Keowee - Winter 2023

WINTER 2023

FOLKS BOARD CORNER

By Dale Wilde, President, FOLKS From the entire FOLKS Board, we wish you all a very healthy and happy Holiday season!

What a phenomenal 2023 FOLKS had! We not only celebrated our 30th anniversary as a nonprofit, but we also had a record number of volunteers and volunteer hours contributed in 2023.

To briefly recap, FOLKS completed three of its Keowee-Toxaway Habitat Enhancement Program Grants that totaled over $107,000. The three projects’ efforts took over six months to complete and more than 2,000 volunteer hours. We accomplished two Lake Sweeps and a summer of Island Keepers litter cleanups, which collected over 600 bags of litter and totaled more than 1,000 volunteer hours. We offered several community education programs and attended numerous community events— including Sip-n-Stroll and National Hunting and Fishing Day. Our board Special thanks to Grace Scalzo for the amazing cover photo of the Wood Duck— South Carolina’s state duck.

also participated in numerous stakeholder meetings. In total, this amounted to well over 4,200 volunteer hours! Thank you all who made this such a remarkable year!

September 26 was truly an evening of celebration. It was a celebration of not only 30 years as a nonprofit, focused solely on preserving Lake Keowee, but also our strength, our resilience, and our impact in the region. All of which is only made possible by our steadfast volunteers and member support.

More than 150 members attended the event that was sponsored in part

by The Brown Family Trust, Duke Energy, and the Keller Williams– The Cason Group. It was a time to thank the members, advertisers, corporate and business donors, and those who have donated substantially over the years.

FOUR LONG-TIME ADVERTISERS RECOGNIZED • Strickland Marine & RV, one of our first advertisers in 1995, is still with us!

• Melanie Fink & Associates are also generous donors to our scholarship program. (continued on page 4)

KEOWEE PUBLISHED BY FRIENDS OF LAKE KEOWEE SOCIETY 864-719-0599 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dale Wilde, President Howard Gutenstein, Vice President Sam Savoca, Secretary David Metzger, Treasurer Dr. John Hains Stephen Schutt COMMITTEE CHAIRS Scott Calderwood, Lake Sweep Paul Gibbons, Adopt-an-Island Ann Savoca, Adopt-a-Lake Melissa Higgs, Communications Endowment/Finance

David Metzger

Events/Advertising

TBD

HEP Committee Rep.

Dale Wilde

HEP Committee Alt.

Howard Gutenstein

Savannah River Basin Commission

Dr. John Hains

LKSWPT Liaison

Suzy McKinney Dale Wilde

Web Administrator

Sam Savoca

Magazine Editor

Susan Pleadwell

Layout & Design

Kristy Adair, Community Journals

Advisors

Tony Gody Ann Savoca Greg Prisk Johnson Au-Yeung Troy Knauss Suzy McKinney Rick Sommer

folks@keoweefolks.org facebook.com/KeoweeFOLKS

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KEOWEEFOLKS.ORG

© 2023 KEOWEE is published six times a year and mailed to 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.

WINTER 2023

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(continued from page 2)

LEADERSHIP AWARDS FOLKS Board Corner

The 30th Anniversary Celebration reminded everyone how far we’ve come,

During the event, we recognized six • Justin Winter | Sotheby’s

By Dale Wilde, President, FOLKS but also how necessary it is to be vigilant, exceptional members of our community International Realty are especially FOLKS volunteers already in with impact sledgehammers.

In the considering the growth in the scholarship donorsare and have off to a very whobusy have2023. madeIna significant in January, we obtained the permit to start workour onwatershed. the shoreline spring we will finish theKeowee project area. The Board has worked to generously donated matching

stabilization project on the island near Crowe Creek Landing by planting 250 provide plants—sound leadership and continues funds for our #givingTuesday Katie Callahan SC Boat ramp, which is the nesting site for over 15 •nesting pairs of for efforts mostlywith grasses—to help secure to be a strong voice in the watershed • Head-Lee Nursery alwaysof shoreline abutsAdopt-a-Stream program.

Great Blue Herons.

Thisissection a very busy (SC theAAS) soil around the shoreline. as a stakeholder. The organization is ready to advise us to onaour and narrow access point popular public boat•ramp.

OverHains, the FOLKS Board This approach to shoreDr. John financially stable despite the impacts enhancement projects.by boat traffic, and the edges yearshabitat the shoreline has been battered line stabilization Member, Retired Clemson Universityhas been used during were eroding to the point where tall pines were being lost. in areas around the lake, andCOVID. We have made strategic professor, and regular author of The rains in TO the area in January and early February kept though not a permanent solu- to limit expenses and focus on THANK YOU decisions limnology articles for our magazine. postponing the work to stabition, with upkeep, itefforts shouldthat will enhance our members’ RAFFLE DONORS • Scott Calderwood, Lake Sweep lize The the shoreline.

Fortunately, preserve this island’s shoreline local business owners who have experience. We are growing and gaining Commodore a short break in the rainy for many years. supported FOLKS through raffle donations new members to supplement our weather on February 8 gave The next habitat enhance• Paul Gibbons, Island Keepers Chair are: Metal Lake Signs from our 12 volunteers time Ken to Van Natta, ment project is slated faithful. to begin We hope to see more people wind chimes from Head-Lee Nursery, • Courtney Sheriff, James Brown step up to chair varioustocommittees and transport and install 36 coir in early May. We will be looking volunteers help assemble Elementary School 60 STEM teacher two along gift baskets from Wine Emporium, support ouratefforts. logs the shoreline. large Mossback fish habitats Mile Creek County Park. of coconut husks and a Bird We will also be helping South Carolina of Natural four Made gift cards from Vangeli’s, In 2024, weDepartment plan to expand our • MaryJo Jeffries, Former FOLKS wrapped in a tube of coconut, Resources install 8,000 grass plantings along shallow coves.

Identiflyer from For the Birds. Our raffle education and outreach but we need Administrative Assistant the coir logs are ten feet long Though it sounds like a lot of plants, it goes very quickly. raised over $1,200 that will be used for leaders to help move us forward. Please • Senator Thomas Alexander by one foot wide and weigh In June, FOLKS volunteers will begin installing the 114 our scholarship program, outreach efforts, email or call us if you are interested in presented FOLKS with a framed about seven pounds each. The Mossback Dock Pro Kits.

For those that signed up for one of and speaker series for 2024.

Thank you to helping protect lake resources.

The South Carolina Senate recognition logs were secured to the shorethese free kits, the permitting is beingour handled by the Duke bothusing our business donors and rewards of volunteering are approved immense. of FOLKS’s efforts over the past 30 Services line four-foot lengths ofpeople who Energy’s Shoreline group.

Notices to those years.

5/8 rebar, which was pounded bought raffle tickets.

We know you won’t regret it!

Continued to page 51

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www.keoweefolks.org KEOWEEFOLKS.ORG

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864-719-0599

WINTER 2023

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

WELCOME OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER At our last board meeting, we welcomed Stephen Schutt to our Board of Directors. Stephen has been a long-time advisor and close friend to several past leaders of FOLKS and to me. Ben Turetsky and Jack Lewis relied heavily on Stephen for his firsthand knowledge of the lake during the last reauthorization of the Lake Keowee. Stephen’s Master’s Degree, based on the islands on Lake Keowee, provided valuable SCHUTT insight into the preservation and conservation needs of the islands and the species that inhabit them. I still refer to Stephen’s Master’s dissertation for historical information and facts.

Stephen is currently a project manager in the Oconee County Park System. For 10 years he was the Superintendent of South Cove County Park. His Bachelor’s of Science and Master’s Degrees from Clemson University concentrated on Forest and Wildlife Management, and his research focused on ornithology and the biodiversity of lake islands.

He was the founder of the Keowee Clemson Bird Club, and offers nature and bird walks to local communities and HOAs. He leads the Annual Audubon Christmas Bird count for the 15-mile-radius Keowee circle and participates in the 15-mile-radius Clemson circle.

Stephen also led the pilot program for the South Carolina 4-H Junior Naturalist program. In his free time, he is an avid outdoorsman and Master Naturalist. He enjoys hunting, fishing, birdwatching, gardening, and presenting talks on conservation of our natural resources.

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COMING SOON: FOLKS SPEAKER SERIES As part of FOLKS’s 2024 commitment to offer community educational programs, Stephen Schutt will be rolling out a Speaker Series to be held at Duke Energy’s World of Energy. These events, F OL K S sponsored by Justin Winter | Sotheby’s International Realty, will be offered for free to our members.

At the first event in the series, Dr. John Hains will speak about the “Denizens of the Lake: Invaders, Aliens, Exotics (and a Few Fun Notes about Monsters)” on February 21, 2024, at 10 a.m. at the World of Energy. We will be advertising this in early February with a sign-up link on our website. Snacks and beverages will be provided.

The 2024 Speaker Series calendar is as follows:

SPEAKER SERIES

• April: “Springtime Birding.” Just in time for spring migration. The talk will be geared to both new and experienced birders.

• June: “A History of Lake Keowee.” This topic will be interesting for both people new to the area and those who were here before the lake was created.

• August: To be determined.

• September: “Black Bears.” A presentation and photo exhibit on the bears we see in our area.

Additional topics being considered are boating safety, buoys, and shoreline management best practices.

Stephen is also available for guided nature walks in area preserves or neighborhoods. To inquire, email FOLKS@ keoweefolks.org.

KEOWEE Advocate

PARK-LED CONSERVATION INITIATIVES

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COMMUNITY PROFILE: THE RESERVE AT LAKE KEOWEE 10 HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND INVASIVE AQUATIC PLANTS WINTER 2023

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ADVOCATE

COUNTY ANTI-LITTER CONTACTS Contact your litter control officer to increase areas for patrolling and to report any litter problems in your area.

LITTER CONTROL OFFICERS Oconee County Sheriff’s Department 300 South Church Street Walhalla, SC 29691 (864) 638-4111

KEEP SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUTIFUL LOCAL AFFILIATE Susan G. Mason Executive Director, Keep Oconee Beautiful Association P.O. Box 1491, Seneca, SC 29679 (864) 614-1281 koba.sc.director@gmail.com

COUNTY RECYCLING COORDINATOR

AQDUPSTATE.COM

Trinket Hurlburt Oconee County Solid Waste 15028 Wells Highway Seneca, SC 29678 (864) 888-1440 solidwaste@oconeesc.com

Saluting Heroes!

Clemson Downs recognizes and honors those who have served our country so bravely. Pictured is retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Dr. Louis Williams, Veteran of Korea, Clemson College ’59 and ’61, with his wife Elise being honored as the Hero-of-the-Game at Clemson University.

Clemson Downs proudly cares for all of our residents. Our full continuum of care offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing care to meet your needs.

For more information on Clemson Downs, please contact us.

(864) 654-1155 • @RetireWellClemson • ClemsonDowns.com

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ADVOCATE

PRESERVING PARADISE

A Look at Park-led Conservation Initiatives

BY LIZ R. BOLES JOHNSON, Superintendent, High Falls County Park, Seneca, SC

At the core of the Oconee County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism (PRT) mission lies a dedication to conservation, where our parks play a pivotal role in supporting a myriad of activities that not only protect our natural resources but also enrich our local ecosystem. In this article, we’ll explore the various conservation efforts undertaken at the three county parks to preserve the natural beauty of Oconee County.

SOUTH COVE COUNTY PARK South Cove County Park, located on Lake Keowee, led the way for the other parks through diligent conservation efforts. In addition to creating a sustainable and thriving habitat for local wildlife, these projects also enhance the visitor experience for the human population that visits.

South Cove’s efforts toward shoreline restoration, which involves measures to reduce erosion and improve water quality by planting native vegetation and stabilizing the shoreline began in 2015. This initiative helps maintain the health of the lake ecosystem and protects the environment above the waterline as well. In the years since restoration began, a robust ecosystem of riparian plants has been established, creating valuable habitat for wildlife. In total, South Cove has protected 1345 feet of shoreline so far. These naturalized areas provide valuable shelter, food, and nesting materials for wildlife.

HIGH FALLS COUNTY PARK Also located on Lake Keowee, High Falls County Park has a special focus on pollinator gardens and native plant landscaping. Thanks to a 2022 Keowee-Toxaway Duke Energy Habitat Enhancement Program Grant, the park added a monarch waystation pollinator garden, serving as a critical resting point for migrating monarch butterflies.

Numerous bluebird houses are located within the park, which are cleaned and monitored annually by FOLKS volunteers. Rewilding woodlands native trees and shrubs throughout the park has assisted in creating a more sustainable, resilient landscape that can support both day use activities as well as provide habitat to wildlife. In the last year alone, 37 trees have been planted by rangers to restore forest understory and replace trees that had been removed due to damage over the years. The park’s commitment to native plant landscaping further ensures that local wildlife thrives by providing the critical building blocks of their ecosystem.

This year, High Falls County Park was awarded a grant for shoreline habitat enhancement addressing 500 feet of shoreline in critical need of stabilization. This initiative will help protect and restore the local aquatic environment while providing essential habitat for wildlife, so that the success of South Cove’s stabilization projected may be replicated. This habitat enhancement project will be a prime example of bioengineered shoreline stabilization and will be a valuable learning tool for shoreline stewards around Lake Keowee.

CHAU RAM COUNTY PARK

In addition to shoreline restoration, South Cove features a pollinator garden that attracts and supports native pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Native plants are the cornerstone of wildlife habitat enhancement, and the beautiful wildflower meadow can be viewed from the back porch of South Cove’s County Park office. This garden serves as nursery to many monarch butterfly caterpillars each spring and as a location for monarch tagging in the fall. Thanks to a special camera, visitors can view the activity inside a bluebird house in the garden on a screen in the office and watch the fledging process from nest building to baby bluebirds’ first flights.

Chau Ram County Park is located in Westminster, South Carolina, on the banks of the beautiful Chauga River. At the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Chau Ram makes mountain ecology explorable by even novice hikers. The park has frequent sightings of river otters, particularly in winter, where the charismatic mammals nurture their young in the rapids of the Chauga River. Chau Ram is a prime site for experiencing spring ephemeral wildflowers like trillium, trout lily, and bloodroot. The landscape around the park office was designed to showcase the native plants found in the area and mimic the ecology of an acidic cove forest. (continued on page 11) WINTER 2023

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ADVOCATE

COMMUNITY PROFILE

The Reserve at Lake Keowee (Sunset, SC)

BY ELAINE ROBERTS AND DALE WILDE, Member Club Presidents, Reserve at Lake Keowee The Reserve at Lake Keowee is located near Crowe Creek Landing on the northeastern side of the lake in Pickens County. Many of our residents donate their time and money to a variety of charities and causes in Pickens and Oconee counties—from Meals on Wheels to Reading Buddies for kids thru the United Way to Purple Heart Homes Golden Corner to conservation efforts with FOLKS. Reserve members understand the importance of giving back to a region we call home.

PURPLE HEART HOME: In 2023, this group completed 19 projects that totaled 3,800 volunteer hours.

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The Reserve contributes a percentage of the sale of each property into its nonprofit Charitable Foundation.

The funds from that, along with funds from additional fundraisers throughout the year, go towards scholarships for students that are affiliated with our designated charities.

For years, members of the Reserve have also participated in biannual lake sweeps and the adoption of islands.

Litter has been a perpetual issue along the shoreline, boat ramps, and islands. Volunteers from this community contribute more than 300 volunteer hours to these litter cleanup efforts. This year, a group of 25 residents also volunteered to assist in the planting of native plants and the stabilization of the shoreline around the nearby Great Blue Heron Rookery.

The Reserve at Lake Keowee is proud to be a corporate member of FOLKS. Many of our residents are also members and supporters of FOLKS as they understand the importance of FOLKS as a stakeholder for the lake.

ADVOCATE (continued from page 9)

One of the most significant achievements at Chau Ram is the establishment of a conservation easement through Naturaland Trust, protecting 232 acres of the park and an additional mile of Chauga River frontage. This commitment to preserving land and water resources ensures that future generations can continue to enjoy the park’s natural beauty. This acreage consists of low-lying flood plains—areas critical for absorbing the volatile, flood-prone waters of the Chauga. Without dedicated greenspace like this, local communities would be devastated by flood waters. These heavily forested areas surrounding the Chauga act like a sponge, able to absorb the excess water and reduce damage in areas downstream.

HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE Each of the three county parks provides multiple ways for individuals to engage in conservation initiatives. Visitors can take part in monarch tagging at South Cove and High Falls, fostering a deeper connection with nature and contributing to vital research on migration patterns. Classes and current events held at the parks are listed through Eventbrite (http://bit.ly/ HighFallsPrograms and https://bit.ly/SouthCovePrograms) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/HighFallsOconee).

Another significant opportunity lies in the annual Christmas Bird Count, a longstanding tradition dating back to 1900.

Running from December 14 to January 5 each season, this early– winter bird census offers a chance to participate in compiling essential research data. To join this effort, you can explore the Audubon Society at www.audubon. org, which provides details on how to get involved in bird counts at High Falls and South Cove, or an area near you.

For those with a passion for documenting biodiversity, the iNaturalist app is a powerful tool. Through the efforts of many different participants, over 1,000 observations in our three parks have been recorded. By joining the app, you can snap photos of various organisms, from fungi to wildlife, and receive assistance in their identification. Your contributions become part of a global citizen scientist community, thus furthering our understanding of the natural world.

Beyond these engaging activities, you can play a pivotal role in conservation by reaching out to your local representative and expressing your support for conservation initiatives within your county parks. Your advocacy can have a profound impact on the continued success and growth of these vital programs, ensuring the preservation and protection of Oconee County’s treasures for the benefit of current and future generations.

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ADVOCATE

Harmful Algal Blooms and Invasive Aquatic Plants—How to Respond This summer the news reported several harmful algal blooms.

Because multiple authorities are responsible for our lakes, it can be confusing for private individuals to know how to respond, if they see something that causes concern.

First, in order to determine whether to report your finding to the correct agency, you need to identify your object of concern. Of the many resources available, from contacting an environmental agency to surfing the Internet, both of which can be timeconsuming and lead to false conclusions, your best option may be Clemson University’s Public Service and Agriculture department’s Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic (https://www.clemson.edu/ public/regulatory/plant-problem/). The site allows you to submit a sample specimen for expert diagnosis and identification. This site offers a wide variety of assistance available, from identification of insects eating the garden plants to what disease is killing an apple tree to what kind of algae or plant is growing in the lake.

To use the site, I recommend the following steps: Step 1. Pay attention to the proper submission form that you can download on the right side of the web page. Please feel free to provide any and all background information about the history or the concern or the growth habitat, previous treatments if any, or anything else that you think may be helpful.

collection of canning jars from sample’s I’ve received in the past.

Once the identification is made a report is submitted back through the Clinic and ultimately to the homeowner, thus completing the process. Once the identity is known there may no longer be any concern as it could be a harmless normal part of the lake ecosystem. Or if it does present potential harm, the appropriate agency or authority can then be contacted to address the problem. I hope this helps. Stay Safe!

Step 2. Pay attention to the appropriate submission guidelines listed below the forms. These guidelines outline how much to collect, how to contain the sample safely, and how to send it safely. Plastic bottles, by the way, are much safer than glass or enclosing a plant sample in doubled closeable plastic bags is also more secure, less likely to leak and cause damage during shipping.

Step 3. It is possible for the homeowner to complete the entire process on their own, including the modest fee for the service. However, the better approach is to contact the local County Extension office for such assistance. In the center of the web page is a link to a list of all the contact information for all the Extension offices throughout South Carolina. Contact your office and they should be able to help with the process.

In this manner the sample will eventually arrive at the Clemson University Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic in Pendleton, South Carolina, and then at the desk or microscope of experts who can provide the needed assistance. Although the majority of the work done in that lab relates to agriculture in South Carolina, all samples receive equal attention, regardless of who needs the help. I assist with aquatic plant and algal identifications and offer any other advice that I may be able to provide. I have a wonderful, expanding WINTER 2023

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KEOWEE

Conserve

WASTE WISE HOLIDAYS 16 WHY JOIN FOLKS? 19 KEOWEE KIDS 20 A LOOK AT MORE OF OUR PROJECTS 22 CORPORATE & BUSINESS MEMBERS 24 WINTER 2023

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CONSERVE

Waste Wise Holidays

BY MELISSA HIGGS, FOLKS Communication Manager

The stockings are “hung by the chimney with care.” The Hallmark Christmas movies are scheduled.

Gingerbread cookies are decorated and ready for the party. You’re ready to celebrate the holidays, but have you prepared for the onslaught of waste?

CHRISTMAS TREES As a lake lover, you strive to preserve natural resources. Have you considered a live Christmas tree that can be planted in your yard after the holidays?

One of the benefits of living here is a climate that will support evergreens.

The wildlife will thank you, too.

According to Clemson Extension’s Home & Garden Information Center, Eastern White Pine and Norway Spruce can be planted in the Upper Piedmont and mountains of South Carolina. Eastern Red Cedar, Leyland Cypress, and varieties of Arizona Cypress, such as “Clemson Greenspire” and “Carolina Sapphire” will thrive throughout the state. The H&G Center recommends that you inspect the tree you wish to purchase “for good color, needle retention, and soft, flexible branching.” Burlap tree balls should be firm, not loose or pancaked. Be careful not to damage the root system during transport.

They also point out that living trees can only stay in the house for 7–10 days.

The tree should be in as cool a location as possible, and “LED or small, lowtemperature electric lights should be used for decoration.” A tub with water and gravel will help keep the tree moist and allow it to drain. “Planting the tree as soon as possible after the holidays is important.” If you are interested, you can find local Christmas tree farms at www.scchristmastrees.org.

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WINTER COMPOSTING Your choice of Christmas tree ornaments offers another wise way to reduce waste. You can spend an afternoon outside collecting berries and pinecones, or create a recycled paper chain, or string some popcorn.

All these items can be composted with your tree after the holidays.

A compost pile is actually a great way to give back to your lake property. Leftover food waste from holiday get-togethers, combined with paper waste from gift wrapping, can be composted. Yard trimmings and food waste make up about 30% of what South Carolinians throw away every year. This waste can be composted into a valuable product that can improve the soil, prevent erosion, and reduce the use of fertilizer, pesticides, and water (www.SCDHEC.gov). The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has developed a composting guide that is available on their website. Search “composting” at SCDHEC.gov, if you are interested in learning more.

Alternatively, you can take your cut Christmas tree to the county mulching facility. Note: open burning can be hazardous; you should follow state laws (shown at right).

RECYCLING Despite reduction efforts, waste is inevitable. Recently, the Pickens County Recycling Department sponsored a contest for glass recycling ideas because the glass market has been unstable. This concern shows how important it is to think about waste before it is even created. Even recycling has costs and limitations. Want more information? Reach out to Pickens County Recycling or Oconee County

PROVIDED BY SCDHEC

CONSERVE Recycling at www.co.pickens.sc.us/departments/ public_works/recycling/ or OconeeSC.com/solidwaste-home.

THOUGHTFUL GIFTS So, wrap those gifts creatively; reuse the fronts of cards as gift tags or decorations, keep a box of bows to reuse; and join the waste reduction challenge! Also, look for gifts that are made from recycled materials.

You will be amazed at what you will find locally.

The shops at Ram Cat Alley in Seneca have specialty items that promote carefully crafted or consigned items that can be used for a lifetime.

