The Waterkeeper© Alliance recently announced the Broad River Alliance, a Waterkeeper® Affiliate. The contact for the newly formed Affiliate is David Caldwell, broadriveralliance@gmail.com.
About the Waterbody
The Broad River basin encompasses 5,419 square miles within North and South Carolina. Its three major tributaries are the Green, the Second Broad, and the First Broad rivers. The Broad's headwaters and major tributaries originate on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains and southern slopes of the South Mountains. The Broad then crosses into South Carolina and makes its way to the Atlantic Ocean. From its spectacular and scenic beginnings in the Hickory Nut Gorge, the Broad River and its tributaries provide water for drinking, industry, and recreation for Rutherford, Polk and Cleveland counties in North Carolina as well as much of South Carolina.
Five Natural Heritage Program (NHP) Priority Areas are found in the basin: the Rollins/South Mountains Natural Area, Hickory Nut Gorge, the Green River Gorge, the Pacolet River Gorge, and Pinnacle Mountain. Lake Lure, Chimney Rock State Park and a portion of Crowders Mountain State Park are also located in the basin. These significant Natural Heritage Areas provide habitat for more than 100 rare plant and animal species and 24 rare natural communities.
About the Affiliate
The Broad River Alliance (BRA) is a collection of citizens and organizations working to protect and promote the Broad River Watershed through education, recreation, and stewardship.