It also discusses development along the coastline – including over 2000 islands that could foreseeably have bridges connecting them to the mainland. Thanks to Nancy Vinson and several other citizens’ hard work, 95% of those proposed bridges were denied development!

It is well worth your time to watch this short video from the Coastal Conservation League if you are at all interested in the pristine environment that so much of South Carolina has to offer.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Coastal Conservation League celebrates 20 years

“The recreational and aesthetic value of wetland areas also helps the states tourism industry.”

“Although wetlands serve as a vital link between land and water, they are historically misunderstood and under appreciated,” said Preston. “In the past, they were often used as dump sites and, unfortunately, appeared to be of value only when drained and developed.

“However, wetlands are starting to gain recognition as some of the most productive natural areas in the world,” Preston said. “DHEC is pleased to join Gov. Sanford and the citizens of South Carolina in celebrating May as Wetlands Month.”

“The goal of this months celebration of South Carolina’s abundant wetlands, which coincides with American Wetlands Month, is to educate and involve the public in local activities,” she said. “DHEC has information emphasizing the importance of wetlands and wetland activities, which is available to civic groups, school groups and individuals.”

For more information about the state’s wetlands, visit DHEC’s Web site at: http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/water/401.html

From the Shem Creek blog.

May is “South Carolina Wetlands Month”

When I read this, the first thing I thought of was The Edge of America, a.k.a. Folly Beach. We all know about their history with erosion, I’m just not sure whether or not they fit the bill here. Anyway, it’s something the local officials may want to look into.

Here’s information on NOAA’s Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Projects”, and of course, the Administration’s Recovery.gov, which will feature information on how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is working, tools to help you hold the government accountable, and up-to-date data on the expenditure of funds.

To ensure relevance, readiness and accountability, the solicitation requires that projects be “shovel-ready”.

From the Shem Creek blog.

NOAA ready to hand out money for restoration projects

In fall 1995, the Cooper River Corridor Project initiated a community-based planning process to develop a common vision and recommendations for the protection and enhancement of the river’s natural, cultural, and economic resources.

The goal was to preserve historic and natural resources for future generations; to ensure greater access to parks, recreation areas, and other public amenities; and to increase opportunities and improve quality of life through community-based education and well-managed economic development.

This pristine area is home to the largest bald eagle nesting area in the state, thousands of acres of wetlands and pine forests, and three national historic landmarks.

Let’s just hope things will look better because of it than the pollution in this Amoco photo.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Cooper River Corridor Project nominated for AHRI status

The public is being asked to report sightings of the swallow-tailed kite, an endangered-species in South Carolina and considered a species of highest conservation concern throughout its breeding range in North America. You call toll free 1-866-971-7474 to report a swallow-tailed kite sighting or fill out the SCDNR form.

Swallow-tailed kites are unmistakable with their narrow, 4-foot wingspan and 10-inch long forked outer tail feathers. The dorsal coloration is black while the head and underparts are white. Average weight for adults is a little over 1 pound, with females being slightly heavier than males.

“The South Carolina Working Group for Swallow-tailed Kites would like to extend its gratitude for all of the citizen science for swallow-tailed kite sightings reported during the 2008 season.” – Laurel Barnhill, SCDNR bird conservation coordinator.

Primary challenges to the swallow-tailed kite are wetland loss and drainage. Specific threats along its migration routes and wintering grounds in southern Brazil are unknown at this time, but significant land use changes could negatively impact the species.

South Carolina’s goal is about 400 nesting pairs statewide. The areas most likely to contain swallow-tailed kites are the Pee Dee and Savannah rivers, Francis Marion National Forest, the ACE Basin and associated floodplains.

From the Shem Creek blog.

URGENT: Watch for the state-endangered swallow-tailed kite

The research funding includes $689,500 from the U.S. Department of Energy and $120,000 from Chevron of Houston, Texas.

A constructed wetland
2 years later
Credit: Wikipedia

A constructed wetland
before treatment
Credit: Wikipedia

The idea of creating wetlands ties in well with the SPA’s plans to manage wetlands, where they have promised to increase their focus on our environment by contributing $3 million to restore 22 acres of tidal marsh along the southern tip of Drum Island in lower Charleston Harbor.

This treatment has the potential to increase oil and gas production and lower the cost of treating produced waters – not to mention reusing it, for:

• irrigation,
• domestic use,
• livestock watering,
• cooling-tower water,
• municipal water use,
• treated sewage discharge dilution, and
• support of critical aquatic life and wildlife.

Professor’s Castle and Rodgers have already developed similar constructed wetlands for the energy industry, such as treating water used in coal-burning power facilities.

