Natural Resources, Department Of
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AGENCY NAME: Department of Natural Resources AGENCY CODE: P240 SECTION: 47 Fiscal Year 2018–2019 Accountability Report SUBMISSION FORM SCDNR’s mission is to serve as the principal advocate for, and steward of, South AGENCY MISSION Carolina’s natural resources. SCDNR's vision is to be the trusted and respected leader in natural resources AGENCY VISION protection and management, by consistently making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state's natural resources and its people. Does the agency have any major or minor recommendations (internal or external) that would allow the agency to operate more effectively and efficiently? Yes No RESTRUCTURING RECOMMENDATIONS: ☐ ☒ Is the agency in compliance with S.C. Code Ann. § 2-1-230, which requires submission of certain reports to the Legislative Services Agency for publication online and the State Library? See also S.C. Code Ann. § 60-2-30. Yes No REPORT SUBMISSION COMPLIANCE: ☒ ☐ A-1 AGENCY NAME: Department of Natural Resources AGENCY CODE: P240 SECTION: 47 Is the agency in compliance with various requirements to transfer its records, including electronic ones, to the Department of Archives and History? See the Public Records Act (S.C. Code Ann. § 30-1-10 through 30-1-180) and the South Carolina Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (S.C. Code Ann. § 26-6-10 through 26-10-210). Yes No RECORDS MANAGEMENT ☒ ☐ COMPLIANCE: Is the agency in compliance with S.C. Code Ann. § 1-23-120(J), which requires an agency to conduct a formal review of its regulations every five years? Yes No REGULATION REVIEW: ☒ ☐ Please identify your agency’s preferred contacts for this year’s accountability report. Name Phone Email PRIMARY CONTACT: Kevin R. Ryan (803) 734-4048 [email protected] Shannon F. Bobertz (803) 734-4006 [email protected] I have reviewed and approved the enclosed FY 2018–2019 Accountability Report, which is complete and accurate to the extent of my knowledge. AGENCY DIRECTOR (SIGN AND DATE): 9/10/2019 (TYPE/PRINT NAME): Robert H. Boyles Jr., Interim Director BOARD/CMSN CHAIR (SIGN AND DATE): 9/10/2019 (TYPE/PRINT NAME): Norman F. Pulliam, Chairman, Natural Resources Board A-2 AGENCY NAME: Department of Natural Resources AGENCY CODE: P240 SECTION: 47 AGENCY’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Organization: The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is governed by the Natural Resources Board, the members of which are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. One member must be appointed from each of the seven congressional districts of the state. The board sets policy for the department but has no duty or authority concerning the management of, control over, or administration of the day to day affairs of the department. (S.C. Code Ann. 48‐4‐50). The board appoints the Director, upon advice and consent of the Senate, who serves at the pleasure of the board and is the administrative head of the department. Below is the organizational chart for the agency. A-3 AGENCY NAME: Department of Natural Resources AGENCY CODE: P240 SECTION: 47 I. Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategies: In this subsection, the agency is required to identify the potential most negative impact on the public as a result of the agency’s failure in accomplishing its goals and objectives. The agency also should explain the nature and level of outside help it may need to mitigate such negative impact on the public. Lastly, the agency should list three options for what the General Assembly could do to help resolve the issue before it became a crisis. SCDNR’s Five Main Programmatic Goals are: Goal 1 - Land, Water & Conservation Division (LWC) Develop and implement programs that study, manage and conserve the State’s land and water resources through planning, research, technical assistance, public education and the development of a comprehensive natural resources database. Goal 2 – Law Enforcement Division (LE) Conserve and protect the state's natural resources for social, economic, recreational, and commercial benefit while providing maximum human utilization through: (1) the development of public support through outreach, education, and safety programs; (2) the preservation of the peace and protection of human lives and property; and (3) the enforcement of the state's criminal laws through the detection, apprehension, and prosecution of persons who violate those laws. Goal 3 - Marine Resources Division (MRD) Sustain the State’s living marine resources for the cultural, recreational, commercial and economic benefit of the state's citizens and visitors. Goal 4 - Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) Monitor, protect, and enhance wildlife species and inland aquatic species and their habitats