Menu
Open Search

Watershed Coordinators
Northwest RegionWatershed Coordinator Map
Amanda "Amy" Ley
(803) 898-4183
amy.ley@des.sc.gov

Central Region
Cynthia McBride
(803) 898-4355
cynthia.mcbride@des.sc.gov

Southeast Region
Shellie Hoover Mosley
(803) 898-4031
shellie.mosley@des.sc.gov

NPS Program
Nonpoint Source Coordinator
Shea McCarthy
(803) 898-4401
shea.mccarthy@des.sc.gov

319 Grant Administrator
Jana Baxley
(803) 898-4213
jana.baxley@des.sc.gov

Section Manager
Chanda Cooper
(803) 898-4187
chanda.cooper@des.sc.gov

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution occurs when precipitation or irrigation runs over land picking up pollutants and carrying them to waterways. Unlike point source pollution, nonpoint source pollution is diffuse, making it difficult to identify and control the source of the problem. 

NPS Pollution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Does SCDES Address Nonpoint Source Pollution?

The primary goals of the Nonpoint Source Program are to restore and protect water quality from nonpoint source pollution. 

The 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act (CWA) established the Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program. Under this section of the CWA, states receive annual grant funding that supports a wide variety of activities, including technical assistance, financial assistance, education, training, monitoring, and other efforts to minimize nonpoint source impacts on water quality. The Section 319 program is coordinated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a national scale.

lake jocasse
Watershed Planning
stream restoration site
Section 319 Grant
SC Watershed Atlas Map
SC Watershed Atlas
nps newsletter
Subscribe to Our Mailing List
Resources

South Carolina receives an annual grant allocation from EPA to address nonpoint source pollution as described in the state's NPS Management Plan. Along with regulatory efforts, SCDES passes a portion of these funds to organizations to implement watershed plans through the Section 319 Grant program. 

SC Nonpoint Source Management Plan 2020-2024--An updated five-year Nonpoint Source Management Plan is currently in review.

Each year, the Nonpoint Source Program submits an Annual Report to EPA. This report includes information on all recently closed and ongoing 319 implementation projects, and it describes State outcomes for the annual Nonpoint Source Management Plan milestones and goals.

FY2025 SC Nonpoint Source Management Program Annual Report

SCDES also funds watershed plan development for areas where nonpoint source pollution affects surface waters and drinking water intakes. In these cases, SCDES periodically solicits proposals to develop source water protection watershed plans. The development of watershed plans opens up additional funding opportunities in that watershed, including 319 implementation projects. For more information, visit the Watershed Plan Development Grant page.

319 Nonpoint Source and Clean Water State Revolving Fund Joint Funding Opportunities