Grant projects concentrate on the 

 relationships between freshwater 

 drainage and the estuaries. (The 

 studies are coordinated with the state- 

 funded Broad Creek Project, which is 

 also focusing on freshwater drainage.) 



In one study, Wayne Skaggs and 

 Wendell Gilliam will examine the ef- 

 fect of land development, drainage 

 methods, precipitation rates and soil 

 properties on the rate and quality of 

 water entering the estuary. Using this 

 information, the team will develop a 

 model that can predict how different 

 drainage methods affect freshwater 

 outflow. And researchers will be able 

 to suggest which drainage methods 

 lessen outflow rates. 



In another study, Len Pietrafesa 

 will finish his work on the processes af- 

 fecting salinity changes in the estuary. 

 Salinity changes can drive juvenile fish 

 from the estuary (making them vulner- 

 able to predation) or cause their death. 



In examining the changes, 

 Pietrafesa is studying how freshwater 

 drainage and natural processes such as 

 current directions, water speed and 

 direction and temperature affect 

 salinity. His results will be plugged 

 into a model that can predict the effects 

 of sahnity changes on juvenile fish. 



In other estuarine research, John 

 Miller will examine the transportation 

 patterns of juvenile fish across Pamlico 

 Sound to estuarine nurseries. Miller 

 wants to find out if juvenile fish "ride" 

 wind-driven currents to their estuarine 

 nurseries or swim to their destination. 

 And he plans to determine the abun- 

 dance of these baby fish and their 

 ability to grow and survive. 



The success of a productive estuary 

 is dependent on the ability of the 

 juvenile fish to survive. Larry Crowder 

 will follow the interactions between 

 young fish and their predators in Rose 

 Bay. Crowder believes predation is a 

 major factor determining survival and 

 habitat choice of juvenile fish in the 

 nursery areas. 



The researchers: 



J. Wendell Gilliam, Department of 



Soil Science, North Carolina State 



University 

 R. Wayne Skaggs, Department of 



Agricultural Engineering, North 



Carolina State University 

 Len Pietrafesa, Department of 



Marine, Earth and Atmospheric 



Sciences, North Carolina State 



University 



John M. Miller, Department of 



Zoology, North Carolina State 



University 

 Larry B. Crowder, Department of 



Zoology, North Carolina State 



University 



Downstream dilemma 



Upstream municipal wastewater 

 treatment plants and industries pump 

 effluent rich in nutrients into the 

 Neuse River. Downstream the river 

 blooms. 



Upstream runoff from Durham, 

 Raleigh, Wilson, Smithfield, Kinston 

 and Goldsboro adds more nutrients to 

 the Neuse. Downstream the river 

 blooms. 



Upstream farmers regularly dose 

 their fields with inorganic fertilizers, 

 which the rain washes into the river. 

 Downstream the river blooms. 



This upstream overload of nutrients 

 such as nitrogen and phosphorus is 

 nourishing massive blooms of blue- 

 green algae downstream when condi- 

 tions are favorable. The blooms form a 

 malodorous scum that can do more 

 than just hinder recreational activities. 



Continued on next page 



A form of blue-green algae found in the surface waters of the Neuse River 



