The Lake Wylie Marine Commission was established through joint actions of the North and South Carolina General Assemblies in 1987.; Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties in North Carolina and York County in South Carolina subsequently passed joint actions consistent with the states legislation to establish the Commission.
S.C. Code of Laws, Title 49, Chapter 27, Lake Wylie Marine Commission
N.C Code of Laws, Chapter 77, Article 4 Lake Wylie Marine Commission
Authority
The Commission’s authority includes all matters relating to or affecting the use of Lake Wylie and its shoreline area within all three counties to 1,000 feet from the full pond level of 575 feet. The shoreline area includes all islands within Lake Wylie and all peninsulas extending into the waters of Lake Wylie.
However, the Commission’s authority is limited by the statutes establishing the Commission and is subject to all supervening provisions of law and may not conflict with or supersede provisions of general or special acts or regulations of either State or other higher government agencies.
The commission has seven members with two members each appointed by the Gaston and Mecklenburg Board of Commissioners and the York County Council. Each county provides equal funding for the Commission’s work. Counties rotate the appointment of a third commissioner from that county.
Commissioners serve three year terms. Officers are the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and a Secretary / Treasurer. Officers of the commission serve one year terms. The Chairman may appoint committees to achieve the goals of the Commission.
Meetings must be held in all three counties on a rotating basis and an equal number of times each year. Special meetings may be called.
Meetings are subject to the N.C. Open Meetings Law and the S.C. Freedom of Information Act. Every meeting agenda provides opportunities for Public Comment.
The Commission’s goals and activities focus on matters relating to or affecting the use of Lake Wylie and its shore line with particular emphasis on three strategic areas:
- preserving and protecting the lake’s water quality and its shoreline,
- promoting public education and public safety,
- and protecting wildlife and the natural environmental.
The Commission seeks to act in the best interest of the citizens and lake property owners of the three counties. The Commission considers all matters in accordance with its goals.
The Commission receives regular reports from the Lake Law Enforcement Units from the three counties, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Duke Energy, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, Mecklenburg County Land Use and Environmental Services Agency and the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation and its Covekeepers.
It monitors such issues as water quality, construction permits, piers and shoreline stabilization permits, missing and damaged buoys, environmental concerns such as erosion and sedimentation issues at construction sites, toxic spills and notification of spills and other matters that are consistent with the Commission’s goals or are brought to the Commission’s attention by citizens. Commissioners develop special initiatives as needed such as invasive plant management.