KEOWEE - Winter 2024

KEOWEE F RI E NDS

OF

LAKE

K E OWE E

S O C IE T Y

EST. 1993

WINTER 2024

FOLKS BOARD CORNER — TREASURER’S REPORT 2024

By David Metzger, FOLKS Treasurer As

Treasurer

of

FOLKS,

other

community

initiatives.

I am pleased to inform you

These efforts alone represent

that FOLKS continues to be

over 1800 volunteer hours and

in

financial

$50,000 worth of impact to the

position thanks to our many

health, ecosystem and aesthetic

donors

As

of Lake Keowee and the greater

we all have experienced, the

watershed. Our many thanks

cost

a

very

healthy

and of

volunteers.

everything

also to our Patron, Sponsor, and

has gone up substantially in

doing

Benefactor level donors. These

just the past few years. As

donations help us round out

such,

reallocated

the budget and ensure that we

resources to “right size” our

have the additional resources

administrative

we

have

and

to meet our annual goals. We

more

want to give a special thank you

efficient. This has enabled us

to our business and corporate

to devote a greater share of

sponsors and advertisers for

your contributions to programs

maintaining their commitment

accessible to the community

to keeping our lake environment

and

make

our

to

overhead

operations

support

youth

developmental initiatives tied to environmental education and resources.

KEOWEE PUBLISHED BY FRIENDS OF LAKE KEOWEE SOCIETY 864-719-0599 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dale Wilde, President Howard Gutenstein, Vice President TBD, Secretary David Metzger, Treasurer Timothy Cooney Henry Wilson, PhD Dr. John Hains COMMITTEE CHAIRS Dave Metzger, Lake Sweep Paul Gibbons, Adopt-an-Island Ann Savoca, Adopt-a-Lake Endowment/Finance

David Metzger

Events/Advertising

TBD

HEP Committee Rep.

Dale Wilde

HEP Committee Alt.

Howard Gutenstein

the truly beautiful destination

USRB Commission

Dr. John Hains

we all cherish.

LKSWPT Liaison your

Suzy McKinney Dale Wilde

commitment has enabled us to

GreenSteps Coordinator Amanda Gladys

In

the

past

year,

With over 700 families and

continue to protect and enhance

Scholarship Coordinator Kate Clever

50 businesses supporting us,

many features in the watershed.

Web Administrator

Dale Wilde

the FOLKS balance sheet is

We

on

sustainable

footings

for

our

initiatives

Communications Manager

Melissa Higgs

the

foreseeable

future.

We

pledge to include SC Adopt-a-

thank

the

Stream training and the award

Magazine Editor

Susan Pleadwell

family donors who supported

of $2,500 to an additional

Design Director

Kristy Adair, Community Journals

us

Advisors

Tony Gody Ann Savoca Troy Knauss Suzy McKinney Rick Sommer Patti Cason

wholeheartedly this

year

through

successfully water

testing

fulfilled

the

five “Jack Lewis Scholarship”

annual membership program,

recipients. We have had several

recognizing

of

significant donations from long-

you also make up the core of

time supporters and from local

volunteers that anchor our Lake

businesses pledged directly to

Sweep,

this scholarship program, which

that

Island

many

Keepers,

and

should enable us to award a Special thanks to Dale Wilde for the beautiful cover photo of the Chattooga River.

total of over 25 scholarships in the next several years. In addition, our outreach to local school

leaders

has

aligned

FOLKS directly to the South Carolina Green Steps Initiative (continued on page 4)

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folks@keoweefolks.org facebook.com/KeoweeFOLKS © 2024-2025 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 2024

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FOLKS BOARD CORNER and

to

educational

efforts

to

we can stay in tune with our

the greater outdoors.

sponsor a variety of other STEM

Once again, I must remind

programs. We see this as a great

all of us that although FOLKS is

As stewards of your commitment

way to grow our “patrons of the

financially strong and healthy,

to our local environment, we need

future.” It is critical to engage our

our most precious organizational

your continued participation to

local youth and educate them in

resource is You! We have pressing

maintain a forceful and respected

the precious value of protecting the

needs at the committee level

voice at all stakeholder meetings

clearest and cleanest recreational

to

find

that impact the lake. FOLKS is

watershed in the Upstate. Together,

our

commercial

we participated in and provided

advertisers,

leadership

to

engage

constituents of the future.

sponsors

and

recognized as a key participant at

local

civic

all levels of government as well as a

funding to close to 15 additional

organizations, our local teaching

valued advocate with Duke Energy

youth programs. Your donations

institutions at all levels, and our

and South Carolina Department of

are truly impacting the experience

community at large. In addition,

Natural Resources. Your ongoing

of local young people as they learn

we are trying to build out our

commitment

about their local environment and

digital

strong! THANK YOU!

our

media

capabilities,

so

keeps

that

voice

GET shed

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.

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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.”

Prospective buyers often ask our team “what’s the area’s greatest attraction — the communities, the golf courses, the clubs?”

“Lake Keowee” is our response.

Without the lake, we wouldn’t be here, and neither would you.

Supporting FOLKS in 2025 and every year after.

15740 N. HIGHWAY 11, #2A, SALEM, SC 29676 (864) 481- 4444 justinwinter.com forbesglobalproperties.com Justin Winter and Associates, LLC is an exclusive member of Forbes Global Properties. Forbes is a registered trademark used under license.

WINTER 2024

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FOLKS Celebrates 31 Years as Stakeholder for Lake Keowee

BY DALE WILDE, FOLKS President

Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS) held their Annual Event on December 19 to celebrate their 31st anniversary as a nonprofit in Upstate SC. Justin Winters and Associates–Forbes Global Properties, Duke Energy, and The Cason Group–Keller Williams sponsored the event. Over 92 members and supporters came together to celebrate and support the organization’s efforts to preserve Lake Keowee and its watershed.

FOLKS rolled out its new logo at the event that represents our commitment to keeping pace with the times and appeals to a wider membership. Two styles of the logo allow us the flexibility to imprint on a 6

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larger variety of items.

Ken Roper, Pickens County Administrator, served as keynote speaker. He emphasized the importance of preserving the history of the area and detailed the county’s plan to develop Warpath Landing into a county park, which would include constructing a replica of Fort Prince George. This fort played a significant role in early Colonial American history.

Tony Gody, FOLKS Advisor, provided a great overview and presentation of our accomplishments in 2024 highlighting how our efforts continued to support our mission of advocacy, conservation, and education. After acknowledging our 2023 and 2024 scholarship student recipients in attendance, Tony presented FOLKS’s Outstanding Leadership Awards. Each award recipient received a beautifully crafted metal map of Lake Keowee, donated by Ken Van Natta, owner of Metal Lake Maps. The award recipients were: Ken Roper, Pickens County Administrator—Mr. Roper is an advocate for the lake, the county, and the preservation of the region’s history. Ken was appointed Pickens County Administrator and Chief Executive Officer in 2019. Prior to that, he served as the Pickens County Attorney for 15 years. He received a leadership award in recognition of his dedicated efforts in the county and his steadfast commitment to fostering strong, collaborative

Award Recipient, Ken Roper

Award Recipient, Sheriff Mike Crenshaw

relationships with stakeholders in the region.

