ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — Orangeburg County officials are grappling with how to prevent flooding caused by drainage backups after voters decided to dissolve the Horse Range Watershed District in November.
The district, which had been responsible for managing drainage systems in the area, was dissolved by a vote, leaving the county with the task of maintaining the critical infrastructure.
The district, which had been in operation since 1967, was formed to address flooding issues along the 25-mile-long swamp that runs through Holly Hill, Providence, Santee, and Vance.
Some residents report the system had been poorly maintained, leading to frequent flooding, especially near the swamp areas.
Resident John McBrayer, who lives near the swamp, said that the drainage ditches were filled with trees and debris, some as old as 20 to 30 years.
"I’ve had to go out there with my own backhoe and clear them out, dig my own ditches just to get the water to drain like it’s supposed to," McBrayer said. "There’s trees in the ditches that are as big around as me. There’s never been anybody out here doing anything."
McBrayer is just one of many residents who have taken matters into their own hands in the absence of proper maintenance.
With the Horse Range Watershed District dissolved, the responsibility has now shifted to the county, and local officials are working to adapt.
County Councilman Johnny Ravenell expressed concern that voters may not have fully understood the implications of the referendum.
"I don’t feel that the voters knew exactly what the referendum meant and what it’s going to mean to the county," Ravenell said. "The referendum got rid of the community for the watershed project, meaning it’s automatically turned over to the county."
Ravenell explained that the county would need to create a new department within the public works division to maintain the watershed, and he warned that addressing the issues would take time.
"The watershed hasn’t been properly maintained, and it has all kinds of problems," Ravenell said. "With the rainy season approaching, the beavers will likely clog the drains, and we’re going to face challenges correcting this problem."
Public works crews are currently assessing the damage and determining what equipment will be needed to restore the watershed. The county is expected to update the public next month on their progress.