will also update anything new on
the Relicensing as well as entertain any other questions from
the audience. E
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Around the Lake
In our November/December 2015 Sentinel, we printed
some photos taken by a lake resident, and we received the
following note:
It was nice to see in the November/December 2015 Sentinel
that you were starting a new feature about birds and scenery around
Lake Keowee. With that in mind I've attached some photos taken
in our backyard in Waterford Pointe of a Heron eating its lunch
of chipmunk. Hard to believe that a chipmunk can go down that
skinny neck, but my wife and I have now seen it happen three times
in our backyard. Enjoy.
Ed Donnelly
We do not get much feedback from members so we
really appreciated Ed’s note. If any of you have photos of birds,
butterflies, beautiful flowers, other wildlife, please send them
along with a description of where they were taken. In the first
photo you can see the chipmunk popping his head out of the
ground – he didn’t know he was being watched and look what
happens.
Photo 4: rotate to swallow
Photo 5: down the neck E
Preliminary FEMA Flood Insurance
Maps for Seneca Watershed
Available for Review
Photo 1: capture
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has
released a preliminary update of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps
(FIRM) for much of the Seneca Watershed. A location map
showing the areas studied in Oconee County for the updates to
the FIRM can be viewed online at: <http://bit.do/oconee-floodmap> (note: URL is case sensitive). The preliminary FIRM, which
delineates proposed special flood hazard and risk premium zones,
will be applicable to properties near Lake Jocassee, Lake Keowee,
the Seneca River arm of Lake Hartwell, and their tributaries.
A final version of the FIRM is currently scheduled to become
effective by the end of 2016.
Photo 2: transport
Photo 3: drown
www.keoweefolks.org
Anyone wishing to review the preliminary maps and/or
obtain information about flood risks and potential insurance
requirements impacting their property or business is invited to
attend an informal public outreach open house scheduled for
4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on March 30, 2016, at the Anderson
Sports and Entertainment Complex, 3027 Martin Luther King
Jr. Blvd., Anderson, SC. Representatives from FEMA, the SC
Department of Natural Resources, and local governments will be
available to assist individuals and answer questions. E
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Keowee-Toxaway and Pumped Storage Fundamentals
George Galleher, P.E. Principal Engineer, Duke Energy Carolinas Hydro Fleet Operations
(Prepared March 6, 2016)
The Keowee-Toxaway Project is considered an engineering
marvel, and its pumped storage facilities are unique gems that
capture this wonderful resource. Simply put, pumped storage
facilities pump water from a lower reservoir (such as Lake Keowee)
“up-hill” to an upper reservoir (Lake Jocassee) when it is cost-and
operations-advantageous to do so. That energy, in the form of
stored water, is ready at, literally, the push of a button to provide
energy to meet customer needs. Electricity itself cannot be stored,
but the potential to create electricity can (e.g., like a battery).
Pumped storage plants, such as Jocassee Pumped Storage Hydro
Station and Bad Creek Pumped Storage Hydro Station, provide
Duke Energy the opportunity to store the potential energy of
water. This enables Duke to meet its customers’ future needs by
taking advantage of surplus electricity, when not all electricity is
used.
generators. During high demand periods, alternating generation
and pumping cycles can cause significant water level fluctuations
in both upper and lower reservoirs. If reservoirs are used for
recreation, boaters are advised to be aware of changes in water
depth along shorelines and other shallow areas.
An example of what the “load curve and generation mix”
looked like a couple of years ago is shown below. Note the
“reddish” area depicts all of Duke Energy’s Hydro generating
resources, including both conventional and the pumped
storage resources. Also, when shown as a negative number, it
is indicative of “pumping,” as referenced previously. The small,
dark green line symbolizes combustion turbines; the dark blue
line is the combined total of all generation types; and the black
line depicts nuclear, coal and combustion turbines. Note the
difference between the black and blue lines. When the blue
line is greater, it represents the use of hydro generation, and
sometimes combustion turbines. In addition, when the black line
is greater than the blue line, Duke Energy is consuming energy
pumping for pumped-storage. Lastly, the light blue area is the
Duke Energy system load, which includes some purchase power
agreements.
Pumped storage plants are peaking plants, designed to
be used primarily, but not exclusively, during peak periods: the
hottest parts of the summer and the coldest parts of the winter.
Peak periods are times when our customers’ use of electricity is
at its greatest, and it is important that Duke is able to provide
electricity during these critical times. Pumped storage plants are
designed with two reservoirs -- upper and lower -- and produce
significant amounts of electricity when it is needed most.
Like every other hydroelectric plant, a pumped storage
plant generates electricity by allowing water to fall through a
turbine generator. Unlike conventional hydroelectric plants,
once the pumped storage plant generates electricity, it can then
pump that water from its lower reservoir to its upper reservoir.
In the figure below, water in the upper reservoir runs through
the powerhouse generator to make electricity. For Bad Creek
and Jocassee, the lower reservoirs are lakes Jocassee and Keowee,
respectively. In off-peak times, typically in the evening or on
weekends as the customer demand begins to decline, Duke
Energy begins using that surplus energy for “pumping.” As the
customer load declines further, more pumps are added until up
to six to eight pumped storage units are in use.
This dynamic pumping resource causes lake levels to
fluctuate on a daily cycle. Based on information filed with the
Keowee-Toxaway Project Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) license application, the average daily fluctuation value
was 0.55 feet. It is not uncommon for Lake Keowee to fluctuate
more than a foot daily. Generally, Lake Keowee is at its highest
on Friday afternoon, before weekend pumping begins, and at its
lowest on Monday morning.
