10/06/2026
Why does the Little River look different? 💙
For years, portions of the Little River were maintained as if the riverbank were an extension of a turf lawn. Closely cut grass may create a “neat” appearance, but it is not the best way to protect a living waterway.
Repeated close mowing reduced the variety of vegetation along the river and left the banks without the stronger, more diverse root systems that trees, shrubs, sedges and native flowering plants provide.
The City is now correcting that approach.
Instead of asking whether the riverbank looks like a freshly mowed lawn, we should ask whether it is holding the soil, filtering runoff, supporting wildlife and protecting the river.
The Little River will still be maintained. The difference is that it will be maintained as a healthy river corridor, not as turf.
Working with Nature, Not Against It.
Source: Clemson Cooperative Extension, Livestakes: Easy Propagation for Streambank Plants