Group IV Protection of water quality in coastal environments:
Liz Berg
Dylan Elks
Heather Beall
Sara Griffith
Roey Rosenblith
Brandt Payne
I.
Major factors influencing the quality of coastal waters and
impacts these factors have on water quality
A. Recreational effects on water quality in N.C (Heather)
1. Boating (2-cycle engines)(wave runners)
a.) using bio fuels for boating
2. Camping (trash)
3. Off road vehicles
B. Urban Pollution (Roey)
1. Human Sewage (fecal coliform)
a.) Poorly treated sewage can be low in dissolved oxygen
and high in pollutants such as fecal coliform bacteria,
nitrates, phosphorus, chemicals, and other bacteria.
2. Petroleum (gas stations)
a.)Leaking fuel storage tanks, and intentional dumping of
hazardous substances.
3. Runoff from streets- carries oil, rubber, and other
contaminants from automobiles.
4. Prescription drugs (bioaccumulation)
C. Agriculture (Dylan)
1. Animal operations (Eutrification)
a. Swine
b. Bovine
c. Poultry
2. Plant operations
a. Many types
3. Impacts on water Quality
a. Nutrients
i. Phosphorus
ii. Nitrogen
4. Fecal coliform bacteria
5. Oxygen depletion
6. Fish kills
D. Industrial Pollution (Sara)
1. Land Fills
i. Chemical Produce (Heavy Metals)
2. Thermal Pollution
II.
Programs in place or contemplated to assist in providing clean and
safe waters (Brandt)
A. National
1. Ocean Regulatory Programs
2. Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act
NOAA
3. National Sea Grant College Program, other programs
4. Environmental Protection Agency
B. STATE
1. NC coastal nonpoint program
2. Conservation Reserve Enhancement act
3. Clean Water Management Trust Fund
4. Clean Water Responsibility/Environmental Sound policy Act
5. Wetlands Restoration Program
C. LOCAL
1. Planning Department: New Hanover
2. Department of Environmental Management
3. New Hanover County Constructed Wetlands Project
III.
Agencies and Regulations (Liz)
A. Federal
1. EPA
a. Clean Water Act
2. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
a. Rivers and Harbors Act
B. State
1. NC CAMA
2. NCDENR