Amanda Brock, Oconee County Administrator— Ms. Brock has served as County Administrator since 2019.

FOLKS recognized her outstanding leadership, which has positioned Oconee County for sustainable growth, economic development, and job creation. During her tenure, Oconee County has secured over $86 million in new investment and increased job creation by over 200%.

Mike Crenshaw, Oconee County Sheriff—Sheriff Crenshaw has held his office since 2013. FOLKS recognized Sheriff Crenshaw for not only reducing crime in the county but also building community relationships through positive interactions with the public. He and his officers have been instrumental in making Oconee County and the public

Award Recipient, Liz Johnson

ramps safer and more litter free.

Elizabeth “Liz” Johnson, High Falls Superintendent— Ms. Johnson has been superintendent of High Falls County Park since 2021. Prior to her current position, she has served at all of the county parks and Caesar’s Head State Park. Ms. Johnson is innovative with programs developed for her park and is always looking for ways to improve High Falls County Park for visitors. For several years, FOLKS has worked with Ms. Johnson and her staff on large habitat enhancement projects and community outreach programs.

Sue Watts, SC Botanical Garden Education Program Coordinator—Ms. Watts is a talented writer and graphic designer who designs the Keowee Kids section of FOLKS’s (continued on page 8)

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KEOWEE magazine. For years, she submitted educational articles on gardening and native plants. Her contributions have allowed FOLKS to reach the younger readers of the magazine.

Sam Savoca, former FOLKS Board Secretary—Mr. Savoca joined the FOLKS board in 2019 after being a longtime FOLKS volunteer. His efforts as website manager generated huge cost savings to FOLKS that have enabled us to undertake increased public outreach and volunteer efforts.

Sam also served on our endowment committee, and with his financial expertise, he helped to ensure our financial stability through the challenging years of the pandemic.

The organization also announced two new Board members at the meeting: Timothy Cooney joined the Board in November. He and his wife recently relocated to Lake Keowee after 17 years in Fort Mill, SC. Mr. Cooney has extensive education in forestry and over 40 years of environmental experience in leadership positions. He has served as Vice President of Canal Forest Resources, a forest management firm based out of Charlotte.

He was founding partner and board member of a private equity investment firm with over $3.5 billion of forest land assets under management. Mr. Cooney brings energy, nonprofit expertise, and environmental background that will be key to continuing

the momentum to build the FOLKS footprint in the region.

Dr. Henry Wilson joined the Board in December. Dr. Wilson is a U.S. Navy veteran, former Operations Manager with GE, a former Pickens County Council member, and owner of T&M Custom Docks. His engineering experience and interest in managed growth that considers infrastructure and business needs, as well as his community-focused service make Dr. Wilson a strong leader for the FOLKS board.

Our successful raffle raised $1,470 to support the Jack Lewis Stewardship Scholarship Fund and FOLKS’s educational programs and initiatives. FOLKS would like to thank Metal Lake Maps, Head-Lee Nursery, For the Birds, Vangeli’s, and Wine Emporium for supporting the fundraiser.

Our event concluded with an outline of our goals for 2025 and a call for volunteers to support our mission going forward.

We need: • Lake Sweep commander • Membership coordinator • Experienced graphic designer • Local photographers • Grant writers • Project managers • Volunteers to present at community events We look forward to the growth and changes ahead with the new leadership on the FOLKS board. However, we cannot do it without volunteers and community support. To join our team and get involved with preserving the Lake Keowee watershed, please email us (Folks@keoweefolks.org).

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KEOWEE Advocate

Waste Solutions: Is Plastics Recycling the Answer? 10 WaterSC and Your Community 12 Advocating for Water Quality Awareness in Lake Keowee Community

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Monitoring Lake Kewoee’s Aids to Navigation

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W A S T E

S O L U T I O N S :

Is Plastics Recycling the Answer?

BY JACKSON HIGGS, Former Jack Lewis Watershed Stewardship Scholarship Recipient and Walhalla High School Senior

According to the nonprofit organization Recycle Across America, Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour. Furthermore, plastic bottles can take up to 450 years to decompose in landfills (World Wildlife Fund Australia). Many of these plastics end up in oceans and waterways, causing significant damage to marine life. The Center for Biological Diversity states that “fish in the North Pacific [Ocean] ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic per year.” Plastic consumption can cause poor health, reduced growth rates and reproductive output, or death among sea turtles according to an article in the ICES Journal of Marine Science. In addition, plastics can affect flora, not just fauna. An article in Plants reports that microplastics invade the soil “inhibiting seed germination, root elongation, and nutrient absorption.” Produce and seafood consumption may be impacted by microplastics. Plastics invade the environment.

Because of the danger plastic waste presents, recycling is encouraged. However, recycling collection systems aren’t easily accessible. Despite ad campaigns and policy decisions, most of the U.S. public has not bought into recycling. The U.S. Census reports that only 32% of Americans recycle. Even if you do want to recycle, many facilities do not offer recycling bins. My high school used to offer recycling for students but the county collection service is no longer available because of the cost of collecting from additional routes and separating plastics into categories for recycling. The school district would have to pay a contractor to take on this responsibility. Some municipalities have completely eliminated their recycling collection for residents. Recyclers must travel to the local convenience center, which can be burdensome for the elderly and those without an easy means of transportation, which disproportionately impacts the “16% of adults [in the United States] earning less than the federal poverty level,” who often lack consistent transportation (U.S. News & World Report). Although there are significant long-term benefits to keeping plastic waste out of the landfill, separating plastics into categories for processing can be costly, which makes it difficult for recycling to be funded.

Other, more effective solutions to the plastic waste crisis include reducing plastic consumption. Purchasing reusable water bottles eliminates plastic, saves energy, and reduces pollutants. According to a study from the peer-reviewed Procedia 10

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Manufacturing Journal, reuse of a 500mL bottle will save “about 1 MJ [megaJoule] per bottle.” It will also lead to 74% more energy savings and 182% less carbon dioxide emissions. Unlike trips to recycling centers, reusing water bottles is cost-effective.

Researchers at Penn State University have determined that Americans can save over $1,000 per year from using a reusable bottle, rather than the plastic alternative.

Promoting the use of reusable bags also reduces waste. In 2023, Aldi became the first major American retailer to eliminate plastic bags. According to Aldi CEO Jason Hart, the elimination of plastic bags at Aldi alone will “save over 4,400 tons of plastic from circulation.” That is equivalent to the weight in tons of over 600 African elephants. In addition, millions of barrels of oil are used to produce shopping bags every year. Oil extraction affects ecosystems and uses nonrenewable resources. Plastic waste also burdens taxpayers who must landfill the bags, which are difficult to recycle.

