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Lake Wateree resident asks Kershaw County for $30,000 to address algae near Camden water intake
Summary
A Lake Wateree homeowner told Kershaw County Council on April 22 that algae mats near her property are spreading toward the Camden water intake and asked the county to provide $30,000 to control the infestation.
Leanne Fishburne, a Lake Wateree property owner, urged Kershaw County Council during public comment on April 22 to fund a response to a recurring algae mass in her cove and elsewhere on the lake. Fishburne said she and others have seen a decline in water quality since they bought property in 2002 and described boats becoming stuck when algae wraps around propellers.
Fishburne told the council she had used the county's GIS mapping tools and measured the algae mat's proximity to the Camden water intake: “from where the mass of algae is between my house and my sister's house, it is a little bit less than half a mile to the Camden Water Intake.” She asked the council to fund treatment to “bring it under control,” saying, “we need to, take care of this.”
During the public-comment exchange, Vice Chairman Bridal — who said Lake Wateree is in his district — thanked Fishburne for speaking and offered to share his phone number for follow-up. Council members noted that public comment does not allow back-and-forth at the podium, but the vice chair and staff indicated willingness to continue the conversation outside the meeting.
Fishburne specifically requested $30,000 from the county to help fight the algae problem; the council did not take a vote or make a formal commitment during the meeting. Council members and staff said the lake is a district concern and that staff would consider the request in budget and finance committee discussions moving toward second reading of the FY2025–26 budget.
