Author: Heather B. Nix

Freshwater Quality for Recreation

Mar 3, 2026 | Water

South Carolina has many water resources that provide opportunities for water-based recreational activities including swimming, boating, and fishing. Participation in these activities produces...

Plants for Livestock Pond Buffers

Oct 3, 2023 | Livestock, Livestock and Forages, Natural Resources, Ponds, Water

Healthy vegetation within buffer zones helps prevent erosion and intercepts sediment and pollutants (e.g., phosphorus) that can compromise water quality. The vegetation in buffer zones can include...

Water Withdrawal Amounts in South Carolina

Feb 9, 2023 | Agriculture, Natural Resources, Water

Access to plentiful, clean water is critical for life and economic activity. South Carolina has typically been considered a water “rich” state, and surface and ground freshwater supplies have...

Livestock Ponds in South Carolina

Jan 4, 2023 | Agriculture, Livestock, Livestock and Forages, Ponds, Water

Livestock need access to adequate volumes of clean water every day to grow and thrive. However, unrestricted livestock access to surface waters could impair surface water quality for livestock,...

Pond Maintenance: Dredging

Oct 20, 2022 | Natural Resources, Ponds, Water

Dredging is often one of the larger projects a pond owner may consider; successful projects require careful planning and frequently involve hiring a professional experienced in planning, permitting,...

Introduction to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in South Carolina Freshwater Systems

Jun 6, 2022 | Natural Resources, Ponds, Water

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) occur when algal communities and cyanobacteria dominate water bodies or produce toxins or other compounds that can cause taste or odor issues in water and negatively...

Water Withdrawal Regulation in South Carolina

Apr 27, 2022 | Agriculture, Natural Resources, Ponds, Water

Water use and reporting regulations in South Carolina have gone through substantial changes over time. Current regulations contain permitting, registration, and reporting requirements for...

Pond Weeds: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment Options

Dec 22, 2021 | IPM, Natural Resources, Ponds, Water

Excessive aquatic plant growth is a common complaint and may interfere with desired uses of ponds. Phosphorus and nitrogen typically drive aquatic plant growth, which may persist while nutrient...

Recreational Ponds in South Carolina

Oct 31, 2021 | Natural Resources, Ponds, Water

Recreational ponds are a unique addition to any landscape and offer many benefits to the owner. Recreational ponds typically provide one or more of these common goals: visual amenity, fishing,...

Ponds in South Carolina

Jul 2, 2021 | Agriculture, Natural Resources, Ponds, Water

Four types of ponds are common in South Carolina; these include aquaculture, irrigation, recreational, and stormwater ponds. Pond type influences the practices used to manage water quality, water...