Take a look at some of the highlights and accomplishments from the last year.

This year we held 14 cleanups and, with the help of nearly 200 volunteers, we picked up more than 9,000 pounds of trash from local rivers and streams. Since 2019 we've partnered with the South Carolina Aquarium to track the trash we collect at our cleanups through the Litter Journal app . The data we collect helps us identify litter trends, inform advocacy and policy, and educate the public. In 2024 we collected and recorded 13,575 pieces of trash and debris at our cleanups.

Thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals are being discharged into the Congaree River from this plastic plant every year.

The Congaree River near its crest on the morning of Sept. 30th from the Gervais Street bridge.

The Midlands Rivers Coalition just wrapped up our eighth season of weekly recreational water quality monitoring at the end of September. This season saw many bacteria samples over the state standard for contact recreation, resulting in several swimming advisories. Take a look at the numbers below for a snapshot of the season: 11 sites on the Broad, Lower Saluda and Congaree Rivers were sampled every week for 22 weeks 291 total bacteria samples were collected (242 regular samples and 49 follow-up samples) 64 samples did not meet the state standard for contact recreation (49 regular samples and 15 follow-up samples) Only 78% of all samples collected this season met the standard for contact recreation (a significant decrease from last year's 92%) 10 weeks with at least one swimming advisory issued (6 of those advisories continued even after follow-up sampling ) 4+ weeks straight (7/17 - 8/15) with at least one active swimming advisory 10 of the 11 sample sites had multiple swimming advisories issued this season Only 1 site, the Saluda Shoals Canoe Landing (aka Upper Landing) had 0 advisories this season Why were there so many high bacteria results? While a few of the high samples occurred during dry weather, most followed significant rainfall events. So, it would appear that stormwater runoff was a primary driver of the water quality issues, though sewer overflows may have also contributed to some. Thank you so much to all of the coalition partners who help make this effort possible. Weekly water quality monitoring will resume in May of 2025.

Shaw Industries’ PFAS discharges threaten rivers and drinking water sources

The eighth season of recreational water quality monitoring by the Midlands Rivers Coalition kicks off this month. From May through Septemebr samples will be collected at eleven sites along the Broad, Saluda and Congaree Rivers every Wednesday, and the results will be posted on Thursdays. The Midlands Rivers Coalition is made up of stakeholders from environmental organizations, academia, local and state governments, recreation providers and businesses, all working to make water quality information more frequently and readily available to river users so they can make informed decisions, and to educate river users on water quality issues. Be sure to check HowsMySCRiver.org , and our social media platforms, for the latest results and advisories.

In February, after working for more than a year and a half, the Broad River Basin Council completed and published a Broad River Basin Plan. The Council is a working group of stakeholders in the watershed covering diverse water interests, including water utilities, electric power utilities, local governments, conservation groups, agriculture, industry and economic development, and water-based recreation  The plan includes an assessment of current and future water availability in the basin and documents water management strategies that can help ensure water is available for all future uses in the basin for the next 50 years.

Columbia carpet facility threatens rivers and drinking water sources. Riverkeeper to sue if illegal PFAS pollution not addressed.