2010 Comprehensive Plan

2010 Comprehensive Plan City of Greer, SC

Section 6: Natural Resources

The natural resources element includes information related to the natural environment of the area. Information on flood plain and flood way areas, mineral deposits and air quality are possible characteristics that should be considered.

The South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act of 1994 provides the following guidelines of the vital characteristics for the Natural Resources element:

Coastal resources Slope characteristics Prime agricultural and forest land Plant and animal habitats Unique park and recreation areas Unique scenic views and sites Wetlands and soil types

Climate

The climate of South Carolina is classified within the humid tropical region. This climatic region is characteristic of hot, humid summers and mild winters. For Greer, the average annual temperature was 60.4°F from data collected from 1962 to 2009 by the Southeast Regional Climate Center. During the same period, the average annual high temperature was 71.0°F, while the average annual low temperature was 49.7°F. The warmest temperatures were typically found during the month of July while the coldest temperatures were in January as shown in See Figure 6‐1.

2010 Comprehensive Plan Natural Resources

Figure 6‐1 Average Annual Temperatures

Southeast Regional Climate Center

In terms of precipitation, the Greer area receives an annual average of 49.28 inches; 5.1 inches of which is snowfall. The months with the greatest amount of precipitation are March and July. The driest months occur during November and April as shown in Figure 6‐2.

Figure 6‐2 Average Annual Precipitation

Southeast Regional Climate Center

2010 Comprehensive Plan Natural Resources

It is likely the City of Greer will continue to urbanize. As urbanization increases, so does the climate of that particular area. An urban area, sometimes referred to as a “heat island,” is typically three to 10 degrees warmer than the surrounding countryside. Large expanses of concrete and asphalt have been shown to alter the local climate because they absorb the sun’s light and then heat the air during the cooling periods of the evenings, making local climates warmer over a given period of time. Open burning and industrial emissions have been found to increase temperatures in the local climate. Trees are a nullifying factor to these heat islands as they provide reduced air temperatures, reduced glare, and reduced wind speeds.

Air Quality

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) regulate and protect the air quality in the state. While most of South Carolina meets standards ambient air quality, increased urbanization in the Greenville, Asheville, and Charlotte metropolitan areas impacts local air quality, especially ground‐level ozone. Ground‐level ozone forms when oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds are heated by the sun during the spring and summer months and can be exacerbated by human activity. Current National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for eight‐hour average ground‐level ozone is .075 particles per million (ppm). Table 6‐1 depicts ground‐level ozone measurements since 2000 at the seven State and Local Air Monitoring Sites (SLAMS) in the Greenville‐Spartanburg‐Anderson CSA.

Table 6‐1 SLAMS Ground Level Ozone Measurements 2000 ‐ 2009 8‐hour annual average(ppm)

County (Monitoring Site) 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Anderson (Big Creek) 0.068 0.061 Cherokee (Cowpens) 0.088 0.08 0.093 0.079 0.068 0.078 0.076 0.067 0.080 0.057 Greenville (Hillcrest) 0.067 Greenville (Famoda Farm) 0.065 0.065 Oconee (Long Creek) 0.082 0.078 0.094 0.079 0.075 0.075 0.065 0.074 0.072 0.066 Pickens (Clemson) 0.081 0.088 0.088 0.078 0.074 0.081 0.081 0.081 0.080 0.066 Spartanburg (N Sptbg. FD) 0.089 0.090 0.093 0.079 0.082 0.082 0.085 0.083 0.085 0.066 Red highlight ‐ exceeds NAAQS, yellow highlight – near NAAQS SC DHEC, Bureau of Air Quality

2010 Comprehensive Plan Natural Resources

In December 2002, Greenville County, Anderson County, and Spartanburg County entered into the Early Action Compact (EAC) to implement strategies for emissions reductions as a proactive measure to achieve compliance with EPA air quality standards, especially in regards to eight‐ hour ground‐level ozone. This was done to get ahead of the federally‐mandated compliance dates and avoid federal restrictions that normally apply to non‐attainment areas. As a result of these efforts, such as Greenville County’s Spare the Air and Breathe Better at School programs (http://www.greenvillecounty.org/air_quality/additional_resources.asp), significant ground‐ level reductions have been made. In 2009, all SLAMS in the Greenville‐Spartanburg‐Anderson CSA reported eight‐hour average ground level ozone measurements well under the .075ppm standard.

However, as of January 2010, the EPA has recommended this standard be further reduced to a range somewhere between .060ppm and .070ppm. The new designation should be set by August 2011 with compliance required beginning in 2013. Continued efforts must be made to further reduce the area’s ground‐level ozone in order to avoid non‐attainment status which could have a negative impact on the ability for the city to attract commercial and industrial development and, more importantly, the quality of life for our community. In a 2008 citizen opinion survey, 64% of those questioned felt that the air quality of Greer was good or excellent. The remainder felt that air was a concern but did not feel that it was an imminent threat to their quality of life.

The only problematic sources of air quality found in Greer are derived from industry, automobile traffic, and utilities. Greer should analyze these factors in relation to the growing ozone problem and develop local solutions that manage ozone within acceptable levels that work in‐hand with the promotion of development. The city has supported Greenville County’s Spare the Air efforts and should continue to do so.

Slope Characteristics

The City of Greer is located within the Piedmont Plateau region of South Carolina. This region is typified by rolling hills within an elevation range of 300 feet to 1,200 feet above mean sea level (MSL). The lowest point in the Greer city limits is found in Spartanburg County along Dillard Creek (710' MSL) at approximately 82°12’21.4”W, 34°50’53.5”N. Conversely, the highest point is found in Greenville County near the corner of Crestview Circle and Blue Ridge Drive in the Burgiss Hills subdivision (1180' MSL) at approximately 82°15’30.0”W, 34°56’55.6”N. The elevation difference between these points is 470 feet within a distance of 7.54 miles; the slope between the highest and lowest points in the city is 62.33 feet per mile as shown in Figure 6‐3.

2010 Comprehensive Plan Natural Resources

Figure 6‐3 Slope Characteristics Greater Greer Area

2010 Comprehensive Plan Natural Resources

The elevation differential in Greer is equivalent to the elevation differential between Greer and Chester, SC. The elevation of Lake Robinson and Lake Cunningham is 890' and 840’ MSL, respectively. Therefore, these bodies of water are lower than the elevation of Greer’s geographic center.

Soils

Soil information was obtained from the Greenville and Spartanburg County Soil Surveys. Soils in the Greer area are gently sloping, well drained, and have no or very slight limitation to urban development. These soils formed in material that weathered from the underlying bedrock of granite and gneiss. These soils are loamy and consist of a mixture of clay, silt, and sand. The major soil association for the Greer Area is the Cecil‐Hiawassee‐