While recycling is a worthy effort to eliminate the plastic waste crisis, it is not a panacea. Recycling is not practiced by the majority of the American public and is not accessible to those without reliable transportation. Reducing plastic consumption is a better alternative. Reusing water bottles and shopping bags can save money in the store and can protect wildlife by reducing oil consumption. While plastics recycling should be offered, reducing plastic consumption more effectively addresses the plastic disposal problem.

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WaterSC and Your Community

BY MELISSA HIGGS, Communications Manager, FOLKS

You can find FOLKS Board Member and Advisor Dr. John Hains’s report of the Upper Savannah River Basin Council (USRBC) in the special edition of Keowee magazine. The USRBC plans will be incorporated into the updated South Carolina Water Plan, which will also involve WaterSC Water Resources Working Group (WaterSC) and stakeholder studies and comments.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) website for WaterSC explains the organization’s development: On Sept. 24, 2024, Governor Henry McMaster issued Executive Order 2024-22, establishing the WaterSC Water Resources Working Group. WaterSC works across state agencies and with key stakeholders to develop a state water plan that balances South Carolina’s economic and environmental interests to ensure the long-term protection of the state’s water resources as demand increases from recordbreaking economic development and population growth.

Joe Koon, SCDES’s Director of Water Resources, presented

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the “State of Surface Water in SC” at the WaterSC meeting on November 22. In 2023, 95% of water withdrawals in SC were from surface water, excluding hydropower. From 2013–2023, withdrawals for energy increased 3.1%. (However, the majority of water is returned after processing.) Withdrawals for water supply increased 19.3% and industrial withdrawals increased 13.7%. Total surface water withdrawals have increased 3.8%; excluding energy, they have increased 7.9%. Population and economic growth, as well as drought have been contributing factors. WaterSC is considering the long-term surface water use that is likely as a result of this growth.

Engineer John Boyer from CDM Smith discussed modeling based upon historical hydrologic data at the November meeting. Models of Upstate water basins indicate the ability to meet current needs.

However, in a High Demand Scenario, the Broad River Basin, which contains parts of 11 counties, including all of Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union Counties, may need to optimize use of

ADVOCATE 2025 MEETING INFORMATION WaterSC meeting recordings, presentations, and minutes will be made available on the website in the days after the meetings.

Meeting dates are currently tentative and subject to change with appropriate notice made. Meetings are available to the public by watching live on SCETV.

FEBRUARY 20 WORKING GROUP MEETING • Details TBD

MARCH 20 WORKING GROUP MEETING • Details TBD

APRIL 8, 9, 10 LISTENING SESSIONS IN STATEWIDE LOCATIONS

reservoirs, add intakes, and build connections between water systems.

His presentation states that with the exception of some agriculture, mining, and golf course operations along small tributaries, the Saluda and Upper Savannah Basins are projected to meet High Demand water supply needs through 2070. He notes, “If surface water users withdrew their full permitted and registered amounts, there would be frequent and significant shortages in the Broad and Saluda Basins, but relatively few shortages in the Upper Savannah Basin (Boyer).” Only longer and severe droughts could stress the Upper Savannah and Broad Basins.

Laura Renwick of SCDES Media Relations notes, “We’re asking residents to be active participants in WaterSC by watching meetings, reading the WaterSC Stakeholder Engagement Plan, and providing comments to the WaterSC Resource Working Group by emailing WaterSC@des.sc.gov or using the online form at des.sc.gov/WaterSC.” They encourage members of the public to attend listening sessions to speak to stakeholders, ask questions, and provide input.

• Listening Sessions in statewide locations with opportunities for public comment • Details TBD

APRIL 24 WORKING GROUP MEETING • Details TBD

MAY 15 WORKING GROUP MEETING • Details TBD

JUNE 19 WORKING GROUP MEETING • Details TBD

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Advocating for Water Quality Awareness in Lake Keowee Community

BY LILI GALLOWAY, Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient and Walhalla High School Student The rivers, streams, and creeks in Upstate South Carolina are captivating. It’s a natural phenomenon that eighteen waterfalls exist in Oconee County alone. Recreation, power, and lifestyles in the Upstate rely heavily on the environment’s water. Unfortunately, many residents of the Upstate are unaware the importance of water quality.

Educating the public about water quality testing and linking them to citizen science organizations puts a focus on our area’s water, and brings attention to the national issues of clean drinking water.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is similar to the Boy Scout’s Eagle Scout; it’s the highest honor awarded based on the number of hours of service to the community. The Gold Award requires eighty hours dedicated to a sustainable and community-serving service project of the scout’s choice. Two smaller ranked projects are the Silver Award (50 hours) and the Bronze Award (25 hours). I’ve been a Girl Scout since I was in kindergarten, and I’ve learned to love serving my community. I completed my Bronze Award in elementary school (donation boxes for school supplies). I found more of a passion in my Silver Award project, where I built a “bee hotel” and garden for Camp Wistagmon.

Though this was an important topic, I wanted to reach out further into the environmental sciences for my Gold Award project.

The easiest way to reach the public in an environmental space is through hands-on activities in the local parks. For my project, I used attractive signs with water quality information that included QR codes, which link to videos about the basics of water testing. With those videos and physical instructions, the public can check out an Adopt-A-Stream–like kit from a park office and try testing themselves.

It is intended to be fun rather than serious, so the quality control of the data from public uncertified testers is not recorded.

SC Adopt-A-Stream is an organization now run by the SC Department of Environmental Services (formerly SCDHEC), but when I completed my volunteer training, it was run by Clemson University. SC Adopt-AStream invites the public to become citizen scientists through water quality testing. This organization recognizes the importance of water throughout South Carolina. Their training workshop inspired me to focus on water quality for the Gold Award. I began my project with a presentation in front of my Girl Scout service unit’s Gold Award council, where they approved the concept: giving information to the public about water quality. Much of my life I’ve been aware of water quality, especially because of growing up playing in the rivers and fly fishing with my family. However, many families don’t have access to education on water quality. This is important in our area because agricultural, rural areas should always be under watch.

I began this project at the beginning of my junior year of high school, but it took a long time to get things rolling. I reached out 14

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to parks who might be interested, and contacted Camp WaBak, a Girl Scout camp in Marietta, SC. WaBak is a wonderful camp that I went to as a kid, and I wanted not only to install a sign and kit at that location but also to film the water testing videos there. The most accessible point to Gap Creek in camp was my ideal spot to film. I

ADVOCATE went in late February with my best friend Sarah and my mom. Sarah and I spent our Saturday wading in the cold water, trying to bring my vision to life. I will admit at the beginning of the project, I had no clear vision as to how things could be accomplished.

I was unsure of my decisions, and I didn’t have a great hold on how reality would play out. The turning point was a call to a representative from SCDHEC who was covering AdoptA-Stream matters. We discussed Adopt-A-Stream’s involvement, and the possibility of their donating kit materials. I wanted to cut costs as much as possible, so Adopt-AStream’s donation of materials (pH testing kit, a conductivity meter, and a transparency tube) was my idea. However, due to their uncertain future (at the time SC Adopt-A-Stream was moving under SCDHEC management), they were unable to donate any kit materials. With my plan changed, I scrambled to find a solution.

