B.22. SOUTH CAROLINA AQUATIC PLANT MANAGEMENT PLAN PART I AND II 
B.22.1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA’S PLAN 
South Carolina’s Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the state’s 
Aquatic Plant Management Council develops an Aquatic Plant Management Plan each year 
(available at http://www.dnr.sc. gov/water/envaff/aquatic/plan.html ). The purpose of the 2006 
Management Plan is to protect the state’s public waters from the adverse effects of aquatic plant 
populations. The 2006 Plan identifies five actions to (1) identify existing and potential aquatic 
plan problems; (2) determine appropriate control strategies; (3) develop operational strategies to 
implement control; (4) seek funding for implementation; and (5) monitor results and determine 
needs for modification. The Management Plan describes problems and specific control strategies 
actions for various aquatic nuisance plants to be implemented by water body. 
B.22.2. CLIMATE CHANGE AND AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES IN SOUTH 
CAROLINA 
Climate models project increases in annual summer air temperatures of 5.5°F (3°C) and 
winter air temperatures by 7°F (4°C) in the southeast. Climate model results are less certain for 
precipitation, but general indications are that there may be a 10% increase in summer 
precipitation and a 5% increase in winter precipitation. While sea levels are expected to rise, the 
rate of increase is highly uncertain. Sea level rise could result in significant coastal wetland loss, 
increasing open water areas and estuarine depths (Mulholland et al., 1997). The loss of coastal 
wetlands and marshes has the potential to reduce estuarine productivity because many estuarine 
species depend on wetlands as nursery areas and sources of organic matter (Mulholland et al., 
1997). 
These climate change effects may also influence aquatic invasive species (AIS). For 
example, the Bear Island Wilderness Management Area is a low-lying coastal wetland currently 
threatened by several aquatic plant species, including cutgrass and phragmites. If sea level rise 
results in increased coastal flooding, native species that cannot survive these conditions may be 
replaced by more tolerant invasive plants. 
B.22.3. THE SOUTH CAROLINA PLAN’S CURRENT INTEGRATION OF CLIMATE 
CHANGE 
Table B-21 summarizes how the South Carolina Aquatic Plant Management Plan 
addresses and incorporates the projected effects of climate change. South Carolina’s Plan does 
not address climate change in its management and control strategies for aquatic nuisance plants. 
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