MCMASTER REJECTS NORTH CAROLINA PLEA TO DROP CATAWBA RIVER CASE

One of the most important yet under-reported battles for the future of South Carolina is currently sitting in the lap of the United States Supreme Court in the form of a two-year-old lawsuit to prevent North Carolina from hoarding a major water supply from the Palmetto State. And Attorney General Henry McMaster will not be giving up anytime soon, despite a plea from his Tarheel State counterpart that he do so.

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper claims that his state has the right to do whatever it wants with the Catawba River, including diverting millions of gallons of water from the basin that serves as a vital waterway for South Carolina. So McMaster sued North Carolina saying that the Palmetto State has an equal right to the water and that the diversion would adversely impact South Carolina’s water supply.

The High Court has largely agreed with McMaster so far, but Cooper asked the attorney general to drop the case and let an interstate commission determine the outcome. In a meeting with Cooper Tuesday, McMaster said South Carolina will press on with the lawsuit.

“We’d be highly unwise to abandon the only weapon we have,” said McMaster. “The only force that has made any difference in our dealing with North Carolina has been this case and the threat of an outcome they do not want to have.”

The result of this could impact more than just the Catawba River. If the Supreme Court agrees with McMaster, it could set a precedent for South Carolina’s right to other shared rivers.