Looking toward the future, solar energy is beginning play
a part in pumped storage, as Duke Energy has begun to use it to
pump water to upper reservoirs. If this continues, lake neighbors
may begin to see lake level fluctuations occur during the day,
compared to night and weekend. E
As load begins to increase, units are shut down so that
the “swing” can be completed, and the units are re-started as
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DNR Signs for Docks
There seems to be some confusion about the “dock signs”
that you can get from DNR. They have no enforcement ability.
They can be placed on your docks and some boaters may actually
read them and comply.
How to order? Contact SCDNR Law Enforcement
Investigations, PO Box 12559, Charleston SC 29422
or email <[email protected]> E
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Golden Corner Lakes Sail & Power Squadron
America’s Boating Course
Golden Corner Lakes Sail & Power Squadron is one of 450 squadrons that make up the
United States Power Squadrons®, the world’s largest, private, nonprofit boating organization.
Membership is drawn primarily from the areas of South Carolina and Georgia surrounding
Lakes Keowee, Hartwell and Jocassee. The primary objectives of the Squadron are enjoying
the boating experience with our members, performing community service and making
boating safer and more enjoyable by teaching classes in safety, basic seamanship, piloting,
cruise planning, sailing, weather, engine maintenance, GPS and celestial navigation.
America’s Boating Course is offered several times a year for adults and for compliance with state certification requirements
for young people who wish to operate a watercraft of more than 15 horsepower without an adult in the boat/personal
watercraft. Successfully completing a USPS boating safety course meets the educational requirements for boating operation
in all states and is a requirement for Squadron membership.
When:
Where:
Cost:
Next class five Thursdays: March 31, April 7, 14, 21 & 28 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Oconee Room, Oconee Memorial Hospital
$30 for manual & supplies (manual may be shared by family members
Pre-Registration required at least two weeks in advance.
Contact Marilyn Stroven (864) 985-0788 or [email protected]
We enjoy camaraderie on and off the water with other boaters, cruise our local lakes as well as the waters off South Carolina
and Georgia, the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers and other locations. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you to
make your boating experiences fun as well as safe!
For More Information: Squadron Membership (864) 888-4366;
Boating Course Info (864) 985-0788 or (864) 973-4889; or email <[email protected]> E
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Carolina’s Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow
Network (CoCoRaHS)
The South Carolina State Climatology Office (SCO) is located within the South Carolina
Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). The office represents the state in all climatological
and meteorological matters. Hazard mitigation for severe weather events, such as hurricanes,
droughts, tornadoes, floods, and ice/snow storms, is a critical area of responsibility for the office.
The office assists in data and forecast acquisition and interpretation before, during, and after
periods of severe weather. The SCO archives and distributes climatological and meteorological
data, reports, and research that date back to the early 1700s. The office administers the South
Carolina Drought Response Act which requires the office to execute a comprehensive drought
response program. The office also serves as the state coordinating agency for the Community
Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS), the largest provider of daily
precipitation observations in the United States.
CoCoRaHS in South Carolina
CoCoRaHS is a grassroots volunteer network of backyard weather observers of all ages
and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow) in
their local communities. Many thanks to those who continue to devote their time to CoCoRaHS
and to the 173 volunteers who have reached a milestone of five years volunteering for
CoCoRaHS. Without your dedication, the success of the program would not happen. Our
recruitment of volunteers during last year’s CoCoRaHS March Madness was outstanding! This
annual competition between all 50 states is an effort to see which state can recruit the most
volunteers in March. Last
Figure 1: Rainfall Reports from February 16, 2016
year, we placed 2nd in
the country with 57 new
volunteers! This was
made possible thanks to
the overwhelming
interest from the Friends
of Lake Keowee
(FOLKS).
Some counties'
participation continues to
expand. Greenville now
has almost 30 dedicated
observers. We would like
to see this enthusiasm
spread statewide.
However, many counties
have such sparse
coverage that major
storms can pass by, but
miss the few gauges in
the area (Figure 1). Rain
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events can produce more than three inches of rain in some areas; meanwhile, areas just a few
miles away receive little to no rainfall. If we want to accurately document rainfall variability, we
need dozens of gauges in each county. At the end of the article, we provide an example of how
additional observers were important in recording the rainfall during South Carolina’s historic
October 2015 flood.
If you know someone who is interested in weather and will be willing to make the
commitment, please encourage them to get involved in CoCoRaHS. Together we can continue to
make CoCoRaHS a valuable resource.
Becoming a CoCoRaHS Weather Observer
Everyone can help. Here are the basic requirements for being a CoCoRaHS weather
observer:
(1) Have access to the internet and the ability to enter your daily precipitation data.
(2) Have an official-type CoCoRaHS rain gauge.
(3) Have a site on your property with good exposure, as free of trees and obstructions as
possible, and where you can place the rain gauge about five feet off the ground.
(4) Take the online CoCoRaHS observer training course.
(5) Be willing to enter your precipitation data on a daily basis through the CoCoRaHS internet
website.
