Project abstracts for the period 1987-1989

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

COASTAL ZONE

INFORMATION CENTER

PROJECT ABSTRACTS
FOR THE PERIOD 1987--1989

ALBEMARLE -.PAMLICO ESTUARINE STUDY

-..-..-.Project No, 88-08:_. October 1988,..,

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Funding Provided By
Norlh Carolina Department of Natural Environmental Protection Agency
ReSOUrces and Community Development National Estuary Program

PROJECT ABSTRACTS

Forthe Period 1987 1989

Edited By

Robert E. Holman
APES Project Director

Project No. 88-08

October, 1988

Table of Contents

RESEARCH TITLE RESEARCHER INSTITIr-TION PAGE

CR!7111'@', AREA

Analysis of Pamlico Sound & Albemarle Sound Nursery Elizabeth Noble DKI/NRCD 2
Area Data

Environmental Determination cf Oyster Success in the John Sutherland Duke Karine Lab 3
Pamlico Sound Sonja Ortega

Ecological Functions & Values of Fringe Swamps Kark Brinson CCU 4

Distribution of & ManagEient Potential for Subsersed Graham Davis ICU
Aquatic Vegetaticn in APES System

ObStr,.d@':ons to Ana-omcu- F'st @@gra@@,n Ries Collier F&W Service

Aerial Survey Slbt.E-@Ed A':1;z,-: 'Vlegetatior Between Gordon Thayer NOAA
Cape Lockout,and. Back Eay & NCrthErn Currituck Sound Randolph Ferguson

-,an L,: Criti,-al "'buck Roe Parks/NRCD t
Natural Areas, WEt'atA E@ssyste2s & Endangered

Miltigation for t@e LcsseE :f t'me Nc-th Car,:Iina Bay ScallopsCharles Peterson UNC/1XS
tc t,E '119874@ Red @-idE

:-.*,a YanagEIE-' Karen SiderA-I'as LRIS/NRC:

I S HE? I

--op,ri d 'Paul Pha'en DRI NR C-@
StL of the 1-a*@'; 'Requ:-ez;n:t :'-r

Evaluation of Trawl Excluder Devi.:ec in the Pamlico Sound Nike Street DKF/NRCD 16
S'arlm; ilshEry Kenneth Pearce

Va'ue of Recrea@viotal Fishing on the Albemarle and Kerry Smith NCSU 17
PaMllie"D EStUailES

Abundance Viability Striped Bass Eggs Spawned in the Roger Rulifson ECU 18
RoanokE River;e;

7o,od & Feeding o! La-val Fishes iln the Lower Poanoke Rive: Roger Rulifson ICU .9
& wis*irir' Alt;E,@ar,E S

*,e Roanoke Roger-RuMson ICU
wa:er as a ClscharcE fro-
R P, EE T 'J I T 1 n Z V r Y E : G @; I e r a t 1r
1.

P*.@--4ancE & cf St-ped Bass Egg- RAger Pu,!@ ;snn

RESEARCH TITLE RESEARCHER IXS7ITU7ION PAGE

WATEP QUALITY

Hyde County Soil Survey Carroll. Pearce Soil/Water/NRCD 4

Potential for Eut:optication & Nuisance Algal Blooms Hans Fierl UNC/IHS 24
in the Albezarle-Pailico Estuary

Reduction of Estuarine Nutrient Loadings: X & P.Resoval Edward Kuenzler UNC 25
in Coastal Swamps

Scoping Study of Distribution, Cosposition & Dynamics Jobn Wells UNC/IKS 26
of Walter Column & Bottom Sedisents-A!P

Compilation & Analysis of Existing Hydrologic Water 'Douglas Harned/ USGS 27
Quality Data in APU Jerad Bales

Evaluation nf Off-SitE Chan-s 'n Hvdrology Water Jerad Bales US@S 28
I I t Y R e s u In i E M' I n h i A i P

DetEriiiation of. Flows Flow Patterns In the Paalico Jerad Eales USGS

Heavy Metal Organ@:-R,lch Mudd Pcl,1,jtan*.s Stanley Riggs ECU 311,

Develo,,nen@ & Ad2:n11strat1c.-. r',f a Series of 7echnllcal James Stewart WRRI/UN"
WorkshopS @ModEllzg, Rem@'-.S'Ensing Fish Disease)

c. D" the Red Tide
O:e-nt.a. - T,,@nl-TErz D m .. . . Mary Tyle: Versar. InC,
DinoflagEllar.O P"Ivchod@-,-:`,; ItriLF"Iss in. NO. Coastal. Watcrs

b, Er. E : I E - , a,.r c.,! r n, Jy Leonard rietrafesa X C S 1U

,;@E71 @@SEESE "--ItE Crah-;. CalllnE@t@s sap'-dus froz Ed loga NCSU
L
ESt.E-17 David Ergs*,. NRYS

