South Carolina Water Level Monitoring Initiative

Overview of the Water Level Sensor Projects

The Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA) has funded 4 teams to work on a 5 year (2020 – 2025) ‘Southeast Water Level Network’ project. The goal of the project is to install low-cost water level sensors across the southeast to help with coastal flooding challenges. These water level sensors will allow communities to observe real-time, publicly accessible data on the elevation of a waterbody’s surface in their community. This will help communities understand their localized flooding levels and take appropriate actions to prepare for the flooding, for example, blocking off low-lying roads that will flood.

The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, in partnership with Coastal Carolina University and Francis Marion University, is engaging with communities in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina to install water level sensors throughout the Pee Dee River Basin. In addition to helping communities better understand localized water levels, the placement of these sensors also enhances the accuracy of flood modeling in the Pee Dee River Basin.

Beyond the Pee Dee region, the Consortium is leading regional coordination of Southeast Sea Grant programs that are also expanding water level sensor networks in Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina, through funding from SECOORA.

A water level sensor is attached to a dock railing. It is a small box with a solar panel attached.

Why Does South Carolina Need Water Level Sensors?

The low-lying regions of South Carolina are highly vulnerable to flooding and have experienced repeated impacts from both extreme and chronic flooding over the last decade. The complexity of these tidal systems and their connection with upland watersheds combined with the lack of widely distributed monitoring equipment has resulted in a lack of understanding of how to prepare for and respond to these events for local communities.

What Are the Benefits of Real-Time Water Level Sensors?

Real-time water level sensors will help communities that are presently brought to a full standstill when flooding shuts down infrastructure and transportation corridors. Communities have the ability to set their critical water level threshold for flooding, which, when reached, enables them to enact protective measures such as blocking off low-lying roads. The ability to plan, prepare for, and respond to flooding can decrease business interruptions and minimize property loss. These sensors will also allow communities to be better prepared for extreme events that may come in the future, by figuring out the early warning signs.

For example, if there is a flood and the community can see the water levels at the time of the flood and other external contributing conditions (e.g. tide, precipitation) that caused the water level, the community can respond quicker if those conditions are expected at a later date. Building out the network of water level sensors can also allow for communities downstream of a sensor to prepare based on water levels that they are observing upstream. There are also recreational benefits to having real-time data of water levels for boating and fishing. In terms of long-term adaptation, the water level data may point to some opportunities to raise a road, enlarge a culvert, or raise a building. Finally, the web-based accessibility of these data to residents and visitors of coastal areas has the potential to increase the understanding of flood hazards and strengthen preparedness as communities adapt to a greater number and intensity of floods.

A solar powered water sensor affixed to a dock.

Isle of Palms water level sensor, photo by Nicole Elko, S.C. Beach Advocates.

The inside of a water level sensor.

How Can a Community Receive a Water Level Sensor?

Underserved communities in the coastal watershed counties of South Carolina (see map below) are eligible to receive a sensor with grant funding. Underserved communities are those that have been historically marginalized, under-resourced, and/or are environmentally vulnerable.

Map of coastal watershed counties in South Carolina.

What is the Cost of a Water Level Sensor?

The project team, funded by SECOORA, covers the initial cost of a sensor and its installation. Once the sensor is installed and the grant period is over in July 2029, the community will have to assume the ongoing cost for the cell service and maintenance of the sensor (approximately $20/month). For additional information on pricing, please reach out to SECOORA at: communications@secoora.org.

Where to Install a Water Level Sensor

Locally owned bridges (County or private) not owned or maintained by the S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT). If a bridge is owned or maintained by SCDOT it will take longer to obtain permission to install a water level sensor.
Locally or organizationally owned docks or piers in low-traffic areas (e.g. without frequent fishing or boating activity beneath the sensor).
Locations where other parameters are already being measured, ie. weather stations or water quality. This will help scientists to correlate all measurements to one location.
Areas of transition or confluence such as multiple rivers coming together, land use changes (ie. agricultural land use to urban land use), rivers meeting the Atlantic Ocean, or upstream of a residential area known to flood.

Other Site Conditions to Consider

Site should have access to a Verizon cell signal for data transmission.
Site should have direct sunlight for a solar panel to charge batteries.
Water level sensor needs to be mounted between 5 -10 meters (16 – 32 feet) above water surface.
Constant inundation below the sensor location (e.g. an area that does not convert to mud flats during a portion of the tide cycle or during dry periods).
Installing on an existing structure is easier, such as on a bridge railing or pole.
No obstructions between the water level sensor and water level (i.e. tree branches).