The town of Bluffton has promoted Kim Jones to director of the stormwater management division. Duties include overseeing the town’s programs to protect the May River.
Since 2007, Jones has served within the town of Bluffton as a natural resources manager and as the water quality program manager.
Ron Bullman served as director of the stormwater management division since 2010. He is moving to Charleston to take a position in the private sector.
“The Stormwater Management Division is in good hands with Kim Jones,” Bullman said. “While we have accomplished a lot and still have a lot to accomplish with the May River Watershed Action Plan, Kim has expertise on both sides of the environmental equation as a biologist and as the manager of Bluffton’s Water Quality Program.”
Bullman said during the three and half years of his tenure, he is most proud of the following accomplishments in regards to the town’s efforts in monitoring and protecting the May River:
• Creation of the Stormwater Management Division
• Developed the May River Watershed Action Plan (Town Council Adopted November 2011)
(Nearly 100-page plan to restore the May River headwaters to shellfish harvesting standards)
• Agreement with Crescent Resources, the developer of Palmetto Bluff, to relocate 1300 residential units to a different location in order to protect critical headwaters of the May River Watershed
• Awarded $773,500 worth of grants from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide construction of watershed infrastructure, public education/outreach and provide septic system assistance to residents (i.e. fixing failed septic systems to prevent waste pollution from the May River.)
Jones started her new position July 16.
“The May River is one of the Town’s top priorities and together, with our Federal, State and local partners, we will restore and protect the May River and our other waterways, now and into the future,” Jones said.
Jones said her department staff is available for speaking engagements to help educate people of activities which can help protect the May River.
Jones has lived in the Lowcountry since 1995 and has served in numerous environmental positions including Vice President of the Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island, in charge of science and sea turtle protection projects. She was the Science and Education Director for Palmetto Bluff Conservancy.
Jones earned a bachelor’s in biology from Gannon University in Erie, Pa., and a master’s in biology and ecology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, in Indiana, Pa.
Jones recently presented at the South Carolina Water Resources Conference and the Southeast Stormwater Association Conference.
Jones serves on the statewide Advisory Board for Clemson Clear, which is a University-sponsored storm water outreach organization. Jones is a member of the advisory committee of the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium Coastal Communities.
Jones is a member of the water quality committee for the Together for Beaufort Program and Beaufort County’s Water Quality Monitoring Working Group.