Dogwood Swash Watershed Tour
Agenda Introductions Overview of NERRS Science Collaborative Swash Research Project Motivation for study (coastal hypoxia) Current status and time-line of project Review of Dogwood Watershed Basin Tour of Dogwood Watershed and Project Research Sites November 15, 2011 Dogwood Swash Watershed Tour 2
National Estuarine Research Reserve Science Collaborative Federal Funding (NOAA) to NERRS for research on locally relevant management issue. 2010 Request for Proposals: The NERRS Science Collaborative seeks proposals for collaborative, science-based projects to address coastal management problems that have been identified as a priority for a Reserve and a community that it serves. Proposals must relate to at least one of the following focus areas for this RFP: Impacts of land use change Habitat change and restoration Estuarine contamination Management of stormwater and nonpoint source pollution 3
Determining the role of estuarine swashes on water quality impairment along the Grand Strand of South Carolina: Impacts of land use & stormwater runoff 3 year project: September, 2010 August, 2013 4
Swash Project Goals 1. Understand how local land-use and stormwater management practices affect the flow and transformation of nutrients and organic matter as they move into, through, and out of swashes into coastal ocean waters. 2. Provide the scientific information needed to make land-use and stormwater management decisions that improve and protect coastal water quality, particularly with respect to hypoxia, along South Carolina s Grand Strand. 5
Hypoxia Low Oxygen Levels 1 st reported in Long Bay due to high flounder catches 6
Depth (m) Depth (m) Hypoxia Low Oxygen Levels 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 DO (mg/l) 2 0 1 2 0 20 40 60 80 100 1 st reported in Long Bay due to high flounder catches 3 3 4 4 5 6 24 26 28 0 5 6 % Saturation 34.5 35.0 35.5 36.0 0 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 6 Temperature ( o C) Not expected! Shallow waters Sandy beaches Non-estuarine 4 5 6 Salinity Data: S. Libes 7
SC Sea Grant Funded Activity 2006-2008 Formation of Long Bay Working Group Funding of several discrete research projects associated with hypoxia 1) Identification of Coastal Hypoxia Mechanisms and Hypoxia Monitoring in Inner Shelf Waters of Long Bay, South Carolina Investigators: E. Koepfler, S. Libes, E. Smith 2) Numerical Study of the Physical Conditions that Lead to Hypoxia Events in Long Bay, South Carolina Investigators: G. Voulgaris, R. Sanay 3) Electrical Characterization Of Submarine Groundwater Seeps On The South Carolina Continental Shelf Investigators: R. Viso, P. Gayes, C. McCoy 8
DO Consumption Rate Constrained Enrichment Hypothesis for Hypoxia Formation along the Grand Strand Typical (non-hypoxic) conditions: Terrestrial inputs (nutrients & organic matter) Outfall pipes, swashes, ocean outfalls Rivers, inlets, groundwater Local inputs widely dispersed in coastal ocean Low concentration = Low DO consumption rates Apache Pier Nutrient & Organic Concentration November 15, 2011 Dogwood Swash Watershed Tour 9
DO Consumption Rate Constrained Enrichment Hypothesis for Hypoxia Formation along the Grand Strand Hypoxic conditions: 1) SW winds cause upwelling of bottom water 2) Bottom water intrusion acts as a physical barrier preventing dispersion of inputs 3) Inputs concentrate inshore 4) Elevated concentrations greatly stimulate DO consumption rates leading to localized hypoxia Apache Pier Nutrient & Organic Concentration Ecology of hypoxia formation driven by: 1) Regional-scale physical conditions (upwelling process) 2) Local-scale terrestrial inputs of nutrients & organic matter
So, why focus on the Swashes for the present research project? Identified source of nutrients and organic matter, especially particulate forms. Amenable to better management actions.
Offshore Nearshore Swashes Offshore Nearshore Swashes Offshore Nearshore Swashes So, why focus on the Swashes for the So, why focus on the Swashes for the present research project? present research project? 1.2 Nitrogen Phosphorus 0.2 12 Organic Carbon 1.0 10 0.8 8 0.6 0.1 6 0.4 4 0.2 2 0.0 0.0 0 Identified source of nutrients and organic matter, especially particulate forms. Amenable to better management actions.
Collaborative Approach 13
Collaborative Approach Principal Investigator Erik Smith Integration Lead Denise Sanger M. Rick DeVoe Investigators Intended Users GIS Analysis Jen Plunket Surface Water Erik Smith Susan Libes Ground Water Rich Viso Rick Peterson Local Leigh Wood State Denise Sanger LBWG CWSEC DNR DHEC Horry County Myrtle Beach North Myrtle Beach Surfside Beach
Project Collaboration Workshops Swash Classification and Identification for Sampling First Year Sampling Summary and Refinement of Second Year Sampling Second Year Sampling Summary and Management Implications Final Results and Management Application Development Other targeted workshops/trainings
Year 1 Project Focus 14 Swashes categorized Watershed drainage area Watershed land use/land cover Drainage complexity (# of ponds, etc.) Basin size Connection (type) with ocean Tidal intrusion Amount of intertidal marsh Geographic region 2 Swashes selected for study: 1) Withers Swash 2) Dogwood Swash
1) Withers Swash Tidal exchange Saltwater basin Extensive marsh habitat 2) Dogwood Swash No tidal exchange Entirely freshwater basin 17
Dogwood Watershed 18
Dogwood Watershed 3 headwater sites 1 swash outfall site Seasonal sampling Dry & wet events Surface & groundwater Measured parameters: Water level & flow Nitrogen & phosphorus Organic carbon (diss. & part.) Total suspended solids Chlorophyll a At outfall site only: Internal organic production time-series of dissolved O 2, turbidity, Chl a, temperature, and salinity
Questions? 21