H*3636(Rat #0445, Act #0387 of 1980)  General Bill, By L.E. Bennett, 
R.L. Altman and D.N. Holt
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of S. C., 1976, by adding Section 50-17-35 so
 as to establish saltwater-freshwater dividing lines on the coastal rivers; &
 to repeal Section 50-13-190, Articles 15 and 51 of Chapter 19 of Title 50 &
 Act 611 of 1978, relating to saltwater-freshwater dividing lines.

   03/12/80  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-1359
   03/12/80  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
                     Resources HJ-1359
   03/18/80  House  Committee report: Favorable Agriculture and
                     Natural Resources HJ-1447
   03/20/80  House  Read second time HJ-1631
   03/25/80  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-1670
   03/26/80  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-6
   03/26/80  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-6
   04/10/80  Senate Committee report: Favorable Fish, Game and
                     Forestry SJ-15
   04/16/80  Senate Read second time SJ-18
   04/17/80  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-12
   04/22/80  House  Ratified R 445 HJ-2312
   04/28/80         Signed By Governor
   04/28/80         Effective date 04/28/80
   04/28/80         Act No. 387
   05/12/80         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 50-17-35 SO AS TO ESTABLISH SALTWATER-FRESHWATER DIVIDING LINES ON THE COASTAL RIVERS; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 50-13-190, ARTICLES 15 AND 51 OF CHAPTER 19 OF TITLE 50 AND ACT 611 OF 1978, RELATING TO SALTWATER-FRESHWATER DIVIDING LINES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Section 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 50-17-35. The saltwater-freshwater dividing lines on the rivers listed below shall be as hereinafter defined and all waters of the rivers and their tributaries, streams and estuaries lying seaward of the dividing lines shall be considered saltwaters and all waters lying landward or upstream from all dividing lines shall be considered freshwaters for purposes of licensing and regulating commercial and recreational fishing. The Department shall erect and maintain signs adequately identifying the dividing lines.

(a) On the Savannah River the dividing lines shall be the old track bed of the Seaboard Coastline Railroad located approximately 1.75 miles upstream from the U.S. Highway 17A bridge across the Savannah River.

(b) On the Wright and Ashepoo Rivers the dividing line shall be the old Seaboard Coastline Railroad track bed.

(c) On the New River the dividing line shall be at Cook's Landing.

(d) On the Coosawhatchie, Tullifinny, Pocataligo and Combahee Rivers the dividing line shall be U.S. Highway 17.

(e) On the Edisto River the dividing line shall be the old Seaboard Coastline Railroad track bed near Matthews Cut Canal.

(f) On the Ashley River the dividing line shall be the confluence of Popper Dam Creek directly across from Magnolia Gardens.

(g) On the Copper River the dividing line shall be the confluence of Goose Creek but any provision of law pertaining to commercial crab fishing under Article 13 of this Chapter shall apply in the waters of the Black River.

(h) On the Awendaw Creek, the North and South Santee Rivers, the Sampit River, the Black River, the Pee Dee River, the Waccamaw River and the Little River the dividing line shall be U.S. Highway 17.

(i) On the Inland Waterway in Horry County the dividing line shall be the bridge across the Inland Waterway at Nixon's Cross Road where S.C. Highway 9 and U.S. Highway 17 intersect."

Repeal

Section 2. Section 50-13-190, Articles 15 and 51 of Chapter 19 of Title 50 of the 1976 Code and Act 611 of 1978 is repealed.

Time Effective

Section 3. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.