March 10, 2008
Honorable James H. Harrison, Chairman
Judiciary Committee, SC House of Representatives
512 Blatt Building
Re: H.4736-DNR Restructuring
Dear Chairman Harrison:
The SC Wildlife Federation represents 8,000 outdoor enthusiasts in our state, most of whom are hunters and fishermen and all of whom are constituents of the SC Department of Natural Resources. We share a common bond, and that is the love of the outdoors where we enjoy our land, water and wildlife resources. For more than one hundred years the public interest in these resources has been managed by the SC Department of Natural Resources and its predecessor agencies. This agency and its partners have been instrumental in preserving our natural heritage, protecting and managing our wildlife resources, providing sustainable populations for hunting and fishing, and providing opportunities to enjoy publicly owned wild places.
We are concerned that many of these time honored values will be lost if the Legislature allows the Governor to appoint a Secretary of Natural Resources that then changes every four years. The current system, with the Governor appointing a Board that then appoints a natural resources professional to the executive director position provides a more open and
consistent management system that does not necessarily change with gubernatorial administrations. Our reasons for concern are numerous and too lengthy to enumerate in a letter.
I served on the DNR Board from 1999-2003, and feel that former and current Board members have a unique and informed perspective on this issue. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this matter in more detail. I also would like to include Cary Chamblee, who is representing the Federation in this matter, in any meeting plans.
Thank you for your close attention to this issue and for providing opportunities for input from sportsmen.
Sincerely,
Ben Gregg, Executive Director
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March, 18, 2008
Senator Daniel B. Verdin III, Chairman
Senate Agriculture and Natural resources Committee
404 Gressette Bldg.,
Re: S. 428 – SC Water Withdrawal, Permitting, Use and Reporting Act
Dear Senator Verdin:
The SC Wildlife Federation has 8000 members who fish, hunt, boat and enjoy wildlife. We applaud you and your colleagues on the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee for your efforts to craft legislation that will rationally and fairly allocate the use of our state’s surface water resources.
Historically, our state has enjoyed an abundance of water in its rivers, streams and lakes. This abundance has provided sportsmen with ample opportunities to enjoy fishing and boating, while meeting the water requirements of industries important to our state’s economy and drinking water for our citizens. Fishing is important to our state’s economy. Based on 2006 data, fishing is a $1.5 Billion industry, enjoyed by over 800,000 people in SC and employs over 25,000 people.
Every day, vast amounts of water is withdrawn from
To protect the interests of sportsmen, communities and the environment, S.428 must include strong minimum instream flow standards. These standards must protect the biological, chemical and physical integrity of our surface water. The current draft of the bill will allocate industry the use of 80% of the annual mean daily flow while allocating a woefully inadequate 20 % for fisheries and boating. This meager stream flow will could disrupt the function of our rivers for fish spawning and navigation. We urge you to listen to the experts on this subject at the Department of Natural Resources and consider their recommendations on the necessary minimum instream flows.
We are also concerned that there has been inadequate opportunity for the public to be heard on the instream flow issue. This has been a moving target since the first hearing on the bill and only a few have had the opportunity to comment. This is a very important issue that will govern water use for years to come and the public needs to be involved. We request that you hold a public hearing on the minimum instream flow issue before the full Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, so that the full Committee can hear the concerns of sportsmen and boaters.
Please consider the following for the benefit of the state’s sportsmen:
· Hold a public hearing so that sportsmen can voice their concerns on the inadequate minimum intream flow requirements.
· Amend the bill to increase the instream flow minimums to levels recommended by DNR.
· Provide for input and representation of sportsmen in the instream flow arbitration process.
· Provide for a rebalancing of water among users, if future instream flows are not adequate for fish and navigation.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on these issues.
Sincerely,
cc: Members, Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
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