JOIN COCORAHS TODAY!
http://www.cocorahs.org/
CoCoRaHS and the October 2015 Historic Rain and Flood Event
In South Carolina, the historic heavy rainfall event of October 1-5, 2015 produced record
rainfall rates and totals. Without CoCoRaHS, we would not have been able to accurately
document the extreme range in rainfall values. This local variability is too great to be picked up
by Doppler radar. With the additional volunteers, there were more than four times the amount of
CoCoRaHS daily precipitation reports than those from the National Weather Service
Cooperative Observer Program (NWS COOP) stations during the flood. The dedication and
service by CoCoRaHS volunteers was essential. The highest October 24-hour (13.17”) rainfall
record was recorded by a CoCoRaHS volunteer in Mt. Pleasant (Mt. Pleasant 6.4 NE). Figure 2
shows a mapped comparison of upstate rainfall with and without CoCoRaHS. For more
information about the flood visit our interactive journal
(www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/flood2015).
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Figure 2. October 2015 Flood Event Rainfall Totals. A.) mapped rainfall using both
CoCoRaHS and COOP Stations. B.) mapped rainfall using just COOP Stations.
A.) With CoCoRaHS
B.) Without CoCoRaHS
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2016 CoCoRaHS Goals
CoCoRaHS observers are invaluable and the longer your record of observation, the more
useful your data becomes. Every observation, just like every drop of rain, counts, but don’t
forget to enter when it doesn’t rain. Entering zeros helps remove uncertainty about what
occurred at your location. It is just as important to know who did not receive any rain as who
did.
Three goals moving forward are to improve our retention rates, increase our active
observers by county, and reduce the number of missing reports.
To all current CoCoRaHS volunteers, thank you for your hard work and dedication.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or comments
(http://www.cocorahs.org/Content.aspx?page=coord_sc).
Statewide by the Numbers, Winter 2016
Number of Active Observers
413
5 Counties with Highest
Number of Active Observers
Aiken, Charleston, Greenville, Oconee, Spartanburg
Counties with Under 3
Active Observers
Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Chester, Chesterfield,
Dillon, Fairfield, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, McCormick, Union,
Williamsburg
March Madness is this month.
Help recruit new observers
and bring home the trophy!
South Carolina State Climatology Office Staff:
Hope Mizzell, PhD, State Climatologist
Wes Tyler, Assistant State Climatologist for Service
Mark Malsick, Severe Weather Liaison
Jennifer Simmons, Research Intern
Contact: Hope Mizzell (803)-734-9568 or Jennifer Simmons (803) 734-8311
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Lake Keowee Beaches Water Quality
by Bob Swank
Flowers are already blooming and the days are getting
longer and warmer. It’s time to start thinking about Lake Keowee
summer family boating and swimming outings. These will likely
involve the many designated public and private beaches and
swimming areas around the Lake shoreline, e.g., at the Duke
Access Areas, the County Parks, etc. Although FOLKS has
historically been very active in monitoring and reporting the
bacterial water quality of the major Lake feeder streams since
2006, it has only conducted spot measurements in the Lake arms,
cove waters, and at the Lake beaches. To begin the generation of
a beaches and swimming areas bacterial water quality data base,
FOLKS implemented its first, comprehensive sampling program
in those waters during the summer of 2015.
value is removed from the data set, the Gap Hill Landing Beach
is also in compliance. However, duck, geese and dog tracks were
frequently observed on many of the beaches during sampling,
not just at Gap Hill. Fortunately, no dead fish were observed
anywhere else in the water during sampling, but geese and ducks
were. Our data suggest that duck and geese presence elevates
E.coli contaminant levels at the Lake beaches. FOLKS hopes
to repeat, and perhaps expand, the Lake beaches and swimming
areas bacterial WQ survey again this summer (2016) to verify
these results. We also plan to conduct our Lake major feeder
streams WQ survey again this summer to identify if/why both
Cane and Little Eastatoe Creeks are still out of compliance as
they were in 2015. We would like to include Crowe and Mile
Creeks in our 2016 streams study if logistically feasible.
Our objective was to include private beaches where we are
granted access, all Oconee and Pickens County public beaches
not already being regularly sampled, and all the Duke Access
Area beaches and swimming areas. We sampled at 15 individual
beach/swimming area locations from 3 to 5 times each from lateAugust to mid-October 2015. This included 3 private beaches
in Keowee Key; 2 beaches at Falls Creek Access Area; 2 beaches
at South Cove Park; the swimming areas at Keowee Town and
Stamp Creek Access Areas and Crowe Creek Park; and the Mile
Creek Park and Gap Hill and Warpath Landing beaches.
Finally, FOLKS wants to publicly thank Greenville Water,
especially Mr. K. C. Price and Mr. Robert McCauley, for their
continuing substantial and top-quality analytical support to our
studies.
FOLKS2015LAKEKEOWEEBEACHESWATERQUALITYSURVEY
SAMPLEDATE
The measured contaminant was E.coli, the new
SCDHEC-designated “indicator bacterial species” upon which
the SCDHEC Bacterial Contamination Recreational Use Water
Quality Standard is now based. The new standard is: “the monthly
average of E.coli concentration measurements cannot exceed 126
MPN/100 ml water with no single measured value greater than
349 MPN/100 ml water.”
So, now the good news! Examination of the following
table of measured E.coli concentrations and calculated averages
indicates that all of the beaches and swimming areas sampled
during our 2015 summer campaign comply with the new
SCDHEC Bacterial Contaminant Recreational Use Standard,
except Gap Hill Landing Beach, which failed both the monthly
average and single maximum sample value criteria. However,
Note 2 explains these results at Gap Hill, and that if the 10/12/15
8/26/15
9/1/15
9/14/15
9/15/15
10/15/15
SITEID
EC
EC
EC
EC
EC
KKPS45-1
KKPS45-2
KKS.MARINA
KKSPIN.COVE
K.TOWNLNDG.AA
FALLCRK.AANO.
