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002~69 SOUTIl CAROLINA South Carolina l~s a legislatively authorized river protection program, the Scenic Rivers Act of 1974. The state's Water Resources COQmission is responsible for establis~ne criteria for eligibility, investigating rivers to determine eligibility, and formulating comprehensive managoent plans. The Wildlife and l'larine Resources Lepartment is responsible for management of designated areas. . .' The legislation provides for three classes of rivers: Class I, Natural River Areas; Class II, Pastoral River Areas; and Class III, Partially Developed River Areas, 11anagement of Class I rivers is designed to maintain the present natural setting by prohibiting new development. Class II and III rivers allow for the continuation and development of current land uses. Designation of a river is a two-phase process. Firet) tre river is designa ted eligible for the program, allOldng the \ia ter P,e sources Commission to accept donations of land and easements or to arrange for state purchase of selected areas. Once adequate protection las been attained through acquisition of land and easements, the river is then designated a Scenic River. The 1974 Scenic Rivers Act was amended in 1981 to provide additional incentives for landoHuers to donate land and easeRents on a scenic river and to provide the state the authority to purchase land and,easements. The state is expressly forbidden from the use of eminent domain to obtain land, and there is no provision for enforcing zoning restrictions along scenic rivers, other tran voluntary cooperation by local governments. It is the goal of tr,e program to protect representative natural rivers in the three major geographic regions of the state: Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain, Under the Administrative Procedures adopted for the program, the minimum le'ngth for designation is one mile in the mountains and upper Piedmont, and three miles in the rest of the state. To date, segments of four rivers totaling 122 ~iles rave been designated eligible for the Scenic Rivers PrograR. However, only one river ras received protection at this time. It is coped teat the amendments passed in 1981 will strengthen the program and lead to effective protection for these rivers and to consideration of additional rivers for designation. NATIO~!AL P,IVERS . The Chattooga River, which flo~'s form North Carolina and forms the border between South Carolina and Ceorgia, he came one of the first units of tee t<a tional Wild and Scenic River s Program. Tl:i s is one of the finest whi te wa ter streams in the east, and flolls through the U.S. Forest Service lands. At present, no additional rivers in South Carolina are being studied for the national program. . 57