South Carolina Department of Environmental Services

This document outlines the framework and objectives for Groundwater Management Plans within Capacity Use Areas, with a specific focus on the Santee-Lynches region. Key strategic goals include ensuring sustainable development of groundwater resources, monitoring groundwater quality and quantity, protecting against saltwater intrusion, and promoting educational awareness and conservation. The plan details strategies such as identifying areas for pumping reduction, reviewing permit applications based on reasonable use, establishing comprehensive monitoring programs, and implementing conservation educational initiatives, all aimed at achieving long-term sustainability of the resource.

This document outlines the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control's plan for adopting numeric nutrient water quality criteria in compliance with USEPA guidelines. The plan details the development of State-specific criteria to protect against nutrient over-enrichment, focusing on parameters such as Total Phosphorus, Total Nitrogen, Chlorophyll a, and Turbidity. It describes the prioritization of waters, starting with lakes and expanding to estuaries, rivers, and streams, with an intended adoption target of mid-2007 for the latter. The criteria development involves State-specific data and a lengthy public regulatory process, aiming for full adoption of standards by 2008.

This report assesses the state of regulated dams in South Carolina, outlining their condition, associated risks, and ownership responsibilities. It details the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services' Dam Safety Program's evolution since 2015, focusing on advancements in staffing, inventory management, owner outreach, emergency preparedness, and technological integration. The report also addresses significant challenges, including aging infrastructure, ownership complexities, funding limitations, and population-driven hazard reclassification, with an aim to ensure safe and resilient dam infrastructure.

The meeting involved the election of Michael Melchers as Chair and Alicia Wilson as Vice Chair. The Council also randomly assigned term limits (2, 3, or 4 years) to its members. Key discussions included the identification and adoption of twelve process metrics to gauge the planning process's effectiveness. The Council developed and adopted a vision statement: "A resilient and sustainably managed Santee River Basin that balances human and ecological needs now and in the future," along with five supporting goals. Presentations were given on the climatology of the Santee River Basin, historical data, trends in temperature and precipitation, and an overview of the SC Drought Response Act and the responsibilities of the Drought Response Committee. The location for the next meeting was set for Santee Cooper's Jefferies Hydroelectric Station.

The meeting objectives were reviewed and the agenda was approved, covering public comments, surface water and groundwater demand projections, capacity use areas (CUA), groundwater management plans, and discussion/selection of drought management recommendations. Key discussions included a review of demand projection methodologies detailing moderate, high demand, and high growth scenarios through the 2070 planning horizon. An overview of the capacity use program was provided, noting that the Santee basin overlaps five out of six CUA regions, with most of the planning basin within the Trident CUA, where withdrawal limitations remain in place since 2018. Groundwater use data indicated higher surface water use than groundwater over the past 20 years. Drought management obligations for the RBC were outlined, including evaluating hydrologic information and advocating for coordinated basin-wide responses. Consensus was reached on recommendations, including requiring water utilities to review and update their drought management plans every five years or more frequently, and coordinating drought response messaging.