Winyah Bay is located near Georgetown, SC, between Myrtle Beach and Charleston. Draining an 18,000 square mile watershed, Winyah Bay is fed by the Sampit, Waccamaw, Pee Dee, Black, and Yadkin Rivers. The bay runs about 12 miles north to south, starting at the Hwy 17 bridge across the Waccamaw and Pee Dee, and ending at the Atlantic Ocean. The deepest part of the bay is a dredged channel running the length of the bay. The channel is about 30’ deep, allowing for large ships to enter Georgetown Harbor. The rest of the bay ranges from about 4’ to 25’.
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Winyah Bay is a partially mixed estuary, meaning during flood tide, a salt wedge pushes up the bay, below the less dense freshwater flowing out of the bay. Saline water can be found as far as 15 miles upstream of Georgetown during certain conditions. During ebb tide, the salt wedge recedes and freshwater dominates the bay. North Inlet offers a contrast to Winyah Bay. It is dominated by the tides, with 50% of its water replaced twice daily by the ocean. It has a small watershed, draining Debidue Island and a large marsh area. The inlet is relatively pristine, and is protected as part of the Belle W. Baruch Foundation. More that 100 species of animals are documented in North Inlet. |
North Inlet |
Georgetown Harbor is a major port in South Carolina. Two large plants, Georgetown Steel and International Paper, use the harbor for shipping. The south side of the harbor is dredged to allow the massive ships to navigate the area. Many recreational and commercial boats also use the harbor throughout the year. Georgetown Harbor is an interesting area of study because of the effects of industry. International paper discharges an effluent into the Sampit River, which feeds the harbor.
Other areas of Winyah Bay:
North Island - Island separating the south
portion of Winyah Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Home of Georgetown
lighthouse.
Mud Bay - Large shallow area on the east
portion of Winyah Bay. Has shown to have very low levels
of macro invertebrates. Connects North Inlet to Winyah Bay
through tidal creeks.
Western Channel - The western channel is
a natural channel on the west side of Winyah Bay (west of
the narrow island on the west side of the bay). It is thought
that the majority of water leaving the bay leaves through
this channel.
Georgetown
became an official port in 1732 after pleading to the crown
authorities so as to no longer use Charleston's port. Shortly
after, Georgetown flourished in crops of indigo and rice.
After the Revolutionary War indigo was no longer produced.
By the 1840's almost half the rice consumed in the U.S.
was grown around Georgetown. The plantations that produced
the rice required an enormous amount of labor. The slave
population at the time made up nearly 85% of the total population.
Shortly after the Civil War competition in other areas caused
a decline in the production of rice coupled with loss of
labor from the abolishment of slavery. When the Industrial
Revolution came in full swing it meant a new beginning for
Georgetown. It wasn't long before electric lights, a sewer
system, telephone and telegraph services were installed.
Jetties were built at the mouth of Winyah Bay to aid in
the shipment from large power-driven vessels. By 1914 Georgetown
started producing more lumber than rice. Georgetown had
the largest lumber producing plant on the east coast. By
the 1930's the depression hit hard in the area, and Georgetown
felt the full economic stress. In 1936 International Paper
built a paper mill in Georgetown along the Sampit River.
By 1942 the plant had become the largest kraft paper mill
in the world. Commercial economy was big at the time as
well and continues to this day. Other plants like Georgetown
Steel popped up in Georgetown to increase the industry in
the area.
for more information try this web site:
http://www.georgetown-sc.com/history/district.htm
This section is from a presentation given by M.A.R.E. member Todd Pumphery
What is a watershed?
A watershed is a region or area bounded peripherally by topographic contours that cause surface water to drain into a particular watercourse or body of water.
Why are watersheds important?
There are many different types of land uses, such as agriculture fields, suburban areas, and golf courses that are found within watersheds. Runoff of pesticides from agricultural and golf courses can travel over very long distances due to the large size of the watershed and the amount of water transported. Also toxins can travel over long distances and have devastating effects on the environment.
The Winyah Bay watershed
The image above shows a matrix of rivers that make up the Winyah Bay watershed. The largest rivers of this watershed are the Great and Little Pee Dee River, the Black River,the Waccamaw River, and the Yadkin River. The Winyah Bay watershed is approximately 18,000 square miles. More than 16,000 square miles of the drainage area is associated with Pee Dee-Yadkin River system which originates from the Blue Ridge Mountains area of North Carolina.