Alison Springs of Green Springs on Ram Cat Alley is a strong advocate for American-made and fair trade items that are useful as well as environmentally sound. She sells angels and Christmas ornaments made from recycled metal, gourd decorations created by artisans, local pottery that is food safe,

PROVIDED COURTESY OF GREEN SPRING

bar soap that uses less packaging, and soy candles to support Oconee County’s Backpack Program in schools. Alison appreciates your support. She mentioned that “when you shop on Ram Cat Alley, you are supporting the reuse of historic buildings and the businesses of local residents.”

Do you have waste reduction goals? Maybe you want to jump on the minimalist bandwagon, or maybe you have one or two ideas to help the cause. Regardless, time with friends and family at the lake may be the perfect no-waste gift.

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CONSERVE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Check one:

¨ New Member

¨ Renewal

Mail to: FOLKS C/O, The Alliances, 1201 N. Fant St., Anderson, SC 29621 Name_________________________________________________________________

MEMBERSHIP LEVELS Student

$15/yr

Family

$45/yr

Patron

$100/yr

Sponsor

$250/yr

Community/Subdivision___________________________________________________

Benefactor

$500/yr

Occupation (past/present)_________________________________________________

Sustainer $1,000 or more (lifetime membership)

Address_______________________________________________________________ City________________________________ State____________ Zip______________ Phone_________________________________________________________________

¨ I would like to know about volunteer opportunities. Please contact me.

Contact us: 864.719.0599 | FOLKS@keoweefolks.org

Our membership form is also online at KeoweeFOLKS.org or scan the QR code. Dues and donation are tax-deductible.

FOLKS ia a 501(c)(3) public service watershed organization.

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Business

$100/yr

Corporate

$500/yr

Option for digital copy only of the newsletter Follow FOLKS on our Facebook page: @KeoweeFOLKS

CONSERVE

Why Join FOLKS? FOLKS’s 30-year history has been built upon the pillars of our mission statement that clearly focuses our efforts on advocacy, conservation, and education—ACE. Our achievements over the past few years:

ADVOCACY • Stakeholder for relicensing efforts in the watershed • Uniting voice in the state for boating safety • Sustained efforts with litter cleanup and prevention • Ombudsman and information resource for members and communities

CONSERVATION • Adopt-a-Stream water quality monitoring • Bi-annual Lake Sweeps and Island Keepers programs • Installation of fish habitat—Since 2022 FOLKS installed 214 Dock Pro Kits and over 400 larger fish habitats throughout the lake • Bluebird nesting boxes and osprey platforms

EDUCATION • Publication of the magazine—Keowee • Jack Lewis Watershed Stewardship Scholarship Program—Awarded five $2,500 scholarships to local high school students in 2022 and raised enough funds to award up to five more students in 2023 • Bill Miller Adopt-a-Stream Lending Library— Provided $5,000 funding for local area schools to support stream monitoring efforts • Outreach/virtual town halls to local Home Owners Associations • Presentations to at Newcomers, Rotaries, and community presentations at World of Energy We are excited about 2023 and celebrating our 30th anniversary of stewardship for the preservation of Lake Keowee and its watershed. FOLKS was awarded three habitat enhancement grants in 2022 to be completed in 2023. The grants include installing 114 Dock Pro Kits, 60 large fish habitats, planting 8,000 plants in shallow areas along the shoreline, and a shoreline stabilization project.

Join our team of volunteers and become a member!

MEET THE CASON GROUP MEET THE CASON GROUP

Patti Cason, Melissa Cason Custer, Corey Custer , Gary Cason Patti Cason, Melissa Cason Custer, Corey Custer , Gary Cason

Why Choose The Cason Group?

Why Group?

Why Choose Choose The The Cason Cason Group?

We We Support Our OnlyAsAs Our Clients Support OurClients Clients Not Not Only Our Clients We Support Our Clients NotOut Only As Our Clients ButBut AsAs Friends For Friends!

FriendsLooking Looking Out For Friends.

But As Friends Looking Out For Friends!

WeSellKeowee.com | 864.903.1234 WeSellKeowee.com | 864.903.1234 WINTER 2023

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Keowee Kids Keowee Kids Kids Discover Nature at the Lake Discover Nature atat the theLake Lake Discover Nature

Winter bird visitors Winterbird bird visitors Winter visitors Winter bird visitors

Get out into the woods and look for our winter visitors, the yellow-bellied Get the woods and look for Get out the woods and look for where Get out outinto into theinto woods and look for sapsuckers.

It’s easy to spot our visitors, the yellow-bellied our winter visitors, the yellow-bellied our winter winter visitors, the yellow-bellied they are or have been, since they leave sapsuckers.

It’s easy to spot where sapsuckers.

It’s easy to spot where they sapsuckers.these It’s easy to spot where distinctive marks on our trees. are or have been, since they leave these they are or have been, since they leave they are orThere have are been, since they leave two kinds of marks.

The first, distinctive marks on our trees.

There these marks on trees. these distinctive distinctive marks onour our trees. round and deep to reach the sap; the are two kindsof of marks.

The first,first, round There kinds There are aretwo two kinds ofmarks. marks.The The second is shallower, morefirst, rectangular and deep to reach the sap; the second round deep to reach the sap; the and is constantly maintained for the roundand and deep to reach the sap; the shallower, more rectangular and is second is isshallower, rectangular bird to maintained lickmore the sap and eat immobilized second isconstantly shallower, more rectangular thethe bird to lick and is constantly maintainedforfor insects. and is constantly maintained for the sapsap andand eat immobilized insects. bird to lickthethe eat immobilized bird to lick the sap and eat immobilized insects. TheThe yellow-bellied sapsucker is our only yellow-bellied sapsucker is our only insects. migratory woodpecker.

They spend migratory woodpecker. They spend The yellow-bellied sapsucker isSouth our only summers north of South and summers north ofCarolina The yellow-bellied sapsucker is ourCarolina only and migratory woodpecker.

They spend winters in our state and further south, winters in our state and further south, migratorynorth woodpecker.

They spend Photo: Imtiaz Haque summers of South Carolina and well into Mexico, the West Indies and well into Mexico, the West summers north of South Carolina andIndies and winters inCentral our state and further south, America. yellow-bellied sapsucker on red Male Male yellow-bellied sapsucker on eastern Central America.

Sapsucker holes on white pine (Pinus strobus) Photo: Imtiaz Haque winters our state eastern red cedar (Sphyrapicuswell variusintoin Mexico, theand Westfurther Indies south, and cedar oto: Imtiaz Haque Sapsucker holes white pine (Pinus strobus) onvarius Juniperus virginiana) well into Mexico, the West Indies and Sapsucker Sphyrapicus Juniperus Male yellow-bellied sapsucker onon eastern red virginiana Central America. holes onon white pine (Pinus strobus) edar le yellow-bellied sapsucker on eastern red Central America.

Sapsucker holes on white pine (Pinus strobus)

phyrapicus varius on Juniperus virginiana dar Don’t forget to go outside at night! hyrapicus varius on Juniperus virginiana

Don’t forget to go outside at night!

Don’t forget to go14outside atnight night!

December is the peak forfor viewing thethe Germind Meteor Shower which NASA describes as “considered December 14 is the peak night viewing Germind Meteor Shower which NASA describes as “one to be one on’t forget to go outside at night! ofof the best and most reliable annual meteor showers.”

Take outaablanket blanketoutside or sleeping bag 9ator around 9 or 10 p.m. and the best and most reliable annual meteor showers.”

Take around 10 p.m. and

ecember 14 is the peak night for viewing the Germind Meteor Shower which NASA describes as “considered be one face south.

The center of the shower is the constellation Gemini.

Atconstellation the peak, over 120 meteors are to visible in an hour. A look up to the south.

The center of the shower will be the Gemini.

At the peak, fcember the best14and most reliable annual meteor showers.”

Take out a blanket or sleeping bag at around 9 or 10 p.m. and is the peak night for viewing the Germind Meteor Shower which NASA describes as “considered to be one second, less dramatic meteor shower is known as the Quadrantids. This shower has a much shorter occurance lasting over 120Atmeteors ace south.

The center of the shower is the constellation Gemini. the peak, over 120 meteors are visible in an hour.

