Surface-Water Activities
|

Robert
Thorn sampling surface water.
|
|
Surface-water sampling began
in October 1995. Between October 1995 and September 1997, twelve stations
were sampled monthly for field parameters (pH, water temperature, specific
conductance, and dissolved oxygen), nutrients, major ions, organic carbon,
bacteria, and suspended sediment. Pesticides were measured quarterly.
The stations are:
02143040 Jacob Fork
at Ramsey, N.C.
02143500 Indian
Creek near Laboratory, N.C.
02145112 South
Fork Catawba River at McAdenville, N.C.
021603257 Brushy
Creek near Pelham, S.C.
021607224 Indian
Creek above Newberry, S.C.
02169000 Saluda
River near Columbia, S.C.
02169500 Congaree
River at Columbia, S.C.
02169570 Gills
Creek at Columbia, S.C.
02172300 McTier
Creek (Rd. 209) near Monetta, S.C.
02174250 Cow
Castle Creek near Bowman, S.C.
02175000 Edisto
River near Givhans, S.C.
02176517 Coosawhatchie
River near Early Branch, S.C.
|

Regulated
steamflow on Congaree River.
|
|
One additional
station, 02148000 Wateree River near Camden, S.C., was sampled
quarterly for the same parameters listed above.
Of the above stations,
Gills Creek and Cow Castle Creek were sampled weekly and the Edisto River
was sampled biweekly for field parameters, nutrients, major ions, organic
carbon, pesticides, and suspended sediment from February 1996 through
September 1996. Gills Creek, an urban indicator station, was also sampled
for volatile organic compounds.
In October 1997, sampling was
limited to Indian Creek, S.C., Gills Creek, S.C., Cow Castle Creek, S.C.,
and the Edisto River, S.C.. Sampling will continue at these four stations
through September 1998. Cow Castle Creek and the Edisto River will continue
to be sampled monthly during the low-intensity phase.
Special Studies

Robert
Kelley and
Terry
Maluk sampling
for VOCs during storm event at Gills Creek.
|
|
At each of the
stations, high-flow samples have been collected. Samples were collected
during the all parts of the hydrograph during storm events.
As part of a continuing
cooperative effort with the National Park Service, four stations are being
sampled in tributaries to or in the Congaree National Swamp Monument in
South Carolina. Stations are sampled quarterly for field parameters, nutrients,
major ions, organic carbon, pesticides, and suspended sediment. Streamflow
measurements also are made at the time of sample collection.
Sampling is being
conducted at seasonal high and low flows at two sites in the Coosawhatchie
River, S.C., in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service. Sampling is
conducted at base flows and also during storm events at both sites to
compare water quality upstream and downstream of a forested wetland. Parameters
measured include field parameters, nutrients, major ions, organic carbon,
and suspended sediment.
Gills Creek, an urban indicator
site in Columbia, S.C., has been part of a study of volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) in urban watersheds. Samples were collected before and over the
entire hydrograph of storm events to investigate the occurrence of VOCs
in urban runoff.
Pesticide metabolite sampling
has been conducted at an agricultural indicator site, Cow Castle Creek,
S.C., from April 1997 through March 1998. Samples have been collected
to study the occurrence of pesticide breakdown products in the stream.
Synoptic Studies

Plating bacteria samples.
|
|

Plates
ready for counting
after incubation.
|
|
A low-flow synoptic
study of the Gills Creek, S.C., urban watershed was conducted in 1996.
Sixteen sites were sampled in the 60 mi2 watershed, from the
headwaters of Gills Creek and its tributaries to the basic fixed site.
Samples were collected for field parameters, nutrients, major ions, organic
carbon, pesticides, bacteria, VOCs, and suspended sediment. Streamflow
was measured at each site at the time of sample collection to allow comparison
of loads along the length of Gills Creek.
A synoptic study
of the South Fork Catawba River, NC, watershed was conducted in 1997.
Twenty sites were sampled from the headwaters of the tributary streams
down to the basic fixed site near McAdenville, NC. Samples were collected
for field parameters, nutrients, major ions, organic carbon, selected
pesticides, bacteria, and suspended sediment. Streamflow also was
measured at each site at the time of sample collection.
|