Investigators, in the first phase of this new project, will document the processes contributing to the development of hypoxia in nearshore waters, similar to the major hypoxia event that occurred in the Grand Strand of Long Bay (northern coastal ocean of South Carolina) area in 2004. The potential and relative roles of marine, terrestrial and atmospheric processes will be evaluated.
The objectives of this effort will be to (1) Characterize the water quality and hydrography of Long Bay, (2) Characterize the water quality and hydrography of terrestrial sources of water, nutrients and organic matter, (3) Identify critical biotic processes responsible for oxygen consumption in Long Bay and (4) Attempt to define physical and biological thresholds that lead to the development of hypoxia. One major benefit of the work will be the generation of data that show that hypoxia is not restricted to estuarine settings or offshore upwelling. This type of hypoxia could occur along other beaches and increase in frequency and intensity, representing an emerging environmental problem for the region. The “Dataflow” technology, a relatively new approach, will be used to assess the health of the nearshore waters.
According to the new, Phase II NPDES federal stormwater permitting rules, all of the communities in the Grand Strand area are designated MS-4, and as such will have to develop strategies for managing stormwater runoff and quality. Again, since this information has been identified as critically important by the state’s coastal zone management program, the S.C. DHEC-Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management will be supporting in whole the funding for Year One of the project.