A the best and reliable annual meteor showers.” out 4. a blanket or sleeping bag at around 9 or 10 p.m. and onlymost a few hours from late January 3 to dawnTake January will be visible inshower an econd, less dramatic shower is is the known as the Quadrantids.

This has a120 much shorterare occurance ce south.

The center meteor of the shower constellation Gemini.

At the peak, over meteors visible inlasting an hour. A hour.

The second, nly a few hours from late January 3 to dawn January 4. cond, less dramatic meteor shower is known as the Quadrantids. This shower has a much shorter occurance lasting ly a few hours from late January 3 to dawn January 4. less dramatic, meteor shower is known as the Quadrantids. This shower has a much shorter occurance lasting only a few hours from late on January 3 until dawn on January 4.

Germind Meteor Shower

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KEOW E E F O Meteor L K S . O Shower RG Germind

Germind Meteor Shower

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QuadrantidMeteor Shower

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LAKE KEOWEE FISH FINDER BLUEGILL

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A M S J I S R J P B B V P P I S O I C C L N For information about South Carolina Fish https://www.dnr.sc.gov/fishing.html F O Q Y A E I J M E D D D F C E X V J H B W S

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For information about South Carolina Fish https://www.dnr.sc.gov/fishing.html

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A LO O K AT M O R E O F O U R P R OJ E C T S

Duke Energy Keowee-Toxaway Habitat Enhancement Grant

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) staff used two of their boats to load the kits, deliver them to the approved drop sites, and install them in the lake. Kits were dropped in groups of five in water that’s at least 45 feet deep. These locations are all new sites selected specifically to take advantage of coves and enhance fishing throughout the lake.

One sunny morning in October, thirty-two FOLKS volunteers gathered at Mile Creek County Park to assemble 60 Mossback Safe Haven XL kits. This was the final part of a larger fish habitat enhancement project that included the 8,000 plantings of native shoreline grasses.

Each kit spans over 96 inches and provides important habitat for many species of fish.

Once the kits were assembled, the volunteers lined them up close to the boat ramp for the next day’s effort to install them in 12 locations around the lake.

SCDNR staff installed the kits by simply sliding them off the platform of the boat at the designated and approved locations.

In order to create a meaningful habitat, five kits were installed in each location. Each kit was weighted down with a 40 pound block of concrete.

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CONSERVE

LAKE KEOWEE FACTS: The commercial operation of the Keowee Development began in 1971. Lake Keowee at full pond has a surface area of 18,372 feet with 387 miles of shoreline. At full pond the Project Boundaries varies from 800 feet above mean sea level (MSL) to 810 MSL. The maximum drawdown, based on the last stakeholder agreement and reauthorization is 7 feet. .

The locations of all Mossback fish habitat drop sites can be found and downloaded at: https://data-scdnr.opendata.arcgis. com/datasets/scdnr::scdnr-freshwater-fish-attractors-public-web-app/explore?filters=eyJXYXRlcmJvZHkiOlsiTGFrZSBLZW 93ZWUiXX0%3D&location=34.867660%2C-82.894189%2C11.46 By changing the parameters in the above link, all types of installed fish habitats can be identified and downloaded in various formats.

WINTER 2023

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CONSERVE

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. City of Seneca David Vandeputte—Joan Herlong Sotheby’s International Realty Duke Energy Greenville Water Greg Coutu—Allen Tate Realty Keller Williams Seneca Keowee North—Patti & Gary Cason, Melissa Cason Custer, Corey Custer Keowee Key Property Owners Assn.

Oconee Federal Savings & Loan Stoneledge Home Owners Association The Reserve at Lake Keowee Waterford Pointe Home Owners Assn.

BUSINESS MEMBERS Action Services of Oconee, Inc

It’s Always Smooth Sailing on

Allen Tate Realty —John Pulliam Advocates for Quality Development Backwater Landing

Lighthouse Restaurant & Event Center

Carolina Bay Healing Spring Waters

My Garage by Essex Northwestern Supply

Carolina Wealth Management

Porch Conversion of Seneca

Classic Lighting

Rainmaker Ponds and Irrigation

Dorn’s Landscape Service For the Birds, Inc. Golden Corners Lakes Sail & Power Squadron Goldie & Associates Justin Winter Sotheby’s International Realty

KEOWEEFOLKS.ORG

Lake Keowee Marina

Melanie Fink and Associates—Allen Tate Realty

Dolly’s Roofing

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Kroeger Marine Construction

Blue Ridge Bank

Custom Dock Systems, Inc.

www.941thelake.com

Kingfisher Maps

Keller Williams— Chuck and Eva Gouge with Mary Keith Eustis Keowee North Marine

Sexton Griffith Custom Builders, LLC Shorescapes, Inc Strickland Marine and RV The Boat Dock Company The Happy Berry The Lake Company —Lake Keowee The Wine Emporium T&M Custom Docks Upstate Insurance Agency Vassey Financial Planning and Investments

KEOWEE

Educate

TICKLING THE DRAGON: PART 2 26 DO YOU NEED AN ANCHOR FOR YOUR BOAT? 28 WINTER READS 30 WINTERIZE YOUR BACKYARD FOR WILDLIFE 33 THE MISSION AND IMPACT OF PLAYSAFE 34 EXPLORE: ALL ABOARD 37

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Tickling the Dragon: Part 2 THE MISSION AND IMPACT OF PLAYSAFE USA

BY BRANDY SINGLETON, Director/CEO PlaySafe USA, Anderson South Carolina

Of all the large lakes in the Savannah Basin, Lake Keowee stands out for several reasons. One of them is especially significant. No, it isn’t the water clarity because Lake Jocassee is just as clear, if not clearer. The reason is that of all these large lakes, Lake Keowee remains nearly full most of the time. The fluctuations of the surface elevation of the lake are minimal and this is related to the nuclear curve of binding energy—the energy that is released when the atomic nucleus of a large atom like uranium splits during the fission process.

When I was a teenager, after surviving the Cuban missile crisis and having Einstein’s famous equation burned into my memory same as for so many others, I was curious. What particle of matter is converted to energy during nuclear fission? I counted all the electrons, protons, and neutrons of the uranium atom and then attempted to find the missing particle in the fission products, the particle that was converted to energy. But all the particles

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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were still there. I had not grasped what that equation actually meant. It is in this released energy that the real meaning of the mass-energy equivalence equation (E=mc2) becomes clearer.

Wrapping our minds around these relationships is helped with a little more explanation.

Sometime later, it finally dawned on me (I’m a slow learner) that the equation means that energy has mass (in other words, they are “equivalent”) and that when energy is released during nuclear fission, mass is lost. The energy is termed “binding energy,” and when our electricity is generated from nuclear power that energy is what ultimately helps to boil the water when we turn on the electric coffee maker. That famous equation merely gives us a measure of how much energy it takes to achieve a certain mass or vice versa. Back to Lake Keowee.

What happens inside the fuel pellets inside the fuel rods inside the fuel assemblies inside the cores of each of the three reactors at Oconee Nuclear Station (ONS) is something that thoughtful persons should NOT want to “get loose” in the environment. We developed incredibly strong, massive metal and concrete enclosures to minimize the risk that any of that stuff can “get loose” and the entire process is carefully controlled with multiple-redundant safety systems to protect against catastrophic accidents.

During that fission process atomic nuclei are split in a somewhat controlled manner thus releasing vast amounts of energy. The fuel is prevented from overheating and melting into a hideous blob by absorbing the energy into a primary cooling system that consists of clean water under high temperature and pressure. This primary system is a “closed loop” that is carefully contained within incredibly strong metal structures.

The thermal energy in that primary system is then transferred (cooled) to a secondary system, which is also a “closed loop” of more water. But that system allows the water to become high temperature/high pressure steam that turns the turbines that turn the generators that generate the electricity that you use to make coffee. That secondary loop works exactly the same way to turn the turbines if the water is heated by burning coal or any other combustible material. The energy source, regardless of its origin, is eventually employed to generate electricity in the same manner. Back to the fission process.

