WATERSHED PLANNING
Murrells Inlet 2020
June 3, 2009
Susan Libes
WHAT IS A WATERSHED?
An area of land that
drains to a single outlet.
COASTAL
WATERSHED
subwatersheds
IS MURRELLS INLET AN ESTUARY?
“The Murrells Inlet and Pawleys
Island/Litchfield systems are
classical well-mixed, meso-tidal, barbuilt estuaries typical of the northern
coastal region of South Carolina. In
terms of freshwater input, the
estuaries conform closely to the
definition of a neutral embayment.”
HOW CAN COMMUNITIES PROTECT
THEIR WATERSHEDS?
Center for Watershed Protection
WHAT IS WATERSHED MANAGEMENT?
•Iterative
•Holistic
•Geographically defined
•Integrated
•Collaborative
MISSION STATEMENT
GOALS
OBJECTIVES
ACTION ITEMS
STORMWATER TREATMENT PRACTICES
Buffers
Bioretention
Pervious Pavement
Rain Gardens
Street Edge Alternatives (SEA) Program, City of Seattle
STORMWATER PLANTER
FOR COMMERCIAL/PUBLIC
BUILDINGS
How to reduce pollution
at home or at work




Recycle or
properly dispose
of chemicals
Maintain septic
systems
Properly dispose
of pet wastes
Don’t pour
detergents & oils
from cars down
storm drains
STREAM CORRIDOR RESTORATION
TREES
Air Quality
 Sun Shading
 Wildlife Habitat
 Stormwater

Filter contaminants
 Prevent soil erosion
 Remove water

OTHER PROGRAMS
Conservation Easements
Land Trusts
WHY?

We want to:
Swim
 Boat
 Fish
 Crab/Shrimp
 Oyster
 Bird watch



We just want a healthy ecosystem
We want to be resilient in the face of storm
events and climate change
HOW DO WE MAKE THE INLET
FISHABLE/SWIMMABLE, ETC?
 Reduce
pollution
 Remediate/restore
 Develop wisely.
BUILD PARTNERSHIPS
Government Agencies
 NGOs
 Stakeholders


Recruiting
Surveys
 Need a Story
 Need incentives

STEPS IN WATERSHED PLANNING AND
IMPLEMENTATION
•Annual Shellfish Reports
•Volunteer Monitoring
•Fecal Coliform TMDL
•SC DHEC Watershed Assessment
•OCRM SAMP
•USES Project
http://www.cwp.org/Store/usrm.htm#11
SEEK SYNERGY WITH OTHER PLANS
•TMDL implementation
• Stormwater management
• Shellfish management
• Source water assessment
• Comprehensive Plan
• Streetscape
Murrells Inlet
•Saltwater, tidally-dominated
•Meandering creeks
•Tidal deltas
•Intertidal mudflats
•Intertidal oyster reefs
•High marshes
•3,108 acres
“Murrell’s Inlet is considered the most
economically important shellfish
producing area along the northern
coast of South Carolina”
http://www.epa.gov/region4/water/tmdl/southcarolina/index.htm
TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD REDUCTIONS
FIND YOUR STORY
Social Marketing
WHY WATERSHED PLANS FAIL
• Planning activities were conducted at too great a scale.
Murrells Inlet is a manageable size
• The plan was a one-time study rather than a long-term
management process.
Keep on doing action items
• Stakeholder involvement and local ownership were lacking.
Build partnerships
• The plan skirted land use/management issues in the watershed.
Get into the municipal planning arena
• The document was too long or complex.
Be short
• The recommendations were too general.
Be specific –action item list with cost estimates.
• The plan failed to identify and address conflicts.
Engage a watershed planner who can mediate
The Conway City Council and its Water Quality &
Drainage Commission, with help from Coastal
Carolina University’s Waccamaw Watershed Academy,
are striving to enhance community character
and prosperity with clean water, natural beauty, and
safe recreation
Conway’s perspective
- Protect Economic Investment
- Revitalized Riverfront/Main Street
FEW DAYS ROUND THE FOURTH
Clean Water Doesn’t
Happen by Accident
KLEAN Water
Kingston Lake
Environment Awareness
Network
http://www.coastal.edu/wwa/klean/