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Council adopts rules for fishing access, removes city fishing permit and closes West Pond
Summary
Resolution No. 2025-41 removes the city fishing permit, allows fishing with a South Carolina license at specified waterbodies, and restricts fishing and boating at West Pond to protect wetlands and reduce litter; council approved the resolution with a recorded majority.
The North Augusta City Council approved Resolution No. 2025-41, revising fishing access and usage rules for city waterways and eliminating the separate city fishing permit.
JD McCauley (speaker 10) told the council the Bridal/Brick Pond Committee recommended removing the city fishing permit and instead allowing fishing in the Savannah River, Jackson Avenue Pond (also referred to as Briggs Pond in the resolution), and Buford Pond with only a South Carolina fishing license. McCauley said the change also removes fishing and boating from West Pond to address concerns about fishing-related litter and to reduce unwanted wildlife interactions, including with snapping turtles and alligators.
Council members debated the change. One councilor argued West Pond is a scenic, accessible lake with a popular dock and preferred at least continuing fishing at the dock. The mayor and other councilors countered that West Pond functions as a wetland and provides ecological and educational value that warrants protection. A councilor who inspected the site described fishing line entangling protected birds and cited unsecured construction debris from nearby sites as a recurring source of trash entering the ponds.
On enforcement, staff said the city intends to rely initially on signage and code-enforcement conversations to educate the public; fines or criminal penalties would be considered only if habitual violations continue and the city’s court backlog allows. Council also directed staff to use standard construction enforcement procedures to notify developers whose unsecured debris impacts the ponds.
The mayor called for a vote; the meeting record states, "That's 5 yay to nay," indicating the resolution passed with five affirmative votes.
What happens next: Staff will update signage and public information if the resolution takes effect, and code enforcement/DPW will follow existing procedures to address construction-site debris affecting the ponds.
