Reedy River
Encyclopedia
The Reedy River is a tributary
of the Saluda River
, about 65 miles (104.6 km) long, in northwestern South Carolina
in the United States
. Via the Saluda and Congaree
Rivers, it is part of the watershed
of the Santee River
, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean
.
. It is overseen by the Liberty Bridge
. Sliding down the falls is illegal according to Greenville law, but it is still practiced by many kayakers and other adventure seekers.
in the foothills
of the Blue Ridge Mountains
, about 10 miles (16.1 km) northwest of the city of Greenville
, and flows generally south-southeastwardly through Greenville, Lake Conestee Nature Park
, and the Piedmont
region into Laurens County. It joins the Saluda River in Laurens County, 9 miles (14.5 km) northeast of Greenwood
, as part of Lake Greenwood
, which is formed by a dam
on the Saluda.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Saluda River
Saluda River
The Saluda River is a principal tributary of the Congaree River, about 200 mi long, in northern and western South Carolina in the United States...
, about 65 miles (104.6 km) long, in northwestern South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Via the Saluda and Congaree
Congaree River
The Congaree River is a short but wide river in South Carolina in the United States; It flows for only 47 miles . The river serves an important role as the final outlet channel for the entire Lower Saluda and Lower Broad watersheds, before merging with the Wateree River just north of Lake Marion to...
Rivers, it is part of the watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of the Santee River
Santee River
The Santee River is a river in South Carolina in the United States, long. The Santee and its tributaries provide the principal drainage and navigation for the central coastal plain of South Carolina, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean approximately from its farthest headwater on the Catawba River...
, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
The Reedy River Falls: Big Brother
Big Brother, or "The Falls", is a large waterfall that flows through the Reedy River Falls Park in Greenville, SCGreenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
. It is overseen by the Liberty Bridge
Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy
The Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy is a bridge in Greenville, South Carolina.-Description:Downtown Greenville is bisected by a wooded valley park containing the falls of the Reedy River...
. Sliding down the falls is illegal according to Greenville law, but it is still practiced by many kayakers and other adventure seekers.
Course
The Reedy River rises in Greenville CountyGreenville County, South Carolina
- External Links :*...
in the foothills
Foothills
Foothills are geographically defined as gradual increases in elevation at the base of a mountain range. They are a transition zone between plains and low relief hills to the adjacent topographically high mountains.-Examples:...
of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
, about 10 miles (16.1 km) northwest of the city of Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
, and flows generally south-southeastwardly through Greenville, Lake Conestee Nature Park
Lake Conestee Nature Park
Lake Conestee Nature Park is a park along the banks of the Reedy River in Conestee, South Carolina. The National Audubon Society has designated the park as an Important Bird Area...
, and the Piedmont
Piedmont (United States)
The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
region into Laurens County. It joins the Saluda River in Laurens County, 9 miles (14.5 km) northeast of Greenwood
Greenwood, South Carolina
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Greenwood County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 22,071 at the 2000 census and had slightly increased to 22,710 according to a 2009 estimate.-Geography:...
, as part of Lake Greenwood
Lake Greenwood (South Carolina)
Lake Greenwood is formed by a hydroelectric dam across the Saluda River. The lake has of shoreline and . The Reedy River joins the Saluda at Lake Greenwood. Lake Greenwood is used for recreational boating and fishing....
, which is formed by a dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
on the Saluda.
Pollution
The pollution in the river was identified to be unfit for humans because of fecal bacteria. Children were commonly seen sliding down rocks in a section of the river in downtown Greenville. Playing in the river is now banned. Only in certain parts of the river is it actually safe for children to step or play on the rocks.Crossings
The following is a list of crossings of the Reedy river from Greenville downstream starting in downtown Greenville at US 123. This list may at times be incomplete.- City of GreenvilleGreenville, South Carolina-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
- US 123/S Academy Street
- River Street bridge
- Pedestrian bridge at the Peace CenterPeace CenterThe Peace Center is located adjacent to Falls Park in downtown Greenville, South Carolina. It is an arts center that contains the 2100 seat Peace Concert Hall, 400 seat Dorothy Hipp Gunter Theater, and the Dow Brands Amphitheater located beside the Reedy River...
, converted from a former railroad bridge - Main Street bridge at Camperdown
- Liberty BridgeLiberty Bridge at Falls Park on the ReedyThe Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy is a bridge in Greenville, South Carolina.-Description:Downtown Greenville is bisected by a wooded valley park containing the falls of the Reedy River...
- US 29/S Church Street
- McDaniel Avenue
- Woodland Way in Cleveland Park
- E Faris Road
- Cleveland Street
- S Pleasantburg Drive, SC 291
- Interstate 85Interstate 85Interstate 85 is a major interstate highway in the Southeastern United States. Its current southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus interchanges with Interstate 95 in Petersburg, Virginia, near Richmond...
- Greenville CountyGreenville County, South Carolina- External Links :*...
- Mauldin Road
- Conestee Road
- Ashmore Bridge Road
- Interstate 185Interstate 185Interstate 185 may refer to:* Interstate 185 , a spur to Columbus, Georgia* Interstate 185 , a spur in Greenville, South Carolina...
- Log Shoals Road
- W Georgia Road
- New Harrison Bridge Road
- Jenkins Bridge Road and SC 418
- McKelvey Road in Fork Shoals
- McKittrick Road
- Hillside Church Road
- Dunklin Bridge Road
- Laurens County
- US 76 in Hickory TavernHickory Tavern, South CarolinaHickory Tavern, South Carolina, is an unincorporated town in Laurens County, South Carolina. It is classified by the federal government as a class U6 populated place. It is centered at the intersection of US Route 76 and South Carolina Highway 101....
- SC 252
- Ekom Bridge Road
- Indian Mound Road
- Riverfork Road over Lake GreenwoodLake Greenwood (South Carolina)Lake Greenwood is formed by a hydroelectric dam across the Saluda River. The lake has of shoreline and . The Reedy River joins the Saluda at Lake Greenwood. Lake Greenwood is used for recreational boating and fishing....
- US 76 in Hickory Tavern
Sources
- Columbia Gazetteer of North America entry
- DeLormeDeLormeDeLorme is a major vendor of business-to-business and consumer mapping and GPS products and technologies. It is based in Yarmouth, Maine, United States....
(1998). South Carolina Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-237-4. - American Whitewater