South Carolina Department of Environmental Services

Today Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Myra Reece to be the first director of the S.C. Department of Environmental Services. Reece, who currently serves as the Interim Director of SCDES, served as the Director of Environmental Affairs for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) from December 2015 until the agency's statutory reorganization in July 2024. Governor's news release: https://lnkd.in/e_m7mr-M

Check out these stunning #SCDEStination snapshots of the Chauga River at @ChauRamPark in #OconeeCounty! SCDES is dedicated to protecting rivers like the Chauga through our year-round Ambient Surface Water Monitoring program. Explore our SC Watershed Atlas to see how we monitor water quality in lakes and rivers across South Carolina. https://lnkd.in/enDnASV6 Got a favorite #SCDEStination? Tag us in your photos and discover how we’re working to protect the air, land, water, and coastlines that make our state so special.

Online recertification for Freshwater Stream, Tidal Saltwater, and Macroinvertebrate Monitoring is now open! If you are due to recertify, be on the lookout for an email with instructions. Join our statewide volunteer water quality monitoring program to adopt waterways you care about! Find out more information here: https://lnkd.in/eJMdFZ4k

SCDES partnered with leading environmental organizations to launch an on-demand Living Shorelines training course through Clemson Extension in 2024. This comprehensive program explores the benefits of living shorelines in South Carolina’s estuarine ecosystems while covering regulations, site assessments, installation techniques, and performance evaluations. Participants gain insights from experts at SCDES, S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Clemson Extension, The Nature Conservancy, and the Coastal Conservation League. Ready to learn more? Visit https://lnkd.in/eA4sDc6C to register and access the course today!

On Thursday, SCDES was part of the second Farm and Forest Recovery Resource Day in Greenville! We provided guidance on water quality testing to help farmers and landowners address concerns after recent storm events. A big thank you to our Water Quality Compliance Inspector, Wylie Mendicino, from the Bureau of Regional and Laboratory Services in Lancaster-Midlands, for attending and offering valuable insights on water safety. Wylie even had the honor of meeting Gov. Henry McMaster, who was present at the event! Missed us in Greenville? Join us for the next resource day on Friday, Dec. 6th in Myrtle Beach. #SCDES #WaterQuality #FarmAndForestRecovery #StormRecovery #Greenville #MyrtleBeach #GovMcMaster #EnvironmentalSafety

WaterSC held its second meeting this afternoon, where stakeholders representing agriculture, recreation, tourism, forestry, energy, industry, drinking water supplies and more came together to collaborate on the development of a state water resources policy and plan that will balance the State’s economic and environmental needs. A recording of the meeting, the presentation, and the opportunity to submit public input about water planning in South Carolina are all available at des.sc.gov/WaterSC. The next meeting will be Dec. 12.

Thanksgiving can cook up some plumbing disasters if you’re wrongly disposing of your cooking fats, oils, and greases. While it can be tempting, don’t flush a pan full of oil down your sink. There are many recycling centers across our state that will take your old fats, oils, and greases. Keep these tips in mind: · Don’t pour oil down your drain or toilet: it can clog your pipes and sewer mains, creating a lot of problems. · Don’t dispose of oil in compost bins or piles: fats in general are bad for compost, and cooking oil in nothing but fat. · Don’t pour hot oil into the trash. Remember: after the feast, recycle the grease! Where to recycle: https://lnkd.in/em_nbTNb

The WaterSC Water Resources Working Group will hold its second meeting today, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. The meeting will be livestreamed by South Carolina ETV on scetv.org. A copy of the agenda and additional information is available at https://lnkd.in/ebSBS2Qh.

Yesterday, SCDES welcomed Jayson Jordan, Executive Director of the SC Asphalt Pavement Association, and its Emerging Leaders Institute to meet with agency leadership to discuss environmental permitting, improved industry practices and use of recycled products. The group identified opportunities for continued learning and strengthened partnerships for the road ahead.

Do you love South Carolina and protecting the environment? Come join our team at SCDES, put your passion to work with us! We are dedicated to protecting the state of South Carolina and we would love to have you as a member of our team! We are currently hiring an area director position. This position serves as the Area Director for the Bureau of Regional and Laboratory Services Aiken or Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) Regional office. The incumbent will direct and coordinate activities for all Aiken or GSP Regional office staff representing SCDES’s Land, Water, and Air programs in support of the agency’s roles and responsibilities for overseeing the protection and preservation of South Carolina’s environment and natural resources. Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/ejsWyXbH