N C S'.7
f f e f W a t e r X a ng. tz; lal"d Uss Practices or, R. W. Skaggs
Wa@E., In 'n;- A1.1 Reg,.:,,@

'rUB7.7!' PARTTCIPATIOF

Estuarine Management Vorkshops/Guidebook Jim Kennedy Coastal Federation 37

Albem Prest Tc-,r ?odd Miller Coastal Federation 38

'itizens@ Xonft@,:jng NetW@rk
David KcNaught PTRF 39

State of the Fs*uarOedla Pieces Melva Okun UNC/TES V

l-'ideo"SlidE Show ECU 41
Gary Slitt

Iss:.les Maurice Powe:s/ Elizabeth City 42
John rarson State University

the St:Jped EasE Neal. conoley Aqua:@um/DC@. 43

Tstuarir.E [email protected]
David M"Naught PTRF 44
iv

RESEARCH TITLE RESEARCHER INSTITUTION JAU

Community Educational OutrEach David McNaught PTRF 45

Educational Calendar: 1990 Paul Nurnberg P?RF 4@

.Teacher Environmental Education Program John Carson ICSU 47

The State of the EstLary: TV Puhlic Service Lib Willard Willard Productions 0
Announcement Campaign

Citizen Konitoring: AI'P David KcNaught PTRY 49

HUMN ENVIRONYIN7

Characteri:ation of BasEllne Demographic Trends in Paul Tschetter ECU 51
PfTlanent & 7,EZP:TE-Y Pq:lat-M.@ ir. APES

NC Estia.%-.s: A L'-@lnt Sudy fo" Kanagin: Multiple waltEr Clark UNC Sea Grant 5-,
U, s -E -i r. t h t S t a t 7 W E

Bva:uation EnVironjEntai Ma@aqe3a:@ 'a RESOUreli Rob Nichols RrI 5-,
Pror.ecticn Pro,,:a:c @@n j@@'P

PROJECT ABSTRACTS FOR THE PERIOD 1987-1989

This report is a compilation of 45 project abstracts covering
the period from 1987 to 1989. The period-includes funded projects
during fiscal year 1987-1988 and 1988-1989. Abstracts are
organized according to the six major categories of information
required to facilitate effective management of the program. These
categories include resource critical areas, information
management, fisheries, water quality, public participation and
human environment.

Resource critical area category includes projects designed to
identify specific areas where conflicts between affecting and
affected uses Are most significant. Projects designed to reduce
those conflicts by effective management of these critical areas
are also included. Information management efforts will be to
provide users with access to data that will aid in addressing the
issues associated with each category. The ability to effectively
manage the data will be critical to the program's success.
Fisheries category consists of projects intended to relate major
changes in fisheries, health and productivity to human activities.
The fisheries processes are isolated from other estuarine
relationships because of two specific fishing related phenomena of
declining landings and fish diseases which require special
attention. Water quality category includes projects designed to
examine the causal relationships between human activities,
significant instream modifications and the ramifications of
changes for e stuar ine -dependent human activities. This category
includes management -oriented investigations of major water quality
processes and conflicts. Public participation is being addressed
by an active public participation/public awareness program.
Participation is intended to facilitate communication between the
public and program administration; to marshal support from local
governments and regional institutions; and to allow dissemination
of information gathered through this study. The success of this
first phase of the program (develop a comprehensive conservation
management plan) will determine whether the second phase
(implementation of the conservation management plan) will become a
reality. The final category of human environment involves
projects which examine the trends and patterns in the intensity of
human uses and the institutional climate where management plans
must operate.

These six categories of information gathering and
dissemination must be pursued for effective management to take
place. There must be an improved understanding of causal
connections between human activities and changes in the estuaries
for proper management pressure to be exerted on critical
relationships, in order to reduce conflicts between competing
uses.

Critical Are a*

ANALYSIS OF PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE SOUND NURSERY AREA DATA

A 8 S T R A C T

Elizabeth Noble

North Carolina Department of Natural Resources
and Community Development

NC Division of Marine Fisheries
Morehead City, NC 28557

Estuarine nursery areas are habitats in which, for reasons such as food,
cover, bottom type, salinity, temperature, and other factors,- young finfish
and crustaceans spend the major portion of their initial growing season.
These shallow, protected, usually vegetated or muddy, detritus-filled creeks
and bays are present along the entire periphery of Pamlico and Albemarle
sounds. The spot, croaker, flounder, weakfish, menhaden, shrimp, anadromous
fish and other species that depend on these waters fortheir survival
contribute more than 90% of North Carolina's commercial fisheries landings
each year and a great majority of the recreational catch, as well.

