GERRIT J. JÖBSIS, South Carolina Department of Natural Resource, P.O. Box 167, Columbia, South Carolina 29202, USA

In the late 1980's, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (formerly Wildlife and Marine Resources Department) increased its efforts to improve instream flow for aquatic resources at hydroelectric projects undergoing relicensing. An instream flow policy was developed and subsequently accepted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as a State Comprehensive Plan. The Department made instream flow recommendations based on site-specific studies and/or its instream flow policy at 11 hydroelectric projects in South Carolina. These projects affect flow of more than 90 river miles. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has recently made final decisions on these projects. Eight of the 11 decisions improve instream habitat for aquatic resources. Experiences gained from these projects should be useful for others attempting to improve instream flows at hydroelectric projects.