FALLCRK.AA.SO-1
FALLCRK.AA.SO-2
CROWECRK.PK.
MILECRK.AA.
GAPHILLLDG.
WARPATHLDG.
SO.COVEPK-MAIN
SO.COVEPK-CAMP
STAMPCRK.AA
6.3
3
5.2
6.3
….
….
….
….
….
2
83
21
2
1
3.1
2
3.1
24
4.1
5.2
<1
1
1
5.2
1
6.3
2
….
….
….
12
8.4
….
<1
….
….
….
….
….
….
….
….
13
3.1
1
2
4.1
3.1
1
2
1
<1
<1
<1
6.3
1
<1
….
….
….
5.2
4.1
14
5.1
8.5
4.1
1
3.1
2
67
980
8.6
1
3.1
4.1
NOTES:
1.
EC = the Most Probable Number of E.coli per 100 ml of sample
water using the Colilert analytical method; MEC = the Average of all
individual E.coli count values for each stream for the sample period;
GMEC = the Geometric Mean of all individual E.coli count values for
each stream for the sample period.
2.
Only the Gap Hill Landing beach appears to be in non-compliance
with the current SCDHEC E.coli Recreational Use Standard, exceeding
both the Monthly Average and Single Sample Criteria EC values in our
above samplings. We note that duck, geese and dog footprints were
always present on that beach, with geese, ducks and a large dead fish in
the water near the beach during the critical sampling on 10/12/15. We
also observed duck and geese footprints and occasional swimmers at the
Mile Creek, KK Spinnaker Cove, South Cove Park, and KK PS45 beaches
during our samplings. E
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by park superintendent Stephen Schutt, including the annual
Christmas Bird Count.
New Young Birders Club
The Keowee Clemson Bird Club has also invited our
group to participate in this year’s Upstate Big Day. Stay tuned
for official rules, but the general framework is as follows: teams
of at least three. Open midnight to midnight on Saturday, May
7. Bird anywhere in Oconee, Pickens, Anderson, Greenville and
Cherokee Counties. Count as many bird species as you can. Have
fun. A new category for young birders has been approved, and I
am excited that many from our group are likely to participate.
by James Wilkins – Education and Resource Coordinator,
South Carolina Botanical Garden and
Clemson Experimental Forest
A great way to get the next generation interested in the
outdoors, teach them creatively and impart a love of nature is to
teach them about birds! Birding strengthens observational skills,
improves attention spans and encourages social interaction in all
of us and particularly in youth. The Young Birders Club is one of
the newest (of the many) programs for youth offered at the South
Carolina Botanical Garden (SCBG). The Young Birders Club is a
response to the existing interest and enjoyment of birds and bird
watching.
Other bird related programs are in the works. Clemson
University faculty, staff and students as well as other area experts
and professionals will be assisting and joining us in future outings
and programs. These special guests and professionals will bring
real-life work experience to further enrich our activities. We
are interested in working with teachers to develop appropriate
curriculum and activities, field trip/birding/nature walks,
equipment/technology training and special projects such as
nest-box building, garden planting and classroom citizen science
projects.
On most Wednesdays we meet for an afterschool bird
outing from 3:30–5:30 p.m. The “drop-in” format allows young
birders to come when they can and stay as long as they are able.
We meet at a designated location in or near the SCBG, and spend
the afternoon in nature helping each other observe, identify and
learn about birds.
In the words of one of our young birders, “It is like
watching a different universe. It is a universe full of vivid colors,
twittering sing song and soaring through air.” The Young Birders
Club opens many students' eyes to the wonder of birds, which
hopefully is a lifelong lesson.
Other family members, friends and classmates are always
welcome to attend. No experience is necessary! The group is
encouraged to invite anyone who is curious about birds or who
they think might be interested in birds.
Studying birds is a great way for youth (and all of us!) to
learn how to observe, focus attention and develop the intellectual
curiosity needed for healthy physical, mental and emotional
development and wellbeing. The Young Birders Club is designed
to be fun while providing the opportunity for students to learn
in outdoor environments about biology, ecology and the complex
interrelationships between wildlife, habitats and humans. Our
love of birds naturally connects the dots between birds, place and
people.
For more information and to get on the email list for
future announcements and plans, please email James Wilkins:
<[email protected]> E
Birding has many lifelong benefits, when respect for our
natural resources leads to a strong sense of place, stewardship of
habitats and dedication to wildlife heritage. The South Carolina
Botanical Garden is a place “Where Nature and Culture Meet.”
Bird watching is one of the fastest growing outdoor activities in
our national culture. The SCBG is a destination for people near
and far to come observe birds. More than 200 species of bird
have been observed here. Clemson and the surrounding areas
are nationally recognized as birding “hotspots.” Much gratitude
goes to Terry Allan of For the Birds in Salem, SC. Terry has been
an early and steady supporter of our efforts. The Bird Feeding
and Observation Station at the SCBG was made possible thanks
to generous discounts from For the Birds. Terry even donated
individual bags of bird feed for each young birder and developed
a Yard Checklist Challenge as a way to earn free refills.
