May River
The May River is a State designed outstanding resource water that is significant to our community today for a number of reasons:
- Its historic and cultural uses
- Its aesthetics and views which add to the quality of life for its citizens
- Its numerous natural resource populations that are directly harvested and utilized by local and regional residents
- Its economic impacts, both direct and indirect, to the community
Due to this significance, the Town of Bluffton and County realized that the protection of this and other outstanding water resources are of utmost importance to our communities and have jointly coordinated to protect and restore the May River. This is being done by formal Intergovernmental Agreement, formulating a partnership to protect our jointly shared outstanding water resources.
May River Watershed Action Plan
Lowcountry Stormwater Partners Website
Reports
- Historical Analysis of Water Quality and Climate Change Endpoints and Monitoring of Natural Resources in the May River - 2019 Technical Report
May River Chapter (Section 4) - Beaufort County Stormwater Management Plan - May River Water Quality Model
- May River Baseline Report
- Stormwater Sampling Study
- Water body Management Plan
- May River Watershed Monitoring Program
- SCDHEC - Shellfish Status Report for Area 19
- SCDHEC - 303(d) Report
- Water Quality Concerns In The May River - 2010
Maps
- May River Watershed Boundary
- Subwatershed Boundaries
- May River Elevation
- May River Hydric Soils
- Sewer lines / Septic
- Unincorporated County Horse location
May River Monitoring Efforts
The Town of Bluffton and Beaufort County have increased efforts to help determine sources and effects of development on Fecal Coliform levels in the tributaries of the May River. This analysis is being done in cooperation with the Lab at USC Bluffton. This effort supplements ongoing monitoring efforts by the Town and County. Previously the Town had conducted sampling on the main stem of the May River and the County has long term trend monitoring at two stations on Rose Dhu and Stoney Creeks.
May River Water Sampling Stations
Additional Water Sampling Stations
The long term and recent Fecal Coliform data are presented below for both the Town and County.
Maps of Stoney & Rose Dhu Creeks Fecal Coliform Geo-Mean Averages
- Historic Record Summer 2009
- Historic Record Winter December 2009 - February 2010
- Summer March 2010 - July 2010
Rose Dhu
- Fecal Coliform sampling location map
- USCB Fecal Coliform results - (updated monthly)
Stoney Creek
- Beaufort County monitoring data - (BECY 1 is Stoney Creek and BECY 2 is Rose Dhu Creek - sampling sites are outside May River)
- USCB Fecal Coliform results - (updated monthly)
May River Newspaper Articles
August 2012
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Dead dolphin in May River prompts concern - (8/16/12)
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
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Bluffton adopts May River Action plan - (11/9/11)
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Bluffton must act if plan is to have real meaning - (11/22/11)
October 2011
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Students get the inside scoop on the May River - (10/9/11)
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Make sure town's plan for river gets job done - (10/11/11)
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May River program offers free septic system repairs - (10/12/11)
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Put watershed plan into action - (10/23/11)
September 2011
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Mankind is to blame for May River downfall - (9/8/11)
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Bluffton seeks volunteers for May River clean-up - (9/11/11)
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Public hearing set for May River "action plan" - (9/14/11)
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Bluffton can deliver good news - (9/22/11)
August 2011
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Town launches May River "social marketing" - (8/2/11)
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May River action plan scrutinized - (8/30/11)
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Restoration of May River proceeds - (8/31/11)
July 2011
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County drafts Step 3 for river cleanups - (7/8/11)
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Connect the dots to water threats - (7/8/11)
June 2011
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Save the May, clean up after your dog - (6/24/11)
May 2011
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May River wetlands "overwhelmed" by stormwater - (5/11/11)
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Bluffton Opinion- When life is fair - (5/12/11)
April 2011
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Town leaders commit to may river restoration - (4/3/11)
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Bluffton selected for EPA growth program - (4/25/11)
March 2011
January 2011
December 2010
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Town wraps up rain barrel grant program - (12/28/10)
November 2010
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Naturalist to cruise May River - (11/10/10)
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Town hires May River Clean-up Consultants - (11/25/10)
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Towns ditch project slows run-off to Verdier Cove - (11/30/10)
September 2010
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Answer to water quality lies in limiting growth - (9/12/10)
August 2010
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Old Town gets doused with rain barrels - (8/21/10)
June 2010
April 2010
- This is a plan that provides the framework - (4/7/10)
- Riversmart acts as a "Clearinghouse" of environmental information - (4/22/10)
- Girl scouts' golden wish: Save the May River - (4/22/10)
- Panel struggles with how to convince people to protect May River - (4/28/10)
March 2010
February 2010
- Column by Mayor Sulka - (2/17/10)
January 2010
- Town Council outlines top goals - (1/24/10)
- We say...Okatie reports aims at fixing water quality - (1/28/10)
- Report examines water quality in the May River - (1/30/10)
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
- Panel OK's new water test deal - (10/8/09)
- May River Watershed Data Stream paying off - (10/21/09)
- We say...Water sampling may save the May - (10/22/09)
- Town moves ahead with May River protections - (10/23/09)
- Let's get something done - (10/28/09)
- Town Planning Commission to address stormwater issues - (10/28/09)
- May River protectors laud county regulations - (10/28/09)
- He says...It's time for a real building moratorium - (10/30/09)
September 2009
- May River water quality shows some improvement - (9/19/09)
- Moratorium on proposals helpful, but not enough - (9/23/09)
August 2009
- Plan calls for protecting May River Road's rural character - (8/3/09)
- Bluffton targets ditches - (8/4/09)
- Scientists to address Bluffton Council - (8/15/09)
- Bluffton wants formal agreement - (8/18/09)
- Don't delay the river fix - (8/21/09)
- Conservation League shapes plan to save May River - (8/23/09)
- Don't forget the developers - (8/24/09)
July 2009
- He says...Funeral pending for May and Okatie Rivers - (7/10/09)
- Keep pushing to protect area's sensitive water ways - (7/16/09)
- Bacteria levels slide in May River - (7/22/09)
- Bluffton's new manager has work cut out for him - (7/30/09)
- He says...Moratorium could stop meeting merry-go-round - (7/31/09)
June 2009
May 2009
- Officials must face up to hard choices on rivers - (5/3/09)
- DHEC limits oystering in May River headwaters - (5/8/09)
- State to limit shellfish harvesting along the may river - (5/8/09)
- We say...There's hope for the May - (5/17/09)