Restoration

Spider Lily Propagation

The Rocky Shoals Spider Lily project aims to establish a population of this native plant in the reestablished habitat on the Long Reach Bypass (LRB) of the Great Falls project. The LRB below the Fishing Creek Dam, previously devoid of an aquatic ecosystem due to being dewatered for over a century, experienced a change in its status during a recent relicensing. This alteration mandated a minimum daily flow from the dam into the channel adjacent to a newly constructed switchback whitewater recreation channel.

Comprised of mostly rocky sublayers with constantly flowing water, this habitat is perfect for the Rocky Shoals Spider Lily. Interestingly, there are only two known nearby populations of this species. The largest population in the world exists approximately 14 miles upstream at Landsford Canal State Park (see our Recreation page for guided Spider Lily Tours), with another small population downstream where water from Stumpy Pond reaches the shoals.

In collaboration with experienced professionals, our initiative involves propagating this plant in new locations.

The project includes the implementation of autonomous sensing technology for regular data collection, allowing continuous monitoring of conditions vital for the spider lilies, which are highly sensitive to changes in dissolved oxygen and drying out. This plant typically blooms from May to June and produces seed pods at the end of June to July. This is when we will work with Clemson University and volunteers to collect and transport the seeds to the Great Falls. This process will be repeated on multiple field days to maximize success and minimize potential harm to the existing lily population.

Beyond their environmental significance, Rocky Shoals Spider holds social, cultural, and economic value, as evident in the population at Landsford Canal State Park. Both residents and tourists can engage with this unique species of lily, allowing Catawba Riverkeeper to educate about the importance of the native plant species and their contributions to local native wildlife.

Invasive Species Mitigation

The objective of this project is to reduce the existing populations of the invasive aquatic plant, Aligatorweed. Native to South America, it first began to threaten ecosystems in the Southeast in the early 1900’s. Floating groups of this invasive plant can impede navigation and block water intakes and shoreline facilities, while rooted sections can increase sedimentation, reduce sunlight penetration, impact recreational uses, and reduce species diversity in a body of water. We have been working to promote habitat enhancement for fish and wildlife through the cessation of this invasive plant and the establishment of native aquatic plants.

The main way in which we are striving to achieve our goal is through establishing a source population of the natural enemy of Alligatorweed, the Alligatorweed Thrips. Thrips must be transplanted from one location to another, once there they will eat the Alligatorweed, decimating its population. The problem with these little bugs is that they do not fly or swim. The only way to get from grouping to grouping of this invasive plant is by transplanting them each time. While Thrips are cold tolerant, they are susceptible to predation from a variety of sources. This makes growing a sustainable population in the natural environment difficult. This year we are attempting a new path; we hope to grow these little bugs inside in a hydroponic habitat. If this is successful, our next steps will be to rely on volunteers trained by our team of scientists to transplant the Thrips and document their progress. 

Catawba Riverkeeper Outdoor Classroom "Re-Nativization"

The goal of the “re-nativization” project is to restore the 2.5-acre Outdoor Classroom in Fort Lawn, SC to its original native prairie landscape, while also establishing a safe and ethical way for visitors to explore the property. This comprehensive project involves several stages, including clearing the existing vegetation, replanting with native species, eradicating invasive plants from the wooded areas, and eventually constructing a boardwalk to preserve the ecosystem while enabling visitors to appreciate the native environment.

We aim to organize multiple volunteer workdays to eliminate the invasive plants that have overrun the property and replace them with native species. This approach is crucial for maintaining the environment and preserving the Catawba River’s quality and quantity in the area. Once this is complete, the subsequent phase involves building a protective boardwalk, which will safeguard these plants while offering the community a secure space to engage with and learn from the environment. However, this final stage awaits funding or the donation of necessary materials and labor.