CHARLESTON, S.C., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- More of South Carolina's coastal plain near Charleston, containing some of the most important ecosystems in the U.S., will be protected permanently from development.

By Gene Zaleski, The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C. Dec. 11--Drought conditions have dried out the North Fork of the Edisto River but Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities officials say the situation has yet to reach a critical point.

By Joey Holleman, The State, Columbia, S.C. Dec. 2--Run one gallon of water out of each of two faucets into a bowl. How much water should be in the bowl? One plus one, right? It seems like simple math. But during severe drought, nothing is simple. Take the Edisto River. Or what's left of it.

By Sammy Fretwellsfretwell@thestate.Com and Ben Werner, The State, Columbia, S.C. May 3--MeadWestvaco wants a national park-sized area of forests near Charleston developed into what it calls an environmentally friendly community.

Jul. 24--On April 29, caustic, or sodium hydroxide, a chemical used as backup to lime to adjust the pH level of water treated at the Department of Public Utilities' John F.