A Commitment to Protecting North Augusta's Natural Resources through Stormwater Management
Protecting our natural resources such as streams, rivers, ponds, open space, trails, and greenways is vital to our economy and community. North Augusta city leaders are committed to protecting our resources during a time when our city is growing at an unprecedented rate. The North Augusta Planning Commission adopted the North Augusta Comprehensive Plan in 2005 to help identify and protect our valuable resources. The commission devoted a full chapter of the plan to our ecosystems in the section entitled Natural Resources. The document presents the review that was conducted and takes an in depth look at the city's environment and Land Uses from the past and into the future.
Below you will find in depth information about our watershed (the Savannah), its basins and sub-basins located in North Augusta. More information is available through our "Online Services" link to the "document library". Once there, click on the Engineering page and then Stormwater.
Watersheds, Basins, Streams, Creeks, Rivers & Ponds
What is a watershed?
A watershed or drainage basin is an area of land to which water drains to a common waterway such as a stream, lake, estuary, wetland, river, or even ocean. Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. They cross local, state and national boundaries. No matter where you are, you’re in a watershed! Watersheds are made up networks of different types of conveyances for water. Watersheds can be looked at from a state wide basis or they can be looked at more closely by county or city. When looking at a watershed on a smaller scale, they can be divided into “drainage basins”.
To fully understand North Augusta’s strategy and the development of our watershed and basins, it helps to understand how South Carolina’s watersheds are identified. Scroll down to see a map of South Carolina and its watershed. As you can see there are several “drainage basins” the state has designated based on topography and hydrology. Within the state map, try to locate where North Augusta is located. As you can see, we are located in the Savannah Basin. The receiving water for South Carolina’s entire watershed is the Atlantic Ocean.
South Carolina's Watersheds & Basins
Features within a drainage basin
Each watershed is made up of drainage basins that contain different types of streams. Perennial, intermittent or ephemeral streams generally lead to a main branch or receiving water at the lowest point in a watershed or drainage basin. All rainwater that falls drains to the lowest point in an area. Some of this water will reach the groundwater and may travel to a different basin in a different direction.
- Perennial streams are identified by well defined banks and natural channels that have continuously flowing water year round.
- Intermittent streams have well defined banks and natural channels that typically have flowing water from a headwater source for only a portion of the year.
- Ephemeral streams do not have well defined channels and flow only in response to rainfall.
For more information, please visit the "Online Services - Document Library" and click on Engineering and Public Works/Stormwater Management to download a brochure describing stream types in more detail.
Savannah River Basin
North Augusta falls within the Savannah River Basin which incorporates 35 watersheds and some 2.9 million acres within South Carolina (portions of the basin are located in North Carolina and Georgia). The Savannah River Basin is divided into three regions: the Tugaloo/Seneca, the Upper Savannah and the Lower Savannah. North Augusta is located mostly within the Lower Savannah River Basin.
Facts about the "Lower Savannah River" Basin
| Watersheds: |
15 |
|
| Geographic Regions: |
Piedmonts to Sandhills to Upper and Lower Coastal Plains and on to the Coastal Zone |
| Square Miles: |
2,123 |
|
| Acres: |
1.3 million |
|
| Forested: |
61.0% |
|
| Agicultural: |
12.5% |
|
| Forested Wetland: |
12.3% |
|
| Barren: |
9.84% |
|
| Urban: |
2.1% |
|
| Water: |
1.3% |
|
| Nonforested Wetland: |
1.0% |
|
| Stream Miles: |
2,075 |
|
| Lake Waters |
4,447 |
|
| Estuarine Areas: |
3,356 |
|
| |
Federal lands, such as the Savannah River Site and the Savannah River National Wildlife Refuge, form a sizable portion of this basin.
The Savannah River flows out of the Thurmond Dam and is restricted again by the Stevens Creek Dam, forming Stevens Creek Reservoir. Stevens Creek accepts drainage from Turkey Creek (Beaverdam Creek) and enters the Savannah River prior to the dam. Downstream of the Stevens Creek dam, the Savannah River accepts drainage from Horse Creek, Hollow Creek, Upper Three Runs, and Lower Three Runs (Par Pond). The Savannah River continues to flow between South Carolina and Georgia until it reaches Savannah, Georgia, where it drains into the Atlantic Ocean.
