COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, Lt. Governor Pamela Evette and the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) recognized several local governments and entities in York County for their effective collaboration on watershed planning and protection.
Lt. Governor Evette and SCDES Interim Director Myra Reece presented representatives of the Watershed Evaluation Team (WET) with SCDES’s Power of Partnerships Award. WET is a working group comprised of stakeholders from multiple jurisdictions in York County: City of York, York County, City of Rock Hill, Catawba Regional Council of Governments, Catawba Indian Nation, City of Fort Mill, and the City of Tega Cay.
These stakeholders assembled WET in 2022 to better understand and manage York County’s water resources and through their cooperative efforts, developed watershed plans in the region. The watershed plans are used to implement improvements for protecting water quality.
“The Watershed Evaluation Team is a perfect example of what can be accomplished through collaboration, and we couldn’t think of a better initiative to receive the agency’s first Power of Partnerships award,” said SCDES Interim Director Myra Reece. “WET created partnerships through several local governments and jurisdictions to allow for a concerted effort in protecting water quality throughout York County.”
WET stakeholders have applied for and received several grants that supported the development of watershed plans for the Big Dutchman Creek and Tools Fork watersheds. Plans for the Burgis Creek and Sixmile Creek watersheds as well as the Fishing Creek Headwaters, Upper Fishing Creek, Middle Fishing Creek, Tinkers Creek and Little Allison Creek watersheds are in the works or will soon be developed.
As these watershed plans are completed, WET and local stakeholders are pursuing funding opportunities to implement the solutions identified through the watershed planning process.
“This is a forward-looking initiative,” said Rick Lee, Chairman of the WET. “These watershed studies will be used in planning for growth in the area, as they provide us with a better understanding of our watersheds and how development can potentially impact them. These watershed plans allow us to take informed actions to mitigate those potential impacts before they could affect nearby communities.”
WET members recognized today include 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 be recognized with SCDES’s Power of Partnerships award, which celebrates those who demonstrate extraordinary partnership and collaboration in protecting and preserving South Carolina’s environment for the benefit of all.
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