Abstract |
Increasing and competing demands for water use have persuaded legislatures in many riparian states to enact statutes modifying traditional riparian rules. Some of these statutes incorporate elements of the appropriation system, and delegate to administrative agencies power to grant permits for water use. Others delegate to agencies power to declare emergency water areas, and to regulate withdrawals from such areas. Within recent years, increased concern for protection of the environment has led to statutes both Federal and State providing for inventory of water and related resources, large scale planning for water use and control, including water zoning, and extensive reorganization of administrative agenciesto deal with these problems. South Carolina is experiencing population growth and industrial development, and is beginning to face some of the problems these statutes were designed to meet. These statutory developments are examined, with a view to their consideration by the administrative agencies and the General Assembly of South Carolina. Problems of State constitutional law relating to water use and control are also examined. (Author) |