A Whitewater Project is Coming to South Carolina Will Boost Eco Tourism
“The Catawba River in Chester County is a hidden gem. It’s rich with wildlife, history, and — soon — river flows that haven’t been seen in a century.” (see the full report here) More rivers mean more fishing and mean more habitat for South Carolina wildlife. For those of you who may not know, the Catawba River in Chester County is rich with wildlife and history and soon river flows will be possible for the first time in 100 years.
A century ago most of the river was dammed to provide power for the area. Now to help boost eco-tourism, Duke Energy is reportedly planning to put the water back in the original channels. It will be located south of the Fishing Creek Dam and the Highway 20 bridge in Chester County. The bridge will create opportunities for biking, hiking, and history buffs which is awesome!
The report didn’t reveal any hard numbers just yet, but other areas that have brought in outdoor tourism have seen millions in economic benefit. One goal is to get rafting and kayak outfitters onboard to run daily trips through the site which I am excited about! According to the press release, they expect the whitewater areas to be open by August of next year and are expected to run at least eight to nine months out of the year.