Many thanks to the continued support and guidance we
get from the local birding community. We’d particularly like to
thank the Keowee Clemson Bird Club for the encouragement,
enthusiasm and advice when the formation of the Young Birders
Club was just an idea. Our group was invited to join the KCBC
them for two wonderful outings at South Cove County Park led
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Fee: $10/family (up to 5)Time: 7:30 – 9 p.m
Friday, Mar. 25, Story Start To Stroller Strut: A Hunt for birds
and eggs Begin with a story and then set off on a Garden
walk, exploring the day’s theme. This free program is ideal
for preschoolers, but all ages are encouraged to join in the
fun! Location: Garden Amphitheater Fee: FREE, donations
welcomed Time: 10 - 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, Mar. 26, Hunt Cabin: Germany in the Upstate In
this Hunt Cabin open house we celebrate the German heritage
of the upstate. Join us to dye eggs with natural materials, take
an egg home and leave one to decorate our Ostereierbaum
(Easter Tree). Learn more about the spring- time traditions that
may have accompanied the German settlers of Walhalla when
they arrived in the upstate in the 1840s. Join us for an egg hunt
in the Garden at 2pm and enjoy an edible German treat by the
fire. Location: Hunt Cabin Fee: free Time: noon – 4 p.m.
Because of space limitations in this issue, we are showing only
March programs. For an extensive list of programs through April,
please contact SCBG 864-656-3405 or go online < http://www.
clemson.edu/public/scbg/Calendar.html>.
Saturdays in Mar., Hanover House: Women’s History Month
A Daughter Inherits: Paul De St Julien’s willed Hanover
Plantation to his unwed daughter Mary De St Julien Ravenel.
Colonial ladies clothing will be on display during March. Tea
customs and accoutrements will be on display for tea. Location:
Hanover House. Time: 10 a.m. - noon and 1 - 4:30 p.m.
Fee: Free, donation suggested.
Wednesday, Mar. 30, Homeschool Days Plant Parts and
Photosynthesis Join us from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. on the
last Wednesday of each month, for an exciting, handson learning experience! Themes change each month, and
activities are designed for children ages five and up. However,
all ages are welcome to attend. Fee: $5 per participant
Time: 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Wednesdays, Mar. - May, Garden Sprouts Preschool children
and caregivers discover the wonders of the Botanical Garden
with Educator Sue Watts. Garden Sprouts uses imaginative
and fun ways to learn about plants and animals using music,
stories, arts and crafts, and nature walks to explore each week’s
seasonal theme. Location: Hanson Nature Learning Center
Fee: $5/family Time: 10 - 11 a.m.
Wednesday, Mar. 30, Meet the author: Shawn Jadrnicek Based
on his experience at the student organic farm, Shawn Jadrnicek
has developed an integrated permaculture system potentially
of huge interest to home gardeners. By engaging the forces
of nature and sound science he grows produce with limited
maintenance. Location: Hayden Conference Center Time:
4:30 - 6 p.m. Fee: Free E
Wednesday, Mar. 23, Holi: The Colors of Spring Holi is the
spring festival of colors! The colored powder of this holiday
inspired today’s popular color run races. Learn about the plants
used to make Holi colors, enjoy a spring walk and create Indian
rangoli art. Finish with a “color run”! Dyes are washable, but
please wear clothing that can get very colorful! Register at least
3 days in advance. Location: Hanson Nature Learning Center.
Fee: $7 per participant Time: 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Mar. 23, Full Moon Hike Winter and early spring
are wonderful times to experience dusk in the Garden. Join
naturalist James Wilkins to experience the sights, sounds and
sensations of a full moon night. Please wear shoes and clothing
appropriate for walking in the woods. Flashlights are not
needed. Location: Discovery Center/Museum Parking Lot
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Why Go Fishing?
by Bill Walker, Tournament Director of the Keowee Anglers
February 25, 2016.
Why do you go fishing? Are you hoping to feel the tugging
of a monster fish on your line battling to get free as you pull it in?
Do you like the taste of fish and want to do the hunter thing of
putting food on the table? Or is there really some other reason?
I certainly enjoy pulling in big fish, and I love putting tasty,
healthy, fresh fish on the table, but this article is about something
else. If you’re looking for monster fish or trying to put food on
the table, you won’t find any tips for doing that in this article. If
you want that kind of information, go to www.keoweefolks.org,
click on Lakeside in the top bar, then click on the FISHING
picture. Then, for seasonal Lake Keowee fishing information,
you can check out various fishing articles there including “Feb
2014 Early Spring Bass” and “Feb 2015 Ready for Spring Bass”.
I really go fishing for other reasons. It all started when
I was a little boy fishing with my father. He always used to say,
“He who goes fishing and complains that he didn’t catch any
fish forgot why he went.” I still treasure my fond memories of
spending special alone-time with my dad out on the water, or
spending time with him and my brother. Our mother joined us
sometimes, too! Those special bonding experiences brought us
close together as a family, and that closeness flowed over into all
aspects of our lives together.
When I grew up and had my own children, I took them
fishing. Again fishing helped to build the family bonds that have
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lasted a lifetime. I don’t have any grandchildren yet, but when
and if that happens, I hope I’m still able to take them fishing!
If fact, any time I go fishing with anyone, we invariably
spend time talking about ourselves while we share the experiences
of fishing, boating, and all the Nature around us. And through it
all we become closer friends.
