3/02

Wow, what a fantastic day to explore the rivers of the mid-state of SC. We spent the day exploring Columbia’s Riverfront Park with Karen Kustafik, ranger for the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department. We looked at the place where the fall line begins and the Saluda & Broad rivers come together to form the Congaree. Columbia’s location was decided largely because early river travelers found it difficult to travel past this fall line (and all the rocks!), making it the most appropriate place to build a city. As we enter the Congaree, the rocks give way to sediment and limestone and the waterways become more passable. We also paddled the canals of Columbia and learned about the important role these waterways play in the local community. In addition to serving as the centerpiece of a beautiful city park, much of the hydro-electric power and drinking water comes from these sources. It is also worth noting as we leave the Sand Hills and the Columbia area that we begin to leave the SC Heritage Corridor, which we followed in the upstate. Our video crew has been hard at work capturing footage of the Heritage Corridor for the upcoming DVD release and we thank them for their support of the Web of Water journey. Tomorrow off to Saluda Shoals…stay tuned.