FOLKS was my saving grace. My family had already put in the money for the printing of my signs at D-Sign in Seneca. I didn’t want them to donate any more, so I reached out to FOLKS. I met with Stephen Schutt at South Cove County Park, explained the project,

and he advocated for my project at a monthly meeting. They donated enough money to cover the water quality kit materials, construction materials, and the printing of the small sponsor signs to go on the posts. Due to their donation, I was able to purchase everything needed, and in August I installed signs and kits at High Falls County Park, Chau Ram County Park, and Camp WaBak. Now, any park or camp visitor can check out a kit, and use the videos to learn about water quality and its importance.

Overall, this Gold Award project was successful although daunting at times for me. Still, the result of encouraging more people to participate in water quality science outweighs any cons. Water is a necessity to all life, and without clean water, our environment struggles to stay alive. I believe that humanity can find a solution to help our planet and ourselves achieve a balance between lifestyle choices and the Earth’s health. Spreading more accurate information and encouraging the public to get outside for more field work is a great first step to a better environment. I feel proud of how this project turned out, and I hope you enjoy it as well.

Thank you, Upstate South Carolina and FOLKS.

Fall in Love with Us!

Clemson Downs, A Continuing Care Retirement Community.

(864) 654-1155 • @RetireWellClemson • ClemsonDowns.com WINTER 2024

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Monitoring Lake Keowee’s Aids to Navigation

BY KEN MINTON, Administrative Officer, Golden Corner Lakes Sail and Power Squadron

Photos by Dale Wilde

I had the privilege to have been born and raised in Miami and the Florida Keys. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have access to a boat. I remember my dad patiently teaching his three young sons how to navigate using paper charts, how to read the weather, and how to make wise decisions while out in the deep waters far away from shore. We had only a compass, a CB radio, and our common sense to enjoy the water while being safe. I particularly remember some of the markers that we had to use way back then to navigate the shallow and tricky channels of the back country in the Keys. We didn’t have the fancy markers that we have today. We navigated the narrow shallows using a milk container tied to a stick, a tree stump dumped at a crucial 60° bend in the channel, or a string of red and green lobster pot buoys to guide the way. That was it. To not know how to read and use these impromptu markers could lead to the certain danger of running aground. You had to know how to keep safe.

When I moved to Seneca in 2016, my wife and I quickly became members of the Newcomer Club of the Foothills. What an amazing experience that was. It was at one of their monthly meetings that a presentation was made by some of the members of the Golden Lakes Sail and Power Squadron. They talked about the beauty of the lakes in our area. They talked about the number of service projects they do to help keep adults and children safe on the water. They talked about the number of “Boater Safety Classes” they offered to those new to boating who needed to know the basics of safely navigating our waters.

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Teaching people to be safe boaters got my attention. But then they talked about one other thing the Squadron does to help ensure that everyone who comes here, either as a resident or as a guest, knows how to identify hidden hazards to avoid problems on the water. They were speaking about the “Aids to Navigation” (ATONs) placed in strategic places by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) to give us the information we need to safely operate our vessels. If you have been on the lake, you have seen them. The ATONs are the floating white posts with orange messages that tell us what we need to know about certain sections of the lake. The speakers commented that twice a year Squadron members take to their boats to inspect each of the hundreds of ATONs on Lake Keowee. Are they in the right

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position? Are they damaged? Has the warning label faded beyond recognition? Is it even there? One-by-one, each ATON is inspected and graded to help SCDNR maintain the quality of the markers on the lake. And friend, between teaching classes on boater safety and ensuring that the ATONs are doing their job, I was hooked. I decided to join the Squadron at that point.

I am glad to say that the Power Squadron is still actively committed to keeping an eye on the ATONs on Lake Keowee throughout the year. Our first round of inspections is done in March. Though the air is still cool, and the boats are few, we do our inspections early enough in the year to report our findings to SCDNR to give them time to repair/replace any critical markers prior to the start of the busy boating season in May. Our second round of inspections is done in October at the end of the heavy boating season. We report our findings to SCDNR to give them time to schedule the work needing to be done and to coordinate their inventory of the various ATONs and markers needing repair.

We serve as an extra set of eyes on the lake. We don’t delve into the issues and/or concerns of marker placement and marker types.

We are observers of the markers as designated and placed. We enjoy our partnership with SCDNR and their work of helping to keep all who use the lake safe. It is a very small office within SCDNR that carries the burden of the upkeep of every ATON and marker throughout our state. They have a big task. When you see them on the lake working on the markers, give them a big thumbs up for their work. Let them know they are appreciated. And should you see an ATON that needs attention, especially in a critical area, call the Columbia SCDNR Office and report the marker.

If you would like to learn more about the Golden Corner Lakes Sail and Power Squadron, if you would like to take one of the Boating Safety Classes that we offer throughout the year, or if you would like to join us in our mission to promote boater safety on our lakes, please visit our web site (www.gclsaps.com) and let us know of your interest. It takes all of us working together to ensure that everyone who comes to this amazing lake has the most enjoyable and satisfying experience possible.

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KEOWEE

Conserve

Volunteers Curbing Litter in Our Community 20 Curious About Birds in the Upstate? 24 WINTER 2024

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CONSERVE

Volunteers Curbing Litter in Our Community

BY MELISSA HIGGS, Communications Manager, FOLKS

PalmettoPride, a nonprofit established in 2001, is a true public/ private partnership comprised of state agencies, concerned citizens, corporate sponsors, and community and civic organizations with the stated goal of encouraging “behavioral change” in our citizens about litter. It oversees South Carolina’s Adopt-a-Highway program.

The organization partners with local Department of Transportation offices to provide vests and signs, and to maintain roads. FOLKS has successfully partnered with PalmettoPride for years. We have received grants from them to obtain yearly litter cleanup supplies.

They provide all of the green bags FOLKS uses for litter cleanups as well as the gloves and trash grabbers. (Duke Energy funded the T-shirts and banners for boats to display during Lake Sweeps.) This has saved the organization a tremendous amount money.

We all know the benefits of clean communities. Tourists want to visit clean spaces, and everyone wants safe spaces without debris that can cause accidents and breed pests.

As I have travelled around the county, I have noticed vigilant homeowners cleaning roadways in front of their homes. I have also participated in Adopt-a-Highway collections. The time working together with a group of volunteers can be very rewarding. Keep Oconee Beautiful works to prevent litter as well. Unfortunately, we can’t stop it all before it happens, but we know that cleaner roads often discourage more littering.

Lakes benefit from these litter pickups. Stormwater runoff 20

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sweeps debris into waterways. Here in the Upstate, we serve as the headwaters for the watersheds that flow toward the Atlantic Ocean on the coast.

