Columbia, S.C. The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) and Lt. Governor Pamela Evette honored a number of York County local governments and organizations today for their successful cooperation in watershed planning and protection.
The Watershed Evaluation Team (WET) delegates were given SCDES’ Power of Partnerships Award by Lt. Governor Evette and SCDES Interim Director Myra Reece. Stakeholders from several York County governments, including the City of York, York County, the City of Rock Hill, the Catawba Regional Council of Governments, the Catawba Indian Nation, the City of Fort Mill, and the City of Tega Cay, make up WET, a working group.
In order to better understand and manage York County’s water resources, these stakeholders came together in 2022 to form WET. Together, they created watershed plans for the area. Water quality protection measures are implemented using the watershed plans.
“We couldn’t think of a better initiative to receive the agency’s first Power of Partnerships award, and the Watershed Evaluation Team is a perfect example of what can be accomplished through collaboration,” said SCDES Interim Director Myra Reece.In order to enable a coordinated effort to maintain the quality of the water throughout York County, WET established relationships with a number of local governments and jurisdictions.
The Big Dutchman Creek and Tools Fork watersheds’ watershed plans were developed with the help of multiple grants that WET stakeholders applied for and were awarded. Plans are currently being prepared or will soon be established for the Fishing Creek Headwaters, Upper Fishing Creek, Middle Fishing Creek, Tinkers Creek, Little Allison Creek, and the Burgis Creek and Sixmile Creek watersheds.
Following the completion of these watershed plans, local stakeholders and WET are looking for financial options to put the solutions found during the watershed planning process into action.
“This initiative is forward-looking,” WET Chairman Rick Lee remarked.Because they give us a better understanding of our watersheds and the possible effects of development, these watershed studies will be used to plan for expansion in the area. With the help of these watershed plans, we can take well-informed steps to lessen those possible effects before they have a chance to negatively influence neighboring towns.
Among the WET members honored today are representatives of:
- City of York
- York County
- Catawba Regional Council of Governments
- City of Rock Hill
- Catawba Indian Nation
- City of Fort Mill
- City of Tega Cay
The WET members are the first to receive SCDES’ Power of Partnerships award, which honors individuals who exhibit exceptional cooperation and teamwork in safeguarding South Carolina’s environment for the good of all.