South Atlantic 



the estuary from previously unclassi- 

 fied waters. This addition was the 

 result of more intensive monitoring by 

 the State, as well as the emergence of 

 intensive clam culture within the 

 estuary. 



Many South Carolina estuaries had 

 changes in classified acreage. In 

 response to the growing clam culture, 

 the State increased its survey and 

 monitoring activities. As a result, 

 16,000 additional acres were classi- 

 fied as restricted in the Santee River 

 and Charleston Harbor. St. Helena 

 Sound had the largest decrease in 

 approved waters, and 28 percent of 

 the estuary's shellfish-growing waters 

 were removed entirely from the 

 Register data base as a result of over- 

 harvesting and habitat loss. 



Pollution Sources Affecting Shell- 

 fish-Growing Waters. The pollution 

 sources affecting South Atlantic 

 shellfish-growing waters reflect the 

 generally low population density 

 across the region, the growth in 

 tourism and second home develop- 

 ment, and the presence of several 

 major urban areas such as 

 Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah, 

 and Jacksonville. Table 12 shows the 

 major categories of pollution sources 

 affecting the harvest-limited waters in 

 the South Atlantic region. Data on 

 pollution sources by estuary are 

 provided in Appendix D. 



Sewage treatment plants affect 44 

 percent of the harvest-limited waters. 

 The South Atlantic region ranks third 

 in the Nation in the number of sewage 

 treatment plants. They affect 14 of 



the 17 estuaries with shellfish-growing 

 waters. As a result of intense popula- 

 tion growth, more than half of the 

 region's sewage treatment plants are 

 found in Florida's Atlantic coast 

 estuarine drainage areas. The natural 

 harvest in these estuaries has been 

 decimated, and harvest is recovering 

 only through conservation and aqua- 

 culture. For example, although the St. 

 Johns River estuary is the fourth 

 largest in the region by surface water 

 area (165,120 acres), only 4,291 

 acres are classified, and just 19 

 percent of these are approved for 

 harvest. 



Nonpoint sources of pollution had the 

 greatest effect on shellfish-growing 

 waters. These sources are the most 

 difficult to control, and the effects are 

 persistent because many of the 

 estuaries have weak circulation. 

 Septic systems and urban runoff each 

 affect 34 percent of the harvest-limited 

 waters, the second highest rates in 

 the Nation after the Gulf of Mexico. 

 Waters in 1 3 of the region's 1 7 

 estuaries containing shellfish-growing 

 waters are affected by these sources. 

 The South Atlantic region ranks first in 

 the Nation in the percent of harvest- 

 limited waters (17 percent) affected by 

 boating. These nonpoint source 

 effects reflect the impacts of growth in 

 tourism, second home development, 

 and seasonal population influx. 



The South Atlantic ranked first among 

 regions in the percentage of harvest- 

 limited waters affected by wildlife (36 

 percent) and agriculture (28 percent). 

 Shellfish officials are concerned about 

 the effects of these pollution sources 



29 