The Oconee office of South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) maintains the Adopt-A-Highway program. I spoke with Coordinator John Gibson. He reported: Currently, 27 groups have signed the two-year agreement contract. (Only four groups had not reported a litter pickup for 2024 at the time of this article.) By the end of November, roughly 11,400 pounds of litter and approximately 500 pounds of other materials, such as tires, mattresses, wood, and metal had been collected on state roadways. The top three groups were: Tri Lake Parrothead Club with 1,150 pounds collected; Clemson University Chi Phi Delta Theta Chapter with 1,050 pounds; and Submarine Veterans with 800 pounds collected.

Wells Highway from Friendship Road to SC-59 needs more attention since it is so close to the landfill. If you are interested in assisting with Wells Highway or know of another state road you would like to adopt, the Oconee office of the SCDOT can be reached at 864-613-1024.

If you are interested in helping with litter pickup, visit the Palmetto Pride website (www.palmettopride.org), or call them (803.758.6034). Your local office of the SCDOT should have safety training materials. Litter enforcement is also active in both Oconee and Pickens Counties. Their contact information is available on the county websites.

CONSERVE

FOLKS LITTER COLLECTION According to Paul Gibbons, Island Keepers Coordinator, “Throughout 2024, 44 teams worked to check on our islands and cleared debris. Traffic was lighter this year than during the pandemic. Teams reported 47 volunteer hours collecting 62 bags of trash.”

BOB LODI OF THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE FALLS LAKE SWEEP GROUP REPORTED: On October 13, I went to Fall Creek Landing N and S. The public roads were cleared as well as the parking lots and paths from the parking lots…We’ll do a “land sweep” of the peninsula…Spring 2025.

SCOTT CALDERWOOD, LAKE SWEEP CHAIRPERSON, REPORTED: Good news; the trend is in the direction of less trash. Bob Lodi noted that Fall Creek was much better than last year, which he credits to the Sheriff’s Department presence at the landing. Another factor is as the lakefront continues to be developed there are fewer places for boaters to beach up.

We also saw less trash at the Hwy 130/183 bridge just past Duke World of Energy.

There were more large items, in particular dock floats noted, which I believe can be attributed to the hurricane. I estimate we had 30 boats working on the lake plus volunteers sweeping the landings. Boat crews are usually three to four volunteers so we had 100+ volunteers who put in 40+ hours.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Island 10 and Island 20 are now open and need volunteers for Island Keepers.

FOLKS is looking for a Lake Sweep Chairperson. Scott will be stepping down after many years of service. Please consider volunteering for this essential position. If you are willing to help, please email FOLKS at folks@keoweefolks.org.

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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 Cliffs Fall South—HOA The Reserve at Lake Keowee

BUSINESS MEMBERS Action Services of Oconee, Inc Advocates for Quality Development Allen Tate—John Pulliam

Metal Lake Maps— Ken Van Natta

Blue Ridge Bank

Northwestern Supply

Carolina Bay Healing Spring Waters

Porch Conversion of Seneca

Carolina Wealth Management

Rainmaker Ponds and Irrigation

Classic Lighting Custom Dock Systems, Inc.

Sexton Griffith Custom Builders, LLC

Dolly’s Roofing

Shorescapes, Inc

Dorn’s Landscape Service

Strickland Marine and RV

For the Birds, Inc.

The Boat Dock Company

Golden Corners Lakes Sail & Power Squadron

The Cliffs at Keowee Falls

Justin Winter & Associates Forbes Global Properties

The Happy Berry The Lake Company —Lake Keowee The Wine Emporium

Keller Williams, Seneca— Chuck & Eva Gouge with Sandy Hadesty

T & M Custom Docks

Keowee North Marine

Upstate Insurance Agency

Kingfisher Maps

Vassey Financial Planning and Investments

Kroeger Marine Construction KEOWEEFOLKS.ORG

Melanie Fink and Associates—Allen Tate Realty

Backwater Landing

Goldie & Associates

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Lake Keowee Marina

Waterford Pointe HOA

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The Only Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliate In the Upstate Purveyor of the Finest Properties On Lake Keowee, Across the Way, Around the World.

Lakes Office 148 Thomas Green Blvd.

Clemson SC 29631

Greenville Office 1 McDaniel Greene Greenville, SC 29601

864.382.3800 Call Us... We Always Call You Right Back.

Each affiliate independently owned and operated.

CONSERVE

Curious About Birds in the Upstate?

BY JOE AND LIZ DUNKLEMAN, Oconee County Self-Proclaimed Bird Nerds and eBirders

With the leaves falling and colder weather setting in, the appeal of staying indoors and cozying up on the couch can overtake us, but just because the trees lose their leaves and nature’s beauty has turned gray, doesn’t mean that nature has fully retreated until spring.

Step outside and focus on what you hear for a minute. Ignore the sounds of that truck rolling down the road or the ongoing bark of the neighborhood dog. What else can your ears focus on? Listen for the soft whistles that may come from the trees or bushes, or gentle trills and chirps that come from the undergrowth, or even a muted honk that cuts through the fog on the water. Our avian friends are still actively foraging for food, looking for a nice place to roost out of the wind, or for that quiet cove to rest from their long flights.

Oconee County and the whole Upstate of South Carolina offer a cornucopia of habitats for birds and waterfowl to find respite yearround. Over 250 species of birds have been observed historically in each of the three Upstate counties around us: Oconee, Pickens, and Anderson. You may only be familiar with a handful of birds by name, but I guarantee you’ve seen more than you think. Besides the familiar cardinals, chickadees, woodpeckers, hawks, ducks, robins, and geese you may call out by name, there are many more birds all around you going unnoticed.

So how can you expand your knowledge of the birds around you? Perhaps start at your local library, bookstore, or bird store and find a basic backyard bird field guide (Peterson or Sibley are great.) You could even start to explore sites on your computer (allaboutbirds.org) and apps on your phone or tablet (Merlin) for bird identification resources.

You could also purchase a pair of inexpensive binoculars at your local outdoor or retail store.

However, the number one thing that will help you expand your horizons to the birds around you is a healthy supply of curiosity.

If you were to take a few extra moments each morning or afternoon and expand your 24

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Barred Owl/Dale Wilde

Indigo Bunting/Dale Wilde

Red Shouldered Hawk/Dale Wilde

curiosity about the movements and sounds around you, your awareness of these flying creatures would grow exponentially. Instead of just walking around the neighborhood for exercise, spend that same time looking to the skies, trees, or grass for movement. Train your eyes upon that movement and observe what you see. Start keeping track of the things you observe and compare that to the books and online resources you’ve started to gather.

Try to watch those tiny, brownish birds that like to congregate in groups on the ground near the edges of the road and near pine trees and learn about Chipping sparrows. Focus on that “FEEE-bee” sound you hear from that darker brownish bird that likes to flick its tail and fly to and from the same limb frequently to find out more about the Eastern phoebe.

You could also put out feeders and learn what types of seed attract what birds.

