The regular meeting of the Board of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27, 2011, at the Environmental Learning Center at Edisto Island State Park, Edisto Island, SC. Notice of the date, time and place of the meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Chairman Caroline Rhodes presided at the meeting. Board members present included Cary Chastain, John Evans, Michael Hutchins, Randy Lowe, Norman Pulliam and Larry Yonce. Director John Frampton and staff members of the Department of Natural Resources were present at the meeting.

1. Call to Order
   Chairman Caroline Rhodes called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Invocation
   Chaplain Eddie Driggers, Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy, offered the invocation.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
   Vice Chairman John Evans led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. Introduction of Guests
   Don Winslow, Chief of Staff, introduced Bud Skidmore, Edisto Island Community Association; Madison Walker, Governor’s Office; Jay Herrington, US Fish and Wildlife Service; Gretchen Smith, Edisto Island Protection Association; Linda Manus, Edisto Island Protection Association; Douglas Ford, Research Director, Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee; and Scott Whitaker, Coastal Conservation Association.
5. Constituent Comments
   Bud Skidmore welcomed the group to Edisto Island.
   
6. Approval of Minutes
   Chairman Rhodes asked if there were any amendments, additions, deletions or corrections to the June 22, 2011, meeting minutes that were distributed this morning. Mr. Pulliam made a motion that the Board approve the minutes of the June 22, 2011, meeting as presented. Mr. Chastain seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
   
7. Advisory Committee Reports
   Waterfowl
   Breck Carmichael, Deputy Director for Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, reported that the Waterfowl reported that the Waterfowl Advisory Committee met on June 30 in Columbia. The Advisory Committee was given an update on the Wood Duck Box Program and the budget. The Advisory Committee adopted the 2011-12 Early Season Migratory Bird Hunting recommendations.
8. Item for Board Information
   1. Climate Update
      Hope Mizzell, State Climatologist, gave the Board a brief overview of the Climate Section and reviewed rainfall totals, precipitation percentiles, streamflows, lake levels and ground-water monitoring wells around the state.
   2. Black Bear Management and Conservation Strategy, 2011
      Deanna Ruth, Wildlife Biologist, gave the Board a brief presentation on the black Bear Management and Conservation Strategy, 2011. Ms. Ruth reviewed the black bear physical description, the history of black bear management, population, and bear-human encounters. Ms. Ruth also reviewed management options; management goals, objectives and strategies; and future needs for conservation and management.
   3. Discussion of Climate Change Impacts to Natural Resources in South Carolina
      After a presentation and lengthy discussion the Board recommended that Bob Perry, Director of the Office of Environmental Programs, and Dr. Mizzell work with the Climate Change Technical Work Group to make Board recommended changes to the document entitled Climate Change Impacts to Natural Resources in South Carolina. Mr. Perry and Dr. Mizzell will meeting with individual Board members to make sure appropriate changes and recommendations are considered. A refined draft will be presented to the Board at the September Board Meeting for their review.
   4. Progress on the 100 Day Plan
      Director Frampton distributed the 100 Day Plan highlighting the 60 day progress.
      
9. Item for Board Action
   1. Board Policies
      Chairman Rhodes informed the Board that some further revisions need to be made to Policy 100.01 (DNR Board Operational Procedures) and 100.02 (Guidelines for Board Members). Terri McGee, Director of Human Resources, briefly reviewed the draft Board policy 100.04 (License Tag Number Assignments to DNR Board Members) as included in the meeting package. Mr. Pulliam made a motion that Policy 100.04 be approved as presented. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
   2. Broad River Mitigation Trust Fund Proposal
      Bob Perry, Director of the Office of Environmental Programs, reviewed the request for funds from the Broad River Mitigation Trust Fund for the proposal: Developing Sediment Management Guidelines to Enhance Habitat and Aquatic Resources in the Broad River Basin, SC as included in the meeting package. Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the Broad River Mitigation Trust Fund Proposal be approved as presented. Mr. Lowe seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
   3. 2011-12 Early Season Migratory Bird Hunting Recommendations
      Breck Carmichael, Deputy Director for Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, briefly reviewed the proposed 2011-12 Early Season Migratory Bird Hunting Recommendations as included in the meeting package. Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the Board approve the 2011-12 Early Season Migratory Bird Hunting Recommendations as presented. Mr. Evans seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

