Sanford proposal would limit S.C. forest recreation

Trails used by thousands of hikers and bicyclists at Harbison State Forest could close under Gov. Mark Sanford’s sweeping plan to make state government more efficient.

Sanford, who stressed quality-of-life issues during his 2002 campaign for governor, wants to cut money for recreation services at S.C. forests. His proposed budget does not spell out the total amount that would be cut from recreation, but the proposal shows that it could be as much as $200,000.

That would signal a shift away from the recent trend of providing more recreational opportunities at national and state forests.

Sanford’s cuts would mean the loss of as many as six employees who manage state forests, the S.C. Forestry Commission says. Two of those employees manage Harbison State Forest, a 2,200-acre woodland in Columbia used by the public largely for hiking, biking and education.

Without full-time employees, it would be difficult to provide services that sustain recreation at Harbison, said Bill Boykin, South Carolina’s deputy state forester. The Harbison workers, aided by volunteers, make sure trails are maintained safely for the public. They also sell permits and maintain educational signs along Harbison’s trails.

“Trail maintenance and the upkeep of facilities is going to deteriorate” without paid staff, Boykin said. “We’d have to close off some areas to the public because we would not be able to maintain them.”

Sanford spokesman Will Folks said the governor doesn’t want to kill recreation at state forests. Folks said state forests will remain open for recreation. But, according to the governor’s office, Sanford wants to cut services and programs that duplicate those provided by other state agencies.

All told, Sanford would cut more than $2 million from the commission’s budget as part of his plan to merge the agency with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and a division of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Cuts also would include less spending for education, urban forestry and seedling programs. The budget reductions could result in the loss of more than 50 jobs at the 500-employee state Forestry Commission, agency officials estimate.

Sanford is looking for ways to save money because of projected revenue shortfalls for state government.

‘SOME SMALL REDUCTIONS’

The state forest system began after the Forestry Commission was established more than 70 years ago to regenerate denuded landscapes, educate the public and provide trees for harvest.

South Carolina has five state forests: Harbison, Manchester and Sand Hills in the eastern part of the state, Poe Creek in the mountains and the recently acquired Wee Tee forest in the coastal plain.

Folkssaid the state budget, as a whole, does not de-emphasize recreation. “But,” he said, “it does make some small reductions.’’

State forests are part of an array of protected natural areas in South Carolina open to the public. Those include state parks and heritage preserves, the Congaree National Park, national forests and national wildlife refuges.

Sanford’s budget plan was released during the same month that the governor urged citizens to exercise more. In his annual state-of-the-state speech Wednesday, Sanford challenged residents to bicycle, walk or run this year to stay in shape. Sanford said he plans to ride a bike across South Carolina.

According to Sanford’s reorganization and budget plans, the state would cut:

• At least $177,000 for salaries that fund six full-time jobs at Harbison and at the Manchester State Forest. The 24,000-acre Manchester forest, near Sumter, features horse and off-road vehicle trails, in addition to hiking paths. Full-time workers handle an array of duties at Manchester, including the sale of permits to users. Four of the six positions that could be lost would come from Manchester, Boykin said.

• About $30,000 for the H. Cooper Black Field Trial Area at the 42,000-acre Sand Hills State Forest in Chesterfield and Darlington counties. The field trial area includes corrals, dog kennels, campsites and a clubhouse. The 7,000- acre area also attracts dog and horse enthusiasts from across the country. Nearly a dozen events are scheduled for the site between now and June.

Boykin said the commission is considering hiring a private company to run the field trial site. But if the agency couldn’t do that, continuing the service with such a significant cut would be difficult. The $30,000 cut makes up more than half the budget for the field trial area; the rest comes from fees and operating revenues.

‘SACRED COWS’?

Jim McCaulley, who chairs Richland County’s We The People organization, said Sanford is right to look at new ways to cut the state budget.

“Different agencies have sacred cows that have never been looked at,’’ McCaulley said.

But Verida Marchette, a horse enthusiast and a member of a Forestry Commission recreational advisory committee, said Sanford’s plan could hurt the Cooper Black field trial area.

“This is going to cause a lot of anger,” said Marchette, the aunt of former Gov. David Beasley, and, like Sanford, a Republican. “I’m just heartsick.’’

While state forests are used to growing timber for sale on the market, South Carolinians like to visit them, statistics show.

Nearly 5,000 people bought permits last year to bike, ride horses and participate in other recreational activities at state forests. That does not include hunters, who are overseen by another state agency.

Reach Fretwell at (803) 771-8537 or sfretwell@thestate.com. Reach Holleman at (803) 771-8366 or jholleman@thestate.com.