Above all, get curious! Go out and explore our beautiful lakes, waterfalls, parks, and mountains. South Cove County Park, Oconee State Park, Duke World of Energy Nature Trail, High Falls County Park, Walhalla Fish Hatchery, and Oconee Station Cove Falls are all great places in Oconee County to find some amazing birds.

So tomorrow, don’t just take out your favorite mug and pour a nice cup of coffee and find that comfy spot on the couch to curl up on and relax. Instead, put that coffee into a nice thermos or travel mug, put on a good long sleeve shirt, and layer up with a light jacket. Then grab those binoculars and be sure to pack your curiosity. Get out and find the birds that are all around you.

As eBirders the Dunklemans have a particular interest in woodpeckers and hawks, but they are always looking for birds while around their community. They started birding while photographing nature and enjoying the beautiful views. When they moved to the Upstate from the North Carolina Coast, they began birding to unwind after work and to explore the many parks around the area. Joe and Liz are the top birdwatchers in Upstate South Carolina for the eBirder database.

CONSERVE

Brown-headed Nuthatch/Dunkleman

Eastern Bluebird/Dale Wilde

Eastern Towhee/Dale Wilde

Eagle/Dale Wilde

Osprey/Dale Wilde

Eastern Bluebird/Dunkleman

Tufted Titmouse/Dunkleman WINTER 2024

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Practical Limnology

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Remembering Keowee, a Cherokee Community 32 Building Community with Dock Quilts 34 Winter Read: Grandma Gatewood’s Walk 38 Why Join FOLKS 40 Advertising Partners 42

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Quite a Storm, First Part: The Fundamentals PRACTICAL LIMNOLOGY

BY DR. JOHN HAINS, Clemson University (Retired), Clemson Public Service and Agriculture (PSA), and FOLKS Board Member.

I was hunkered down inside a mountain cabin for the night when in the wee hours Hurricane Helene hit. Trees began to tumble, fortunately none on my abode. Power went out promptly, meaning no well water either. No internet. Cell phone service was always spotty but somehow that spotty service survived.

When there was enough light to emerge that morning, I entered a world of fallen trees, downed power lines, and the residential lake that I was helping to monitor was over full. But as the eye of the storm passed over, the worst of the storm went with it.

Time for recovery, repair, and cleanup. But, how the heck did that thing happen? Lots of people wondering lots of questions.

We hadn’t been hit nearly as hard as the Asheville area, but it was still a surprise to have a storm like that in “them thar hills.”

The glib answer, at least part of it, to that question is nicely summarized in Figure 1: the amount of stored energy (heat) in the Gulf of Mexico so far this year. The intensity and magnitude of this and other storms is almost certainly related to warming of the oceans—in our particular case, warming of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Without that warming, hurricanes would be much less likely.

FIGURE 1.

Warmth in the Gulf of Mexico This chart shows a measure of “ocean heat content” expressed by kilojoules per square centimeter.

FEB.

APRIL

JUNE

AUG.

OCT.

DEC.

Source: Brain McNoldy; University of Miami Upper Oceran Dynamics Lab

Most factors contributing to what we just experienced are related to water—and energy. Nearly all the water that was delivered to this part of the world by Hurricane Helene originated from the Gulf of Mexico (and perhaps just a smidgen from the Caribbean), and water temperatures of around 90° F are far greater than needed to support the formation of hurricanes, those gigantic counter-clockwise swirls of wind and rain.

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that, at least in our part of the Blue Ridge, qualifies as temperate rainforest. The amount of precipitation we get is abundant compared to many other areas of the planet and this is unusual because at our latitude, other parts of the planet are quite arid, and even, like the Southwest or northern Africa, desert. We too, would expect arid conditions in our little corner except that we have two major sources of atmospheric water: the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Our regional climate is called a “maritime climate” for this reason. To understand this we must review the properties of water—and energy.

In science we work in quantitative terms when talking about water and energy. The table below lists several units of energy with which most of us are familiar. It also notes how these units convert one to another. In the International System of Units (SI) there are seven base units from which the SI unit of energy ( joule) is derived. The term “joule” comes from the name of an English physicist, James Prescott Joule, who contributed to such things as the First Law of Thermodynamics, and worked with John Dalton (a pioneer in atomic physics) and William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) back in the mid-nineteenth century.

ENERGY CONVERSION TABLE Energy Unit

Numeric Value Equivalent in Joules

1 joule

1

1 watt-hour

3600

1 kilowatt-hour

3,600,000

1 calorie (1 cal)

4.184

1 “food calorie” (1000 cal)

4184

1 BTU (British Thermal Unit)

1055.06

1 horsepower-hour

2684519.5369

Evaporation is a very effective way to cool something if you have the water to do it. Evaporation requires more than 500 times as much energy to change water from liquid to gas than it requires to change the temperature of the same amount of water.

Condensation requires the loss of the same amount.

The earth intercepts a tiny-but-important fraction of the sun’s radiant energy. The sun’s energy is absorbed differently by various materials such as the atmosphere, forests, and soil.

Some of the energy is not absorbed but rather is reflected back to space. But water, and more specifically the oceans, are a nearly

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perfect absorber of solar energy. Nearly 95% of sunlight hitting the oceans is absorbed rather than reflected.

The atmosphere also absorbs some of the sun’s energy.

When it does, it warms. A warming atmosphere radiates energy as well, some of which is directed back to the surface of the planet, thus the “greenhouse effect” that was first identified by Joseph Fourier in 1827. In 1896 Svante Arrhenius calculated that absent the CO2 in the atmosphere, the average temperature of the earth would also be much cooler, about 60° F cooler than it is today. Moreover, Arrhenius saw this in optimistic terms as he thought that increases in CO2 would result in more land suitable for agriculture. Neither of them predicted the effect on the oceans.

The temperature of the planet and the temperature of the water is determined in large part by the balance (or imbalance) of incoming energy against outgoing energy. Unless the laws of physics are broken (and so far there is no evidence that they are), if more energy is absorbed than lost by various means, then the temperature of a material will increase. Hurricanes represent gigantic transfers of energy resulting from the water that evaporates from the oceans, condenses at high altitudes, and precipitates back to the surface, perhaps to be evaporated once again. An average hurricane transfers approximately 5 x 1019 joules per day, mostly just from precipitation and does not take into account the energy of the winds. The power of the storm that ravaged our hills was vast. That energy has to come from someplace or something.

As CO2 increases in the atmosphere thus absorbing more and more of the long-wave radiation from both the sun and from the earth’s surface, it warms more and more. This enables the atmosphere to hold even more water vapor which, due to the increased temperatures at the ocean surface, is evaporated from those waters in greater quantities. The oceans can absorb immense amounts of energy, but once absorbed, they can also store and release that energy for a very long time. We can actually measure how much energy is stored by the oceans, keeping in mind that the storage we observe today has been accumulating for a long time.

In Figure 2, one of the two lines is the energy storage for all the oceans since 1957 in the top 700 meters (about 2300 feet). The other line is for the top 2000 meters (about 6600 feet).

The units are in zettajoules and this means that whatever number is on the axis of the graph is followed by 21 additional zeros.

