SCDES Wins Award for State Water Plan

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Published March 11th, 2026

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) received a 2025 Notable State Documents Award for its 2025 South Carolina State Water Plan. The award recognizes the plan's excellence in content, research, and public value, highlighting its role in ensuring sustainable water resources for the state.

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The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) has been recognized with a 2025 Notable State Documents Award by the South Carolina State Library for its 2025 South Carolina State Water Plan. This award celebrates the publication's excellence in content, research, and public value, acknowledging the collaborative effort involving state and federal agencies, stakeholders, and various water-use sectors.

While this is an award announcement and not a regulatory change, the State Water Plan itself, published on December 11, 2025, provides a framework for managing South Carolina's water resources for the next 50 years. It assesses current and projected water demand, availability, and outlines drought response considerations, aiming to support informed decision-making and long-term water sustainability. Regulated entities involved in water use sectors should be aware of the plan's existence and its implications for future water policy and management within the state.

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S.C. Department of Environmental Services Wins 2025 Notable State Documents Award for State Water Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 11, 2026

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) is the recipient of a 2025 Notable State Documents Award from the South Carolina State Library for the 2025 South Carolina State Water Plan, published Dec. 11, 2025. The award recognizes outstanding state government publications that demonstrate excellence in content, research and public value.

Developed under the direction of Gov. Henry McMaster, the 181-page State Water Plan builds on decades of data, modeling and research compiled by several state and federal agencies. The plan also reflects critical input from members of the WaterSC Water Resources Working Group, the state’s eight River Basin Councils and key stakeholders representing agriculture, energy, industry, conservation, academia and other important water-use sectors.

From left are SCDES Bureau of Water employees Andy Wachob, Joe Koon and Brooke Czwartacki, who were instrumental to the development of the State Water Plan, next to Chris Yates, Deputy Director of Library Resources and Services for the S.C. State Library.

“This recognition highlights the importance of thoughtful, collaborative planning when it comes to managing South Carolina’s water resources,” said Myra Reece, director of the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. “The State Water Plan provides a strong foundation to help ensure reliable and sustainable water supplies for our communities, economy and environment now and in the future.”

The plan examines current and projected water demand by sector, assesses water availability across the state, outlines drought response considerations and explores conceptual approaches for future water policy planning. Its goal is to support informed decision-making and long-term water sustainability statewide and help ensure proper management of the state’s natural water resources for at least the next 50 years.

The plan was announced during a press conference with Gov. Henry McMaster at the State House on Dec. 11, 2025.

The 2025 South Carolina State Water Plan and the complementary Our Water Future: The Leadership Guide to South Carolina’s Water Plan are available at des.sc.gov/WaterSC.

The S.C. State Library’s Notable State Documents Awards Program began in 1991 as a way to recognize exemplary state publications. A complete list of the 2025 winners is available on the State Library’s website at statelibrary.sc.gov.

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