Point and Non-point Source Pollution
Point-source pollution is pollution that originates from a source that can be easily determined such as from industrial and sewage plants. Non-point source pollution is harder to identify because it may come from many different sources. Some of these sources could be:
- excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas
- oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production
- salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines
- bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet waste, and faulty septic systems
- sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding stream banks
A graph of Non-Point Source Pollution of the Pee-Dee River Basin
Fecal Coliform 
Mercury 
Toxins 
Turbidity
High Storm Runoff 
Shellfish Beds Impacted
Point Source Pollution of the Pee-Dee River Basin
Major
Industrial 
Minor Industrial
Major Domestic 
Minor Domestic
In most of these cases the number of legal permits for discharge pipes is for minor domestic point source pollution. In the case of the Great and the little Pee-Dee Rivers the number of permits for domestic point source pollution is much higher than any other point source pollution. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control regulates the number of permits.
Bacteria Related to waste
Fecal Coliform refers to a group of bacteria that is associated with the intestines of warm and cold blooded animals. Testing for this bacteria in estuaries is a good way to determine the presence of human and/or animal waste in the estuary. This bacteria is non-pathogenic (not disease causing) but can be a good indicator to the presence of other pathogenic diseases that are related to feces that are more difficult to test for.
Fecal Coliform of the Pee-Dee Watershed
Maximum
The fecal coliform levels in urban stormwater routinely exceed standards by a factor of 50 to 75. A standard is placed on the fecal coliform levels to protect the health of humans. Agricultural and urban runoff produce the highest amount of fecal coliform. Forested and pastured watersheds have lower amounts of fecal coliform.
Land Use of the Yadkin River Basin
Lynches
Black
Great Pee Dee
Little Pee Dee
Waccamw
AIWW
This section is from a presentation given by M.A.R.E. members: Melissa Ranhofer and Jennifer Morgan
The Effects of Paper Processing Waste on the Marine Environment
Paper products from industrial factories are made either mechanically or chemically. The mechanical process pounds the plant material down. The chemical process dissolves the lignin, a long carbohydrate chain of organic acids that cements wood cells together, and yet keeps the cellulose fibers intact. Some of the advantages to chemical processing is that it produces relatively long-lasting paper and removes all non-cellulose material.
Chlorine and chlorine compounds used in chemical processing generate and release organochlorine compounds and dioxins are produced. Some of the dioxins produced are 2,3,7,8- TCCD (tetrachloro-p-dibenzodioxin) and 2,3,7,8-TCCDF (tetrachlorodibenzofuran). These dioxins concentrate in the sediment and can have a long- term effect on the environment. Lye (NaOH) is used also in the chemical processing of paper and is a highly corrosive material. Lye can cause burns, vomiting , and prostration which leads to collapse. Prolonged exposure to lye dust can cause ulceration of the nasal passages. Sodium sulfide (Na2S) is a product of the chemical process and is also a corrosive material. The sodium sulfide will burn in the area of contact.
Some of the legislation concerning paper mills include the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976. This act regulates materials and wastes that are generated, treated, stored, or disposed of by industrial facilities. The Clean Water Act provisions include eliminating the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters. The act also provides an opportunity to achieve an interim goal of water quality for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife. The act also prohibits the discharge of toxic pollutants in toxic amounts. The act develops and implements waste treatment processes for adequate control of sources of pollutants and the development of technology necessary to eliminate the discharge of pollutants in navigable waters and oceans.
| Characteristics
of EP Toxicity |
|
| Contaminant concentration | Maximum Concentration (mg/l) |
| Arsenic | 5.0 |
| Barium | 100.0 |
| Cadmium | 1.0 |
| Chromium | 5.0 |
| 2,4-D | 10.0 |
| Endrin | 0.02 |
| Lead | 5.0 |
| Lindane | 0.4 |
| Mercury | 0.2 |
| Methoxychlor | 10.4 |
| Selenium | 1.0 |
| Silver | 5.0 |
| Toxaphene | 0.5 |
| 2,4,5-TP (silvex) | 1.0 |
Some of the clean up and prevention proposed are from Milton Gordon and other scientists at the University of Washington who are experimenting with the growing of poplars and other trees as possible treatments for organic contaminants. Other paper plants have changed their systems in order to reduce discharges. These changes include replacing chlorine with other bleaching agents, such as hydrogen peroxide.
For more information on watersheds and water quality try these sites: