(Rock Hill-AP) Dec.1, 2004 - Governor Mark Sanford has signed a bill he hopes will help South Carolina avoid some of the problems the state faced a few years ago during one of the worst droughts in recent memory.

The Republican governor signed a bill Tuesday that creates two river basin advisory commissions, one to oversee the Yadkin and Great Pee Dee River basins and other for the Catawba and Wateree River basins.

Sanford says the commissions will focus on coordination, conversation and conservation.

During the fall of 2002, South Carolina officials had to broker a deal with North Carolina officials to ensure drinking water supplies and economic development were not severely impacted by dangerously low rivers.

posted 8:02am by Chris Rees