LOWCOUNTRY, S.C. (WCIV) — With South Carolina’s state legislature just days away from kicking off, state environmental groups are hoping the environment will have its say.

Andrew Wunderly of the Charleston Waterkeeper said conservation is a bipartisan issue “generally speaking” and that he believes local lawmakers share the public’s love for the Lowcountry’s environmental assets.

“This is a state that loves its natural resources,” Wunderly said. “We have long traditions of hunting and fishing and recreating.”

Environmental protection and upkeep requires constant work from a variety of groups and sources, but lawmakers play a critical role as well.

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“There’s a number of issues that we’re hoping to see the General Assembly take action on,” said Wunderly. “And I think some of the most pressing ones are related to overdevelopment and especially along the coast.”

Wunderly said he wants lawmakers to prioritize clean drinking water projects alongside stronger rules in place to prevent septic over-flows in recreational waters.

“Making sure we get a handle on the proliferation of septic tanks,” said Wunderly. “It’s 2025 now and nobody should be swimming in water that’s contaminated by sewage from septic tanks.”

Protecting isolated wetlands from development and regulating plastic pellets known as nurdles in Lowcountry waterways are other issues Charleston Waterkeeper want tackled by legislators.

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The Coastal Conservation League is also keeping a watchful eye on Columbia.

They highlighted four key issues they’re working on:

Working past “harmful provisions” to advance “several offensive priorities” on a potential large-scale energy bill including “new gas infrastructure”Annexation reform to mitigate annexation’s use as “a tool to promote inappropriate development in rural areas”Outfall signage to fairly warn those around legally discharged pollutants, and reform to see these pollutants not “adversely affect water quality or human health.”A Department of Environmental Services regulation prohibiting the discharge of PFAS and other chemicals into waterways.

The 1st regular session of the 126th South Carolina General Assembly will convene on Tuesday, Jan. 14.