Minutes
Millaree Hunt Club
Columbia, SC
Friday, December 10, 2004
9:30 a.m.
The regular meeting of the Board of the South
Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 9:30 am, on Friday,
December 10, 2004, at Millaree Hunt Club, Columbia, South Carolina. Notice of the date, time and place of the
meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Chairman Mike McShane presided at the meeting. Board members present included Michael
Campbell, Stephen Davis, John Evans, Karen Floyd, Frank Murray and Smith
Ragsdale. Mr. John Frampton and staff
members of the Department of Natural Resources were present at the meeting, as
were various guests.
Chairman McShane called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Chairman McShane asked Rev.
Ron Kenyon to offer the invocation.
III. Pledge of Allegiance
Vice Chairman Campbell led the group in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
There were no guests to be
introduced present.
V. Constituent
Comment
Tthere were no requests for constituent comment.
Chairman McShane asked if
there were any corrections or additions to the minutes of the November 18,
2004, meeting. Mr. Davis made a motion to
accept the minutes of the November 18, 2004 meeting as presented. Mr. Evans seconded the
motion and the motion carried unanimously.
VII. Presentations/Commendations
Mr. Frampton introduced Nancy Hadley and Loren Coen and congratulated the Marine Division’s South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement Program (SCORE) staff for receipt of the Coastal America Partnership Award that was presented to the SCORE partners on November 19, at the International Conference on Shellfish Restoration.
Chairman McShane and Vice Chairman Campbell presented the first duck box built for the renewed duck box program to DNR Board Chairman Emeritus Marion Burnside, for his continued hospitality in allowing the Board and its advisory committees to hold their meeting at Millaree.
VIII. Advisory Committee Reports
A. Waterfowl
Mr. Davis reported that the
Waterfowl Advisory Committee met on December 7. This is the first meeting of this Committee since July. Mr. Davis stated that the Committee is
reviewing a mission statement. The
Committee received a report on the early draw hunts, and updates on the wood
duck boxes, the pin-tail telemetry project and phragmities control.
B. Law Enforcement
Mr. Campbell reported that
the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee met on December 8. The Committee received a report on waterfowl
enforcement; an update on Region 3; and an update on uniforms, long guns, BDU’s
and cell phones.
C. Marine
Mr. Evans reported that the
Marine Advisory Committee met on December 9.
The Committee received a presentation on Blue Crab Limited Entry
Legislation and voted to recommend that the Board move forward with the
legislation as presented. The Advisory
Committee also received a presentation on offshore fisheries monitoring and
assessment. The Advisory Committee
discussed raising the limit for Red Drum.
D. Wildlife and
Freshwater Fisheries
Mr. Davis reported that the
Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee met on December 9. The Advisory Committee received a report on
the catch and release mortality of striped bass. The Advisory Committee received a briefing on gopher tortoise
management and research. The Advisory
Committee also covered the meeting locations for the public meetings for game
zone restructuring and hatchery permit.
IX. Item for Board
Information
A. Lower
Savannah River Striped Bass Creel and Size Limits
Fisheries biologist Chris Thomason presented a proposal to lift a harvest moratorium on striped bass in the lower Savannah River that has been in place since 1991. Thomason provided a brief history of the sportfishery and the drastic decline that occurred during the 1980’s. A tide gate constructed in 1977 by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the Back River along with a diversion canal (New Cut) as well as channel deepening resulted in increased salinity levels, flow velocities and siltation in spawning areas. Since 1991, restoration efforts have included removal of the tide gate, the diversion canal was filled in, and Georgia DNR has conducted an aggressive striped bass stocking program in the Savannah River. Thomason stated these restoration efforts have proven successful, although recruitment remains low.
The proposal is to lift the moratorium nine months early (October 2005) and would allow a two fish daily limit with a 27-inch minimum length limit in the Savannah River system from the Lake Thurmond dam downstream to the mouth. This would allow anglers a chance to harvest fish for consumption and possibly trophy fish. The creel and size limit would also allow nearly all female striped bass to spawn at least once in order to continue the long-term goal of restoring the fishery to a self-sustaining population. Another benefit would be partnering with the Georgia DNR promoting consistency in management and enforcement.
Mr. Davis made a motion that the Department move
forward with staff recommendation, as approved by the Wildlife and Freshwater
Fisheries Advisory Committee, on the creel and size limit of striped bass in the
Lower Savannah River. Mr. Campbell
seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
B. Soil and Water
Conservation District Commissioner Appointment Process
This item was deferred to executive session.
