Charleston Harbor Waters Rich In Fecal Coliform, Microplastics, Trash; Money For Cleanup? Please!
Last edited Mon Apr 20, 2015, 10:39 AM - Edit history (1)
EDIT
An earlier study by the College of Charleston found startling amounts of microplastics in oysters. Ongoing studies at the college are finding alarming quantities of microfibers and microplastics in the tiny crustaceans that make up the base of the marine food chain, and recently in eagle feces — higher up the chain. The only overall plan in place to manage any of the pollution is the federal mandate to limit the discharge of pollutants that dissolve the oxygen needed for healthy waters, that led to the state reports to the EPA.
The most recent report, for 2014, is not yet released and now under federal review. According to an analysis of the draft report by Charleston Waterkeeper, for some 85 sites where water was found to be impaired in waterways feeding Charleston Harbor, 39 didn’t meet the standard for fecal bacteria. Other problems included organism-killing dissolved oxygen, toxic mercury and ammonia nitrate and metals. On top of that are the unknowns, the load of stuff such as the retardants that are known health concerns but not tested for.
EDIT
Money is getting harder to find for even the conventional pollutant testing. The closest thing to a measure of overall water quality is the S.C. Department of Natural Resources’ biennial assessment of estuarine and coastal health. The program ran into funding cutbacks and staff loss; the last one published was for 2009-2010, although a new one is in the works, expected to be published this fall.
That 2009-2010 report noted a slight improvement “bump” in overall coastal water quality. But it noted the only poor habitat in the state was in an industrial stretch of the Cooper River at Flagg Creek, across from the Naval Weapons Station in Hanahan. Meanwhile, in Charleston Harbor, two Ashley River sites and Shem Creek were noted as fair. But sampling frequency has been cut back, and only three to five sites per year are tested in Charleston Harbor, according to Denise Sanger, DNR environmental scientist. Between 2009 and 2011, DHEC’s funding was cut across the board and water quality programs were affected, said spokesman Jim Beasley. DHEC’s strategy for 2015 in the basin calls for sampling 10 sites six times per year and a random site once per month, while leaving 15 inactive sites, he said.
EDIT
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150419/PC16/150419369/1268/fishable-swimmable-charleston-waters-in-trouble&source=RSS
= new reply since forum marked as read
... nah, too easy a target ...