One of my academic friends used to laugh and refer to my field of study as “stamp collecting.” There’s a good story behind that and it relates to Ernest Rutherford—some other time. I would return the favor to my friend by noting that what we have done in harnessing nuclear fission is like using a sledge hammer to

EDUCATE

crack eggs for an omelet, that if we were truly among the clever primates we’d have come up with a better way to extract that energy. But, we haven’t. And then I prod him further by noting that during my dalliance with Duke, the head of the Atomic Energy Commission was, in fact, a delightfully eccentric marine biologist (you can’t make this stuff up), AND even worse (at least to that male-dominated field) the head was a woman, Dixie Lee Ray. (I always admired her for a variety of reasons.)

This is another wonderful story in the saga of pressurized water reactors, but for now—back to the sledge hammer.

It is imperative that what is inside those reactors NEVER overheats. Therefore, it is imperative that there is plenty of coolant available at all times to cool the contents of those reactors and, incidentally, use some fraction of the energy to eventually make coffee. However, as I noted in Part 1, about 67% of that energy is never used to generate electricity (or make coffee).

In order to keep those reactors operating safely, however, the heat must be dissipated somehow. And for ONS, most of it is dissipated into Lake Keowee. Hence, keep that lake as full and available for cooling as possible. But wait, there’s more.

Water is the coolant of choice for thermal-electric generating stations around the world. Lakes and rivers across this country are employed either directly as the coolant, or as the source for water used in cooling towers. Duke Energy is no exception, and at some of the generating stations they exploit some of the properties of water in a manner that makes the process of generating electricity even more efficient, with interesting consequences to the environment.

Water can absorb a lot of energy while increasing its temperature more slowly than, say, air or many other fluids.

Fortunately, hydrogen bonding tends to keep the water molecules attracted to each other. But with sufficient energy, those bonds break and water shifts from liquid to gas (steam), thus making it a great way to transfer energy as well. When steam turns those steam turbines at ONS, the steam must be condensed back to liquid form on the “other side” and whatever energy that hasn’t been converted into electricity has to be rejected to the environment somehow. In some power plants there are things called “cooling towers” but for ONS, there is Lake Keowee.

Consequently, part of the lake is much warmer than it would have been if ONS didn’t exist. Another consequence is that water from deep underneath the Little River basin of Lake Keowee is pumped through ONS, warmed, and then released near the surface in the Keowee River basin of Lake Keowee (the part that has Keowee Dam). Often a visible water current that flows from east to west can be observed beneath the Highway 183 bridge.

That current is related to the pumping of massive amounts of cooling water through up to 12 intake pumps near the western edge of ONS. The energy it takes to move all that water is another “energy subsidy” to the lake ecosystem. Regardless, the need for plentiful water to cool the reactors means that it is best to keep Lake Keowee as full as practical.

So, what are the consequences for the ecosystem? The answer to that question is one that can be argued, but there is little doubt that after so many decades of operation and of time for the biota to adapt, Oconee Nuclear Station itself (in my opinion) is one of the major components and controlling factors for the entire Lake Keowee ecosystem. And while it is fun for me and other ecologists to discuss all the possible interactions that have arisen or have been modified by that nuclear station, to me the ultimate question is: what’s going to happen someday if the nuclear station is ever decommissioned? There is a tantalizing possibility that Lake Keowee’s current relatively good health is partially a consequence of the operation of ONS. If you’re interested in how that could possibly be, stay tuned.

Support the South Carolina Wildlife magazine.

SCWildlife.com

WINTER 2023

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Do You Need an Anchor for Your Boat?

BY SUE DRAGOO, Public Relations Office America’s Boating Club®–Golden Corner Lakes

Anchoring out can be one of the greatest pleasures of boating.

Whether relaxing near the beach, rafting up with friends, or hiding out in a little cove that can only be reached by water, anchoring out is awesome; however, since an anchor is not “required” equipment, a lot of people don’t think they are needed and don’t carry them in their boats. When I bought my new boat, I asked if an anchor was included. The salesman said, “no” but recommended that I get one. Little did I realize that he was doing me a huge favor as some dealers think you won’t need them.

As a starting point, ask marine supply stores and fellow boaters in your area what they recommend. While local knowledge is always valuable, only personal experience in anchoring your boat will tell you if you’ve made the correct choice. In any case, always purchase a quality anchor. What you are purchasing in an anchor is holding power. Factors affecting holding power include design, weight, and material in construction. Anchors almost always hold by digging into the bottom, seldom by weight alone, and design strongly influences an anchor’s ability to hook itself into the bottom.

TYPES OF ANCHORS The anchors available today are mostly lightweight types. Most have outstanding holding power for their weight when used to anchor to a particular type of bottom. I have found that the “Danforth,” a twin-fluke anchor, is versatile for our lake bottom conditions, is most popular for small boats, and is easy to stow. This anchor tends to bury itself in the sand and mud when under heavy horizontal strain. It does, however, have limited penetration in grass, rocks, or clay and may be likely to slide in these conditions. Consult your local marine supplier to obtain expert advice on the size and length of rope and chain for your particular boat and the method of connecting to an anchor or chain.

In addition to a Danforth anchor, I carry a “mushroom” shaped anchor to keep my boat from drifting in deep water while not under power and to use when beaching on an island. I also have a “sand” anchor (similar to a dog’s tie out corkscrew stake) for use when I beach my jet ski.

CONNECTING TO THE ANCHOR An anchor is secured to the boat with a nylon line. My anchor line is about 100 feet and you may need more, but be aware of the depth you are anchoring in and make adjustments. Nylon rope is strong with good resistance to chafing and rubbing. It won’t rot when stowed wet, is easy on the hands, and won’t float. At least six feet of chain is attached off the anchor. It may consist of rope or chain or both. The purpose of the chain is to reduce the pulling angle near the anchor by adding weight. The anchor line will be nearly horizontal near the anchor and help the anchor dig in.

SCOPE In order to gain a nearly horizontal pull on an anchor, the anchor line must be relatively long compared to the vertical distance to the bottom of the lake. This ratio is called “scope.”

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EDUCATE The vertical distance to the bottom includes the height of the boat’s bow from the surface of the water, the depth of the water, and any anticipated change in water depth due to the rise and fall of the tide (for those of you coastal boaters).

TIP: If you see a boat with the anchor line going straight down in front of the bow, avoid anchoring nearby since that boat will be the first to lose hold and possibly run into you!

SETTING AND RETRIEVING THE ANCHOR First, survey the anchorage by determining the depth and type of bottom. Check the prevailing wind and/or current.

Ensure that there is room for the boat to swing with shifts in current, tide, or winds. Be sure you’ll clear other boats and obstacles if your boat swings on its anchor.

SETTING Approach your intended anchorage against the wind. Bring the boat to a standstill and lower (never throw) the anchor over the bow. Allow the boat to drift with the wind or current.

Let the rope out slowly to keep it from fouling the anchor and be sure the line doesn’t wrap around your legs as you pay it out. When sufficient line is out, snub it by taking a turn around your bow cleat, then place an easy strain on the line with the engine to set (dig in) the anchor. Check that the anchor is set by putting the boat in full reverse and powering back against the anchor for a minute after it appears to be set to ensure that the anchor has really found the bottom. When satisfied that the anchor is set, tie the line to the bow cleat with a cleat hitch.

WARNING: NEVER ANCHOR A VESSEL FROM THE STERN. A SINGLE ANCHOR FROM THE STERN CAN BE DANGEROUS AS LARGE WAKES CAN SWAMP OR SINK YOU.

2024 AMERICA’S AMERICA’SBOATING BOATINGCOURSE COURSE 2024

Designed to advance public knowledge skills saferboating in Designed to advance public knowledge and and skills forfor safer boating in the Upstate.

