Privette named interim director of South Carolina Water Resources Center

Charles Privette has been named interim director of the South Carolina Water Resources Center after more than 26 years at Clemson University.

Privette, currently chair of Clemson’s Department of Agricultural Sciences, takes over for Jeffery Allen, who has retired.

As interim director, Privette aims to strengthen the foundation for the center’s growth and provide critical support for stakeholders and state and federal agencies on water resource management, planning and policy development. The center was established to research water pollution, conservation, infrastructure and usage. It also provides public outreach through workshops, seminars and educational materials.

“To ensure a healthy and resilient water environment for future generations, we must address issues including flooding and runoff, and providing clean water supplies,” Privette said. “I plan to foster partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies, non-governmental organizations and industry stakeholders to leverage expertise and resources for effective water resource management.”

Privette holds degrees in agricultural engineering and biosystems engineering from Clemson and in civil engineering from the University of South Carolina. His work has ranged from agricultural irrigation design to urban runoff.

He has experience in teaching, research and Clemson’s Cooperative Extension Service, working with partners from elementary schools to state and federal agencies and international NGOs.

Some of his previous research projects include real-time monitoring of road construction on the Foothills Parkway for water quality assessment (National Park Service), modeling urban growth impacts on water quantity and quality (US EPA), developing turbidity control best management practices (BMPs) for the South Carolina Department of Transportation, remote sensing of surface soil moisture using satellite signals (NASA) and monitoring agricultural runoff for nutrients and pesticides (USDA NRCS).

Allen retires after 33 years at Clemson

Allen retired after a 33-year career at Clemson. Before leading the Water Resources Center, he served as interim director of the Strom Thurmond Institute of Government and Public Affairs and spent four years earning his doctorate at Clemson.

Among his proudest accomplishments are the Water Resources Center’s production of objective science, the development of South Carolina’s first urban growth projection model in 2003, and the statewide water planning efforts that began with key meetings 15 years ago.

Allen also received the Warren Hall Medal for Lifetime Achievement from the Universities Council on Water Resources.

“I am grateful to the many wonderful people I’ve worked with at Clemson and beyond,” Allen said. “It has been a wonderful and amazing career.”

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