Citation:

Chestnut, D., J. Flotemersch, AND E. Smith. Collaborative Research on South Carolina Blackwater Streams. Science and Management Advancements: Forested Wetlands of the Upper Estuary, Charleston, SC, March 05 - 07, 2024.

Impact/Purpose:

The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of ongoing research on blackwater rivers and streams in South Carolina to a broad audience of scientists from across the country. The presentation will focus on collaborative research efforts in South Carolina but also provide background on EPA's larger national-scale efforts.

Description:

The Southeastern coastal and Gulf states have long recognized that low gradient streams and wetland drainages have very different characteristics from typical upland streams. These systems are usually referred to as black or brown waters because of their very clear, tea-colored waters. They are often characterized by dissolved oxygen and pH¿ranges outside of State standards¿with very low turbidity and¿noticeable differences in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, color, and variations in the aquatic biota when compared to other waters.¿At the request of state agencies, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency¿(USEPA) has initiated efforts to develop indicators to better identify and classify these blackwater systems. Blackwaters exist in a continuum and multiple categories likely exist. USEPA’s ultimate goal is to develop methods that can be implemented on a regional and national scale.  Dr. Joe Flotemersch, from EPAs Office of Research and Development, is working on the blackwater research effort from a national perspective. He and others have identified South Carolina as a good candidate for a collaborative research project on blackwaters and are actively working with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) to pilot development¿of¿approaches¿for identification,¿condition assessment, and protection of blackwater rivers and streams.¿For South Carolina, collaborative efforts could lead to creation of one or more new South Carolina State Classifications in regulations that recognize the uniqueness of these systems. Collaborative research efforts were initiated in March 2023 when Dr. Flotemersch traveled to South Carolina where he and SCDHEC staff visited and collected water quality data at numerous blackwater sites. With support from TetraTech, Inc., current efforts also include acquisition and exploration of existing water quality, biotic, and physical habitat datasets from in South Carolina. This includes data from SCDHEC, SCDNR, University of South Carolina, Clemson University, and USGS. The goal of this data exploration is to understand range of natural conditions and identify knowledge gaps where they exist. 

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