Erosion Control & Drainage in Greer, SC
Runoff, bare ground and washing banks dealt with in Greer, where two drinking water lakes sit downstream of new houses. Shoreline rules checked first, then the swale, the stone or the cover put in.
Mud and drinking water in one watershed
Lake Robinson and Lake Cunningham are not just scenery. Lake Robinson, owned by Greer Commission of Public Works, was created as a drinking water impoundment on the South Tyger River, and Lake Cunningham, about 200 acres, has CPW's treatment plant right on its shore. Soil that washes off a yard upstream does not vanish. It travels down branches and ditches toward water the city drinks, which is why erosion around Greer matters more than a muddy path suggests.
The rest of the city has the usual Upstate problem in a growing place. Greer added close to 10,000 people between the last two censuses, and new lots mean open red clay, compacted yards that shed rain, and drives and roofs that gather runoff into a few fast streams. A yard that washes after every storm is a water problem first: the flow arrives from somewhere, runs too fast and has nowhere stable to leave.
The machines come down from Tryon, which puts Greer near the outer limit for JB Stump Grinding & Land Management, so whole jobs suit the distance: holding a lot after it is cleared, rebuilding a slumped bank, or carrying runoff across a property to a stable outlet. On a slope, trees that come down are often best left with their stumps ground in place, since the roots keep holding soil. Erosion control and drainage covers the work.
Lakeshore rules and city review in Greer
Erosion control work in Greer
- Lake lots held back from the CPW strip
- Swales and pipe to stone outlets
- Bare lots covered after clearing
- Silt fence below open ground
- Washing drives reshaped with dips
- Cut banks laid back and matted
The CPW shoreline strip
Around both lakes, Greer CPW owns a strip of land above normal pool: up to the 900-foot contour at Lake Robinson and the 850-foot contour at Lake Cunningham, marked with iron pipes a surveyor can find. Its lakeshore policy bars excavation and motorized equipment in that strip, bans herbicides and protects standing trees over an inch thick at the base. Clearing small brush there takes a permit from the Lake Warden's office and hand tools only. Riprap placed by hand at the water's edge is allowed to stop erosion. Machine work stays on your side of the line.
Holding a lakeside lot on your own ground
Above the CPW line, the job is keeping your soil out of the strip and out of the lake. Lead roof and drive water into a swale or a solid pipe that ends in a stone outlet well back from the boundary, so it reaches the buffer slowed down and spread out. Keep spoil piles and bare ground away from the line, put silt fence below any open soil, and get cover down quickly. A path to the water through the strip is a CPW permit question, and the policy limits it to mulch, gravel, bark or stepping stones, not pavement.
City review for new development
Away from the lakes, new development inside the city goes through the City of Greer's engineers, who review the drainage on development plans and inspect pipes, ditches and other drainage systems while they are being built. Tying a yard drain into a street ditch, or reshaping ground where a drive meets a city street, falls under the city's encroachment permit for right-of-way work. Outside city limits the county line decides: Greenville County's Land Development Division on one side and Spartanburg County on the other. Ask before the first load of dirt moves.
Photos From Our Own Jobs
Real photos from JB jobs. They are not labelled with places. See more recent work.
Erosion Control Questions in Greer
Not seeing yours? Call (828) 574-4474 and ask Jordan.
- Do You Need a Permit to Clear Land? Erosion Rules in NC and SC
- Standing Water in the Yard: How to Fix a Yard That Holds Water
- French Drain vs Swale: Which Does Your Yard Need?
- What Does a Silt Fence Do? Silt Fence Basics for Lots and Yards
- Stumps in Ditches and on Creek Banks: Grind, Leave or Remove?
- All guides
Can a machine clear the bank on my Lake Robinson lot in Greer?
Not in the strip Greer CPW owns. Its lakeshore policy bars motorized equipment and excavation there, protects standing trees over an inch thick and requires a permit from the Lake Warden's office before small brush is cleared by hand. On your side of the 900-foot contour, machine work is possible. Find the boundary pipes first.
How do I stop runoff from my Greer yard reaching the lake?
Slow it down and spread it out before it reaches the CPW strip. Collect roof and drive water in a swale or a solid pipe, end it in a stone-lined outlet well back from the boundary, and keep the ground between covered with grass or mulch. Never leave spoil or bare soil near the line. The French drain vs swale guide helps pick the method.
Who reviews drainage for new construction inside Greer city limits?
The city's Engineering department. It reviews plans for new development against Greer's stormwater regulations and inspects drainage as it goes in. For anything outside the city, start with the county your parcel is in, since the line between Greenville and Spartanburg counties runs through the Greer area.
Is a small erosion problem in Greer worth the trip from Tryon?
On its own, one small washout is a long way to come. Holding a cleared lot, rebuilding a bank or running drainage across a whole yard justifies the drive, and a small fix can be added when other work is booked close by. Send photos taken during rain and your street.
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What People Say Afterwards
Word for word from the Google profile. The same three things keep coming up: he shows up when he says he will, the work is clean, and the ground is left tidy.
“Jordan with JB Stump Grinding & Land Management did an excellent job from start to finish. He was professional, courteous, respectful, and showed up exactly when he said he would. His work was very clean and neat, and he took the time to make sure everything was cleaned up and the property looked great before he left.”
“Exceptional job from start to finish — he was professional, efficient, and clearly takes a lot of pride in his work. His pricing was very fair and reasonable, and the quality of the work was excellent. He showed up, worked hard, and left the area looking great when it was finished.”
“I have used JB Stump Grinding multiple times and I couldn’t be more impressed! Jordan did a great job, showed up when he said he would, and left everything clean when he was finished. Professional, dependable, and easy to work with.”
“I have used JB twice and will use him again anytime. He is a pleasure to work with and also does a fantastic job. He cuts, cleans up and delivers. Definitely deserves 5 stars.”
“Jordan is a stand up guy! Can’t thank him enough! Would highly recommend him to anyone!”
“Best stump removal in the area!”
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Erosion Control in Greer?
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