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Spider Lily Restoration In Great Falls

Aug 01, 2023

Catawba Riverkeeper and partners work to restore the Spider Lily population

The Rocky Shoals Spider Lily is known for its beautiful blooms and the many ecological benefits it provides for its environment. Damming waterways and other human-created threats, such as pollution, alter the environment the spider lily needs to flourish. As a result, there has been a significant reduction in the amount of adequate habitat for the lilies to grow, even impacting the overall population enough for the plant to receive consideration for protection under the Endangered Species Act. 


The largest known concentration of Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies can be found on the Catawba River at Landsford Canal State Park. 
Duke Energy’s recent modification to dams in this area created more than just new recreational opportunities. The restored water flow throughout the Great Falls bypasses provides the perfect environment for the lilies; an area that, without the dam, the seeds may have traveled to and taken hold. 
 
In July, with the proper agencies notified and permissions granted, Clemson University’s Dr. Althea Hagan and her students joined Catawba Riverkeeper to gather seeds at Landsford Canal State Park. As a result of a small dam maintenance project, Catawba Riverkeeper nurtured the seeds for a few weeks (
check out a video of their temporary home). In early August, the seeds were planted along the Long Reach Bypass. 

This project is a test for a potential larger-scale future project. We hope to be able to show off new growth in the coming season! 

This effort was documented by South Carolina Educational Television.
Click here to watch the video.

05 Apr, 2024
Happy Earth Month! While every month is Earth Month here at Catawba Riverkeeper, we’re excited about the extra attention and enthusiasm for protecting our local environment that comes every April! Throughout this month, we're amplifying our efforts to spread awareness and provide a variety of options for you to get out and learn from, engage in, or advocate for the preservation, protection, and restoration of our shared waterways. Because of that, our calendar is jam-packed with public and private cleanups, guided tours, education programing, outreach events, and fun activities at Confluence & The River Room all month long. Just take a look at some of the events we have going on! In honor of Earth Month, we hope that you engage with us in some of these events by volunteering your time to clean up our water, learning more about issues affecting our water, and sharing our work and mission with other people as ambassadors. If you'd like to make an Earth Month contribution to Catawba Riverkeeper, you can give to our Spring Education Appeal, help us purchase a new Catawba Riverkeeper vehicle, or attend our Ambassador Training and represent us at events throughout the year. Our work is not possible without the support of people like you. We are only a drop in the bucket of worldwide water conservation efforts, but with the support of people like you, we can make mighty waves of change! Thank you in advance for your support, and happy Earth Month!
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