The regular meeting of the Board of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 10:00 am, August 27, 2014, in room 335 of the Rembert C. Dennis Building, Columbia, SC. Notice of the date, time and place of the meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Chairman Glenn McFadden presided at the meeting. Board members present included Cary Chastain, Michael Hutchins, Norman Pulliam, Elizabeth Willis and Larry Yonce. Board member Randy Lowe’s absence was excused. Director Alvin Taylor and staff members of the Department of Natural Resources were present at the meeting.

1. Call to Order
   Chairman Glenn McFadden called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Invocation
   Rev. Eric Skidmore, SC Law Enforcement Assistance Program, offered the invocation.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
   Cary Chastain led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. Introduction of Guests
   Robert Boyles, Deputy Director for Marine Resources, introduced the following guests: Scott Whitaker, Coastal Conservation Association, SC; David Wielicki, SC Waterfowl Association; Buford Mabry, retired DNR employee; Bill Short, Ducks Unlimited; Joey Holleman, The State; Kenny Mullis, SC Association of Conservation Districts, Bret Hubler, Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee.
5. Constituent Comments
   Mr. Boyles informed the Board that no requests were received for constituent comment.
6. Approval of Minutes
   Chairman McFadden asked if there were any amendments, additions, deletions or corrections to the July 23, 2014, meeting minutes. Norman Pulliam made a motion that the Board approve the minutes of the July 23, 2014, meeting as submitted. Mr. Chastain seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
7. Presentations/Commendations
   Director Taylor commended Ross Self, Lynn Quattro, Amanda Stroud, Lorianne Riggin and other DNR staff who worked on the events held at Lake Murray, the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and Colonial Center during the very successful FLW Forrest Wood Cup fishing tournament on August 15-17.
8. Advisory Committee Reports
   
   1. Migratory Waterfowl
      Chairman McFadden reported that the Migratory Waterfowl Advisory Committee met on August 6 in Columbia and August 14 by conference call. The Committee discussed various areas and ways to increase exposure and sales of the Migratory Waterfowl Stamp.
   2. Heritage Trust
      Ken Rentiers, Deputy Director for Land, Water and Conservation reported that the Heritage Trust Advisory Committee met August 7 in Columbia. The Advisory Committee received a presentation from South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative. The Advisory Committee considered legal and contractual matters to be presented to the Board later today. The Advisory Committee approved an amendment to the FY 15 budget.
   3. Law Enforcement
      Mr. Pulliam reported that the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee toured Donnelley WMA on the afternoon of August 5. The Advisory Committee met August 6. The Advisory Committee recognized officers who received awards in Beaufort County. The Advisory Committee received an overview of the Investigations Section.
   4. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
      Mike Hutchins reported that the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee met August 24 in Columbia. The Advisory Committee approved the 2014-15 late season migratory bird frameworks and staff recommendations. The Advisory Committee received updates on flathead catfish, nuisance alligator protocol, wheat guidelines for dove hunting and coyote related presentations and activities around the state.
   5. Marine
      Mr. Chastain reported that the Marine Advisory Committee met August 22 in Charleston. The Advisory Committee received an overview of the Marine Resources Division. The Advisory Committee received an overview and held discussion about blue crab. Staff will present recommendations for reporting blue crab catch at the next meeting.
9. Item for Board Information
   1. Climate Update
      Hope Mizzell, Land, Water and Conservation Division, reviewed rainfall totals, precipitation percentiles, 3 day outlook, 8-14 day and 90 day outlook for temperature and precipitation.
   2. Mobile App
      Scott Speares, Interim Deputy Director for Outreach and Support Services, distributed and reviewed the most recent timeline for the launch of the app.
   3. Coyote Management Update
      Emily Cope, Deputy Director for Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, distributed and reviewed a listing of training seminars and number of attendees per seminar. Staff are currently developing a coyote poster for subdivisions as well as updating the poster for hunters.
10. Items for Board Action
    