To protect'the integrity and resources of these nursery ar eas, present
state regulations prohibit the use of most bottom-disturbing fishing gears and
severely restrict or prohibit excavation and filling activities for 81,954
acres officially designated as Primary Nursery Areas. Thousands of additional
acres of estuarine nurseries are not yet classified nor are they adequately
protected. These areas include anadromous fish spawning and nursery areas,
nursery areas in Inland Waters, areas with submerged aquatic vegetation, and
shellfish beds.

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has conducted
estuarine trawl surveys and juvenile assessment monitoring since 1970. A
comprehensive analysis of these data will. facilitate the development of
critical habitat criteria to establish and protect fragile estuarine'areas
which support juvenile populations of economically important seafood species.

Documentation and compilation of available data has been completed.
Coordination meetings with DMF, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission,
Division o -f Environmental Management, and North Carolina State University
biologists have been held. Data analysis is ongoing. Critical habitat
criteria to be developed by June 1989.

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION OF OYSTER SUCCESS
IN THE PAMLICO BOUND

Sonia Ortega and John P. Sutherland
Duke University marine Laboratory
Beaufort, NC 28516

The oyster industry in North Carolina is based on the
success of populations of the american oyster Crassostrea
virginica. Wild populations were an important source of high-
quality oysters in the last century. However, over-harvesting of
these populations and a lack of an effective management program
lead to a precipitous decline in harvest during the first half of
this Century even as the dollar value of the Catch increased. A
program of shell (cultch) planting was initiated by the Division
of commercial fisheries in the late 1940's in order to provide
substrata (empty shells or oysters and scallops) for larval
settlement and to increase the size of.oyster populations.

The success of a particular planting will vary due to
factors affecting the success of oyster recruitment, as well as
factors affecting the growth and survival of juvenile oysters.
Accordingly, we are studying how the environment (location,
depth, and salinity) affect the recruitment, growth, and survival
of oysters.

In May 1988 we selected 12 study sites on major oyster areas
in Pamlico sound, 6 at high and low salinity sites, respectively.
At each site mats were placed in shallow (3 feet) and deep (8
feet) water. Plastic mats with clean oyster shells attached to
them were deployed at each location. At 3 week intervals the
mats were retrieved and all settled spat counted and measured.
salinity, temperature, and sedimentation rate were also

Preliminary results indicate that spat settled earlier at
sites were salinity was highest. Recruitment was observed
beginning in June at these sites, while recruitment at the low,
salinity sites was delayed until September. Recruitment was very
uneven in time; asynchronous peaks in spat abundance were
observed at the various sites throughout the summer. Recruitment
was also higher in the deeper areas at each site. Most spat were
found on the bottom surface of the shells used
substrate.

Our studies will contribute not only to the knowledge of
basic oyster ecology but also should lead to a more efficient use
of sites and an eventual increase in production.

DESCRIPTION AND ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF FRINGE SWAMPS
IN ALBEMARLE SOUND

Mark M. Brinson
East Carolina University

The forested wetlands that border Albemarle Sound and its
tributaries are largely undescribed and their ecological importance
is not well known. The purpose of this study was to a58eS5 the
locations, quality, and species composition of wetland forests in a
zone that is influenced by water level fluctuations in the 5ound.
The zone appears to be up to 200 meters wide. Surveys showed changes
in tree species from 5horeline to the swamp interior. The.fore5t
actually begins in the water beyond the shoreline where cypress trees
were stranded as a result of erosion and differential loss of other
species. Moving into the forest, a slightly elevated storm levee is-
first encountered before the sequence eventually grade5 back into the
lower-lying swamps of black gum and red maple. Even further inland
where the hydrologic influence of the sound is diminished, vegetation
may assume a shrubby appearance. Although there are wide variation5
in the details of this pattern among geographic locations, this
zonation seemsto hold for many places around the sound.

Information about these wetlands is important from seve-ral
perspectives. First, they represent a resource of unquantified
abundance whose shoreline position makes them potentially important
habitat for fish and wildlife. Second, erosion of these shorelines
raises questions about whether wetlands of the region are diminishing
or maintaining a constant area. For the latter condition, landward
migration of wetland must occur to compensate for losses by erosion.
The ecological and socioeconomic consequences of landward migration
have not been addressed in North Carolina. Third, 5ea level rise i5
the driving force that maintains the presence of wetlands in the
region and sedimentation is necessary to prevent wetlands from
drowning. It is not known what kinds of disturbances in this zone
might pose a threat to sediment accumulation and thus be
unacceptable,

Graham J. Davis

Around 1967 the Currotuck Sound and adjoining waters were infested with

Eurasian watermfoil from the Chesapeake Bay. This caused many serious

problems in the area. In 1978, there was 'a drastic decrease in milfoil in the

area and it has caused few problems since. We attributed this primarily to

unusual weather conditions in the spring 1978. Heavy rains resulted in high

runoff and turbid water which reduced light penetration and decreased

photosynthesis. This was also a period of low water temperatures and high winds.