Another reason I go fishing is the calming meditation of
it. I see it like archery or target shooting. All the thoughts of the
real world fall away as I turn off my cell phone and fill my mind
with the process of fishing. I find tremendous freedom from the
thoughts and demands of the busy world to be able to focus my
mind on just one thing, casting the lure to exactly where I want
it to go. I derive great satisfaction out of being able to look at a
specific spot on the water, next to a clump of grass where a bass
might be lurking, next to a big rock at the shoreline, or next to
the barely-visible branches of a fallen tree in the water, and then
casting my lure to that exact spot. I take time to appreciate my
cast as I pull in my lure and cast it again to next target spot,
adjusting my movement to make that next cast just a little bit
better. And when I repeat this with the peaceful dawn colors
lighting the sky in the east ... my state of mind doesn’t get any
better than that ... unless perhaps if I get the bonus of a fish
striking my lure.
I wasn’t always that good at casting, but having done a
lot of it over the years I can now pretty much look at a place and
drop the lure there! But I’m not perfect yet, and I keep getting
better with every outing! You could, too, with practice, if you
can’t already. And practicing is part of the meditation.
I’ve recently discovered a similar meditation in trolling.
I can put my boat at the lowest possible speed for the main
engine, then toss out a diving lure on each side of the boat with
its respective rod and reel in a rod holder on the gunnel on the
each side. Then I can focus on the depth contours going by on
the GPS depth finder, trying to keep the lures reasonably close
to shore, but still in deep enough water so my lures won’t hit
the bottom. Again, when I’m focusing on that, all thoughts of
my busy life drop away, and I’m free to relax with the sights and
sounds around me.
Don’t get me wrong, catching a fish does make the
experience even better, but I see it as a bonus, not as the main
reason I go fishing.
One day I met socially a man named Ernie, who became
my friend. Eventually we began talking about our hobbies, and
he mentioned that he really liked fishing.
“Oh!” I replied with extra energy at the thought of a
fishing conversation. “But you’re not a member of the Keowee
Anglers. Have you thought about joining?”
“No,” Ernie answered dismissively, “You wouldn’t want
me.”
“How can you say that?” I insisted. “The Keowee
Anglers has members at all levels of skill, and we really focus on
camaraderie and sharing fishing skills and information.”
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“Well, let me tell you how I fish.”
“Okay.”
“I load into the boat my tackle box and fishing rod and a
six-pack of beer in a cooler. Then I head out into a quiet spot on
the lake where I can be alone most of the time. When I get there,
I toss out my lure or bait, put the rod in the rod holder, pull out
a beer and sit back in my seat and relax and enjoy watching the
scenery and feeling the boat bobbing lightly up and down in the
water. Usually no matter where I go on Lake Keowee, eventually
a fishing boat comes by. When they do, I ask them if they’re
having any luck. And if they say yes, I ask them what the fish
are biting on. When they tell me what they’re catching fish on,
if that’s what I have on, I take it off and put on something else.
That way I don’t have to be bothered taking the hook out of a
fish.”
“You’re right,” I agreed, “Maybe the Keowee Anglers isn’t
for you. You just keep having fun doing what your doing.”
Now, admittedly, Ernie was an extreme case. But fishing
has been a symbolic method of shedding the cares of civilization
ever since Huck Finn stuck his cane pole in the mud of the river
bank and lay back in the grass with his hands behind his head,
one barefooted leg propped over the other knee, straw hat pulled
down over his eyes, and a corn-cob pipe in his mouth. Huck
surely didn’t want Aunt Sally to “sivilize” him.
So if the world is too much with you, and you’re looking
for a nice quiet time away from it all, or maybe you’d like to build
a bond with a friend or child, think about going fishin’. As a
bonus, you might even catch somethin’. E
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Part Two: Bird Watching
Birders Eye View: Sharing the
Upstate with Birds
Later on the walk back, bird calls reveal a Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher and a Red-shouldered Hawk together in the top of a
dead snag. They appear to be involved in an animated “discussion.”
Most of the animation is provided by the gnatcatcher. Some
birders would note that they already have seen both species and
then either add, or not add, them to their count list and then go
on their way. But the inquiring birder wants to know: “What is
going on here?” There are a few possibilities.
by Scott Davis
Part One: Birding
A beautiful spring day on a woodsy trail in the Upstate. A
tiny, active bird appears in the branches calling “tzyeee tzyeee,”
and flashing a white-bordered tail. Its breast is whitish, its back
and head gray. It has a distinctive white-eye ring, and keeps
flicking its tail side to side while hopping from branch to branch.
The birds could have simultaneously flown to the same tree:
an occurrence which would produce rather long betting odds.
The gnatcatcher may have been on the branch when the hawk
flew up: an intimidating experience for the gnatcatcher. Finally,
the hawk may have landed in the snag and then the gnatcatcher
flew up to begin the “discussion.” Unlikely as this may seem,
this is probably what indeed did happen. Why? It is spring. The
gnatcatcher has recently returned from its winter range. Once
back in the Upstate it quickly establishes a territory and tries to
attract a mate. If successful in finding a mate, the pair then builds
a nest, the female lays eggs, and the parents care for their young
until they are capable of fending for themselves. During the
nesting period the adults defend their territory against intruders
who might be a threat to the nest. The hawk definitely poses a
threat, but the gnatcatcher is much quicker and more agile than
the much larger (6 vs. 630 grams) intruder, it is in little danger
from the hawk, but by distracting the hawk it may prevent the
hawk from locating the nest, and making a quick meal of the
eggs or young birds. Having observed this interaction, it can be
assumed that there may be a nest in the area. Close observation
and a little patience disclose the nest’s presence.
It is a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: a common but often
overlooked summer resident of the Upstate. It can be found
almost anywhere but prefers woodlands with water nearby. Make
a note that it looks and acts like a miniature Mockingbird.
