Jeffries Creek Case Statement
Jeffries Creek is the largest watershed and wetlands area
in the Pee Dee area. It occupies 137,000 acres of the Coastal Plain and 195
stream miles. It travels through the heart of Florence and terminates in the Pee
Dee River.
For years there has been an ambiguous relationship with the creek. On the
one hand there have been multiple plans to develop greenspace, trails and parks
dating back to at least the early 1970s. In 1998 the City of Florence initiated
the Jeffries Creek Restoration Project to enhance environmental conditions of
the creek. Soon thereafter, Downtown Revitalization consultants encouraged the
city to seize upon the creek as a “green necklace “ that should be a
greenspace focal point for the current revitalization effort.
On the other hand encroaching urban development,
deforestation and increased invasive plant growth has continued to compromise
the water quality of the creek. Parts of the creek are listed on DHEC’s list
of impaired water bodies.
Jeffries Creek is the most valuable natural resource in Florence. If
further damage is allowed to continue, this priceless natural resource becomes a
liability from a recreational, public health and economic perspective .The
health of Jeffries creek impacts the health of the entire Florence community.
The Pee Dee Group, Sierra Club plans to join with the growing voice of
concerned Florence citizens interested in the preservation of Jeffries Creek.
Our preservation plan has three major points
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Raising Awareness
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Comprehensive planning including establishing protective status
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Promoting accountability through regular water quality monitoring
There is nothing inevitable about the future of Jeffries
Creek. An unhealthy creek can get worse, stay the same or get better. It depends
largely on what the people of Florence choose to do.
Goal: To
protect and preserve the Jeffries Creek from further degradation.
Objective status: (1) Obtain protective status of the creek
(2) Provide a clean and accessible Jeffries Creek corridor
Key strategies:
(1) Coalition building. Current partnerships in League of Women Voters,
Wildlife Action and Responsible Economic Development (RED).
(2) Public Education/Awareness- Brochures, flyers, tabling events, T-shirts
(3) Media Outreach- press releases & letter to the editors
(4) Political Advocacy to obtain protective status
(5) Public participation- creek clean-ups, paddle trail clearing and development
of boat landings
Pee Dee Group, South
Carolina Chapter, Sierra Club