HA2 Urban Stormwater Impacts on Estuaries
255 Portland Ballroom
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Thursday
() An assessment of stormwater runoff entering tidal creeks in Charleston, SC.
Sanger, D1, Smith, C2, Van Dolah, R3, Cabiness, L4, 1 SC Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, Charleston, SC, USA2 College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA3 SC Marine Resources Research Institute, Charleston, SC, USA4 The City of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA
ABSTRACT- Tidal creeks are the first order connection between land-based activities and estuarine environmental quality. Estimation of pollutant loadings into tidal creeks is essential for developing effective storm water management, land use, and remedial action plans. The goal of the project was to assess the impacts of storm water runoff on tidal creeks in the Charleston metropolitan area for one year. Water quantity and quality during and following storm events was characterized in four tidal creeks in the Charleston areas, selected to represent urban, high density suburban, medium density suburban, and undeveloped watersheds. Water quality samples were collected in the headwaters of each tidal creek, as well as in areas further downstream. The water quantity and quality parameters measured included streamflow, specific conductance, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, nutrients, fecal coliform bacteria, biological oxygen demand, trace metals, and suspended solids. In addition, pesticides and PAHs were measured during one dry event in the summer season only. In general, the levels of pollutants entering the tidal creeks were highest at the most upstream location and decreased downstream. The levels of pollutants were also higher in the developed creeks than in the undeveloped creek.
Key words: nonpoint source pollution, stormwater, watershed, estuary