Continuing down the trail, Towhees are heard and
glimpsed as they fly low across the trail, and a distant flute-like
song is barely perceptible: a Wood Thrush. It is a good day and
a fine woods when Wood Thrushes are heard singing. Then the
trail comes to a field. On a post in the field perches a crow-sized
raptor, surveying the field for prey. It has a short tail with narrow
white bands. Its back is checkered, its front finely barred in
reddish brown. It is one of the three Upstate Buteos: an adult
Red-shouldered Hawk. It is a hawk of the woodlands feeding not
only on small rodents, but also on snakes, frogs, crawfish, worms,
snails, insects and occasionally on birds.
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864-882-3655
DDT and its metabolites, which made eggshells thin and greatly
reduced hatching success. Peregrine Falcons virtually disappeared
from the Eastern US by the 1970s. Since the ban on DDT use
in the United States, raptor populations have been recovering.
Today Peregrines successfully nest at Jumping Off Rock and at
Table Rock. Caesars Head is a great place to observe hunting
Peregrines. Bald Eagles, also once endangered, now nest in the
Upstate. Last year a nest was found at Lake Jocassee. There has
been nest at Lake Hartwell for at least two years.
This Bald Eagle nest at Lake Hartwell successfully fledged
three eagles in 2015 before it fell out of the tree. Both eagles and
Great-horned Owls nest early; chicks often hatch in February,
A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher on its well camouflaged nest.
Birding can and should be more than just identifying and
counting birds. Observing and learning behavior can provide a
glimpse into the lives of birds, making birding a truly rewarding
passion.
Part Three: Sharing Upstate with Raptors
Finding the gnatcatcher nest is a reminder that spring
and summer are the time for bird reproduction, and not just for
gnatcatchers but for Red-shouldered Hawks and other Upstate
raptors as well.
Not so long ago raptors were regularly shot as threats
to livestock. Being top predators they were also susceptible to
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864-882-3655
long before migrants return to the Upstate. Eagles use the same
nest for many years, and add onto it annually. Nests can be nine
feet in diameter and weigh over two tons.
Ospreys often use manmade structures as platforms for
nests. Osprey nesting in the Upstate has increased markedly in
the last several years. A cell tower beside Hwy 123, before the
This Red-shouldered Hawk nest was under construction
in the SC Botanical Gardens this March. Red-shouldereds do not
often reuse nests; they commonly build near their previous nest.
bridge into Clemson, has been used as a nesting site for at least 5
years despite its being torn down almost every winter. Last year
there were two nests on the tower. Ospreys and Board Winged
Hawks are the Upstate’s migrating raptors. They are absent
during winter. Most Ospreys spend the winter in Venezuela and
begin to return to the Upstate in early March. Young Osprey stay
away until their third year when they return to their birth area
and attempt to establish a territory.
Red-tailed Hawks may use the same nest for multiple
years. This nest is on Lake Hartwell near the eagle nest.
This Great Horned Owl nest is at Dobbins Farm in
Townville. The photo was taken March 5, 2016. Great Horned
Owls do not build nests, instead they use nests of other birds.
This nest was probably built by Red-tailed Hawks.
Screech Owls are cavity nesters and will readily nest in
man-made houses. This house was made by my father and was
home to owl families for multiple years.
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864-882-3655
FOLKS Membership & Donations Update
Welcome and thank you to the new members and those
who have renewed at levels above Family between January 1
and March 10.
Donations
Ben & Reggie Turetzky in memory of Theresa Brink
Ben & Reggie Turetzky in memory of Russ Duryea
Ben & Reggie Turetzky in memory of Bob Heinz
New Family Members
Ray Eisenbies (P), Margaret & Scott Hoelscher, Pat & Ken
Pankopp, Vanda & Robert Ridge, Tamara Rumery
New & Renewing Patron Members
Jane & Peter Brazy, Michael & Brenda Broe, Bess Ciupak,
Barbara & Edward Donnelly, Jacqui & Carl Dunn, Linda &
Richard Hamilton, EH and Pat Harris, Cynthia Brossy Hart,
Anita & Walter Hudgins, John Foster III, Darlene & James
Keelor, Daniel Keller (P), Ron Land, Carolyn & John Little,
Stacy & John McBride, Sandra & Douglas McKinney, Jeffrey
McWey, Laurie & David Metzger (P), Linda & Pat Morgan,
June & Carl Morris, G. Cook M, Soleig & Guenter Weisse
New & Renewing Sponsor Members
Joyce & Roger Soderdahl
This Barred Owl and its nest mate were seen last year in
Clemson at Nettles Park. Barred Owls are usually cavity nesters
and will use nest boxes. Occasionally they will use abandoned
crow or hawk nests.
Other raptors that nest in the Upstate: Sharp-shinned
Hawk, Coopers Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Kestral and Barn
Owl. Enjoy the outdoors in the Upstate and remember to look
up, “there may be a nest above you.”
Photo Credits: First Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Anthony Martin. Screech
and Great Horned Owls, Scott Davis. All others, Linda Montgomery.
Members of the Keowee Clemson Bird Club.
Keowee Clemson Bird Club Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/KeoweeClemsonBirdClub
New & Renewing Benefactor Member
Rick Sommer
E
When you renew, please consider using PayPal on our website
stepping up to the next membership level. Your donations support
our work. Also, please check with your HR Department for
matching contribution opportunities.