    1. Proposed 2014-15 Late Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons
       Mrs. Cope reviewed the updated recommendations for the 2014-15 Late Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons. Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the Board approve the 2014-15 Late Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons as presented. Mr. Pulliam seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
    2. Ward Creek Fish Kill Report
       Ross Self, Chief of Fisheries, briefly reviewed the Ward Creek Fish Kill Report, as included in the Board meeting package. Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the Board approve the Ward Creek Fish Kill Report as presented. Mr. Pulliam seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
    3. Amendment to Transfer of Heritage Trust Revenue Funds
       Mr. Rentiers briefly reviewed the amendment to the Transfer of Heritage Trust Revenue Funds as provided. Mr. Yonce made a motion that the Board approve the transfer of an additional $144,860 from Heritage Trust Revenue to the Heritage Land Trust Operating Fund. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
11. Director's Briefings
    Director Taylor participated in several events of the FLW Forrest Wood Cup. Director Taylor again commended staff for their efforts.
    
    Director Taylor informed the Board that the Bassmaster Classic will be held on Lake Hartwell in February 2015 and the National Collegiate Fishing Tournament will be held on Lake Murray in April 2015.
    
    Director Taylor participated in numerous meetings about Deveaux Bank.
    
    Director Taylor spoke at the SC Hunters for the Hungry annual banquet in Pauline.
    
12. Legislative Report
    Derrick Meggie, Director of Legislative Services, distributed the 2014 Legislative Manual and informed the Board that legislative staff will be participating in a site visit at Waddell Mariculture Center this fall.
13. Environmental Report
    Bob Perry, Director of Environmental Programs, highlighted the following proposed projects, which were contained in the environmental report in the Board meeting package: Haile Gold Mine project, I-73; and the Catawba-Wateree Hydro relicensing project.
14. Deputy Directors' Reports
    
    1. Land, Water and Conservation
       Mr. Rentiers gave the Board a brief update on the water assessment and basin modeling.
    2. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
       Mrs. Cope also commended staff for their efforts with the FLW Forrest Wood Cup. Mrs. Cope gave the Board an update on public hunts. Mrs. Cope informed the Board that the Employee of the Year luncheon will be held September 12 and they should be receiving their invitations.
    3. Law Enforcement
       COL Chisolm Frampton, Deputy Director for Law Enforcement, gave the Board an update on the hiring process and the Labor Day operations.
    4. Marine Resources
       Nothing further to report.
    5. Outreach and Support Services
       Nothing further to report.
15. Executive Session
    Mr. Pulliam made a motion for the Board to hold an Executive Session to discuss personnel, legal and contractual matters. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Open Session
Mr. Yonce made a motion that the Board return to regular session, noting that no actions were taken during Executive Session. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Chastain made a motion that the Board approve the proposal that the Keystone Tract in Berkeley County, approximately 1,682 acres, be dedicated as a Heritage Preserve in accordance with the Boeing Company's plan to mitigate for impacts to waters of the United States at its North Charleston facility. Mr. Pulliam seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the Board approve acquiring 1,829 acres adjoining DNR's Liberty Hill WMA in Kershaw and Lancaster Counties. Mrs. Willis seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Pulliam made a motion that the Board approve the proposal that the Rainbow Ranch Tract in Lancaster County, approximately 698 acres, and both the Cooks Mountain Tract, approximately 1,132 acres and the Goodwill Plantation Tract, approximately 2,559 acres in Richland County all be dedicated as a Heritage Preserves in accordance with Haile Gold Mine's plan to mitigate for impacts to waters of the United States at its facility north of the town of Kershaw; Rainbow Ranch to be incorporated into the existing Forty-Acre Rock Heritage Preserve and Cooks Mountain and Goodwill Plantation to become the Wateree River Heritage Preserve.

Mrs. Willis made a motion that the Department partner with The Nature Conservancy on the acquisition of approximately 403 acres of South Fenwick Island. The Nature Conservancy to acquire the tract and transfer it to DNR for inclusion into the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve. Mr. Yonce seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
16. Time and Location of the Next Meetings
    The September 2014 meeting will be held Friday, September 19 in Columbia.
17. Adjournment
    There being no further business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the meeting was adjourned.

The SCDNR Board Minutes for August 27, 2014 (PDF), have been provided in the Adobe PDF file format. Adobe® Reader® is required to open the above file and is available as a free download from the Adobe® Web site.