It’s all about the water in Murrells Inlet…

It’s all about the water
in Murrells Inlet…
http://exploremurrellsinlethomes.com/oysters‐r‐in‐season‐in‐murrells‐inlet/
SC DHEC Shellfish Harvesting Classifications
2006
2011
Approved
Conditionally Approved
Prohibited
Restricted
Jan 2003 to Jan 2006
Jan 2008 to Jan 2011
Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Sites
BHR
Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program
E. Coli Measurements
BHR: SC DHEC shellfish monitoring data
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Source tracking upstream (from last year) – wide spread contamination in water and sediment
North End Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program E. Coli Measurements
North End: SC DHEC shellfish monitoring data
Oyster Landing Beach
Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program E. Coli Measurements South End
SC DHEC shellfish monitoring data
Bike Bridge Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring E. Coli Measurements
Bike Bridge:
SC DHEC Shellfish Monitoring Data
We can learn more about bacteria sources
if….
We consider the effect of tides
We knew discharge from individual creeks
We consider the effect of rainfall
We look at individual years & seasonal influences
We review results from past studies
• USES program
• Murrells Inlet Special Area Management Plan
• We look at land‐use patterns
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Changing Land Uses
1958
2011
>10% impervious cover  water quality impairments
It’s not always easy to pinpoint potential sources
1958
2011
Septic Tanks
Woodland Pond Drive
Kelsey et al., 2004
Success Story: Hempstead Harbor Long Island Sound
Closed to shellfish harvesting for more than 40 years
2500 acres
What’s Next?
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150402144729043&set=o.70884114480&type=1
Fill in the missing part of the Fecal Coliform TMDL
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What’s causing the tidal creeks to have high bacteria levels? –
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Which creeks?
Host animals?
What are the loads being delivered by these creeks?
Why is it getting worse?
Reduce the bacteria load using the watershed approach
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Partner up. Form Murrells Inlet Watershed Advisory Board.
Construct Watershed Baseline Assessment Report from existing data. • Identify information gaps.
• Fill critical data gaps
Design solutions, get cost estimates and prioritize
Watershed • Focus efforts in tributaries of concern
management • Proposed appropriate Best Management Practices
plan
– Structural
– Nonstructural
Find funding
Implement BMPs and assess Tweak as needed
Questions?