The Edisto River is one of the longest free-flowing blackwater rivers in North America,[1] flowing over 250[1] meandering miles from its sources in Saluda and Edgefield counties, to its Atlantic Ocean mouth at Edisto Beach, South Carolina.

The river system, being blackwater throughout its entire length, flows through highly intermittent bottom swampland.

During an excessively rainy season, the river will leave its main channel, with its flow basin increasing to over a mile or more of total width.

Common fish by biomass in the freshwater portions of the Edisto include spotted sucker (Minytrema melanops), bowfin (Amia calva), flat bullhead (Ameiurus platycephalus), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus), and American eel (Anguilla rostrata).

As one of over 330 members of the Waterkeeper Alliance, Edisto Riverkeeper seeks to encourage balanced usage of the basin's water resources for residents, industry, and municipalities to utilize and enjoy through education, advocacy, and accountability.