PROJECT DESCRIPTION: CZR Incorporated (CZR) developed and implemented a plan to monitor flow, salinity, wetland hydrology, water quality, vegetation, fish, and benthic macroinvertebrates in Jacks Creek, Tooley Creek, and Huddles Cut in Beaufort County, NC. The ongoing study was initiated by CZR in 2000.
Flow data from each watershed were collected to determine hydrology conditions of each watershed. Water table depths were also measured in the drainage basin to relate water table fluctuations to surface outflow. Flow modeling was used to describe the hydrology of each of the watersheds. The model was based on DRAINMOD, with modifications to route surface runoff to ditches and natural channels, and to route both surface and subsurface flows through the drainage network. Salinity and water level was monitored near the mouth of each creek and at control stations.
Fish and benthos monitoring collected data on the abundance and species composition of fish and benthos in the creeks. Trawl sampling for fish was conducted weekly during April, May and June. Each fish trawl sample was conducted using a two-seam otter trawl. The trawl was constructed with a 10.5-foot head rope, 1/4-inch bar mesh wings and body, and 1/8-inch bar mesh cod end. All fish captured were identified and counted and the first 30 of each species measured to the nearest millimeter. Water quality data are collected prior to each sampling event. Parameters measured included temperature, pH, salinity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), and Secchi depth.
Benthic monitoring has been conducted annually during the spring. Methods were based on the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, DWQ standard operating procedure for timed sweep and ponar grab methods. Five replicate ponar grabs were taken at each station. Basic hydrographic data were collected. Collected sediments are placed in one-gallon plastic bags, with a full bag constituting a replicate. Samples are sieved in the field through a 0.5 mm mesh screen. All organisms retained on the screen were preserved and returned to the laboratory for sorting, enumeration, and identification to the lowest practical taxonomic level. For each taxon, the average number of individuals per replicate and a 95 percent confidence interval were calculated. An Estuarine Biotic Index (EBI) was calculated for each sampling station based on total individuals of each taxon collected from all five replicate grabs.
An annual report includes analysis and discussion of the data collected and is submitted to the USACE, DWQ, and the North Carolina Division of Land Resources of each monitoring year.