“Science Serving South Carolina’s Coast” Tools for Your Coastal Community: An Overview of University-Based Assistance Programs Regional Coastal Communities Workshop Series April Turner Coastal Communities Specialist SC Sea Grant Extension Program

South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium University-Based Assistance Programs & Tools for Your Community University-Based Assistance Programs & Tools for Your Community “Science Serving South Carolina’s Coast”  South Carolina Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials  South Carolina Coast-A-Syst for Homeowners  Coastal Community Initiative Mini Grants Program  Municipal Comprehensive Plan Guidance  National Estuarine Research Reserve Coastal Training Programs  South Carolina Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials  South Carolina Coast-A-Syst for Homeowners  Coastal Community Initiative Mini Grants Program  Municipal Comprehensive Plan Guidance  National Estuarine Research Reserve Coastal Training Programs

Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials An educational program that provides information and resources to help local decision-makers understand:  the impacts of nonpoint source pollution on water quality  the link between those impacts and land use  some innovative strategies to manage for those impacts.  Initially developed through a series of EPA §319 grants administered by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control

Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials  Has evolved through collaborative partnerships among: SC Sea Grant Consortium Clemson University SCDHEC Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments USC Institute for Public Service and Policy Research USC Earth Science and Resources Institute Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments Friends of the Rivers SC NEMO PROGRAM PARTNERS

Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials Program Focus Areas  S.C. NEMO programs have been presented to communities within 27 of the state’s 46 counties, many of which are inland of the coastal zone.  Implemented in 8 watersheds involving more than 600 local officials and staff.

Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials Contacts: April Turner SC Sea Grant Extension Program 287 Meeting Street Charleston, SC Ph: Dan Hitchcock, Ph.D. SC Sea Grant Extension Program 259 Meeting Street Charleston, SC Ph: Calvin Sawyer Clemson Cooperative Extension Service 210 McAdams Hall Clemson, SC Ph:

S.C. Coast-A-Syst for Homeowners S.C. Coast-A-Syst for Homeowners Coastal Homestead Assessment System Coastal Homestead Assessment System Engaging homeowners in voluntary, confidential risk assessment system Engaging homeowners in voluntary, confidential risk assessment system Facilitates recognition, identification, and correction of existing or potential water quality problems Facilitates recognition, identification, and correction of existing or potential water quality problems Coastal Homestead Assessment System Coastal Homestead Assessment System Engaging homeowners in voluntary, confidential risk assessment system Engaging homeowners in voluntary, confidential risk assessment system Facilitates recognition, identification, and correction of existing or potential water quality problems Facilitates recognition, identification, and correction of existing or potential water quality problems

CAS Partners  SC Sea Grant Extension  Coastal Environmental Quality  Aquaculture  Hazards  Clemson Extension  SC Department of Health and Environmental Control  SC Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management  SC Coastal Conservation League  SC Dept of Natural Resources - MRD  Horry County Office of Public Works  SC Sea Grant Extension  Coastal Environmental Quality  Aquaculture  Hazards  Clemson Extension  SC Department of Health and Environmental Control  SC Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management  SC Coastal Conservation League  SC Dept of Natural Resources - MRD  Horry County Office of Public Works

Methodology  Participants read and review chapter information  Complete corresponding confidential self-administered risk assessments  Fill in action checklists  Set target dates for change

SC Coastal Community Initiative Mini Grants Program  Purpose of program is to assist coastal communities with the development and implementation of land management policies and practices to reduce polluted stormwater runoff, protect local natural resources, and encourage sustainable development  To date 4 communities are recipients of the grant award  Initiated by SC Sea Grant to provide additional support to the SC NEMO program

SC Coastal Community Initiative Grant Recipients Town of Bluffton  Researched and developed a critical resources map  Developed natural resource protection ordinances for wetlands, floodplains, trees, wildlife habitat, and stormwater Town of Edisto Beach  Incorporated NEMO recommendations into the comp plan  Working to adopt stormwater management related ordinances

SC Coastal Community Initiative Grant Recipients Colleton County  Developing a trail plan, providing a low impact alternative transportation system connecting open spaces for pedestrians and cyclists  Initiating SC NEMO Program Workshops Horry County  Developing a county-wide open space inventory and open space plan  Components of the open space plan will be included in the Natural Resources Element for the communities comprehensive plan

 Collected and analyzed local government comprehensive plans from coastal communities (8 counties and 34 municipalities) to assess local assistance needs in land-use planning.  A framework, guidelines, and recommendations were developed and are currently being incorporated into a publication for local communities to use in the revision process of the comprehensive plans. When complete this publication will also be available on the S.C. Sea Grant Web site. Municipal Comprehensive Plan Guidance

“Science Serving South Carolina’s Coast” QUESTIONS? April Turner Coastal Communities Specialist SC Sea Grant Extension Program Phone: (843)