|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
USES is a program conducted by the following organizations: |
||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||
| |
||||||||
Description of the USES ProjectLeft unmanaged, anthropogenic activities may impact the environmental health and economic vitality of coastal estuaries. Historically, the dynamic and complex nature of critical estuarine ecosystems inhibited the successful development of models that could effectively be used by coastal zone and fisheries managers. The complexity and urgency of estuarine problems now associated with coastal growth have led many research and management agencies to explore new spatial analytical techniques to provide valid and timely information to assist with effective coastal zone management. Fortunately, the continuing development of new technologies, models and analytical techniques is enabling scientists to develop predictive models of how ecosystems and components of ecosystems respond to natural and developmental pressures. In response to these concerns and the identified need for spatial models and improved analytical techniques to support sustainable coastal development, a long-term study was initiated to define, measure and model the impacts of urbanization on high-salinity coastal estuaries of the southeastern United States. The Urbanization and Southeastern Estuarine Systems (USES) project began 1 June 1990.
The primary objectives of this ongoing study are: 1.) To characterize and delineate the impact of
multiple stresses resulting from urbanization
on high-salinity 2.) To develop models which will provide a scientifically valid basis for making land-use management decisions in the coastal zone.
The research involved with the USES project has focused on several key areas during the past twelve years:
Back to Top |
|||||||||||||
| The following is a list of the
researchers involved with the USES project. To contact an individual,
click on their name. Dr. Winona Vernberg, University
of South Carolina (Project Co-Director)
|
|||||||||||||
| |
|||||||||||||
The majority of the research associated with the USES project has been conducted in two study areas in South Carolina. North Inlet, located 56 miles northeast of Charleston, South Carolina, covers about 50 square miles and consists of barrier islands, inter-tidal salt marsh,and low-lying coastal forest. The site has been the focus of studies on coastal ecology, forestry, and geology for over 20 years. The North Inlet study site is a component of the North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and is representative of an undeveloped high-salinity estuary. Murrells Inlet is the urbanized comparison study site for assessing the impacts of anthropogenic influences on small, high-salinity estuaries. Located approximately 20 miles(32 Km) north of North Inlet, Murrells Inlet is also a localized estuary with a bar-built inlet. The Murrells Inlet site comprises approximately 2,670 hectares (approximately 10 square miles) of wetlands, open water, and residential and commercial development. Like North Inlet, the Murrells Inlet estuary has no input from freshwater rivers and is therefore characterized by high salinity waters. Additional research has been conducted on Kiawah
Island, Spring Island, and Beaufort, South Carolina. |
|||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
