City looks to reverse erosion in Sand River

Staff photo by Michael Gibbons

Erosion in the Sand River at Hitchcock Woods that was caused by storm water runoff from downtown development has been an issue the City of Aiken has faced for decades.

Officials are hoping that a new "green infrastructure project" that is currently being developed will help to alleviate the problem and eventually restore Sand River.

The City was recently awarded a $3.3 million federal stimulus grant from the Department of Health and Environmental Control to begin the work, which involves taking a more environmentally friendly approach to ease erosion in the forest.

Dr. Gene Eidson, director of the Center for Watershed Excellence at Clemson University, is working with the City on the project, along with DHEC, the South Carolina Department of Transportation and Woolpert Inc.

Eidson recently talked with City Council members about the undertaking, which will involve installing rain gardens, bio swales and pervious pavement - which absorbs storm water - in downtown streets and parkways. Officials hope the measures will lessen the amount of storm water and pollutants that run into Hitchcock Woods.

Larry Morris, director of the City's Public Works Administration and Engineering department, is optimistic about the proposal.

"The City has been working on trying to solve this problem for many, many, many years," Morris said. "Any water that we can remove from Sand River certainly will help."

Morris said the initial phase of the project will focus on determining downtown areas and parkways that absorb the most water. According to Morris, the overall benefit of the project is that it will ultimately slow down the rate and volume of water that enters Sand River and will help the area recover.

City officials say plans for the project should be completed by September, with construction beginning in August. The public will also be able to submit comments on the plan through July 31.

Doug Rabold, executive director of the Hitchcock Foundation, called the project an important first step in addressing storm water issues in the Woods. Over the years, the City's storm water has caused sediment to migrate downstream the Sand River, settling into Hitchcock's Cathedral Isle, Rabold said.

"Right now, we are focused on the future," Rabold said of the Hitchcock Foundation. "The process that is in place is a very good one. We are very encouraged about this process."

He said the collective effort involved in planning for Sand River restoration is what sets the new proposal apart from past efforts to address Hitchcock's erosion issues.

According to Rabold, City officials have been meeting with the foundation and other agencies for nearly a year, developing the project.

"This is really great," he said. "The credit goes to the City of Aiken for being proactive and addressing the problem at its source."

Contact April Bailey at abailey@aikenstandard.com.