Stakeholder Website for South Carolina Water Resources

  • SURFACE WATER ASSESSMENT

    The responsible management of the state's water resources is beyond the scope of any one agency or organization and requires cooperation and shared responsibility amongst all agencies and water users. Stakeholder involvement and feedback is critical to this process. READ MORE >>

  • WATER ASSESSMENTS AND WATER DEMAND PROJECTIONS

    The surface water quantity models being built in South Carolina are intended for long-term agency and stakeholder use to enhance the permitting, planning and management of the state's surface water resources. The groundwater model is a regional groundwater flow model that is being updated by the USGS. Water Demand projections will be used to build scenarios for future water demands. READ MORE >>

  • PLANNING PROCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PPAC)

    In March of 2018, SCDNR convened a diverse stakeholder group called the Planning Process Advisory Committee (PPAC) to help revamp and expand the planning process for the State Water Plan. The PPAC includes some 20 members representing agriculture, commerce, environmental groups, recreation, power generators, reservoir owners and public water suppliers. Additionally, there is representation on the PPAC from the staffs of SCDNR, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) and the SC Water Resources Center of Clemson University. The PPAC finalized the First Edition of SC Water Planning Framework in Fall of 2019 and is now continuing on in an oversight and advisory capacity for the state water planning process.  READ MORE>>

  • RIVER BASIN COUNCILS (RBCs) 

    The vision for an updated State Water Plan is to develop stakeholder-driven local water resource management plans for each of the state’s eight major river basins. Each river basin would have a River Basin Council (RBC) assigned to develop their local plan with each plan eventually getting rolled up into the State Water Plan. PPAC members are expected to assist the RBCs on consistency with the plan development process. The RBCs have representatives from the major interest categories of the water sector, including opportunities for citizens at-large, and receive assistance from state and federal agencies and consultants. While the numbers of available seats on each RBC are defined out of necessity for team efficiency, the RBC meetings would be open to the public and RBCs’ decision making would be very transparent. Currently, there are three active RBCs in the Edisto, Broad, and Pee Dee. READ MORE>>

SC Planning Basins

Eight major river basins within the State of South Carolina are used for planning and permitting purposes. Of these eight basins, only two are exclusively within South Carolina - the Edisto and Salkehatchie. The Savannah River Basin lies within both South Carolina and Georgia. The Pee Dee, Broad and Catawba Rivers all begin in North Carolina.

Groundwater Map of SC

The Coastal Plain areas of South Carolina are the primary focus of Groundwater Modeling efforts as the Piedmont area comprises minimal Groundwater supply and use.  The Coastal Plain begins at the fall line in South Carolina which represents an imaginary line on the surface where the hard crystalline rock of the Piedmont meets the softer sedimentary formations of the Coastal Plain.

Capacity Use Areas of SC

The capacity use areas of South Carolina.