Learn State and local regulations, the Upstate. Learn State and local regulations, including wake/wake When ready to hoist anchor, approach the anchor position including wake/wake boat restrictions and mandatory safe boat and mandatory safe boating education requirements, slowly, taking in the line to avoid fouling it around yourrestrictions boating education requirements, safety equipment, how to safety equipment, how to handle emergencies, anchoring, trailering, boat’s propeller. When directly over the anchor, it should handle emergencies, anchoring, trailering, navigation rules and navigation rules and aids, personal watercraft operation, break out easily. If deeply embedded, it may be necessary to aids, personal watercraft operation, and knot tying.

There is and an knot tyin There is an option for on-the-water training. snub the anchor line around the bow cleat and run the boat option for on-the-water training.

RETRIEVING

forward, breaking it out with the force of the boat. If that’s WHEN: In 2024 we offer will offer three courses, each of of three WHEN: In 2024 we will three courses, eachconsists consists not successful, move the boat slowly in a circle. Always be three evening classes with the exam on the third night.

Each careful to keep the anchor line away from propellers. evening classes with the exam on the third night. Each class will meet class will meet on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. onoffset Tuesdays from 6:00 to 8:30 pm.

Anchors are versatile, and you can use your anchor to • March 12, 19 19 and with the exam on the on 26ththe 26th March 12, and2626 with the exam danger or get your boat out of uncomfortable situations. If § th April 23,23,3030and with exam your vessel is in danger of running aground, you can stop its § • April and May May 7 7with thethe exam on theon 7ththe 7 September 10, 17 and 24 with the exam on the 24th motion by deploying an anchor or use it to hold your position. § • September 10, 17 and 24 with the exam on the 24th Lastly, the most important way to successfully anchor WHERE: Classes heldat atSt. St. Marks United Methodist Church inChurch in Classes are are held Marks United Methodist is to prepare. Practice deploying your anchoring WHERE: system Seneca, SC;an or via an online Zoom meeting with in-person beforehand. This not only allows you to catch and Seneca, correct SC; or via online Zoom meeting witha final a final in-person exam issues you’ve missed but also familiarizes you with deploying session. exam session. your anchoring system, making it easier for you!

COST: There is no cost for the course other than $35 for a manual For information about America’s Boating Club®–Golden COST: There is no forcan the $35 for a manual and supplies.

Thecost manual becourse shared byother family than members.

Corner Lakes membership, boating safety classes, andand supplies. The manual can be shared by family members.

Preregistration is requested at least 2 weeks in advance. To sign activities, visit their website at gclsaps.com, your local boating up call is Ron Osburn, 864-972-2434 or email in ozbrn@bellsouth. club for Lakes Keowee, Hartwell, and Jocassee.

Preregistration requested at least 2 weeks advance. net For additional information, visit our website at gclsaps.com Sources: United States Power Squadrons®; TheTo Ensign sign up call Ron Osburn, 864-972-2434 or email ozbrn@bellsouth.ne America’s Boating Club® is a registered trademark of the United Magazine; Boat U.S. Magazine For additional information, visit our website at gclsaps.com States Power Squadrons®

America’s Boating Club® is a registered trademark of the United Stat Power Squadrons® WINTER 2023

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WINTER READS

The Importance of Water

BY DALE WILDE, President, FOLKS

Where the Water Goes

By David Owen In Where the Water Goes Owen details one of America’s most vital and exploited waterways— focusing primarily on the Colorado River. Owen unravels the intricate web of policies, politics, and environmental challenges that define its course.

The author details the history and science, and provides personal narratives to vividly depict the complexities surrounding water management in the American West. From the river’s headwaters in the Rocky Mountains to its ultimate destination in the Gulf of California, Owen examines the various demands placed on the Colorado River by agriculture, urban development, and environmental conservation.

Owen’s informative and engaging writing makes complex water issues accessible to a broad audience. He introduces readers to the key players involved in the management of the river, from farmers and engineers to policymakers and environmentalists.

Through personal interviews and on-the-ground reporting, Owen brings a human element to the narrative, allowing readers to connect with the people whose lives are deeply entwined with the fate of the Colorado River. He doesn’t shy away from addressing the contentious issues surrounding water rights, conservation, and the impacts of climate change.

Where the Water Goes is a fascinating exploration of water scarcity and resource management in the American West. It serves as a wake-up call, urging readers to consider the environmental and social implications of our relationship with water. Whether you are well-versed in water policy or approaching the subject for the first time, Owen’s book provides valuable insights that will leave you pondering the future of this and all water as a precious resource.

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Historic Canals & Waterways of South Carolina

By Robert J. Kapsch Historic Canals & Waterways of South Carolina was published in 2010 by the University of South Carolina Press. Kapsch details a comprehensive account of the planning and construction of South Carolina’s network of canals, waterways, and river navigation from the 1790s through the 1830s that revolutionized transportation of the Palmetto State’s cash crop—cotton—to the port of Charleston for shipment.

Roads, where they existed at all, were narrow, rutted, and dangerous.

At that time, South Carolina was a preeminent leader in infrastructure improvements and developed an extensive system of more than two thousand miles of canals and waterways connecting nearly every part of the state with the coast and the port of Charleston.

Turning South Carolina’s rivers into a viable transportation corridor was a two-step process: (1) clearing the rivers of fallen trees, snags, and sandbars and (2) connecting the rivers with the canals. The state’s first waterway project was the Santee Canal, designed to link Charleston with Columbia via the Congaree River and with Camden via the Wateree River.

The capital for these expensive canal construction projects came from public and private sources. Investors formed joint stock companies expecting to profit from tolls, and the general assembly appropriated tax dollars (about two million dollars) to clear rivers and dig canals. Most of the actual labor was done by slaves—both male and female. Typically, owners rented slaves for cash. Sometimes, they donated the labor of their slaves to bring a waterway closer to their plantations.

Following the War of 1812, South Carolina set about building additional canals and improving navigation on the state’s rivers to enable downstream commerce with Charleston via the Santee Canal. But in the 1830s the canal boom ended when another transportation innovation, the railroad, superseded waterway travel as primary link to the ports.

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WINTERIZE YOUR BACKYARD FOR WILDLIFE:

Leave the Leaves!

BY MALLORY MAHER, Clemson University Natural Resources Extension Associate, Clemson Cooperative Extension Service

The weather is getting cooler, and leaves are falling from trees. For some reason, it is ingrained into our minds that we must bust out the leaf blowers and rakes, scoop up every leaf that falls in our yards, and tidy up our flower beds for winter. But this does not provide any sort of habitat for wildlife. Instead, this year, I am giving you permission to leave the leaves and the “mess!”

The leaf litter on the forest floor is its very own ecosystem. Many species of wildlife rely on leaves for their habitat. Every time you rake up the leaves, you take away critical habitat.

Thousands of insect species, especially pollinators such as butterflies, moths, bumblebees, beetles, and lightning bugs, also live in the leaves. Many species of moths and butterflies disguise their chrysalises and cocoons to look like dried leaves. If you get rid of these insects, you impact many other species of wildlife that rely on the leaf litter. Charismatic species such as the eastern box turtle, chipmunks, frogs, toads, and many salamander species use leaves for food and shelter.

If you don’t believe me, spend some time sifting through handfuls of leaves; you will be surprised how many critters are among the leaves once you start looking!

In addition, wait to tidy up your flower beds until the spring. Flowers such as black-eyed Susans or purple coneflower provide food for many songbird species, including goldfinches, once the flowers go to seed. Swamp sunflower, a late-blooming fall perennial, is another flower you can let go to seed. They will also spread, and many species of birds eat the seeds! After the seeds are gone, the stems provide a nesting habitat for many of our native pollinators, such as mason bees and leafcutter bees. As leaves break down, they also nourish your soil with nutrients and can replace mulch.

If you cannot resist the urge to bust out the rake, wait until late in the season so that the insects hidden in the leaf litter have a chance to survive the cold weather, or mulch your leaves and use them in your flower beds to act as a natural mulch. You could also designate sections of your yard as leaf zones and rake up others! Small behavior changes like these can go a long way and help many wildlife species!

C h a ris m a ti c s pe c ies s u c h n a s th e ea s te r bo x tu rtl e , c h ipm u n k s , , f ro gs , to a d s and many sa lamander s pe c ies u s e o o d l ea v es f o r f a n d s h e l te r .

