Field Trip Photographs - The
"Three Rivers Greenway" in Columbia, SC
photos by Dr. Will L. Graf
Dr. Will L. Graf organized a 'River Walk' along the "Three Rivers Greenway"
that highlights the physical and cultural landscapes of the Saluda,
Broad, and Congaree Rivers. Columbia is a classic 'fall-line' city and the rivers
retain vestiges of this rich history.
Left: Broad River Diversion Dam
Upstream view of the low-water diversion dam on the Broad River.
The diversion dam is a run-of-river structure that diverts water from
the channel into the Columbia Canal.
Right: Columbia Canal
Upstream view of the Columbia Canal and control gate. Water diverted
into the canal currently supplies municipal drinking water and hydro-electric
power.
Left: Columbia Canal and Historic Lock and Gate Structure
Downstream view of the Columbia canal lock and gate structure. Historically
this canal allowed navigation on the Broad River across the regional Fall
Line.
Right: Riverfront
Trail and Riparian Habitat of the Broad River Floodplain
Riverfront trail allows visitors to explore both the natural habitat of the
floodplain and cultural history of the river’s landscape.
Left: Broad River Canal and Historic Pump House
Upstream view
of the historic pump house located between the Broad River and Columbia Canal.
Structures inside the pump house once powered the municipal water system.
Right: Historic Pump House
Inside view of the pump house. These structures include the pumps and
chlorine mixing chambers. Water released from the Columbia Canal originally
powered the pumphouse.
Left: Columbia Canal Waste Weir Below Historic Pump House
Excess water from the
canal is diverted over the waste weir to regulate the canal's flow. The
released water re-enters the Broad River immediately upstream from its confluence
with the Saluda River where they join to form the Congaree River.
Right: Broad River Fall Line Geology Mid-channel islands
and rocky shoals characteristic of the regional Fall Line.
Left: Broad River Fall Line Geology
Channel sand bar deposits and rocky shoals
on the Broad River.