Sustainable Coastal Development and Economy

Coastal South Carolina is experiencing rapid growth. Resource management and economic development issues in this area continue to challenge coastal zoning planners, resource managers, developers, and those involved in commerce, industry, recreation, and tourism.

How the Consortium Supports Sustainable Coastal Development and Economy

The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium supports research and outreach to generate and deliver science-based information and programs in response to the needs of local communities and decision-makers in the following areas:

Optimizing the relationships among social, economic, and environmental concerns in coastal South Carolina.

Regional approaches to coastal land-use and watershed planning.

Robust and healthy working waterfronts, fisheries, and aquaculture.

Developing planning and policy tools for coastal access.

Offshore energy issues, policies, technologies, infrastructure, and impacts.

Enhancing waterfront-related economic opportunities without diminishing the long-term health of the coastal environment.

Tools to help manage coastal areas for tourism, recreation, and other uses.

Identifying ways for small coastal communities to engage in the tourism economy in an economically, environmentally, and culturally diverse way.

Understanding the effects of population growth and changes in land use.

Current Research Projects

Evaluating Nitrogen Removal Strategies to Improve Stormwater Management Practices in Coastal South Carolina

Principal Investigator: Annie Bourbonnais, University of South Carolina
Co-Principal Investigator: Erik Smith, University of South Carolina

Excess nitrogen can result in coastal eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, and dissolved oxygen impairment, both in coastal South Carolina and globally. Researchers will provide a comprehensive assessment of nitrogen transformation rates in various types of stormwater ponds and other stormwater control measures.

On Borrowed Time: Age as a Predictor of Phosphorus Mobility in Coastal Stormwater Ponds and Implications for Management

Principal Investigator: Debabrata Sahoo, Clemson University

This study will assess the influence of age of the residential stormwater pond on internal sediment phosphorus dynamics. The results will assist stormwater managers, extension specialists, residents, state and local decision-makers, and resource managers in making well-informed decisions regarding sediment, associated phosphorus, cyanobacteria management, and the health of downstream receiving water bodies.

Guiding Successful Applications of Floating Treatment Wetlands in Brackish Coastal Ponds

Principal Investigator: Bill Strosnider, University of South Carolina
Co-Principal Investigators: Sarah White and Amy Scaroni, Clemson University; Matthew Kimball, University of South Carolina

The goal of this research project is to guide the development of floating treatment wetlands as viable treatment technologies for brackish systems. The project team will develop guidance to enable successful floating treatment wetland installations, which can be used to absorb nutrients and break down contaminants through biological processes.

Current Outreach Projects