South Carolina Code 49-23-50. Functions of department
(a) routinely monitor and record data necessary for the determination of drought conditions;
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 49-23-50
- Conservation: means , to minimize or prevent depletion or waste of the water resource. See South Carolina Code 49-23-20
- Department: means the Department of Natural Resources. See South Carolina Code 49-23-20
- Drought: means a period of diminished precipitation which results in negative impacts upon the hydrology, agriculture, biota, energy, and economy of the State. See South Carolina Code 49-23-20
- Drought Response Committee: means the committee created under § 49-23-60 to be convened to address drought related problems and responses. See South Carolina Code 49-23-20
- Water resources: means water on or beneath the surface of the ground, including natural and artificial water courses, lakes or ponds, and water percolating, standing, or flowing beneath the surface of the ground. See South Carolina Code 49-23-20
(b) make investigations it considers proper to determine whether action by the department in discharging its duties is necessary;
(c) determine levels of drought after consultation with the Drought Response Committee based upon data collected;
(d) establish drought management areas within the State in order to:
(1) enable drought mitigation to be accomplished within defined geographical areas;
(2) prevent overly broad response to drought. Statewide action usually should not be taken in instances in which action in a particular area experiencing drought is more appropriate. Establishment of drought management areas by the department in no way limits the department’s or the Drought Response Committee’s authority to act in an area smaller than a drought management area, such as a county or watershed.
(e) establish drought alert phases based upon drought levels and at each drought alert phase:
(1) notify public water suppliers, special purpose districts, and municipal and county governments in the affected drought management area, persons designated on notification lists, and other appropriate agencies and individuals;
(2) The department shall publish notice of each drought alert phase at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the areas affected and provide notice to the media in each drought management area at each drought alert phase;
(3) take any other action appropriate to announce a drought alert;
(f) coordinate and implement responses to announced drought alert phases after required notification;
(g) execute the regulations promulgated by the department reasonably necessary to collect and distribute information, convene committees, promote water conservation, govern practice and procedure before the department, and fulfill its duties and the purposes of this chapter.