To learn more about the Savannah River Basin review SCDHEC's 2003 Savannah River Basin Watershed Water Quality Assessment.
Sub-Basins located in North Augusta
North Augusta has been divided into Sub-Basins within our watershed. Sub-basins are determined by topography (terrain or hills and valleys that are located within the area) where rain falls. Each sub-basin has its own streams, creeks, ponds, and drainage systems (storm sewers). All of these features drain out of the sub basin into the Savannah River or another sub-basin. The sub-basin maps are below. Map 1 is the basin names and location, and Map 2 is the topographical image of the basins. Can you determine which sub-basin you live in?
North Augusta Sub-watershed Basins (Map 1)
Topographical Map of North Augusta Sub-watershed Basins (Map 2)
Descriptions of Sub-Basins in North Augusta
Which sub-basin do you live in?
- Fox Creek Basin – This basin is located at the edge of the city near the Edgefield County line. All creeks and streams that flow into Gregory Lake located on Gregory Lake Road are part of the Fox Creek Basin. Most of this area is outside the city limits. The basin does converge with Pole Branch basin within the city limits. The basin is sampled at the location just prior to its convergence with Pole Branch. Once the two basins meet, water is carried directly to the Savannah River along the undeveloped portion of Bergen Road (formerly Frontage Road) that heads toward the Savannah River.
- Pole Branch Basin – This basin is one of the city’s largest basins. The basin begins along Highway 25 at I-20, to Arbor Place off of Walnut Lane, Bergen Road and its communities, through Belvedere to Five Notch Road at the I-20, Knobcone Avenue. It includes a large area below Edgewood Heights subdivision, the North Augusta High School and then all the way to I-20 at Martintown Road. All creeks and streams located in the area converge into Pole Branch and it then crosses I-20 on Bergen Road and converges with Fox Creek below Martintown Road.
- Crystal Lake Basin – The Crystal Lake basin is located in the area of the city that encompasses areas of Jackson Avenue, Mokateen, Crystal Lake Drive, Forest and Lake Avenues, lower West Avenue from Sno Cap and below, Bluff and Cumberland Avenues and Crystal Lake. The large drainage depression located near Woodlawn Avenue accepts stormwater from the streets stormwater pipes in the basin. The water flows from these areas across Buena Vista Avenue along Crystal Lake Drive to Crystal Creek. It travels through the basin until it reaches the Savannah River at the end of Savannah Point Drive. The sample point is at that location.
- Rapids/Pretty Run Basin – The Rapids/Pretty Run Basin is a large basin that drains older neighborhoods such as Lynnhurst, from the Greeneway Trail along Bolin Road, Knollwood and Waccamaw Streets, Marion Avenue and portions of Georgia Avenue near McDonalds. Most of the area east of Five Notch Road is included until you reach Knollwood subdivision. In addition, newer residential areas are drained here, including The Rapids, Herron Cove, and others areas along Martintown Road near the Greeneway Trail. The main branch of this basin is Pretty Run Creek. This basin is sampled in The Rapids at Pretty Run Creek just before it enters the Savannah River. The name of this basin is misleading since Pretty Run Creek is the primary creek running through it. For that reason, the basin has been renamed Pretty Run Basin for future maps. All data collected are collected as Pretty Run Basin.
- River Bluff – This basin is the area just below the ridge of the Savannah Bluffs Heritage Preservenear Old Plantation Road. The basin collects stormwater from the Savannah Barony subdivision and parts of The Rapids and Herron Cove area where the land ridge slopes back toward this basin. The city monitors this basin at the end of Shoals Way Court just before the stream enters Savannah River.
- Storm Branch – This basin once drained all stormwater to the area located near the bottom of Belvedere Ridge where a closed wastewater treatment lagoon once operated. Since the closure of the lagoon, the basin drainage area does not flow and the creek associated with it is dry most of the year. Stormwater filters into the old lagoon beds that are fully vegetated large depressions. Although the ditch is dry most of the time, the sample point for this area is located on Powerhouse Road. It is checked for flow during routine monitoring.
- Womrath Basin – This basin includes the area located from the junction of Knox Avenue and Old Edgefield Road back to Carolina Springs/Womrath Road. The water flows from these areas and then crosses Old Aiken Road and beyond until it crosses US 1/78 (Aiken/Augusta Highway). From there the unnamed creek empties into wetlands located adjacent to Horse Creek. This basin is sampled at the TTX Plant located off of Hamburg Road.