throughout the state and provide recreational hunting and fishing opportunities to the public. Goal 5 – Support Services Division and Executive Office (OSS/EO) Continuously evaluate and improve administrative and business processes, efficiency, effectiveness and internal and external service delivery with a focus on transparency, communication, accountability and the integration of new technologies. Potentially the most negative impact on the public as a result of SCDNR failing to accomplish its goals and objectives would be the lack of accurate and credible science, coupled with credible mechanisms and processes to aid in decision making relating to the utilization and allocation of the state’s finite resources. There has been a steady trend of increased pressure on the state’s natural resources due to increasing population and business growth, combined with the increased desire and interest in the use of the state’s natural resources, both recreationally and commercially. This impact is interwoven through A-4 AGENCY NAME: Department of Natural Resources AGENCY CODE: P240 SECTION: 47 three distinct areas which are: 1) the sustainability, management, protection, and enhancement of the state’s natural resources; 2) the public’s safety while utilizing the state’s natural resources; and 3) the economic impacts surrounding the protection and use of the state’s natural resources. Through its five programmatic divisions, SCDNR is constantly broadening its strategies to address the impacts of population growth, habitat loss, environmental alterations, overuse and other challenges faced in protecting, enhancing, and managing diverse natural resources. This approach is complemented by outreach initiatives with the aim of maintaining continued engagement with constituents, stakeholders and partners. At the same time, SCDNR has also expanded all facets of its outreach programs to better educate those who currently are not engaged or knowledgeable about the current impacts on the state’s natural resources. One of the agency’s emerging issues is balancing the natural resource needs of a changing population. The agency deals with increased human/animal interactions as the human population grows. Population growth also requires the agency to focus on protecting habitats for the natural communities that occur within the state, in order to maintain their viability. Most of the land management focuses on consumptive use of natural resources and we have increasing interest in providing access to non- consumptive users who also have access to SCDNR-managed properties. Management for multi-species conservation will be important going forward. For example, the department organized the SC Quail Council, a large partnership to guide and support the South Carolina Bobwhite Initiative to restore habitat and recover populations of the bobwhite quail and associated non-game bird species in long- term decline. In addition, the increasing demand for recreational boating opportunities requires additional officers to spend time on the water during non-traditional boating months. South Carolina, while ranking only 23rd in population and 40th in land area, ranks as one of the top states in the nation for the number of registered boats. We are currently ranked 7th with over 521,000 registered boats, just behind states such as Florida, Texas, and California. A focus for the agency is expanding minority and non-consumptive constituents’ input and participation in natural resource policy. SCDNR has in place outreach initiatives that connect with African-American and Hispanic communities, as well as programs that could lead non-consumptive users to, at the minimum, appreciate the outdoors with the potential of creating more sportsmen and sportswomen. SCDNR hopes to have more ways of engaging minorities and non-consumptive users to participate on advisory boards, panels and task forces. The agency also encourages youth to get involved in outdoor activities, to instill a conservation ethic and to appreciate and protect the natural resources of the state. As the state’s population grows, and the state continues to protect watersheds, habitat, and other public lands, SCDNR’s funding and staffing levels have not grown to keep up with the demand. Because of population growth, the state is facing continued water-related issues that have dominated headlines with increasing political attention. As the water resource planning agency for the state, SCDNR is responsible for monitoring and analyzing water resource information and developing state water plans. Maintaining funding and enhancing funding is critical for SCDNR so that these responsibilities will not be compromised. A-5 AGENCY NAME: Department of Natural Resources AGENCY CODE: P240 SECTION: 47 Dealing with increased public use of natural lands managed by the agency, balancing