South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 72 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL-LAND RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION DISTRICTS DIVISION › Article 3 - STANDARDS FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND SEDIMENT REDUCTION › Section 72-309 - Criteria for Designated Watersheds

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
The concept of designated watersheds is intended, not only to prevent existing water quantity and water quality problems from getting worse, but also to reduce existing flooding problems and to improve existing water quality or meet State Water Quality Standards through a reduction of the impacts of NPS pollution in selected watersheds. Further, the designation of watersheds under this section may also be used to protect watersheds which do not currently have significant water quality or quantity problems, but which require protection in order to avoid or mitigate the occurrence of future problems which might impair current or protected multiple water uses or important water resources within the watershed. Criteria is established for designated watersheds and these criteria will depend on whether the specific problems of the watershed are water quantity or water quality oriented. Water quantity and water quality concerns will be considered in all designated watersheds, but the overall emphasis for each designated watershed will depend on its existing and future water quality and quantity issues as well as consideration of the multiple offstream and instream water uses within the watershed.
A. To initiate consideration of a watershed for Designated Watershed status, a watershed shall be recommended by a local government or combinations of local governments through the passage of a local ordinance to the Commission. Upon recommendation to the Commission, the Commission shall publish the request in the State Register and contact all involved agencies at the local and state level within 30 days after receipt of the designation request and their input received prior to any consideration of the designation is made.
B. Included with the recommendation of a watershed for Designated Watershed status to the Commission shall be an identification of the specific problems that exist in the watershed so that the pursuit of a watershed study is warranted. Designation as a Designated Watershed requires approval by the Commission, the South Carolina Water Resources Commission and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. A significant water quantity or water quality problem must exist that would support this designation. Also, inclusion of a watershed as a Designated Watershed will necessitate a public hearing process. The process of designating a watershed shall be based on the following information:
(1) An estimate of the potential for land disturbing activities to be initiated in the basin which would be regulated under this regulation. This estimate could utilize historical and projected population growth, land use data, and other such appropriate measures to estimate the nonpoint source pollution contribution or stormwater runoff which could be reduced or avoided,
(2) An inventory of the offstream and instream water uses in the watershed to quantify and characterize the benefits associated with reducing current or avoiding future water resources problems in the watershed. These could include water supply intakes, State navigable waters, recreational resources, fisheries resources, wetlands, or other such important uses,
(3) Water quality data, collected through either the statewide water quality inventory, or other special studies inclusive of benthic macroinvertebrate data,
(4) Historical and estimated flood damage and/or estimated flood protection benefits to both private and public property in the watershed,
(5) Status of current or description of proposed State and Federal flood protection and flood plain management program(s) and activities in the watershed, and
(6) Dangers to public health and welfare.