X. Director’s Briefing
Mr. Frampton informed the
Board that delivery of the new plane is expected in January.
Mr.
Frampton stated that the Board should receive a draft of the Long Gun Policy in
January.
Mr.
Frampton distributed copies of a letter from USDOI – Office of Inspector General setting up
USFWS’ audit of DNR’s Sport Fishing and Wildlife Restoration Programs for FY
2003-04.
Mr.
Frampton announced that there is a newly formed Habitat Protection
Section. Dr. Barry Beasley will service
as the Section Chief and it will be housed in the Land, Water and Conservation
Division.
Mr.
Frampton updated the Board on Federal legislation relative to South Carolina.
Legislation
Derrick Meggie distributed copies of the 2005 Legislative Package and requested approval for the first nine items for prefile. Mr. Evans made a motion that the Board approve the first nine items, as presented, as the 2005 Legislative Package with the understanding that it is subject to additions, deletions and changes. Mr. Campbell seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
XI. Deputy Directors’ Reports
A. Wildlife and
Freshwater Fisheries
Breck Carmichael reported
on the trout stocking in the lower Saluda River. Mr. Carmichael reviewed the WMA waterfowl hunt results from the
first part of the split season. Mr. Carmichael reported on the
Pintail/Mallard satellite telemetry project.
Mr. Carmichael informed the Board of the locations for the Game Zone
Public Restructuring Meetings. After
much discussion regarding game zones, Mrs. Floyd made a motion to empower
the biologists of the DNR to reconstruct, logically, a plan regarding the game
zones for the State of South Carolina, based not on politics, based on nothing
but the biological needs of the State.
Mr. Ragsdale seconded the motion. After more discussion, Chairman McShane tabled the motion until
Mrs. Floyd returned so she can clarify the time frame.
B. Law Enforcement
Col. Alvin Taylor reported
on waterfowl enforcement activities, so far this season. Col. Taylor gave the Board an update on 2004
boating accidents.
C. Outreach and
Support Services
Carole Collins reported
that license sales are down by 1% as compared to this time last year. Ms. Collins also reported that shop sales
and magazine subscriptions are up.
D. Marine Resources
Robert Boyles reported that
they will take delivery of the new research vessel in late January to mid
February. This vessel will replace the
Anita, which is 42 years old. This
vessel is being purchased with federal funds.
Mr. Boyles informed the Board that Bob Chapman and Craig Browdy were
recently featured in an article in the Charleston Post and Courier
regarding their marine genomics work.
E. Land, Water and
Conservation
Freddy Vang distributed
copies of the 2004 Tropical Cyclone Season Report prepared by the State
Climatology Office. Mr. Vang
distributed copies of the program for the Conservation Partnership Annual
Meeting, which will be held in Charleston, January 3-6, 2005. Mr. Vang congratulated Jim Scurry on his
completion of South Carolina’s Senior Project Management Certification
Program. Mr. Vang distributed copies of
the article “Beyond the Basin” Guide to Water Rights, from Governing
Magazine, December 2004. Mr. Vang
distributed copies of the Phragmites Monitoring and Control Summary 2004. Mr. Vang distributed copies of the Aquatic
Plant Management Plan for Santee Cooper Lake Impoundments.
Mrs. Floyd clarified her
earlier motion by stating that she wants Breck and his team do a biological
justification for the rezoning of the various game zones for purposes of study
and possible action down the road, as soon as possible but not necessarily for
this legislative session. The second
to the motion by Mr. Ragsdale still stands and the motion carried unanimously.
XII. Executive Session
At this time Mrs. Floyd
made a motion that the Board hold an Executive Session to discuss contractual,
legal and personnel matters. Mr.
Campbell seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
XIII. Return to Regular Session
Mrs. Floyd made a motion to
appoint Arthur Ravenel, Jr., to the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory
Committee, replacing Obie Stokes. Mr.
Evans seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Campbell made a motion
that the Board reappoint Knox Haynsworth to the Law Enforcement Advisory
Committee. Mr. Davis seconded the
motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Evans made a motion that
the Board authorize the Director and Chairman to work with Mr. Vang on creating
an appropriate award for Mr. Van Noy Thornhill to be presented at the
Association meeting in January. Mr.
Campbell seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
XIV. Time and Location of the Next Meeting
The December Board meeting
will be held on Friday, January 21, 2005, at the Rembert C. Dennis Building,
Columbia.
The February meeting will
be held on Friday, February 18, 2005, in Charleston.
The March meeting will be
held on Friday, March 11, 2005, in Columbia.
XV. Adjournment
There being no further
business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the meeting was
adjourned.