Myra Reece Confirmed as Director of SCDES by South Carolina Senate | | |
The S.C. Senate officially confirmed Myra Reece as the first director of the S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES). Director Reece was nominated for the position by Gov. Henry McMaster.
"There is no one more qualified or better positioned to continue leading the Department of Environmental Services forward and into the future than Myra Reece," said Governor Henry McMaster in a statement.
Director Reece had been serving as interim director of SCDES since July 1, 2024, when it launched as a new state agency after a restructuring of the former Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). She holds degrees in microbiology and public health and is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager. She also is a graduate of the Management Academy for Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate of the Southern Center of Excellence in Environmental Health at Emory University.
“As a born and raised South Carolinian, I couldn’t be prouder to assume this critical public service position that helps safeguard our irreplaceable natural environment while supporting our state’s unprecedented economic growth,” Director Reece said. “Through a commitment to Science, Service and Sustainability, our agency’s team of environment experts will continue to ensure South Carolina has clean and resilient air, land and water resources now and for generations to come.”
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SCDES Promotes Dam and Reservoir Education and Awareness
for National Dam Safety Awareness Day
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During Dam Safety Awareness Day on May 31, SCDES encouraged residents to learn how dams' function and are regulated and to be mindful of important tips for those who live or work near water bodies created by dams.
Dams are an important part of national, state and local infrastructure. Nearly all freshwater lakes and ponds in South Carolina are created by a dam built across a river or stream. Dams impound water for a variety of reasons, such as irrigation, hydroelectricity, recreation, flood control, water supply, and for fish and wildlife.
SCDES’s Dams & Reservoirs Safety Program plays a critical role in ensuring dam owners keep their structures safe, strong and secure. In South Carolina, almost 2,200 dams are subject to state regulation. An interactive map of every regulated dam in the state and other essential dam and reservoir information is available via des.sc.gov/dams.
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SCDES Hosts EPA Southeast Regional Administrator
SCDES Director Myra Reece recently welcomed EPA Southeast Regional Administrator Kevin McOmber to a State Environmental Directors Meeting hosted by SCDES in Greenville. The meeting was an opportunity for state environmental officials to connect directly with EPA Regional leadership to learn more about the administration's focus and priorities.
Director Reece invited EPA officials to tour the Lake Conestee Dam, the site of a monumental success story where coordination among the EPA, state and local officials, and stakeholders, with funding from the S.C. General Assembly, have led to the much-needed restoration of the aging dam, which impounds sediment contaminated with hazardous substances from historic industrial operations. Restoration of the dam is paramount to safeguarding people, property and the environment.
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SCDES Continues Work with Dock Stakeholder Workgroup
In early May, the SCDES Bureau of Coastal Management hosted the second meeting of the South Carolina Dock Stakeholder Workgroup. This diverse group — made up of government officials, conservationists, marine contractors, engineers, surveyors, and others — is working together to help shape the future of dock standards across the state.
SCDES's Bureau of Coastal Management team discussions focused on measuring creek widths and waterbody sizes, key factors in developing consistent and sustainable dock guidelines.
This collaborative effort is an important step toward protecting South Carolina’s coastal resources while supporting responsible waterfront development.
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SCDES Continues Monitoring, Sampling Lake Hartwell due to Harmful Algal Bloom
SCDES continues to monitor the harmful algal bloom (HAB) in Lake Hartwell. The Recreational Water Watch and current recommendations remain in effect:
- avoid contact in areas where the HAB is present
- keep pets and animals from swimming in or drinking lake water where the HAB is observed.
HABs are a common occurrence in natural bodies of water, most likely to occur in South Carolina in late spring to early fall when water temperatures are warmer. They can persist for several weeks. Find the latest information about harmful algae in South Carolina on our SCDES HABs webpage and Algal Bloom Monitoring Map.
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SCDES Celebrates South Carolina’s Clean Air During
National Air Quality Awareness Week
National Air Quality Awareness Week was recognized May 5-9 as an opportunity to highlight the importance of clean air and how we can all help protect it. South Carolina’s air currently meets all national standards for the six principal pollutants, and our air quality has continued to improve over the years thanks to support from industries, schools, local governments, and community partners.
The Air Program at SCDES ― including the Bureau of Air Quality, the Air Laboratory, and regional offices ― works year-round to monitor, protect, and improve South Carolina’s air. Their efforts include issuing permits, inspecting facilities, tracking air emissions, providing ozone forecasts, and operating air monitoring stations across the state.
To stay informed about local or statewide air quality, visit des.sc.gov/air or sign up to receive air quality alerts at enviroflash.info.
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Hands-On Learning:
SCDES Showcases
Adopt-a-Stream Program
SCDES Adopt-a-Stream Program Coordinator Jaclin DuRant and Section Manager Chanda Cooper represented SCDES and the SC Adopt-a-Stream program at Discover Your Watershed at Lake Cooley.
The annual event was sponsored by the Startex-Jackson-Wellford-Duncan Water District, Spartanburg County Stormwater, Clemson Extension, Spartanburg Soil and Water Conservation District, and the USC-Upstate Watershed Ecology Center.
Spartanburg County Parks offered free canoe, kayak, and paddleboard sessions during the event, and numerous organizations hosted family-friendly educational activities and exhibits.
At the Adopt-a-Stream booth, visitors learned about the Adopt-a-Stream volunteer water quality monitoring program, and about how aquatic macroinvertebrates serve as water quality indicators.
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SCDES Connects with Stakeholders at Manufacturers Alliance Meeting
Several agency bureau chiefs and division leaders, as well as SCDES Director Myra Reece, presented at the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance Environmental Annual Meeting in Greenville.
SCMA organizes this stakeholder meeting every year as an opportunity for state officials, manufacturing professionals, industry experts, and more to collaborate, connect, and update each other on current environmental issues and advancements related to air, water, and solid and hazardous waste.
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SCDES Presents at SWANA Palmetto Chapter Conference
Several SCDES team members recently attended the South Carolina Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) Palmetto Chapter's 2025 Spring Conference in Myrtle Beach.
SWANA is a dedicated group of public and private sector professionals in the solid waste industry who come together to provide training and education opportunities that support professionals in all aspects of solid waste, including waste collection, disposal, gas collection, permitting, design, and operations.
Members of our Bureau of Land and Waste Management programs were invited to be presenters and discuss agency updates as well as our roles as they relate to solid waste and recycling operations in the state.
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WaterSC Holds May Meeting to Advance Conversations on Water Resource Management in S.C.
The WaterSC Water Resources Working Group held its May meeting in Columbia and included a panel discussion with members of the Councils of Government. A copy of the meeting's agenda and presentation as well as a recording of the meeting are available at des.sc.gov/WaterSC.
WaterSC was established by Governor McMaster in September 2024 as a diverse group of representatives from various water use sectors. Together, they are charged with developing a state water plan that balances South Carolina's economic and environmental interests to ensure the long-term protection of the state’s water resources as demand increases from record-breaking economic development and population growth. Learn more and provide your input on water planning in South Carolina at des.sc.gov/WaterSC.
| | Where Passion Meets Preservation | | As the state agency that protects and preserves South Carolina's environment, SCDES seeks talented individuals to join our team. We are scientists, engineers and inspectors as well as collaborators, educators, and public servants who work to ensure all South Carolinians have a healthy environment. | | | | |