The obvious trend in Figure 2 is increased storage and energy content as the years go by. It is a great demonstration of the

FIGURE 2.

Changes since 1957 (zettajoules)

Nearly 95% of sunlight hitting the oceans is absorbed rather than reflected.

Source: NOAA/NASA

400 300

Ocean heat content Changes since 1957

200 100 0

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

imbalance that the earth has had for decades. The trend in Figure 2 is that the rate of energy storage over the course of each year has also increased. Theoretically, we could cut greenhouse gases, get a start on a cooling atmosphere, and still have decades of stored heat to lose from the oceans.

I believe that most of us have seen enough from the news media to understand that Hurricane Helene was intense and moved quickly, thus preserving some of the intensity far inland.

Unfortunately, this legacy may be something that the next generation will have to confront, perhaps the generation after that. My next article will add some additional details.

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Remembering Keowee, a Cherokee Community

BY JACKSON HIGGS, Former Jack Lewis Watershed Stewardship Scholarship Recipient and Walhalla High School Senior

Thousands of years ago, a different group of people inhabited this region. Instead of driving in cars, they traveled by river in wooden canoes. When they needed food, they did not go to the supermarket. Instead, they relied on hunting game and cultivating the “Three Sisters” (corn, beans, and squash). Yet, they were also remarkably similar to the people of today. They had a complex system of government. Just like the U.S. government, they passed treaties among both themselves and other indigenous nations and created laws to govern society. They also held sporting events to foster community. These people were the Cherokee.

Oconee County was once home to one of the largest Cherokee populations in South Carolina. As many as 27 villages once existed within the current boundaries of the county (Visit Oconee).

The Cherokee town of Keowee (“place of the mulberries”) was considered to be the principal town of seven Lower Towns, so named by English settlers because of the settlements’ locations in the Piedmont region of South Carolina. Keowee was located on the main trading path between the natives and British, so the town maintained a prosperous economy until it was burned down by Patriot soldiers in retaliation for Cherokee support of the British.

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Researchers from the University of South Carolina recovered artifacts from the Cherokee Lower Towns in the early 20th Century, but Keowee and other towns like it, are now submerged under Lake Keowee.

There are many aspects of Cherokee life that can serve as lessons for present-day Americans. Key elements of Cherokee society included the game of stickball and the weaving of wampum belts. Stickball served as a peaceful way to alleviate disputes between members of a tribe. Opposing parties in an argument formed stickball teams. The team that scored the most points by using their webbed stick to throw a ball through a goal would be considered the winner of the disagreement. Wampum belts served a similar societal function. Wampum belts were made by stringing together wampum beads, which are comprised of purple and white components of shells that were sanded and drilled.

The beads illustrated various images that signify aspects of an agreement. The wampum belt served as a reminder to its recipient of their responsibility to uphold their end of the agreement. The Cherokees’ peaceful solutions provide an important lesson for modern society.

Today, the Cherokee are primarily isolated on three reservations, the Eastern Cherokee Reservation in Western North Carolina, and the Cherokee Nation Reservation and the United Keetoowah

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Reservation, both in Oklahoma. Although the Cherokee once inhabited significant portions of the U.S. Southeast, most Cherokee were forced west by the U.S. government on the Trail of Tears, a brutal march that left over 10,000 Native Americans

TURTLE CALENDAR The calendar on Turtle’s back equals 364 days. The Cherokee and many other tribes have 365 days in their year. The extra day is the Green Corn day which is usually in midsummer when the corn crop is new and holds the promise of a good harvest. On this day, all offenses are forgiven, and great feasts are prepared and eaten. This is the day that everything starts anew. So when you see brother Turtle crossing your path, remember this story and, if you can, give him a little help on his way. (Museum of the Cherokee in South Carolina)

dead (National Park Service). However, around one thousand Cherokee escaped the U.S. military by hiding in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Their descendants later purchased 57,000 acres of land in Western North Carolina, naming it the Eastern Cherokee Reservation. This land is now under a federal protective trust from the U.S. government, which requires the United States to protect the “treaty rights, lands, assets, and resources” of its inhabitants (U.S. Department of the Interior).

To learn more about the Cherokee, visit the Museum of the Cherokee in South Carolina, located in Walhalla. The displays cover everything from the journey of the first Native Americans into North America to modern excavations of Cherokee towns by researchers.

In addition, knowledgeable historians are available to provide information about the exhibits, and an array of books about the Cherokee are available for purchase.

The Museum of the Cherokee is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Further information can be found at www.cherokeemuseumsc.org.

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Building Community with Dock Quilts

BY EDNA ELFONT, Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail Representative

In every civilization, art and history are frequently bound into the patterns of objects made for everyday use by everyday people.

We at the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail (UHQT) are devoted to preserving and celebrating the art and history of one of these objects—quilts.

While we do display original quilts two to three times a year in a variety of venues, that doesn’t fulfill our goal to make these marvelous creations part of the daily experience of both residents and travelers in our beautiful little corner of the world, which, for UHQT, includes Pickens, Oconee, and Anderson counties.

To accomplish our goal, first we aligned ourselves with quilting clubs, well-known quilters, and even a quilt historian or two.

With the input of these resource people, we identified patterns of interest and beauty. Initially, most of the patterns selected for display were those that had an interesting history or whose creators contributed to local history in some way.

Next, after much research and securing financial backing, we began to create “quilt panels” that would accurately reproduce the patterns and colors of an original quilt. We paint these patterns onto large aluminum panels that are weatherproofed and mount them onto barns, homes, businesses, schools and more.

Perhaps you have seen these outstanding bits of artistry punctuating the landscape and have taken note of their beauty and charm as you drive about the Upstate. In many of these sites, the quilt’s stories as researched and written by the members of UHQT are also displayed. These stories may include family memories as well as the pattern’s history and physical location.

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Original Design by Chris Troy

In more recent years, the members of UHQT have expanded their vision of what quilts we will accept for panel production beyond only historically significant ones, and our only requisite now is that there must be a real quilt from which we will work.

When the real quilt is not physically available, however, we have made a quilt panel from a photograph.

As of 2024, we have over 300 panels on a variety of structures

EDUCATE this article in KEOWEE magazine.

As of this writing, we have only five quilt panels on Lake Keowee and two under construction. Why not consider having a quilt panel on your dock? If you are interested in commissioning one, go to our website at UHQT.org; click on “Get Involved”; and then click on “Quilt Panel Application,” where you will see costs and other information.

While on our site, click on the Trails/Map selection to see all the quilt panel locations in Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens counties, as well as those in Greenville, which are not managed by UHQT. By clicking on each of the individual quilt panel locations, you will see the quilt’s information and a thumbnail photo.

UHQT, South Carolina’s first quilt trail, Scenes of the Lake by Sheree Gibson uniquely allows panels to be made only from a real quilt. The volunteers who paint the panels make every effort to capture the shading and intensity in many different sites, including some docks. If you can enjoy of the quilt’s colors, and they attempt to recreate the textures seeing these wonderful creations from the road, why not be able as well. If the person who commissions the panel wants total to do the same from the water? And so, we come to the reason for

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 2024

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Bouillabaise

authenticity, our artists will go so far as to reproduce rips, stains and even stray threads.

