S.C. commerce secretary to give keynote address at water conference

Published: September 18, 2012

CLEMSON — Highlighting water’s impact on state prosperity, S.C. Commerce Secretary Robert Hitt III will be the opening plenary speaker at the 2012 S.C. Water Resources Conference Oct. 10-11 at the Columbia Convention Center.

The 2012 conference theme is “Exploring Opportunities for Collaborative Water Research, Policy and Management” and is focused on meeting environmental and economic needs for this vital limited resource. 

Hitt’s presentation is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Oct. 10 in Ballroom A at the convention center. Hitt will focus on the economic impact of water resources management for South Carolina. Six other South Carolina state legislative and government leaders will participate in the conference.

The even-year conference, launched in 2008, has become an important collaborative resource for scientists and engineers and a lively meeting place for policy discussions. Previous conferences each attracted more than 300 registered attendees and featured more than 120 presenters. 

This year, the conference’s featured speakers are:

• Catherine Templeton, the recently appointed director of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, who will speak at lunch on Oct 10.
• Col. Alvin Taylor, the new director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, who will speak at lunch on Oct. 11. 

The second-day plenary offers a panel session that in the past two conferences was popular and provocative. Four state legislators talk candidly about the policies and politics of water, economic development and regulations. The 2012 panel includes:

• Sen. Paul G. Campbell Jr., moderator;
• Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen;
• Rep. Don C. Bowen; and
• Rep. David R. Hiott.

The complete conference schedule is available online at www.scwaterconference.org. 

“Water is a resource that we simply cannot live without,” said Gene Eidson, director of the Clemson University Institute of Applied Ecology, which includes the Center for Watershed Excellence, the organizer of the biennial conference. “The issues — drought, development, environmental health and habitat, interstate relationships — require collaborative approaches built on partnerships among government agency regulators, business leaders, public policymakers and scientists, providing research-based data for decision-making.”

The conference is coordinated by the Center for Watershed Excellence in conjunction with a statewide planning committee. Its purpose is to provide an integrated forum for discussion of water policies, research projects and water management to prepare for and meet the growing challenge of providing water resources to sustain and grow South Carolina’s economy, while preserving its natural resources. 

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Financial contributors 
Major contributors include the Clemson University Restoration Institute, Duke Energy, Santee Cooper, the Charleston Water System, the S.C. Energy Office and YSI Inc. Supporting contributors include Clemson University's Strom Thurmond Institute, Coastal Carolina University Waccamaw Watershed Academy, the College of Charleston Masters of Environmental Studies Program, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control Bureau of Water, the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, SCANA and U.S. Geological Survey.