title: A spatial assessment of baseline nutrient and water quality values in the Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin, South Carolina, USA.
abstract: The Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin (South Carolina, USA) National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) encompasses some of the least developed USA coastline. Yet, periodic sampling showed that certain regions have higher nutrient, fecal coliform, and chlorophyll a levels, often with lower dissolved oxygen, than other South Carolina estuaries. To evaluate the spatial extent of these issues, a summer (2008) baseline study was conducted. Physical water quality, total nitrogen and phosphorus, chlorophyll a, dissolved organic carbon, and suspended solids were measured from surface waters of 67 stations (30 tidal creek, 37 open water). Nutrient and chlorophyll a levels were significantly (p<0.01) and negatively correlated with the extent of open water (% land cover), and chlorophyll a and nitrogen levels were, at times, elevated relative to concentrations typical of other estuaries in the state, reinforcing previous findings. This survey also identified several creeks not previously monitored that exhibited elevated nutrients.
authors: Marine Resources Research Institute, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA.
authors: C J
authors: CJ
authors: Keppler
authors: Marine Resources Research Institute, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA.
authors: D C
authors: DC
authors: Bergquist
authors: Marine Resources Research Institute, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA.
authors: L M
authors: LM
authors: Brock
authors: Marine Resources Research Institute, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Felber
authors: Marine Resources Research Institute, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA; Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences, University of South Carolina, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA. Electronic address: dgreenfield@belle.baruch.sc.edu.
authors: D I
authors: DI
authors: Greenfield
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis*; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D013022:South Carolina; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll; D010758:Phosphorus; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
keywords: ACE Basin; Chlorophyll; Estuaries; Nitrogen; Phosphorus; South Carolina