Project Overview
In June 2001, the Georgetown County Historical Society, the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League and a number of riparian landowners requested that the SCDNR seek State Scenic River designation for the Great Pee Dee River. Less than a year later, the governor signed a bill placing a segment of the Great Pee Dee River in our Scenic Rivers Program. This segment, running from the US 378 Bridge between Florence and Marion Counties and the US 17 Bridge in Georgetown, is the eighth state scenic river to be designated in South Carolina.
While the Great Pee Dee can accurately be described as the life’s blood of the Pee Dee region, it has largely been overlooked by outdoor recreation enthusiasts of all stripes, except for those living within close proximity of the river. Anyone who has paddled or motored through this 70-mile ribbon of brownwater or simply sat on its banks, can vouch for its rich beauty.
Most of the land bordering the Scenic Great Pee Dee River is floodplain forest. Aside from the US 701 Bridge and one railroad bridge, the entire stretch is broken only by logging and farm roads. The corridor is a 70-mile by 3-mile swath of high quality wildlife habitat, boasting 120 species of fish, at least 25 rare plant species, several endangered and threatened species (including the American alligator, red-cockaded woodpecker, bald eagle and swallow-tailed kite), 17 species of duck (all but the wood duck are migratory visitors), a number of wading birds and fur bearing species, and typical South Carolina game species, such as white tail deer and turkey.
River travelers will notice a distinct change in the Great Pee Dee’s character as they wend their way from the US 378 Bridge to Winyah Bay. Bald cypress – tupelo gum and bottomland hardwood forests, with hairpin meanders, sandy point bars and many interconnected oxbow lakes surround the upper portions. Abandoned channels of the river, often called “lakes” (e.g., Jordan Lake, Thomas Lake), have a distinct blackwater character, and can be explored in small boats. But beyond the confluence with the Little Pee Dee River, sandy point bars and banks disappear. The surrounding forest becomes tidal swamp. The main forest species are still present, but some, like the swamp and black willows that dominate sandy banks upstream, vanish completely. Below Thoroughfare Creek, the freshwater tidal marshes that were once the basis for antebellum rice plantations begin to displace the tidal swamp forest.
Leadership for the Great Pee Dee Scenic River Project comes from the Great Pee Dee Scenic River Advisory Council, which represents local landowners, river users, community interests, and SCDNR. The first major task of the advisory council is the creation of a management plan. This plan will be created using an open community-based process where local citizens identify their vision and goals for the river, discuss and define issues of concern, and then seek resolutions to achieve their vision. Once the management plan is completed it will become the guide for ongoing activities for the advisory council.
Advisory Council Members:
- Ron Charlton: Georgetown County Council
- Linda Coleman Croyle: Georgetown County Historical Society, landowner
- Kevin J. Hardee: Horry County Council
- Diedra Holt: International Paper
- Mark H. King: landowner
- W. J. "Dub" Lowrimore: landowner
- Robert Schofield: landowner
- Danny W. Squires: landowner
- Joe Young: landowner
- SCDNR
Ex-officio Members:
- Nancy Cave: South Carolina Coastal Conservation League
- Jamie Dozier: SCDNR/Winyah Bay Focus Area
- Levon Dunn: landowner
- Pamela Dunn: landowner
- Richard G. Howard: landowner
- William E. Kinder: landowner
- James W. "Billy" King: landowner
- Brad Lineback: landowner
- Coleman C. "Bud" Owens: landowner
- Giles Page: river guide
- Joy Pinson: Winyah Rivers Association
- M. Craig Sasser: US Fish and Wildlife Service/landowner
- Pete Rogers: Marion County
- Ernie Nance: Winyah Rivers Association/recreation interests
- Matthew Nespeca: The Nature Conservancy
- Hampton Shuping: Waccamaw River Keeper
Recreation & Access
The entire 70-mile scenic segment is navigable (free enough to be traveled upon by a small vessel) and may be accessed at eight public boat landings dispersed along its length. The lower sections of the river are used by large powerboats. Small powerboats and canoes are commonly used to navigate the narrow abandoned channels and oxbow lakes. Opportunities for multi-day canoe-camping trips are available during normal to low water conditions when the large sand bars along the upper portions of the river offer camping sites. Swimming and wading opportunities also abound at the river’s sandbars.
