Seepage wetlands occur on the Southeastern Coastal Plain at the base of slopes, generally at the ... more Seepage wetlands occur on the Southeastern Coastal Plain at the base of slopes, generally at the outer edge of a floodplain or stream corridor. Unlike riverine wetlands, however, these wetlands receive most of their water from seeps and springs that discharge shallow groundwater from adjacent upslope land. These wetlands are typically saturated or wet even during dry seasons, a further expression of the dominance of groundwater seepage. Although not widely studied, they are a prominent feature of the landscape in many of the places they occur. This poster represents a part of a larger project, the purpose of which is to begin a characterization of the site and landscape ecology of these wetlands. We selected two seeps at each of two different sites. One site is in Francis Beidler Forest (Four Holes Swamp, Dorchester County) and the other is in the Wannamaker Nature Preserve (Lyons Creek, Calhoun County). The adjacent upland at the Four Holes Swamp site is medium aged mixed hardwood with planted pine set back 50-100 m. The upland at the Lyons Creek site is a mature mixed hardwood forest. We installed shallow wells with water level recorders at each seep and a recording rain gauge was deployed nearby. The two sites vary by soil type, upland and slope topography, and land use. In addition to continuous water level and precipitation recording we collect water samples from the wells seasonally and analyze them for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen and phosphorus species. Thus far we have completed summer, autumn, and winter samples. The two sites differ in their hydrologic response to precipitation events. Nutrient concentrations also differ both seasonally and between sites. DOC concentrations are less variable. This project will continue for a least another season, with plans for ongoing work at these sites and others.
The purpose of this study was to characterize nutrient concentrations in several streams that dra... more The purpose of this study was to characterize nutrient concentrations in several streams that drain small watersheds (0.21-3.62 km2) on the South Carolina coast. Two of the watersheds are natural coastal pine forest; 10 are at various levels of development (including 5 pond outfalls). Monthly (during 1999) water samples were analyzed for total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen, nitrate-nitrite (NO3), ammonia (NH3), total phosphorus (TP), total dissolved phosphorus, and orthophosphate (OPO4). Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) generally comprised >50% of the TN with higher concentrations during the summer than during the spring and fall. DON was significantly higher in the forested streams than the urban streams and ponds, suggesting the influence of forests on organic matter loading and export. NH3 was significantly higher in forested creeks than urbanized ponds and creeks. The dominant fraction of dissolved inorganic N in the forested streams was NH3; in the urban creeks and...
A wide range of resource managers, community planners, and other stakeholders are increasingly as... more A wide range of resource managers, community planners, and other stakeholders are increasingly asking for information regarding how climate change will affect South Carolina’s freshwater and coastal resources. They are interested in using this information for decisions related to infrastructure design, water system planning, vulnerability assessments, and ecosystem management. While climate change data, projections, and related information are also becoming increasingly available, many uncertainties around future climate change and its potential impacts often hinder its application. Furthermore it is often not available in a format or at a scale that is easily translated to local- and regional resource management decisions. This article highlights decision-maker questions about climate change in the Carolinas, approaches to using global climate change information, and opportunities to bridge the gap that often exists between scientific research and applications. We find that integra...
Seepage wetlands occur on the Southeastern Coastal Plain at the base of slopes, generally at the ... more Seepage wetlands occur on the Southeastern Coastal Plain at the base of slopes, generally at the outer edge of a floodplain or stream corridor. Unlike riverine wetlands, however, these wetlands receive most of their water from seeps and springs that discharge shallow groundwater from adjacent upslope land. These wetlands are typically saturated or wet even during dry seasons, a further expression of the dominance of groundwater seepage. Although not widely studied, they are a prominent feature of the landscape in many of the places they occur. This poster represents a part of a larger project, the purpose of which is to begin a characterization of the site and landscape ecology of these wetlands. We selected two seeps at each of two different sites. One site is in Francis Beidler Forest (Four Holes Swamp, Dorchester County) and the other is in the Wannamaker Nature Preserve (Lyons Creek, Calhoun County). The adjacent upland at the Four Holes Swamp site is medium aged mixed hardwood with planted pine set back 50-100 m. The upland at the Lyons Creek site is a mature mixed hardwood forest. We installed shallow wells with water level recorders at each seep and a recording rain gauge was deployed nearby. The two sites vary by soil type, upland and slope topography, and land use. In addition to continuous water level and precipitation recording we collect water samples from the wells seasonally and analyze them for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen and phosphorus species. Thus far we have completed summer, autumn, and winter samples. The two sites differ in their hydrologic response to precipitation events. Nutrient concentrations also differ both seasonally and between sites. DOC concentrations are less variable. This project will continue for a least another season, with plans for ongoing work at these sites and others.
The purpose of this study was to characterize nutrient concentrations in several streams that dra... more The purpose of this study was to characterize nutrient concentrations in several streams that drain small watersheds (0.21-3.62 km2) on the South Carolina coast. Two of the watersheds are natural coastal pine forest; 10 are at various levels of development (including 5 pond outfalls). Monthly (during 1999) water samples were analyzed for total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen, nitrate-nitrite (NO3), ammonia (NH3), total phosphorus (TP), total dissolved phosphorus, and orthophosphate (OPO4). Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) generally comprised >50% of the TN with higher concentrations during the summer than during the spring and fall. DON was significantly higher in the forested streams than the urban streams and ponds, suggesting the influence of forests on organic matter loading and export. NH3 was significantly higher in forested creeks than urbanized ponds and creeks. The dominant fraction of dissolved inorganic N in the forested streams was NH3; in the urban creeks and...
A wide range of resource managers, community planners, and other stakeholders are increasingly as... more A wide range of resource managers, community planners, and other stakeholders are increasingly asking for information regarding how climate change will affect South Carolina’s freshwater and coastal resources. They are interested in using this information for decisions related to infrastructure design, water system planning, vulnerability assessments, and ecosystem management. While climate change data, projections, and related information are also becoming increasingly available, many uncertainties around future climate change and its potential impacts often hinder its application. Furthermore it is often not available in a format or at a scale that is easily translated to local- and regional resource management decisions. This article highlights decision-maker questions about climate change in the Carolinas, approaches to using global climate change information, and opportunities to bridge the gap that often exists between scientific research and applications. We find that integra...
Uploads
Papers by Dan Tufford