The EPA’s Watershed Central website provides a variety of tools and information to aide watershed management.
Credit: EPA

The basic idea behind the EPA’s new Watershed Central website is to assist us develop and implement effective watershed management programs. The site includes guidance, tools, case studies, and data sets to help share information, analyze data, and identify opportunities to initiate or strengthen our watershed efforts.

On the site, you can look at any body of water across the country and see some interesting facts that everyday citizens probably aren’t familiar with: pulling up S.C. data shows that
61% of impaired coastal S.C. water is because of fecal coliform

Checking to see whether or not Shem Creek has fecal coliform shows:
Waterbody Name: SHEM CK AT BRDG ON US 17.

So from the Watershed Central website, now I’ve learned something I really would rather have not known – thanks EPA!

Last week, somebody asked if dolphins swim in Shem Creek – besides the high diesel content, now they have fecal matter to worry about too!

UPDATE: Shem Creek is clean according to the EPA.

The SPA’s Pledge for Growth program is finally moving forward with the goal of improving their land management practices.

Some steps they are taking include:

1. Offsetting the direct impact to aquatic resources and wetlands by contributing $3 million to restore 22 acres of tidal marsh along the southern tip of Drum Island in lower Charleston Harbor. The project will restore more than double the acreage that will be affected by development of the new terminal.
2. The Port is also dedicating $1 million to assist the Trust for Public Land (TPL) in preserving Morris Island, the site of a major battle in the Civil War, and $1 million to help the Cooper River Initiative, which is seeking to protect more than 15,000 acres of land – focus is the quality of the entire Cooper River Watershed, notably the Francis Marion Forest.
3. The Port is donating a three-acre parcel of land – valued at $975,000 – for the benefit of the Clemson University Restoration Institute, with an intent to provide water access to the Clemson facility (something I’m sure they’ll love).
4. With increased recycling, the Port’s contributions to local landfills are being drastically reduced.

The SPA’s land management
endeavors are widespread.
Credit: Pledge for Growth