Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Boating Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs bill to ban swimming near public boat landings on Santee Cooper lakes
Summary
Senate Fish, Game and Forestry advanced S 463 to extend an existing prohibition on swimming within 50 feet of public boat landings to landings on lakes owned or maintained by Santee Cooper (Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie). The Department of Natural Resources told the panel it supports the bill for boater safety.
Senate Bill S463, which would add public boat landings on Santee Cooper-owned reservoirs to an existing prohibition on swimming within 50 feet of a boat landing, received a favorable committee report after a short hearing.
Mr. Cole, a committee staff member, told the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee that S463 ‘‘adds public boat landings on lakes or reservoirs owned or maintained by Santee Cooper’’ to the prohibition and specifically cited Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie. The stated purpose is to reduce swimmer interference with launching and loading operations.
Adam Henderson, representing the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, testified that DNR supports the bill as a safety tool and would like the prohibition applied statewide. Henderson said the 50-foot distance targets the ‘‘immediate proximity to the ramp where boats [are] coming in and out’’ and noted DNR has issued warnings but few citations at boat landings in recent years.
Committee discussion focused on how the 50-foot restriction would interact with people camping at nearby launch areas. A senator from Newberry asked whether people camping a hundred or 200 feet from a ramp could still swim; Henderson said the 50-foot measure targets immediate ramp areas and that more distant swimming would usually be allowed. The transcript shows an exchange about penalties: a committee member quoted a statutory penalty range and Henderson said he had no intention of imprisoning violators.
The committee moved the bill for a favorable report by voice vote; the chair announced the ayes carried.
No fiscal impact or effective-date language was provided in the hearing record. DNR told the committee it would support extending the prohibition statewide; no formal opposition was recorded in committee testimony.
