MCBEE, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), in coordination with Kershaw County, Chesterfield County, the South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR), Blanchard Construction, JA Still LLC, Robert Collins LLC, and community volunteers, successfully removed a significant log jam from the Lynches River yesterday along the Chesterfield–Kershaw County line.

The obstruction had restricted navigable waters for more than 18 months, creating a collection point for trash and debris and posing risks to boater safety, water quality, and long-term river stability.

The jam had begun altering the river’s ability to function as a healthy system. When streams become blocked and disconnected from their floodplains, high flows can no longer spread out and dissipate energy naturally. Instead, water is forced to remain in the channel, which accelerates flow, deepens the streambed, and causes severe erosion or wasting of the banks.

These conditions lead to declining water quality, unstable habitat, and rapid channel degradation -- issues that have become increasingly common in South Carolina where altered hydrology and storm-driven debris can push rivers past their natural thresholds.

As one of South Carolina’s designated State Scenic Rivers, the Lynches River is recognized for its outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values. Maintaining its ability to flow freely is essential for supporting native aquatic life, sustaining diverse habitats, and preserving the river’s ecological integrity for future generations.

Removing the jam helps relieve this pressure by restoring more natural water movement and reducing the likelihood of further bank collapse and sediment loss.

Crews worked alongside volunteers to remove fallen trees, litter, and accumulated debris using low-impact techniques designed to avoid disturbance to the riverbed and vegetation.

“Restoring the natural flow of the river is critical to protecting water quality and the long-term health of this system,” said SCDNR Director Dr. Tom Mullikin. “This project shows what can be accomplished when agencies, local partners, and community members come together to steward our shared natural resources.”