Prepared for the Season: SCDES Supports Hurricane Readiness Across South Carolina
As South Carolinians welcome the start of summer, it’s also time to turn our attention to hurricane preparedness. The, Atlantic hurricane season, officially began, June 1, and continues through, November 30, . This year, forecasters with the, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), are predicting an active season, with an, increased potential for severe storms and above-average storm activity. , South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) is a vital member of the State Emergency Response Team (SERT), which brings together local, state, and federal agencies to coordinate emergency preparedness and response efforts. SCDES plays several key roles in helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from hurricanes and tropical storms. Here are just a few of the ways…, Dam Safety and Flood Preparedness, : We alert dam and reservoir owners ahead of major rainfall and monitor dam conditions throughout storm events., Water System Support, : Our teams provide technical assistance to public water and wastewater facilities facing storm-related impacts., Private Well Protection, : We offer resources to help private well owners protect their water quality before and after a storm., Storm Debris Management, : We coordinate with local governments to establish temporary debris collection sites to assist with cleanup and recovery., Hazardous Materials Response, : Our emergency response staff are ready to manage spills or incidents involving hazardous materials., Shellfish Harvesting Closures, : We issue temporary shellfish harvesting closures in areas affected by polluted floodwaters to protect public health., GIS & Mapping Tools, : Our GIS specialists create flood maps and spatial data tools to guide emergency response and long-term recovery., Agricultural Assistance, : We work with permitted agricultural operations to minimize the impact of floodwaters on waste lagoons., Coastal Damage Assessments, : Our teams conduct post-storm coastal assessments using aerial surveillance., Emergency Coastal Orders, : We issue emergency orders that authorize sandbagging and marine debris removal in impacted coastal areas. To ensure coordination and readiness, SCDES leadership recently participated in the, Governor’s Annual Hurricane Tabletop Exercise, , held June 5. This yearly event brings together state agency leaders, emergency managers, and federal partners to review procedures, discuss forecasts, and reaffirm our collective commitment to protecting people, property, and the environment when hurricanes strike. We encourage all South Carolinians to take time now to prepare for hurricane season. The 2025 South Carolina Hurricane Guide,…, Download your copy from, SCEMD's website . You can also learn more about how SCDES supports storm preparedness and recovery efforts at, des.sc.gov/storms, . At SCDES, we remain committed to doing our part to help South Carolina stay safe, strong, and storm ready.Receiving Water Body (RWB) and Coastal Receiving Water (CRW)
SCDES Issues Recreational HAB Watch for Broadway Lake in Anderson County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 12, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) today issued a, Recreational Watch for Broadway Lake in Anderson County after identifying the presence of a harmful algal bloom (HAB). , On June 11, SCDES was notified of a potential HAB on Broadway Lake. Samples collected by staff indicated the presence of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) capable of producing cyanotoxins. Cyanotoxin analysis of the samples is underway with results expected next week. SCDES is in communication with Anderson County officials and will continue monitor this event., Current recommendations are to: , avoid direct contact with lake water in areas where the HAB is observed , keep pets and animals from swimming in or drinking from the lake in areas where the HAB is observed , HABs are a common occurrence in South Carolina lakes. They are typically observed during the warmer and drier months, and they can persist for several weeks. The blooms can look like bright green spilled paint or blue-green discoloration of the water. With cooler temperatures, heavy winds and rain, blooms may begin to break up and die off. The most common symptoms associated with HABs are…WaterSC to Meet June 19, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 18, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. – The WaterSC Water Resources Working Group will hold its next meeting on Thursday, June 19, 2025, from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at Stone River, 121 Alexander Road, West Columbia. The meeting will be livestreamed by SCETV on, scetv.org., A copy of the agenda and additional information are available at, des.sc.gov/WaterSC., On Sept. 24, 2024, Governor Henry McMaster issued Executive Order 2024-22, establishing the WaterSC Water Resources Working Group (WaterSC), with the S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) serving as the lead agency of the initiative. WaterSC is working across state agencies and with key stakeholders to formulate Executive Order 2024-22 deliverables, including the development of a…, des.sc.gov/WaterSC., ###Keeping Our Coast Clean: Beach Monitoring Season is Underway in South Carolina
Each year, as families, tourists, and locals head to South Carolina’s beautiful beaches to soak up the sun and splash in the surf, environmental professionals are hard at work behind the scenes to ensure that our coastal waters remain safe for everyone. From May 1 through October 30, the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) conducts routine monitoring of water quality at…, Beach Monitoring website, and the , S.C. Beach Access Guide, . It’s important to note: a swimming advisory does not mean the beach is closed. Instead, it serves as a precaution to avoid swimming in that particular area of ocean water until conditions return to safe levels. In most cases, these advisories only last a day or two. South Carolina also issues year-round, long-term advisories for beach zones that frequently experience high bacteria levels—often…, CheckMyBeach.com, , a helpful resource for real-time water quality updates and beach safety tips in Horry County. This initiative continues to grow, with the goal of serving all of South Carolina’s coastal communities. Whether you're planning a day trip or a weeklong stay, staying informed is key to enjoying the beach safely. Before you go, check the latest water quality reports and know what to expect—because…, des.sc.gov/beachmonitoring, or , CheckMyBeach.com, .SCDES Lifts Recreational Harmful Algal Bloom Watch for Broadway Lake, Provides Update on Lake Hartwell Bloom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 20, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) continues to monitor the harmful algal blooms (HAB) on Broadway Lake and Lake Hartwell, both near Anderson, S.C. Based on the latest observations and water sample results, the agency has updated its recommendations for protecting public health. , Broadway Lake: Recreational Watch Lifted, Today,, SCDES lifted the Recreational Watch for Broadway Lake,, which was first issued on June 12. Samples collected this week indicate a reduced presence of the cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), which initially prompted the Recreational HAB Watch. Additionally, concentrations of the cyanotoxin microcystin in samples collected on June 11 and 17 were below the recreational standards. , Lake Hartwell: Recreational Watch Lifted for Additional Areas, On June 16, SCDES’s Aquatic Science Division (ASD) teams surveyed Lake Hartwell again and collected water samples from six locations, as identified in the map graphic below. SCDES’s Algal Bloom Monitoring Map has been updated with sampling locations and observations. Map AI-generated content may be incorrect. Based on the latest data,, SCDES has removed certain areas from the Recreational HAB Watch for Lake Hartwell,, including: Six and Twenty Creek lake arm between SC-24 and Centerville Road Lower reaches of Lake Hartwell from Sadlers Creek State Park to the Hartwell Dam South of Cherry Creek Road to Camp Creek Road, including Martin Creek and Coneross Creek lake arms , The Recreational Watch for Lake Hartwell remains in effect for areas of the Tugaloo and Seneca River lake arms, ,, with the following recommendations:, , avoid direct contact with lake water in areas where the HAB is observed, keep pets and animals from swimming in or drinking from the lake in areas where the HAB is observed, While the bloom appears to be diminishing in most areas, it’s advised to continue to use caution in areas where the bloom is observed. The June 16 water samples indicate the ongoing presence of cyanobacteria in certain areas. However, microcystin concentrations in the samples remain below the recreational standard of 8 micrograms per liter. The HAB may still be found in areas where the…SCDES Announces Public Meeting to Introduce Draft Lower Savannah-Salkehatchie River Basin Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 26, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) is holding a public meeting to introduce the draft Lower Savannah-Salkehatchie River Basin Plan to the basin’s stakeholders. The meeting will take place:, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, Lake Warren State Park/Hampton Hall Building , 1079 Lake Warren Road, Hampton, SC, [ Directions via Google Maps ] The draft plan was developed over a two-year period by the Lower Savannah-Salkehatchie River Basin Council, a working group of stakeholders with water interests in the basin, under the guidance of the South Carolina State Water Planning Framework published in 2019. The plan is the sixth of eight River Basin Plans scheduled to be completed over the next year for…SCDES Lifts Recreational Water Watch for Harmful Algal Bloom on Lake Hartwell
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) lifted the Recreational Water Watch for Lake Hartwell, which was first issued on April 30 following confirmation of a harmful algal bloom (HAB) on the lake. On June 30, teams from SCDES’s Aquatic Science Division (ASD) surveyed the lake and did not observe the…SCDES Accepting Applications for Projects that Improve Water Quality by Reducing Nonpoint Source Pollution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 3, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. —The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services's (SCDES) Nonpoint Source Program aims to keep South Carolina waterbodies healthy by providing cost-share funding for projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source pollution occurs when rainfall or irrigation runs over land, picking up pollutants and carrying them to…, These images show the positive impact of a streambank stabilization project completed by Save our Saluda, with cost-share funding from the Section 319 grant and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Comparing the before (left) and after (right) photos illustrates the success of an implementation project on Terry Creek in the North Saluda River…, Proposed grant projects should include the implementation of recommended best management practices (BMPs) from an approved watershed plan that will reduce or prevent nonpoint source pollution loading and will lead to measurable water quality improvements within the target watershed. Examples of eligible BMPs include repair of failing septic systems, streambank restoration, pasture and…SCDES Issues Short-term Swimming Advisory for Section of Beach on Edisto Island
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. — A section of beach along South Carolina's coast has been placed under a , short-term swimming advisory, , the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) reported today. , The advisory is for water at Edisto Beach near the access point in Jeremy Cay off Lost Village Trail (station LC-075) in Colleton County. This swimming advisory is not a beach closing, nor does this advisory affect the entire beach. , Bacteria levels above state and federal water quality standards have been detected in this area of water, and swimming is not advised in the area until bacteria levels return to normal. It’s safe to wade, collect shells and fish within this swimming advisory area. However, it’s recommended that people entering the water in this area refrain from swallowing it, and people with open wounds or…, enterococci, bacteria, which are naturally found in warm-blooded animals, including humans. However, high levels of, enterococci, bacteria in water indicates the potential risk for other organisms that may cause disease in humans, such as gastrointestinal illness or skin infections. This advisory only affects the area noted above. Short-term swimming advisories typically last just a few days and are lifted once follow-up water sampling shows bacteria levels have returned to normal. SCDES routinely collects water samples…, des.sc.gov/beachmonitoring, for more information and to view recent water sampling results along the coast. For more information, call your local SCDES office: • Myrtle Beach , 843-238-4378, • Charleston , 843-953-0150, • Beaufort , 843-846-1030, ###