Project Overview
Blackwater swamps and sloughs, white sandy beaches, cypress trees, and a feeling of wilderness characterize this State Scenic River. Fourteen miles of the Little Pee Dee River from Highway 378 to the confluence with the Great Pee Dee River were designated as a State Scenic River in March of 1990 by the Legislature. An additional 64 miles of the river extending upstream from Highway 378 were determined eligible for scenic river status in 1997 but have not yet been formerly designated. The Little Pee Dee is one of the best remaining examples of a Coastal Plain blackwater river in South Carolina. The river is bordered by extensive cypress and tupelo swamplands, particularly below Highway 378 where the floodplain widens.
Fishers pursue bluegill, largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish. The most popular fishing activity is for the redbreast sunfish in the spring. Recreational boating, in canoes and small power boats, is popular year round. Camping spots can be found on sand beaches and ridges along the river.
There has been very little scenic river program activity on the Little Pee Dee since 1990; however the most notable activity occurred in 1997 when a public process was initiated to consider designating an additional 64-mile segment as a State Scenic River.
Based on a request from Wildlife Action, Inc. of Mullins, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) initiated a study in August of 1996 to assess the eligibility of additional segments of the Little Pee Dee and the Lumber rivers for designation as a State Scenic River. Upon completing the study, an additional 64-mile segment of the Little Pee Dee and Lumber river system was proposed for Scenic River designation. The proposed Scenic River addition includes the 64-mile river corridor that begins at the North Carolina border on the Lumber River and extends south to the U.S. Highway 378 bridge on the Little Pee Dee River. This river segment encompasses 17 miles of the Lumber and 47 miles of the Little Pee Dee. The lower end of the Little Pee Dee River, below Highway 378, was designated a State Scenic River in 1990.
(Copies of the Little Pee Dee-Lumber River Eligibility Study are available from the SCDNR upon request. See contact information below.)
In May 1997, the SCDNR began notifying landowners and elected officials of the proposed Little Pee Dee - Lumber scenic river designation. In July two public meetings were held to address the questions and concerns of landowners and local citizens regarding the effects of scenic river designation. In August the county councils were asked to review and approve the proposal.
Horry County Council approved the scenic river proposal on September 16, 1997. Marion County Council held its own public hearing regarding the proposal on September 25 and then voted 5 to 1 to reject the proposal on November 11, 1997. The Dillon County Council never made a decision regarding the proposal.
Based on the Marion County Council decision, no further action is being pursued for Scenic River designation of the additional river segments.
Opposition to the proposed scenic river designation was based on concerns that the Scenic River designation would result in a host of new regulations.
To set the record straight regarding regulations:
There are no state regulations associated with State Scenic River designation. The program works through a cooperative voluntary community-based process to address river management goals of common interest to river landowners, river users, and the SCDNR. Management objectives for the river are determined by a Scenic River Advisory Council, a group representing local river landowners and local river users. The advisory councils have no power to create regulations themselves. Because most members are local landowners, the Scenic River Advisory Councils usually advocate nonregulatory solutions to river problems. The advisory councils usually accomplish their objectives through voluntary management agreements with landowners, cooperative river-improvement projects, and education activities.
Currently, there is not an active Scenic River Advisory Council on the Little Pee Dee. However, in the future, the SCDNR is willing to work with citizens of the Little Pee Dee and Lumber River communities to once again consider developing partnerships for river stewardship.
Recreational Access
There are currently five public access points on the portion of the Little Pee Dee that is designated as a state scenic river. Take a look at the river map to get your bearings.
Boat landings
- Pitts Landing: Two boat landings are located at the Highway 378 crossing on either side of the river, one in Marion County and one in Horry County called Pitts Landing.
- Sampson Landing: About four miles downstream on the Marion County side (river right) is Sampson Landing. The landing is off the river on Sampson Lake.
- Punchpole Landing: Eight miles below Highway 378 is Punchpole Landing (often labeled Punchbowl) located on the Horry County side (river left). Punchpole Landing is on a large sand deposit and the area just upstream provides beaches that are heavily used by the locals for sunning, swimming, and wading.
- Sanders and Parkers Landings: Two landings, Sanders and Parkers, are located on the east bank of Russ Creek which is off the Little Pee Dee on the Marion County side. From the Little Pee Dee these landings can be reached by entering either the upper end of Russ Creek or Jiles Creek and related sloughs on the west side of the river. These landings are about 10 or 11 river miles below Highway 378.
- Tan Yard Landing: Additional access points are located on the Great Pee Dee River. Tan Yard Landing can be reached by traveling about one mile upstream on the Great Pee Dee River. This landing is at the end of the road that accesses all the previously mentioned Marion County landings. Tan Yard Landing is about 15 river miles from Highway 378.
- Highway 701 bridge: Five miles downstream from the confluence with the Great Pee Dee is the Highway 701 bridge. A take out is located on the Horry County side (river left).
Contacts
Little Pee Dee Scenic River Project
Bill Marshall
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 167
Columbia, SC 29202
Telephone: (803) 734-9096
Fax: (803) 734-9200