In Bluffton, the May River isn’t just a body of water; it’s a heartbeat. Longtime locals recall the words of town leaders, who famously summarized the town’s priorities with a singular, rhythmic focus: “The River, The River, The River.” This phrase has become more than a quote—it is a mission statement. For decades, the Town of Bluffton has balanced on a tightrope, attempting to welcome explosive growth while promising to protect the pristine, high-salinity waters that define its soul. But as the town has grown from a one-square-mile “state of mind” to a 54-square-mile municipality, those promises have faced the harsh reality of runoff, bacteria, and the unintended consequences of progress.
The Promise: A Sacred Covenant
Bluffton’s commitment to the May River is codified in the Town of Bluffton Covenant, which states: “We bear responsibility for the stewardship of nature’s blessings entrusted to us along the May River.”
For the community, this promise is rooted in:
- Cultural Heritage: The river has sustained the Bluffton Oyster Company—the state’s oldest shucking house—for over a century.
- Economic Vitality: The “Bluffton State of Mind” draws tourists and new residents specifically for the aesthetics and recreation the river provides.
- Ecological Rarity: The May is an “Outstanding Resource Water,” a state designation for only the cleanest and most ecologically significant waters.
The Failure: The 2009 Wake-Up Call
The town’s greatest “failure” arrived not as a single event, but as a gradual accumulation of suburban runoff. In 2009, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) dealt a devastating blow: nearly one-third of the May River was closed to shellfish harvesting.
High levels of fecal coliform bacteria had contaminated the headwaters. This downgrade was a physical manifestation of the cost of rapid development. The “River, River, River” mantra felt suddenly hollow as the very oysters that symbolized Bluffton’s health became unsafe to eat.
The Successes: A Decade of Action
Bluffton didn’t just mourn the loss; it mobilized. The 2009 crisis birthed the May River Watershed Action Plan (2011), a “living document” that transformed the town’s approach to infrastructure.
Key Successes Include:
- The Annual May River Cleanup: Since 2001, volunteers have removed over 50,000 pounds of trash from the watershed, turning environmentalism into a community holiday.
- Septic-to-Sewer Conversion: The town has successfully transitioned hundreds of homes from aging septic tanks to modern sewer lines, particularly in the Historic District and New Riverside.
- Green Infrastructure: Bluffton became a leader in “low-impact development,” using 319-grants to build pervious parking lots (like at Town Hall) and bioretention swales that filter rain back into the ground rather than piping it directly into the river.
- Microbial Source Tracking: Using advanced DNA testing, the town can now distinguish between human, canine, and wildlife waste, allowing for surgical precision in addressing pollution “hotspots.”
The Ongoing Effort: The Fight for the Headwaters
Ongoing Challenges:
- Impervious Surfaces: As more pavement is laid for new homes, “flashy” stormwater runoff remains the #1 threat.
- The “Conditional” Struggle: While some beds have seen improvements, many remain “conditionally approved,” meaning they must close for 14 days after a mere 1.1 inches of rain.
- Community Education: Convincing every new resident to pick up pet waste and maintain their yards without heavy chemicals is a never-ending task.
A Living Legacy
The story of the May River is far from over. It is a cycle of vigilance, where every success is met with the pressure of a new subdivision. But as long as the town continues to echo the mantra—The River, The River, The River—there is hope. Bluffton has proven that while development may be inevitable, the destruction of its “centerpiece” is not.