Community-Based Stormwater Mitigation: Rescuing a Clam Fishery in Middens Creek, N.C.
Abstract
Eastern North Carolina’s expansive aquatic environment, with large lagoonal sounds
tapering into winding inland waterways, maximizes the number of residents with direct
influence on our coastal waters. Such a system creates a complex management scenario
where regulating non-point source pollution proves difficult. To examine sources
and potential remedies of fecal coliform loading, a study was initiated in our model
waterway, Middens Creek, where active shellfish harvesting is ongoing. Through a
multi-phase investigation, current legislation aimed at reducing stormwater impacts
is reviewed and pre- and post-storm fecal coliform levels characterized. It became
evident during the course of the study that non-point source runoff is the primary
way fecal coliform is conveyed into Middens Creek. Quantifying the impact of this
runoff in the subwatershed was further extended to examine the statistical link between
human development and bacteria levels within the creek and significant correlations
between the two were found. Finally, public outreach and education was initiated
to affect grassroots change among the residents living along the model waterway in
an effort to mitigate the trend anthropogenic impacts.
Type
Master's projectPermalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/485Citation
Durkee, Stephen J. (2008). Community-Based Stormwater Mitigation: Rescuing a Clam Fishery in Middens Creek, N.C.
Master's project, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/485.Collections
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