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EDUCATE T H E M I S S I O N A N D I M PA C T O F P L AY S A F E

Bridging Gaps in Athletic and Community Healthcare

BY BRANDY SINGLETON, Director/CEO PlaySafe USA, Anderson South Carolina In a country where opportunities for youth development are seemingly abundant, it’s surprising how disparities can still lurk behind the scenes—especially in the realm of athletic healthcare and community well-being. This is where PlaySafe USA, a pioneering nonprofit organization, fills the gap. Based in South Carolina but serving communities nationwide, PlaySafe USA has embarked on a mission that reaches beyond the mere promotion of sports medicine and athletic trainers. Its comprehensive approach to community healthcare ensures that vulnerable and unserved areas are not left in the shadows when it comes to essential medical services and educational programs.?

Founded with the core objective of providing equitable access to fulltime athletic trainers in the form of sports medicine providers, PlaySafe USA is a holistic institution committed to the welfare of communities. This nonprofit embraces a broad spectrum of services that also includes opioid addiction prevention and mental health awareness programs.

Participation in sports can offer numerous benefits to young individuals: the development of teamwork skills, the fostering of a sense of community, and, of course, the maintenance of physical health. However, sports also come with their share of risks. Sudden cardiac arrest, concussions, heat stroke, spinal injuries, broken bones, sprains, fractures, and other injuries are part and parcel of the athletic world. In many affluent communities, the presence of athletic trainers or sports medicine providers is a given. But what about underprivileged areas where these essential services are scant or nonexistent?

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competent healthcare can result in death or aggravated injuries, leading to long-term repercussions for the athlete. PlaySafe USA bridges this crucial gap by deploying full-time athletic trainers to communities in need, ensuring that young athletes receive immediate and effective care.

TACKLING OPIOID ADDICTION The opioid crisis has swept the nation, leaving no community untouched.

PlaySafe USA acknowledges the unfortunate link between sports injuries and opioid addiction. Prescription pain medication, often prescribed for sportsrelated injuries, can be a gateway to opioid abuse. The organization takes a preemptive approach to this grim reality through its opioid addiction prevention programs, providing education and support regarding resources in communities that are most at risk.

It is well-documented that mental health is as crucial as physical wellbeing, yet it is often overlooked in community healthcare models.

PlaySafe USA’s mental health awareness programs aim to remove the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Through educational initiatives and community outreach, the organization provides resources for emotional wellbeing, which is indispensable for both athletes and nonathletes alike.

The work undertaken by PlaySafe

USA is a vital resource for communities by providing access to healthcare and mental healthcare professionals and programs that are often out of reach for underprivileged areas. PlaySafe’s goal is to ensure that every child, regardless of his or her socioeconomic status, has the opportunity to play sports safely and thrive in a healthy community.

To sustain and expand its crucial initiatives, PlaySafe USA relies heavily on the generosity of donors, partners, and community stakeholders. Funding is the lifeblood that allows this nonprofit to continue deploying skilled athletic trainers, develop opioid prevention strategies, and create educational programs for mental health. In communities that are already strapped for resources, the absence of these programs could have devastating consequences. Therefore, financial support is not just a donation; it is an investment in the future of our children and communities.

In a landscape that frequently overlooks marginalized communities, the existence, and efforts of PlaySafe USA are not just admirable—they are essential. By bringing full-time athletic trainers, opioid prevention programs, and mental health resources to communities that desperately need them, PlaySafe USA is making a profound impact, one that resonates through the lives it touches and echoes through the communities it transforms.

For additional information about the programs, and mission, or to donate to PlaySafe, please visit PlaySafeUSA.org

PlaySafe USA can be found on all social media platforms at @ playsafeusa or call 864-401-8785

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Call us today for your FREE CONSULTATION or visit us at one of our two convenient locations: Seneca Greenville 528 Bypass 123, Suite B 626 Congaree Road, Suite 5 Seneca, SC 29678 Greenville, SC 29607 (864) 882-7544 (864) 234-2882 blindsandus.com

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EXPLORE: ALL ABOARD

Experience the History of Railroading in Upstate South Carolina

BY JACKIE BACON, VP of Marketing

Visitors to the museum can find the brochure for Trains Around Main Scavenger Hunt. Look for the trains hidden around Main Street Central and learn about the town. The museum has participated in townwide activities such as “Where’s Waldo?” and the annual “Trick or Train on Main.”

The Central Railway Model and Historical Association (CRMHA) operates and maintains the Central Railway Museum.

The museum has layouts of various gauge sizes—G, O, S, HO, and N, and designated heritage rooms to showcase our American Flyer and Lionel layouts.

Our nonprofit organization’s mission is to educate and inspire people of all ages who share a love of trains and to promote an understanding and enjoyment of railroad heritage throughout the Carolinas. We accept monetary and train item donations.

CRMHA members have been busy working on HO and N gauge portable train layouts. Both layouts will be showcased at the annual Model Train Expo on Friday, February 16, 2024, from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday, February 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Impact Center at Rock Springs Church, 207 Rock Springs Road in Easley. Admission is $8 for adults, which is good for both days; children under 10 are free. There will be trains of all sizes, operating layouts, model train vendors, and a Kids Zone with Thomas the Tank Engine, Brio layouts, and Operation Lifesaver Rail Safety Education Programs.

Recently the museum sponsored the design and creation of a quilt tile display that will put the museum on the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail. To be located on the outside of the museum building, the display—“Good Place to Catch a Train”—recognizes hobos as an integral part of American folklore. For example, the unique secret hobo code used a locomotive symbol to designate a “good place to catch a train,” as hobos traveled across America looking

for work. The red in the quilt represents the red bandana bindle (the bundle on a stick) that held the hobo’s possessions, and the blue represents the denim overalls, which many hobos wore.

Contact www.crmha.org to become a member of CRMHA, for information on visits to the museum, to make donations, or to schedule an Operation Lifesaver Rail Safety Education Program.

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Important Sites & Numbers to Know Pickens County: co.pickens.sc.us Oconee County: oconeesc.com South Carolina Legislature: scstatehouse.gov SCDNR Hotline: 800-922-5431 Non-Emergency Pickens County Sheriff: 864-898-5500 Non-Emergency Oconee County Sheriff: 864-638-4111 SCDHEC: 855-472-3432 Litter issues in Pickens County: 864-898-5265 Litter issues Oconee County: 864-638-4111 Report a litter being thrown from a car: 877-754-8837 Duke Energy Lake Services: 704-382-8086 or 800-443-5193

Learn More about Water Quality Monitoring

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Publi

PHOTO BY: YOUR NAME HERE CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: FOLKS invites members to submit your original Lake Keowee photography for consideration in our upcoming publications.

We know you have some amazing photos that are worth publishing and we want to share it with our community. We’re looking for a wide range of subject matter—landscapes, waterscapes, wildlife, people, action shots, your favorite places, hidden gems, rare sightings, etc.

All submissions will be reviewed for reproduction quality and the highest rated images will be selected for publication. Photo requirements include high resolution, a minimum of 8''x10'', jpeg format, and must be taken by a FOLKS member. Please include member name, photo title and photo location when submitting. Email submissions to folks@keoweefolks.org with the subject line “PHOTO FOR PUBLISHING.”

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FRIENDS OF LAKE KEOWEE SOCIETY, INC. C/O The Alliances 1201 N. Fant St., Anderson, SC 29621

NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID SENECA, SC PERMIT NO. 70

HELP US MEET OUR 2024 FUNDRAISING GOAL Through the generous donations of Justin and Allie Winter and private donors, FOLKS was able to raise $5,000 in matching funds. Please help us meet our goal of raising $10,000 to fully utilize the match.

The funds raised will enable us to continue to offer scholarships to local high school students and to support our advocacy, conservation, and education efforts in 2024.

Donate online at: KeoweeFOLKS.org Mail donations to: FOLKS C/O The Alliances 1201 N Fant St Anderson, SC 29621 Email folks@keoweefolks.org.