The SCDES Watersheds Program supports the goals of the Clean Water Act in the state’s eight major river basins: Savannah, Saluda, Edisto, Salkehatchie, Broad, Catawba, Santee, and Pee Dee. Through a non-regulatory approach, the program serves as a resource to stakeholders, providing technical support, water quality information, and grant programs.
Watershed Coordinators
Northwest Region
Amanda "Amy" Ley
(803) 898-4183
amy.ley@des.sc.gov
Central Region
Cynthia McBride
(803) 898-4355
cynthia.mcbride@des.sc.gov
Southeast Region
Shellie Hoover Mosley
(803) 898-4031
shellie.mosley@des.sc.gov
NPS Program
Nonpoint Source Coordinator
Shea McCarthy
(803) 898-4401
shea.mccarthy@des.sc.gov
319 Grant Administrator
Jana Baxley
(803) 898-4213
jana.baxley@des.sc.gov
Section Manager
Chanda Cooper
(803) 898-4187
chanda.cooper@des.sc.gov
A watershed is a geographic area into which the surrounding waters, sediments, and dissolved materials drain, and whose boundaries extend along surrounding topographic ridges. Each watershed or unit has a unique hydrologic unit code (HUC). Hydrologic unit codes are a USGS cataloging system that arranges watersheds from the largest area or region (2 digits - 03) to the smallest (12 digits - 030502020101).
Why work at a watershed level?
Watershed-based water quality management recognizes the interdependence of water quality-related activities associated with a drainage basin including monitoring, problem identification and prioritization, water quality modeling, planning, permitting, and other activities. Watershed-based management allows SCDES to address Congressional and Legislative mandates and fulfill EPA reporting requirements including activities under Sections 303(d), 305(b), 314, and 319 of the Clean Water Act. The watershed approach also improves communication between SCDES, the regulated community, and the public on existing and emerging water quality issues.
Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution occurs when precipitation or irrigation runs over land picking up pollutants and carrying them to waterways. Unlike point source pollution, nonpoint source pollution is diffuse, making it difficult to identify and control the source of the problem.
