The Broad “Non” River

The saltwater nature of the Broad River is one factor that may be a big reason why so many cobia move in to spawn every spring.

The Broad River is not really a river. Rivers like the Broad, May and Colleton are actually fingers of saltwater extending far inland with very little influence from freshwater influx.

The flow actually comes in from the ocean as rising water pushes inland, and then it slides back out with the falling tide. Actual coastal rivers are fed by freshwater flowing from well inland. Lack of significant freshwater feeding into the Broad accounts for its high salinity, and the extremely high tides of Port Royal Sound cause huge amounts of saltwater to flow into and out of the Broad twice a day. These two unique attributes of the Broad likely account for the cobia breeding activity.

Check out www.lowcountryinstitute.org for an interesting discussion of the Broad River and the Port Royal Sound.

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