Using Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentration and Character Data to Assess Land Use Change Effects on Coastal Waters

2016 South Carolina Water Resources Conference South Carolina Water Resources at a Crossroads: Response, Readiness and Recover

Application of Geochemical End-member Mixing Analysis to Delineate Water Sources in a Lowland Watershed

2008 S.C. Water Resources Conference - Addressing Water Challenges Facing the State and Regio

Using Water Chemistry Data to Assess Stormwater Pathways in Lowland Watersheds

2012 S.C. Water Resources Conference - Exploring Opportunities for Collaborative Water Research, Policy and Managemen

Using Water Chemistry Data to Quantify Source Contribution to Stream Flow in a Coastal Plain Watershed

2010 S.C. Water Resources Conference - Science and Policy Challenges for a Sustainable Futur

Identification of Stormwater Pollution Hotspots in Charleston Peninsula

Flooding is of great concern in fast-growing coastal communities, especially in the southeastern US, due to multiplying threats such as extreme precipitation, coastal storms, and rising sea levels. Contamination associated with stormwater runoff is often given less attention during stormwater planning and management decisions. The US EPA has long recognized that stormwater runoff is the biggest contributor to the impairment of water bodies in the US. In this study, we studied stormwater runoff contamination in a densely developed section of downtown Charleston, South Carolina, to better understand the extent of the problem and identify potential hotspots that could aid in future stormwater management decisions

Sorption and Transport of Pharmaceutical Chemicals in Organic- and Mineral-rich Soils

2012 S.C. Water Resources Conference - Exploring Opportunities for Collaborative Water Research, Policy and Managemen

The Role of Groundwater Recharge in the Water Budget of Lowland Watersheds

2010 S.C. Water Resources Conference - Science and Policy Challenges for a Sustainable Futur

Storm Event Analysis at Nested Watershed Scales: Turkey Creek, Santee Experimental Forest, South Carolina

Coastal areas are expected to see the greatest impact on water resources due to population increase and land development affecting the regional water budget by reducing evapotranspiration, groundwater recharge/discharge, and increase runoff. This project inspected forested watersheds in coastal South Carolina to understand their stream response to storm events. The objectives of this study were to (1) characterize the watershed conditions based on their land use/land cover, soil drainage class, and topography, (2) compare streamflow patterns using seasonal event hydrographs, and (3) compare results of analytical method of storm event hydrograph separation with that of the chemical method using stable water isotopes. Turkey Creek, a third-order watershed (5,240 ha), includes two first-order sub-watersheds. Physical and chemical hydrograph separation techniques and statistical methods were used for storm event analysis. Average annual rainfall for the study period was 1449 mm. The largest mean ROC, DROC, direct runoff to streamflow ratio, and peak flow rate were observed for the smallest sub-watershed (Conifer) and the lowest for the largest watershed (WS78). The largest baseflow to streamflow ratio was observed in WS78. Stable water isotope results show surface water samples isotopically distinct compared to groundwater and rainfall samples. Isotope results indicated baseflow contribution was 58-65% of streamflow in contrast to 35-41% as estimated from the hydrograph separation method. Interpretations of the results suggest that storm response was dependent on the antecedent conditions and soil type in the watershed. Scientists and land managers can use this data to predict runoff changes in areas affected by land development