Joint Statement Regarding Saluda River Access
JOINT STATEMENT OF CONGAREE RIVERKEEPER & RIVERBANKS ZOO
Located along the banks of the Lower Saluda River, Riverbanks Zoo is South Carolina’s largest tourist attraction, hosting over one million guests in each of the past three years. Riverbanks guests come from all over the United States and contribute millions of dollars each year to the Columbia-area economy. Congaree Riverkeeper is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and improving water quality, wildlife habitat, and recreational access on the Congaree, Lower Saluda and Lower Broad Rivers through advocacy, education and enforcement of environmental laws. Designated as State Scenic River by the Legislature, the Lower Saluda River is recognized as an outstanding recreational resource for trout and striped bass fishing as well as whitewater and flatwater paddling within the urban environment of metropolitan Columbia. Riverbanks Zoo sits alongside a particularly beautiful and heavily used stretch of the Lower Saluda, and its parking lot has been a long-standing access point to the River. Riverbanks Zoo and Congaree Riverkeeper are committed to working together to assure continued access to the River while at the same time, protecting the safety of Zoo patrons and River users.
The popularity of the Zoo and the Lower Saluda has created problems that threaten both the Zoo’s strength as a tourism destination and public enjoyment of the Lower Saluda. Growing use of the Lower Saluda over the past four years by a greater diversity of the population has created an increase in thefts, fights, alcohol and drug use, littering, and property damage in the Zoo’s parking lots and along the Lower Saluda. A number of security measures have already been implemented, including the installation of security cameras and erection of fencing at the east end of the Zoo parking lot. The security cameras have caused a significant reduction in some of these crimes. Although the fenced east parking lot has helped reduce incidents in or near that area, the problem has simply moved over to the west end of the parking lot. Both the Zoo and Congaree Riverkeeper believe that the best long-term solution is implementation of the Saluda River portion of the Three Rivers Greenway, which will bring lighting, trash receptacles and, most importantly, greater police presence. Together, we will do what we can to make this greenway a reality.
Until then, Riverbanks Zoo and Congaree Riverkeeper will work together to protect recreational access, with the understanding that reasonable measures must be taken to further control the problem of crime. Before any plan is finalized, the Zoo and Congaree Riverkeeper will work with the paddling community to negotiate a fair solution to the problem that we see as a threat to river users and Zoo patrons alike. The Zoo will also explore the feasibility of funding a parking master plan to better understand how to protect public safety and provide for future parking needs. Additionally, Congaree Riverkeeper will join the Zoo in seeking better enforcement of state law prohibiting certain activities on Zoo property. Riverbanks Zoo and Congaree Riverkeeper ask for the patience and understanding of the paddling community as we all try to reach a resolution to this situation.