“Co-produced water comprises 98% of all waste generated by U.S. oil and natural gas operations. Handling and disposal of this water is the single greatest environmental impediment to natural gas and oil exploration and production.”
– Department of Energy experts

Geologist Jim Castle
(Credit: Clemson)

Environmental toxicologist
John Rodgers
(Credit: Clemson)

 

* UPDATE (related to wetlands): Learn about the importance of wetlands at EPA’s Exhibit at the 2009 Philadelphia Flower Show

Wetlands Facts

1. An acre of wetland can store up to 1.5 million gallons of floodwater.
2. As many of 1/2 of all North American bird species nest or feed in wetlands.
3. More than 50% of wetlands have been lost or destroyed nationwide in the past century.
4. 2/3 of all fish consumed worldwide are dependent on coastal wetlands at some stage in their life cycle.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Researchers receive $800K to clean contaminated water from gas, oil drilling

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

From the Shem Creek blog.

SPA land management steps needed

Some highlights:

• * Rising water levels are already an important factor in submerging low-lying lands, eroding beaches, converting wetlands to open water, and exacerbating coastal flooding. All of these effects will be increased if the rate of sea-level rise accelerates in the future.
• * Most coastal wetlands in the mid-Atlantic would be lost if sea level rises one meter in the next century. Even a 50-cm rise would threaten most wetlands along the Eastern Shore of Chesapeake Bay.
• * Possible responses to sea level rise include seawalls, bulkheads, and other shoreline armoring; elevating buildings and land surfaces (including beaches and wetlands); and allowing shorelines to change and moving structures out of harm’s way. Those three approaches have very different environmental and social impacts.
• * Preparing now can reduce the eventual environmental and economic impacts of sea level rise.
• * Some governmental and non-governmental organizations are already starting to prepare for sea level rise.

You can read the full report at Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-level Rise.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Sea Level Rise and it’s Mid-Atlantic Region Implications

The Southern Environment Law Center says these places are facing immediate, potentially irreversible threats today. Their list below illustrates the cultural, ecological, and scenic riches at stake now.

1. Clinch and Powell Rivers, Virginia – Issue: Construction of a new coal-fired power plant in Wise County will accelerate mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia, and further increase mercury levels in the Clinch and Powell rivers.
2. Interstate 81 Corridor, Virginia – Issue: Virginia officials are reexamining a plan to widen all 325 miles of I-81 to perhaps eight lanes to support long-haul truck traffic – a plan that would cost billions of dollars and cause tremendous harm to communities and historic, scenic, and environmental resources.
3. Marine Waters, Virginia – Issue: Virginia is the first state in our region to begin the process of opening up its marine waters to offshore drilling for oil and gas. The benefit of this short-term supply of energy is dramatically outweighed by the harm to the environment and communities.
4. Globe Forest, North Carolina – Issue: Destruction of rare, old-growth forest in the Southern Appalachians.
5. Pamlico River, North Carolina – Issue: The single largest destruction of wetlands in North Carolina’s history will occur if a phosphate mining company gets permission to expand its operations on the river’s banks.
6. Great Pee Dee River, South Carolina – Issue: Santee Cooper, a state-owned utility, is proposing to build more coal-fired power plants with outdated technology that would dump an additional 300 pounds of mercury into an already mercury-overloaded river.
7. Johns Island, South Carolina – Issue: A $420 million highway proposal threatens to bring large-scale development to this historic community, transforming the island into a sea of condos, mega-stores, and traffic.
8. Salt Marshes, Georgia – Issue: Large-scale development on biologically rich islands and tidal waters.
9. Weeks Bay, Alabama – Issue: Unchecked development and weak regulation threatens an area so unique it is one of only three in Alabama to receive the designation of Outstanding Natural Resource Water.
10. Cherokee National Forest, Northeast Tennessee – Issue: The U.S. Forest Service is moving forward with its plans to log several areas of this remarkable landscape, endangering trout, unbroken wildlife habitat and rare species.

I’m partial to Johns Island being on the list, especially since I was born 2 miles from the Angel Oak Tree right off Maybank Highway. With all the fuss about possible highway development coming on the island, people are up in arms over the change it will inevitably bring to the slow & easy way of doing things.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Top 10 Most Endangered Places in the South 2009

Fortunately, more strategic water management approaches have important co-benefits. Because heating, treating, and moving water is energy intensive, reducing water use lowers electricity use, in turn reducing the global warming pollution that contributes to a more variable climate. Likewise, healthy forests and wetlands naturally regulate and cleanse water, are important fish and wildlife habitat, and sequester carbon that would otherwise contribute to global warming.

Important steps to meet these goals include:

1. Reduce global warming pollution.
2. Improve water-use efficiency and conservation.
3. Use risk-based, integrated water management strategies.
4. Consider sea-level rise in managing coastal freshwater resources.
5. Maintain and restore natural forest and wetland systems.

NWF Southeast Water Supply

From the Shem Creek blog.

Managing water supply in a more variable climate