The fishing opportunities in the Great Pee Dee River and its connected lakes include largemouth bass, bluegill and other sunfish, crappie perch and catfish. The lower portion of the river also includes several saltwater species. A mercury advisory is in effect for largemouth bass and bowfin caught in the Great Pee Dee Scenic River. The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control recommends that a healthy adult consume no more than half a pound of these fish (one meal) a month. Currently, no other species of fish is under a mercury advisory for the river. For the latest word on fish consumption advisories for the Great Pee Dee and other water bodies, see DHEC's fish consumption advisory page.
Access
Allisons Landing (sometimes called Ellisons Landing or Poston Landing) is found in Florence Co., about four river miles below the US 378 bridge. Follow county road 44 from the intersection of US 378 and SR 41/51 1.7 miles and turn left at the sign for the landing.
Dunham Bluff is found in Marion Co., about ten river miles below the US 378 bridge. Traveling east on US 378, make a right onto Dunham Bluff Road, which is at the intersection of US 378 and SR 908 (opposite the locally famous Park n' Blow). The landing is at the end of the road, about a mile and a half from US 378.
Staple Lake Landing is found in Williamsburg Co., about 19 river miles below the US 378 bridge. The landing itself is on an abandoned side channel that is about 200 yards off the river. From Hemingway, take SR 261 east about five miles to the intersection with County Line Road (at Outland). Make a left on County line road. At the Jerusalem AME Church, the paved road veers off to the right, but continue straight ahead on the unpaved road to the landing.
Port Hill Landing is found in Georgetown Co., about 25 river miles below the US 378 bridge. From SR 261 near Outland, take county road 55 about 4.5 miles to county road 753 (there is a sign for the landing). Make a left and follow the road to the end. This landing has extremely limited parking opportunities, and is unusable to all but canoes and other small boats at low water levels.
Petersfield Landing is found in Georgetown Co., about 29 river miles below the US 378 bridge. Take county road 36 (Old Pee Dee Road) from Yauhannah (at the intersection of US 701 and SR 261) about six miles to the access road for Petersfield (road 36 veers off to the left). Follow the access road to the end.
The Tan Yard is found in Marion Co., about 36 river miles below the US 378 bridge, about half a river mile above the confluence with the Little Pee Dee River. The road to this unimproved dirt landing is impassable when either river is flooding. The long, unpaved access road to the Tan Yard intersects with US 378 near the intersection with SR 908. Inquire locally about road conditions before using this landing.
Yauhannah Landing (sometimes called the 701 Landing) is found in Horry Co., at the base of the US 701 bridge. From Conway, take US 701 toward Georgetown. Just before the bridge, make a right turn on the landing's access road. This landing is about 41.5 river miles below the US 378 bridge, and 28.5 river miles above Winyah Bay.
Samworth Wildlife Management Area Landing is found in Georgetown Co., about 10 river miles above Winyah Bay. Take US 701 from Georgetown toward Conway. After crossing the bridge over the Black River, make the first right onto county road 52. Follow road 52 about five miles and turn right at signs for the Samworth WMA. The Dirleton Plantation house will be toward the right, and the boat ramp will be toward the left.
No other landings are found on the scenic portion of the Great Pee Dee below Samworth. The East Bay Street Landing in the City of Georgetown may be useful to boaters on the Great Pee Dee River, however. It is downtown, just above the mouth of the Sampit River.
Contacts For more information on the Great Pee Dee Scenic River project, contact:
Bill Marshall
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 167
Columbia, SC 29202
Telephone: (803) 734-9096