Once you choose to commission a panel, you are in charge. You can choose the quilt to be used or have UHQT choose one for you, and you (and whomever else you’d like to involve) can participate as much or as little as you’d like in the panel’s creation.

Standard quilt panel sizes are two-, four-, six-, and eight-feet square. (The most popular sizes are the four- and eight-feet square, but rectangular sizes can be provided for an additional charge.) The materials that are used to create these special panels begin with a professional sign board consisting of two sheets of aluminum, with a polycarbonate center. Once painted, the quilt panel is treated with a marine sealer so that it is fully protected from the environment.

We would love to see a time when there are enough panels on enough docks to eventually create a self-guided “discovery cruise” for visitors and residents alike. Please consider helping this goal come to fruition.

INTERESTED IN HAVING A QUILT PANEL ON YOUR DOCK? Visit UHQT.org; click on “Get Involved”; and then click on “Quilt Panel Application.”

INTERESTED IN TOURING THE UHQT TRAIL? Visit UHQT.org; click on “Trails/Map” at the top to see all the quilt panel locations.

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Tres Belle Fleurs

by Barbara Schoonover

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WINTER READ

Grandma Gatewood’s Walk

BY DALE WILDE, President, FOLKS

Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery is an inspiring biography of the first woman to thru-hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone at the age of 67 in 1955. The book details historical research, family recollections, and Gatewood’s own words about her 2,168-mile-long trek.

Armed with little more than a pair of Keds® sneakers, a sack of supplies slung over her shoulder, and a blanket, Gatewood stands in sharp contrast to the high-tech, gear-intensive culture that often surrounds modern hiking. Her minimalist approach to the trek highlights that the human spirit is capable of incredible feats when driven by

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sheer will and determination.

Born in rural Ohio, Emma Gatewood was one of 15 children born into poverty who had a challenging life. Her experiences of an abusive marriage and the hardships of raising 11 children during the Great Depression are not just background details but pivotal elements that shaped her determination and strength.

Whether you’re a hiking enthusiast, a history buff, or someone looking for a story of perseverance and courage, this book is a must-read. It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to embark on a new adventure, and that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things. This book offers a powerful commentary on aging, freedom, and self-reliance.

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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 more than 215 Dock Pro Kits and over 400 larger fish habitats throughout the lake • Bluebird nesting boxes and osprey platforms

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EDUCATION • Publication of the magazine—KEOWEE • Jack Lewis Watershed Stewardship Scholarship Program—We have selected 6 local high school students for the 2024–25 program.

• 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 continuing our stewardship of preserving the lake and serving as stakeholder on important lake and watershed issues. We are focusing our efforts this year on more community engagement and working with local area schools to help them develop meaningful STEM projects. Join our team of volunteers and become a member!

EDUCATE 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

Email_________________________________________________________________

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 is a 501(c)(3) public service watershed organization.

Business

$100/yr

Corporate

$500/yr

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

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F O L K S A DVE R T I S I N G PA R T N E R S

Septic Tank & Grease Trap Pumping | Portable Toilets & Restroom Trailers 864.638.6642 actionservicesofoconee.com

Designing, manufacturing, and installing custom boat docks since 1971.

864.888.2326 110 Mtn. View Dr., Seneca BoatDockCo.com

The Nation's Largest All-Volunteer Habitat Affiliate. Visit our ReSale store to shop or donate.

864-888-2118 130 Bountyland Rd., Seneca oconeehabitat.org

FOLKS is a proud member of the North American Lake Management Society.

NALMS.org

Thank you, FOLKS. From a Lake Keowee native, property owner and real estate agent.

Greg Coutu 864.230.5911 coutulakekeowee@gmail.com

Rip Rap & Dredging "Our Quality Shows" Frank Breseale Cell 864.423.6792 Office 864.878.5800 BSECINC@aol.com

Lake Maps • Canvas Prints Posters • Custom Mapping Shop online & save 15% Use coupon code: folks15 KFMaps.com

Serving the Southeast for different aspects of water & landscaping needs for over 30 years.

2054 Sandifer Blvd., Seneca 800.225.1160 864.885.1160 northwesternsupplyinc.com

Making boating safer and more enjoyable for over 100 years.

Advocating for Responsible Land Development and Protecting Quality of Life.

Learn how to get involved at americasboatingclub.org

Learn more at aqdupstate.com

BRIAN HANVEY Computer Technician plus Phones, TVs, Viruses, & Custom Built Computers

Our Water.

Our Future.

Our Responsibility.

864-247-6969 brianhanvey@gmail.com

AutoCAD Design Services, CNC Plasma Cutting, MIG/TIG Welding, Wall Art, Business Signage, Metal Decor & Fire Pits Ken Van Natta 770.312.1090 MaconMetalWorks.com

Office in Seneca, Walhalla and Westminster, SC, as well as Toccoa and Clayton, GA 864.882.2765 OconeeFederal.com

lakekeoweewatershed.org A 501(C) (3) non-profit corporation.

MOUNTAIN LAKES COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Improving Homeowner and Property Owner Associations Through Collaboration & Education President@MLCASC.com MLCASC.com

Working together for a litter-free South Carolina.

Report a Litter Bug 1.877.7LITTER (1.877.754.8837)

F O L K S A DVE R T I S I N G PA R T N E R S

Quality Patio & Casual Furniture – Grills, Stoves, Fireplaces & More!

Landscape Design Install for over 20 years

10239 Clemson Blvd., Seneca 864.888.4413 PatioFireside.com

10227 Clemson Blvd., Seneca 864.882.0363 CallRainmaker.net

Family owned for 27 years with RV Sales, Boat Sales, Service, Parts, etc.

864.885.0777 1771 Blue Ridge Blvd., Seneca StricklandMarineandRV.com

Travis Pace 864.752.8145 tpace@shorescapes.net

Support the South Carolina Wildlife magazine.

shorescapes.net

SCWildlife.com

Chris Lawrence, LUTCF Established in 1938 Bill Boomhower 864.638.2414 3695 Blue Ridge Blvd., Walhalla SuperServiceTireWalhallaSC.com

1229-B Stamp Creek Rd., Salem 864.944.0085 700 W. Main St., Walhalla 864.638.2341 UpstateInsurance.com

Your Ad Here Email us to have your business featured here.

Name Phone / Address Website

Advertise in KEOWEE Expand your reach to customers and support our mission in the Lake Keowee watershed.

• Full, half, quarter page ad space • New semi-custom small space ads • Competitive advertising rates

For additional information, contact us at: FOLKS@keoweefolks.org

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

READ MORE ABOUT THE UPSTATE HERITAGE QUILT TRAIL ON PAGE 34.

Forest Lake, Designer McKenna Ryan, Quilter Joy duBois