About Us

About Congaree Riverkeeper

Our Mission

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We work to protect and improve water quality, wildlife habitat, and recreation on the Broad, Lower Saluda, and Congaree Rivers through advocacy, education, and enforcement of environmental laws.

Where We Work

Congaree Riverkeeper’s advocacy efforts cover three different rivers in the Midlands of South Carolina and their tributaries. 

Broad River
Our jurisdiction starts on the Broad River at the Parr Reservoir, and runs downstream approximately 27 miles where the Broad meets the Saluda River in Columbia. 

Lower Saluda River 
Our jurisdiction also includes a 11-mile stretch of the Saluda River from Lake Murray Dam, downstream to its confluence with the Broad River in Columbia to form the Congaree River. 

Congaree River
Finally, our third river segment includes the entire Congaree River, which flows 53 miles from Columbia to the confluence with the Wateree River, near Lake Marion.

Why We Do It

The Broad, Lower Saluda, and Congaree Rivers are a tremendous asset to the Midlands. They are sources of precious drinking water, places to play, and to appreciate a natural beauty that should be protected and preserved for future generations. 

From Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies and smallmouth bass fishing on the Broad, to some of the best urban whitewater on the Lower Saluda, to paddling the only designated Outstanding National Resource Water in SC – Cedar Creek in Congaree National Park; these rivers provide South Carolinians unique experiences and immeasurable value.

But our rivers are not without threats. Pollution, poor planning, mismanagement and urbanization have degraded the water quality, cutting off access to recreation and destroying natural habitats. These problems must be addressed if we are to maintain the integrity of our rivers for our residents.
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Our Staff 

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Bill Stangler, Riverkeeper

Bill Stangler

RIVERKEEPER
Bill has served as your Congaree Riverkeeper since 2011. He moved to Columbia to attend the University of South Carolina, where he received his bachelors degree in geography. Before becoming the Riverkeeper, Bill worked for several years as a local river guide. In his spare time he is an avid paddler, hiker, and general outdoor enthusiast. 
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Our Board 

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Board Chair

  • Barry Beasley

    Barry Beasley has spent the last several decades working on river conservation around the state of South Carolina. For almost fifteen years, he worked for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Thereafter, he became the President of the River Management Society and the Executive Director of the Katawba Valley Land Trust.

Vice Chair

  • Regan Norris

    Regan Norris is an avid fisherman and whitewater kayaker. He also worked for many years as an environmental scientist for a national consulting engineering firm.

Treasurer

  • Mandy Odum

    Mandy Odum is a whitewater kayaking enthusiast, a longtime river advocate, and former owner of a local outfitter business.

Secretary

  • Steve de Kozlowski

    Steve de Kozlowski is retired from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources where he worked on a variety of water resource issues and now enjoys paddling and fishing our local rivers.

  • George Durban

    George Durban recently retired as Director of Trust for First Citizens Bank and lives along the Congaree River.

  • Scott Harriford

    Scott works at Hilltop Public Solutions where he manages large-scale campaigns and provides strategic insight and advice to political and public affairs clients. Previously, Scott worked as White House Liaison at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and also worked on several political campaigns.

  • Viola Hendley

    Viola Hendley is a recently retired teacher, and a community activist involved in the revitalization and preservation of the Olympia neighborhood, a historic mill village located in downtown Columbia alongside the Congaree River, and an advocate for cleaning and restoring Rocky Branch. 

  • Gerrit Jobsis

    Gerrit lives in Columbia and recently retired from American Rivers where he helped lead numerous river conservation efforts across the Southeast. He enjoys fishing and paddling on our local rivers.

  • T. Lilly Little Water

    T. Lilly Little Water is CEO of the SC Indian Affairs Commission, where she organized the Indigenous Women’s Alliance Committee. She has a post-graduate degree in clinical psychology and is pursuing a PhD.

  • James Smith

    James Smith is a practicing attorney in Columbia. He is a former member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, a veteran, and a Major in the South Carolina Army National Guard. In his spare time he enjoys hiking and paddling on our local rivers.

Support Congaree Riverkeeper

Over the years, we’ve stopped polluters in their tracks and kept the public informed about issues that affect their health and their environment. Your support keeps us on the river.
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