- Horse Creek Basin – Horse Creek is a major stream in the Middle Savannah Watershed. The city borders the stream from Atomic Road all the way to Savannah River. Wetlands and their associated streams below the railroad track below Revco Road empty to Horse Creek along this stretch of the stream. The sample point for Horse Creek is located at the end of the stream adjacent to Horse Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Mason tract adjacent to I-520.
- Waterworks Basin – The Waterworks Basin is a very large basin in the city that handles tremendous flows during rain events. The basin drains the areas from Knox Avenue near WBEK TV and below including Lowes, Walmart, the North Augusta and Kroger Shopping Centers, and Martintown Road. Subdivisions along Old Edgefield Road that are part of this basin include Edgefield Heights, Summerfield Park and the area below them down to Atomic Road. Drainage from parts of downtown Georgia Avenue, West Spring Grove, Mealing Avenue, North Augusta Elementary, Metz Drive, Buena Vista Avenue, Philpot and Gentry Lanes, Old Martintowne and Fleetwood Drives send stormwater through this basin. Stormwater from the west side of the Business Technology Center drains to this basin. Much of this water flows through Edenfield Park until it converges beside the Municipal Building. From there the primary basin stream runs along Riverside Boulevard, through The River Golf Course and its pond system. The basin is sampled at Shoreline Drive just before it empties to the Savannah River. The city, along with the University of South Carolina at Aiken, have been working together to study the water quality in this basin. In addition, this area of the city is slated for storm sewer improvements and road projects that will help to eliminate the flooding problems that occur when heavy rainfall hits the city. City engineers are working with the SCDOT to finalize the designs and acquire permits necessary to begin this work.
- Hamburg Basin – This basin includes the lower reaches of the city near RiverNorth subdivision. All of the wetlands and associated creeks and streams located in the area from the Augusta Concrete Plant to I-520 (Palmetto Parkway) are included.
- Mims Branch – The Mims Branch basin drains a large undeveloped area located off of Highway 25 from Ascauga Lake Road to Blanchard Road and is bordered by Old Sudlow Lake Road. It is the only basin in the city that is nearly 100% undeveloped. The basin is sampled at Old Sudlow Lake Road where it leaves the city. At the present time, this basin is considered a “representative basin” since it is in a relatively undeveloped area and is not impacted by industrial or residential use. Data collected from this location can be considered representative of those conditions and the stream water quality of this basin can be considered as a target or goal for other streams located in our watershed. The basin is being sampled in several locations to capture valuable data while it remains undeveloped.
- Riverview Basin -- This basin is small and incorporates drainage from the San Salvadore and Farifield Avenue area. The discharge is located in a deep ravine leading to the Savannah River near Riverview Park. Future studies are planned for this basin.
- Hammond Hills Basin – The Hammond Hills Basin is located in the Hammond Hills subdivision and incorporates stormwater that flows from Stanton to Bunting Drives near Hammond Hill Elementary School and also from some of the drainage from Campbellton Drive and its associated streets. This basin is unique in that it has several features that make it a much more difficult basin to study. One of these is the stormwater infrastructure in this older community. It was developed as a series of pipes that discharge in to earthen or sometimes lined ditches located behind homes. These ditches discharge to creeks that leave the basin in several locations. A second feature is that this basin is located high on the bluffs above the Savannah River and the terrain is steep and in some places not accessible. The basin is being sampled in two locations off of Stanton Drive. One is the ditch at Merriwether and Stanton Drives, the other is the ditch near Hammond and Stanton Drives.
- Pretty Run Basin 2 -- This is a relatively small basin that is not being evaluated since the basin drains to a relatively large pond prior to entering the Savannah River. This pond collects water from storms and will act as a treatment process. This process allows pollutants to settle out of the water through several means (aquatic vegetation use excess nutrients, pollutant deposition or settling into the sediments, and evaporation) prior to it flowing into the Savannah River.
For more information please contact:
Tanya Strickland, Environmental Coordinator, SWMD
Phone: (803) 441-4246 or via email: tstrickland@northaugusta.net
North Augusta's Stormwater Management Department
