Gov. McMaster and South Carolina Floodwater Commission Announce Collaboration with Town of Nichols

Columbia, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster and South Carolina Floodwater Commission Chairman Tom Mullikin are pleased to announce a collaborative initiative to assist the Town of Nichols and Marion County with drainage maintenance.   

On June 15, 2019, the South Carolina Floodwater Commission will hold its quarterly meeting in Nichols, SC, and will host an event that same day that brings volunteer groups together with local and state government to clean ditches and make other repairs to the existing drainage system in and around the Town of Nichols.    

Governor Henry McMaster said, “The South Carolina Floodwater Commission was created to unleash the spirit of cooperation and collaboration among South Carolinians in addressing our ongoing flooding concerns. Identifying drainage maintenance needs at the local level and working together to address those needs is how good government should work. I encourage South Carolinians to join us in Nichols on June 15 to take part in what will serve as a model for flood-impacted counties around the state.” 

The June 15 event in Nichols is the result of the Floodwater Commission’s Infrastructure and Shoreline Armoring Task Force determining that an important part in managing stormwater is to address the performance and operation of the existing drainage system.  

Floodwater Commission Chairman Tom Mullikin said, “There is much to do on June 15 and we need the help of the citizens of this great state. We are issuing a call to action for volunteers to sign up and help us make a difference in the community by getting the existing drainage system up to a state of good repair.”  

A local task force has been formed in Marion County to identify, prioritize and formulate a work plan to address the deferred maintenance of the drainage ditches and canals in the area. The work plan includes clearing trees, limbs and debris from the drainage canals and ditches, removing sediment from clogged ditches and replacement of a broken drainage pipe.  

Volunteers are encouraged to visit the Floodwater Commission webpage and use the online portal to sign up for the June 15 event in Nichols. Three hour shifts for various activities are planned throughout the day, with the first shift beginning at 8 am.