H*4771(Rat #0751, Act #0613 of 1990)  General Bill, By C.C. Wells
 A Bill to amend Chapter 25, Title 50, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to boating and surfing at particular locations, by adding Article 13
 so as to establish no wake zones and to restrict navigation, mast height,
 watercraft engine size, and waterskiing and swimming on Lakes William C. Bowen
 and H. Taylor Blalock in Spartanburg County, to provide for other regulations
 on boating, to authorize the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources
 Department to waive restrictions by written permit in consultation with the
 Spartanburg Water System, and to provide a penalty.-amended title

   03/01/90  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-5
   03/01/90  House  Referred to delegation from Spartanburg HJ-5
   05/03/90  House  Delegation report: Favorable with amendment
                     Spartanburg HJ-3
   05/03/90  House  Amended HJ-3
   05/03/90  House  Read second time HJ-6
   05/03/90  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-6
   05/04/90  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-1
   05/08/90  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-12
   05/08/90  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-12
   05/23/90  Senate Recalled from Committee on Fish, Game and
                     Forestry SJ-23
   05/23/90  Senate Amended SJ-23
   05/23/90  Senate Read second time SJ-25
   05/23/90  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day SJ-25
   05/24/90  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-34
   05/29/90  House  Senate amendment amended HJ-7
   05/29/90  House  Returned to Senate with amendments HJ-9
   05/30/90  Senate Non-concurrence in House amendment SJ-7
   05/31/90  House  House insists upon amendment and conference
                     committee appointed Reps. Reps. Davenport, Wells
                     & Bruce HJ-3
   05/31/90  Senate Conference committee appointed Sens. H. Smith,
                     Lee, Russell SJ-22
   06/07/90  House  Conference report received and adopted HJ-18
   06/19/90  Senate Conference report received and adopted SJ-47
   06/19/90  Senate Ordered enrolled for ratification SJ-47
   06/19/90         Ratified R 751
   07/18/90         Signed By Governor
   07/18/90         Effective date 07/18/90
   07/18/90         Act No. 613
   07/31/90         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 25, TITLE 50, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO BOATING AND SURFING AT PARTICULAR LOCATIONS, BY ADDING ARTICLE 13 SO AS TO ESTABLISH NO WAKE ZONES AND TO RESTRICT NAVIGATION, MAST HEIGHT, WATERCRAFT ENGINE SIZE, AND WATERSKIING AND SWIMMING ON LAKES WILLIAM C. BOWEN AND H. TAYLOR BLALOCK IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY, TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER REGULATIONS ON BOATING, TO AUTHORIZE THE SOUTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE AND MARINE RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO WAIVE RESTRICTIONS BY WRITTEN PERMIT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE SPARTANBURG WATER SYSTEM, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.

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

Lakes Bowen and Blalock

SECTION 1. Chapter 25, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 13

Section 50-25-1310. On Lakes William C. Bowen and H. Taylor Blalock in Spartanburg County:

(1) There is established a no wake zone within three hundred feet of all bridges and public docks. No wake zones must be clearly marked with signs. The signs must be designed and installed by the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department.

(2) No watercraft of any type may be operated within five hundred feet of any pump station, water intake of a dam, or spillways. These restricted areas must be clearly marked with signs. Signs must be designed and installed by the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department.

(3) No watercraft may operate or anchor within one hundred fifty feet of public fishing piers.

(4) No sailing craft with a mast height in excess of thirty feet is permitted to operate.

(5) No wading, bathing, or swimming is permitted within two hundred feet of any public landing, bridge, or restricted area. These restricted areas must be clearly marked with signs. The signs must be designed and installed by the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department.

(6) The lake wardens, at their discretion, may limit entrance of watercraft onto the lakes via the public landings when conditions such as overcrowding or adverse weather create an unsafe boating environment.

Section 50-25-1320. On Lake William C. Bowen:

(1) No watercraft with an outboard motor having a horsepower rating in excess of one hundred fifteen horsepower is permitted.

(2) No watercraft with an outboard motor in excess of the United States Coast Guard rating, with Coast Guard rating plate missing or changed, is permitted.

(3) No watercraft powered by an outdrive or inboard motor having an engine automotive horsepower rating in excess of one hundred eighty horsepower is permitted. This restriction does not apply to towboats which have been approved by the American Waterski Association.

(4) There is no minimum or maximum restriction on length of watercraft.

Section 50-25-1330. On Lake H. Taylor Blalock, no watercraft with an engine greater than fifteen horsepower may operate unless:

(1) the gas line has been disconnected and the engine or prop is trimmed out of water, and

(2) an electric trolling motor or engine of fifteen horsepower or less is mounted, but pontoon boats with a length greater than sixteen feet may utilize motors not greater than thirty-five horsepower.

Section 50-25-1340. On Lake H. Taylor Blalock, it is unlawful to waterski or tow rafts, discs, or any other similar floating devices.

Section 50-25-1350. On Lake William C. Bowen it is unlawful to:

(1) waterski or tow rafts, discs, or other similar floating devices within three hundred feet of any bridge or within one hundred feet of public dock facilities of the Spartanburg Water System;

(2) waterski and tow rafts, discs, or other similar floating devices upstream and west of the Interstate Highway 26 bridge which crosses over Lake William C. Bowen;

(3) pull more than two skiers at one time from any boat or to waterski while carrying one or more persons piggyback;

(4) operate a watercraft between midnight and one hour before sunrise.

Section 50-25-1360. The South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, after consultation with the Spartanburg Water System, by special permit, may waive the restrictions and provisions of Sections 50-25-1310 through 50-25-1350 to allow for boat testing, water and ski shows, and similar activities. It is unlawful to violate the terms and conditions of the permit.

Section 50-25-1370. A person violating a provision of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and must be punished as provided in Section 50-1-130."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 18th day of July, 1990.