SCDES BCM is pursuing a five-year Marine Debris strategy with an emphasis on prevention of Abandoned and Derelict Vessels (ADV) along the South Carolina coast. In addition to engaging stakeholders and partners through the South Carolina ADV Working Group, key efforts associated with this strategy include piloting a Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP) in coastal South Carolina and developing a coastwide ADV Database utilizing the MyCoast South Carolina platform. 

Implementation of a Coastal Hazards strategy is also underway with the goal of improving data collection associated with SCDES BCM's Emergency Operations Program by utilizing ESRI applications and upgrading aging GPS equipment. This strategy also involves designing a tool to improve communication and information sharing with local governments. Redevelopment of the South Carolina Atlas was also associated with this strategy. 

In 2016, SCDES BCM began a five-year Wetlands strategy to develop a regulatory definition and project standards for living shorelines in South Carolina. The strategy goals were to allow for a more efficient authorization process for living shorelines and to help ensure a project's design would accomplish its intended goals. To learn more about the strategy, outcomes, and available resources, visit SCDES's Development of Living Shoreline Regulations and Living Shorelines webpages. 

SCDES BCM leveraged existing relationships with coastal municipal governments through its Local Comprehensive Beach Management Plain (LCBMP) planning process to integrate Community Rating System (CRS)-based principles into the guidance and procedures for updating LCBMPs. The Coastal South Carolina CRS Users Group was established to provide a forum for coastal communities to share lesson learned, identify best practices, and gain efficiencies in planning processes that result in hazard mitigation and realized cost savings. SCDES BCM also contracted with The Nature Conservancy to Develop the Community Rating System Explorer App for coastal communities in South Carolina. 

In 2022, SCDES BCM convened a  Beach Preservation Stakeholder Workgroup to identify recommendations as the State implements a policy of beach preservation. Based on recommendations and key findings from the Workgroup, SCDES BCM will be proposing regulatory amendments to provide a definition for beach preservation and clarify beach preservation approaches, standards, and requirements for activities in any critical area along or adjacent to the beach.  

In 2021, the South Carolina General Assembly passed regulations that include a definition and project standards for living shorelines. The regulations were based on lessons learned from a  collaborative research project, which involved monitoring existing living shoreline installations, as well as installing and monitoring new and existing technologies under a range of conditions in the estuarine environment. Prior to regulation development, SCDES BCM also gathered feedback from stakeholders through the  South Carolina Living Shorelines Workgroup. 

In May 2018, Act 173, the Beachfront Management Reform Act, was signed by Governor Henry McMaster. Act 173 required SCDES to promulgate regulations to implement provisions of the act. To initiate input into the regulatory development process, SCDES convened a Beachfront Jurisdictional Line Stakeholder Workgroup in 2018 and 2019. Regulatory amendments, based on final recommendations of the workgroup and associated public engagement and input, were developed to provide clarity and standards to be utilized in the establishment of the state’s beachfront jurisdictional lines and to modify specific procedures related to appeals and movement of the jurisdictional lines to comply with statutory requirements.