   2011-2012 Early Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons
   Staff Recommendations

   (Doves, Teal, Rails, Woodcock, Snipe, Common Moorhens, Purple Gallinules and Canada Geese)

   Species	Open Dates (All dates inclusive)	Shooting Hours	Daily Bag Limit	Possession Limit
   Mourning Dove	Sept. 3--Sept. 5 Sept. 6--Oct. 8 Nov.19--Nov. 26 Dec. 21--Jan. 15	12 Noon until Sunset 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset	15	30
   Marsh Hens/Rails (Clapper, King, Sora & Virginia)	Sept. 26--Oct. 1 Oct. 22--Dec. 24	1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset	15 (King & Clapper) 25 (Sora & Va.)	30 (King & Clapper) 25 (Sora & Va.)
   Early Teal	Sept. 15--Sept. 30	Sunrise until Sunset	4	8
   Woodcock	Nov. 19- Nov. 26 Dec. 26-Jan. 31	1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset	3	6
   Common Snipe (Wilson's)	Nov. 14--Feb. 28	1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset	8	16
   Common Moorhens & Purple Gallinules	Sept. 26--Oct. 1 Oct. 22--Dec. 24	1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset	15	30
   **Canada Geese	Sept.1--Sept. 30	1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset	15	30

   **This season is statewide!!

   4. Proposed Easement (SCANA Power Lines ) Ft. Johnson
      Robert Boyles, Deputy Director for Marine Resources, briefly reviewed the proposed revision of the current easement held BY SCANA at Ft. Johnson as included in the meeting package. Mr. Evans made a motion that the Board approve the proposed easement as presented. Mr. Yonce seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
      
10. Director's Briefings
    Mr. Frampton gave the Board a brief budget update.
11. Legislative Report
    Nothing to report.
12. Environmental Programs
    Mr. Perry stated that he had no further report.
13. Deputy Directors’ Reports
    1. Law Enforcement
       Col. Alvin Taylor, Deputy Director for Law Enforcement, briefed the Board on the two fatalities on Lake Murray. The Lexington County Coroner noted that the victims had elevated blood alcohol content.
       
    2. Marine Resources
       Mr. Boyles thanked Col. Taylor and Capt. Chisolm Frampton for leading the funeral procession of retired employee, Billy Hanna, from the church to the cemetery. Mr. Boyles reported that Phase III of the Marine Resources Infrastructure renovation project at the Eltzroth Administration Building will be beginning in the near future.
    3. Outreach and Support Services
       Carole Collins, Deputy Director for Outreach and Support Services, stated that she had nothing further to report.
    4. Land, Water and Conservation
       Ken Rentiers, Deputy Director for Land, Water and Conservation, reported on the Water Plan update. Mr. Rentiers informed the Board that the Heritage Trust Advisory Board will be meeting next Thursday. Mr. Rentiers distributed the updated Heritage Trust revenue figures.
    5. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
       Mr. Carmichael reported on the public and WMA alligator hunt drawing results. There are 6,215 applications for the public hunt, up from 3,600 last year, with 522 being nonresidents. There are 128 applications for the WMA hunt, with 18 being nonresidents.
14. Executive Session
    At this time, Mr. Evans made a motion for the Board to hold an Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter. Mr. Yonce seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
15. Open Session
    Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the Board return to regular session and noted that no actions were taken in Executive Session. Mr. Chastain seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
    
16. Time and Location of the Next Meetings
    The August Board meeting will be held Thursday, August 18, 2011, in Columbia.
    
    The September Board meeting will be held Friday, September 16, 2011, in Columbia.
    
17. Adjournment
    There being no further business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the meeting was adjourned.