Billy asked Derrell Shipes to review our Santee Cooper Lakes Plan. Derrell started with an update on the Hickory Top project which is outlined in the plan. They are beginning construction on this project in mid November. Construction was delayed due to high water in the lake and extremely wet conditions over the past year. The project will be finished sometime next year depending on weather and it may not be hunted next season. They will make this determination at a later date.

Derrell reviewed the plant management plans for the Santee Cooper Lakes. He encouraged the Coalition to work with DNR and the Santee Cooper to help develop a vegetative management and restoration plan for the Santee Cooper Lakes.

Derrell reported that the hatchery management area would be difficult to restore due to navigatability laws. It would be almost impossible to get Army Corps permits. The hatchery project would also be extremely expensive to maintain. David Wielicki noted the Smythe property as a possible alternative to the hatchery project and mentioned its possible addition as a state wildlife management area. DNR is looking into this property.

Derrell Shipes also gave cost estimates on the following projects listed in the Santee Cooper Lakes Waterfowl & Fisheries Restoration Plan. He noted that DNR thought each of these portions of the plan had merit.

Submerged aquatic vegetation on Santee Cooper Lakes. The current policy is to allow the development of 17,000 acres of native submerged vegetation which would be beneficial to waterfowl and other wildlife. This development would inevitably lead to the need for herbicide treatment around developed areas including homes, boat landings and businesses. The estimated cost for these chemicals is $250,000 per year.

Treatment of encroaching emergent weeds in shallow areas. Southern wild rice has become a problem in shallow areas. Treatment of this species will provide the opportunity for beneficial species like smartweed and watershield to develop. This estimated cost for chemicals associated with this activity is $60,000 per year.

Investigation and restoration of beneficial hardwoods in the upper Santee swamp. Investigations of the history of beneficial hardwoods in this area should be initiated. Further assistance should be sought from experts from other areas. Efforts should be undertaken to reestablish hardwoods (particularly oaks) in this area. The estimated cost for this effort is $250,000.

Grass carp exclusion from natural areas. The exclusion of the grass carp from identified natural areas will allow submerged aquatic vegetation to develop in isolated areas which will be used by waterfowl and other wildlife. These devices will be a deterrent to navigation and represent significant permitting problems. Assuming the necessary permits can be acquired, the estimated cost for 17 areas is $500,000.

Fish attraction structures. The development and placement of large scale fish attraction devices would provide additional habitats for aquatic organisms including fish and would provide focal points for fishing. The devices should be large in scale and dispersed throughout the system. The design and estimated cost for these devices is not available at this time.

Santee National Wildlife Refuge

David Wielicki gave this report. He reported that Mark Purcell was not available for the meeting. However, Mark noted that they are flooding impoundments at the Refuge and are working on replacing fuel tanks for all of the existing pumps. Waterfowl are just beginning to arrive at the Refuge. Their green tree reservoirs are in excellent condition and should all be flooded this year. They had some success with planting of crops on the Refuge, however, some areas were unplantable due to high water. David reported that Mark intends to attend the next meeting. The Refuge will also be working on banding. SCWA has donated up to 300 bushels of corns for the banding effort.

Vegetation Restoration Committee Report

This report was given by Bryson McCord and Bill Goff. Bryson and Bill reported that the Committee has met with Larry McCord and John Inabinet at Santee Cooper and Steve DeKozlowski and Bill Mahan at SC DNR. At the initial meeting they discussed the range of problems that exist with vegetative management and discussed the development of a management and restoration plan. The second meeting they focused on development of test plots for controlling sawgrass and the results from existing plots. They also reported that some of the test plots would be developed for replanting different types of vegetation. The Committee will continue to work on an overall management and restoration plan for vegetation on the lakes.

Cormorant Update

David Wielicki reported that the Fish and Wildlife Service is authorizing various states including South Carolina to develop management plans and depredation orders for controlling nuisance cormorant populations. Billy McTeer from SC DNR reported that the DNR would need to review the information from the Fish and Wildlife Service and study the issue before making any recommendations or working on any depredation permits for cormorant control. Since this is a new issue that SC DNR will need 8-12 months in order to study the issue and they will report back to the Committee at that time.
The Coalition will meet again this spring to evaluate the progress on these issues and to discuss other projects that need to be addressed.