Safe Yield Workgroup

During the Spring and Summer of 2020, the Surface Water Withdrawal Permitting program hosted a series of stakeholder meetings to assess the state of the safe yield calculation and explore the possibility of better methods to be used when determining safe yield for rivers and streams. The final summary report and Department conclusion of this stakeholder process is available below:

Final Summary: Safe Yield Workgroup Report

Overview 

DHEC has been directed to develop regulations and guidance on Surface Water Quantity Withdrawals. After a 10 year review of the Surface Water Withdrawal, Permitting, Use and Reporting Act [49-4-10] and Regulation 61-119, DHEC issued a Notice of Drafting on August 27, 2021 and invited a diverse group of stakeholders to provide information and recommendations on these issues. The activities and recommendations of the surface water workgroup will be published to the public and reported to the legislature upon the end of the review.