Update to Crane Creek Watershed Management Plan

Richland County (County) is seeking electronic proposals from qualified vendors or organizations to develop and update a comprehensive, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Nine Element-compliant Watershed Management Plan (WMP) for the Crane Creek Watershed in central Richland County, South Carolina. The WMP will be developed in accordance with the requirements of the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) and utilizing the 2025 Guide to Developing Watershed Plans developed by SCDES. It will serve as the foundation for securing future funding, implementing targeted nonpoint source pollution reduction strategies, guiding future land use decisions to protect the watershed, and establishing long-range plans supported by achievable short-term goals.

The Crane Creek Watershed, which includes the Beasley Creek (HUC 030501060705), Upper Crane Creek (HUC 030501060706), and Lower Crane Creek (HUC030501060707) watersheds, drains into the Broad River and encompasses diverse land uses, including suburban, urban, light industrial areas, and recent heavy industrial development. The watershed continues to experience hydrologic stress due to impervious surface expansion, aging infrastructure, industrial development, and past storm events, notably the historic October 2015 flood, which exacerbated erosion, sedimentation, and pollutant transport issues.

Crane Creek is currently impaired for bacteria (E. coli) and aquatic life use, as listed on SCDES’s 303(d) list of impaired waters. Nonpoint source pollution from stormwater runoff, failing septic systems, and eroded streambanks are believed to be the primary contributors. A comprehensive, stakeholder-driven, and implementation-focused watershed plan is needed to address these impairments, guide long-term restoration, and secure funding for these efforts.