Budget Cuts Reduce Monitoring

Recent budget cuts within the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources have caused certain programs to fall by the wayside. One in particular, the “recreational angler tag and release program,” has been cut by the agency due to the cost of tags and staff needed to manage the program. The Post and Courier published an article today, “Budget cuts sink red drum tagging,” revealing the larger effect this might have on the Lowcountry’s coastal environment. Such citizen-dependent tag and release programs are essential in keeping tabs on the health of specific ecological variables.

There is no mention of how, or if, these budget cuts will effect the agency’s ability to monitor the health of our waterways. However, one thing is for sure; we must all play a role in watching over our waterways. We need to be the voice of our natural resources and we need to demand that these finite resources are being preserved and protected.

If you are interested in participating in Charleston Waterkeeper’s Watchdog Program, then please contact us for more information.