Relicensing Status Report
We expect the new license to be granted around the
middle of this year. There will probably still be some details
to iron out depending on what appears in the final FERC EA
(Environmental Assessment).
1BUSPOt4QPOTPSt#FOFGBDUPS
P = PayPal
We are now working on the Source Water Protection
Program (SWPP) to which Duke Energy has committed
$1MM. We need to establish a new 501c3, probably named
the “Oconee Pickens County Source Water Protection
Group.” We also need to draft a Charter, solicit stakeholders
as members, and start the ball rolling.
M = Matching
PayPal Makes It Easy
FOLKS is moving to electronic delivery of membership
renewal notices, and we ask that you consider using PayPal for
renewing your FOLKS membership.
Many of you have already provided FOLKS with your
email addresses, and although frequently asked, we never give
out your email address.
If you want to have your FOLKS membership renewal notice
emailed to you, just send an email to FOLKS <keoweefolks@
charter.net>, and we will enter your email address into that
system. You will receive your annual renewal notice via email
and you can use PayPal for paying for your annual membership.
When we have everything worked out, we will announce
the change to members. E
Jack presented an overview of the HEP (Habitat
Enhancement Program) and its work is well underway with
the second grant proposal round coming up shortly. It is really
exciting to be closer to the implementation of programs that
will significantly benefit Lake Keowee, Lake Jocassee and
the Upstate overall. Considering population projections, by
the end of this license there will be upwards of one million
people sourcing a major portion of their drinking water from
Lake Keowee. FOLKS is proud to be the stakeholder who
championed the important Source Water Protection Program
The relicensing process has been long and hard, but now
that we are getting closer to the implementation of programs,
we are really excited. We will need some new volunteers, so
please send an email with your experience and interests to
FOLKS at <[email protected]> . E
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864-882-3655
Plant something
for us this year!
plant sale!
Native plants support native
pollinators, significantly increase
the number and species of breeding
birds, and are adapted to local soil
types and climate.
Cash, check, or credit card accepted.
Saturday,
April 16
9:00am-1:00pm
Where?
Conestee Park,
840 Mauldin Road, Greenville —
a three-minute drive south of I-85,
near the baseball stadium
(site of the old Braves stadium).
For more information,
visit www.scnps.org
The SC Native Plant Society
is a non-profit organization
committed to the
preservation and protection
of native plant communities
in South Carolina.
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864-882-3655
FOLKS Corporate & Business Members
We appreciate the support of our Corporate and Business Members and know that they will appreciate your patronage.
When you do so, please thank them for supporting FOLKS.
Corporate Members
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Crescent Resources
Michelin North America
City of Seneca
Duke Energy World of Energy
Oconee Federal Savings & Loan
Clemson Downs
Greenville Water
The Reserve at Lake Keowee
Cliffs Land Partners, LLC
ITRON
Waterford Pointe Homeowners Assn.
Keowee Key Property Owners Assn.
Business Members
1st Choice Realty
Action Septic Tank Services
Airey Law Firm, Ltd. Co.
Archadeck
Benjamin F. Edwards & Co.
Blinds And Us
Blue Ridge Bank
The Boat Dock Company
Bob Hill Realty
Carolina Boat Club
Carolina Real Estate
Custom Dock Systems, Inc.
Dolly’s Roofing
Don Brink CPA
Dorn’s Landscape Service
Elegant & Distinctive Interiors
English Home Builders
Financial Dynamics
For The Birds, Inc.
Front Gate Landscapes
Golden Corners Lakes Sail & Power
Squadron
Goldie & Associates
Green Thumb Landscape & Irrigation
The Happy Berry
www.keoweefolks.org
Head-Lee Nursery
Hidden Cove
ING Financial Partners
The Investment Center
J C Sports
Jocassee Lake Tours
Jocassee Outdoor Center
Jocassee Real Estate
Julian Davis Allstate Agency, Inc.
Justin Winter Sotheby’s International
Realty
Keith Eustis, Keowee Area Homes,
Realtor with Keller Williams, Seneca
Keowee Lake Team - Carol & Doug
Patterson
Keowee Towne Market
Kroeger Marine and Construction
The Lake Company-Lake Keowee
Lake Homes Realty, LLC - Wayne Hobin
Lake Keowee Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Lake Keowee Ford
Lake Keowee Real Estate
Lake Keowee Marina
Lighthouse Restaurant & Event Center
Melanie Fink - 1st Choice Realty
My Garage Auto Boutique by Essex
31
Northwestern Supply
The Paint Place
Patti & Gary - Keller Williams
Paul E. Galbreath, Septic Tank
Inspections & Mapping
Professional Gardening Services
Perry & Sally Rogers Real Estate, Inc.
Rainmaker, Inc.
Scarlett & Tom ReMax Foothills at
Lake Keowee
Schlotzsky’s
Sexton Griffith Custom Builders, LLC
South Carolina Botanical Gardens
South State Bank
Spencer & Stutsman, CPAs
State Farm - John Stenzinger, Agent
S-Tek Building Solutions
Strickland Marine Center
Terminix
The Tiki Hut
Tree South
Trees Unlimited/Shorescapes
Upstate Insurance Agency
Wine Emporium
864-882-3655
FRIENDS OF LAKE KEOWEE SOCIETY, INC.
4065 Keowee School Road
Seneca SC 29672
Address Service Requested
Duke Power Aerial photo of Lake Keowee in May 1970.
Lake Keowee mostly filled. Oconee Nuclear Station is
under construction.
NONPROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
SENECA, SC
PERMIT NO. 70