SC Legislature Proposing Bans on Alcohol, Firearms on Lake Murray’s Bundrick Island

Latest Developments

New regulations are on the anvil for the recreational hotspot, Bundrick Island, on Lake Murray. The S.C. Legislature is currently contemplating regulations proposed by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources to place restrictions on alcohol consumption and firearms within the area. The legislation is being seen as an essential step towards creating a safer and more congenial environment for residents and tourists alike.

Details of the Proposed Regulations

Under the proposed restrictions, carrying firearms or any concealable weapons, along with the consumption and possession of alcoholic beverages on Bundrick Island, would be prohibited. A popular destination for boaters and day tourists, the island is approximately eight miles northwest of Lexington’s center, accessible from the end of Old Cherokee Road.

The new rules also aim to impose a ban on hunting activities and the use of all-terrain-vehicles and other off-road vehicles. Bicycles, however, will be permitted, albeit restricted to specific trails. Public access to the island under the proposed regulations will be confined to daylight hours – from sunrise to sunset, with exceptions made for events, projects, or campsites officially approved by the Department of Natural Resources.

Progress of the Regulations

The S.C. Senate Fish, Game, and Forestry Committee gave its approval to the proposed restrictions on February 7. As yet, neither the Senate nor the House of Representatives has held a full voting session on the proposed legislation. If lawmakers do not interfere, the regulations will be implemented automatically at the conclusion of this legislative year, confirmed a spokesperson for the DNR.

The committee meeting on February 7 raised some queries regarding the possibility of similar restrictions on other DNR-owned properties. However, officials clarified that the situation on Bundrick Island was unique, hence the need for distinctive regulations.

According to Sen. Ronnie Cromer, R-Newberry, the Sandy Beach area on Bundrick Island is typically overrun with weekend visitors during summer. He added, “Sandy Beach, on Bundrick Island, on weekends, you can’t hardly get another boat in there, and everybody’s got a cooler, and by Dark 30, everybody is feeling very good.“