In 1988 the frequency of all but one species found in 1978 was much lower

than for 1978 and appeared to be lower than for 1987. The cause of this

rduction in plan occurrence at the study stations is not known,

Plant biomass (plant material) decreased dramatically in the Pamlico River

around 1978-1980. Only one seagrass was found in the Pamlico River in 1985

with a total biomass only around 1% of that found in a 1975 survey. We attribute

the decrease in species and biomass in the Pamlico River to the condition%

prevailing in 1978.

in the summer of 1987 traces of wild celery, which comprised over 85% of

the biomass in 1975, were found in the middle reach of the river. In 1988 wild

celery was found in scattered clumps ranging from a few plants to several

square meters, Smaller amounts were found across the river at Camp Leach.

Traces of other species were found in 1988, one of which was last seen in 1973.

We do not know what led to the reappearance of these plants. We do know from

other studies that biomass of seagrases varies widely on both the short term

and the long term.

Attempts to transplant wild celery and other species into the Pamlico

River were unsuccessful in 1987. Wild celery was successfully transplanted

into the River in 1988. Growth was best in an area where there was heavy

natural restablishment of tne Plant.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
The 1987 rseaRch was supported by a grant from Texagulf Chemicals.

-Obstructions to Anadromous Fish Migration

Abstract

Anadromous fish stocks (striped bass, hickory shad, American shad,
alewife, blueback herring) are in a state of decline in the
Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Study area as well as throughout much of
their historic range in the United States. The reasons for this
decl ine may be complex, but a primary and probably the most
long-standing cause is the physical blockage of upstream movement of
prespawning adults by-man-made dams, constrictions associated with
road crossings and natural obstructions such as beaver dams or log
jams . The objectives of the study are to determine of the historic
extent of anadromous fish excursion in the study area, to determine
areas which are presently being utilized as anadromous fish habitat,
and to identify barriers to the upstream and downstream migration of
anadromous fish. The methods used to accomplish these objectives
include interviews with recognized experts, review of the literature,
aerial surveys and ground surveys.

Preliminary results of the inquires and surveys show that 78 percent
of the obstructions to migrating fish are caused by man-made dams, 12
percent by road crossings and 10 percent by natural obstructions. In
considering the possibility of restoration of anadromous fish and the
role of obstructions in that effort, the percentages listed above
suggest thaz most empnasis should be placed on ways to move fish past
man-made dams . We believe this is true for the large stream-using
fisn such as striped bass, hickory shad and American shad. However,
ttie smaller stream-using fish, including alewife and blueback herring,
may be more affected in the future by changing trends in road crossing
construction. Both old bridge replacements and new crossings are
being accomplisned witn culverts rather than bridges, and in many
ca ses, this results in upstream blockage. So, not only should we look
to restoration of habitat, but we also should be vigilant to avoid
furtner losses of spawniiig habitat.

The products of the investigation are maps depicting historic and
present anadromous fish utilization of Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine
Study streams and impediments to or blockage of fish movements. A
narrative describing in detail the types and locations of obstructions
also will be included. This information wil.1 be be particularly
useful to management and regulatory review agencies as well as to the
development community because by identifying areas of concern, actions
which might furtner degrade the fishery can be avoided and procedures
for restoration and/or mitigation of fish passage may be designed.

Prepared by:
Ries Collier
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
U. S. Fisli and Wildlife Service

SEAGRASSES IN THE ALBEMARLE PAMLICO ESTUARINE SYSTEM

Randolph L. Ferguson
Jose A. Rivera
and
Lisa Wood

National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA
Beaufort Laboratory'
Beaufort, NC 28516

Marine species of submerged aquatic vascular plants (SAV), form underwater
nurseries, seagrass meadows, for.estuarine-dependent commercially and
recreationally harvestable fish and shellfish. In North Carolina about 90% of
commercial landings are composed of estuarine-dependent species. Overall, the
most productive @abitats for marine fish and shellfish 'in the
Albemarle/Pamli.co estuarine system (APES) study area are the shallow saline
waters on the eastern periphery of-Pamlico Sound and all of Core Sound. These
productive shallow bottoms are inhabited by seagrasses: the temperate species,
eelgrass (Zost_*era marina), the sub-tropical species, shoalgrass (Halodule
wrightii), and the broadly distributed widgeon grass (Ruppia mari-ti-m-a-T.-The co-
occurrence of these three seagrasses is unique to North Carollha and provides
critical fishery habitat, food and protective cover, throughout most of the
year in waters as deep as 6 ft (MLW). We estimate a total area of marine SAV
of approximately 200,000 acres for all of North Carolina, including Bogue and
Back Sounds. Of this total, 14% is in Core Sound and 80% is along the eastern
periphery of Pamlico Sound.

Under funding from APES we conducted an aerial survey (Dec. 1987) of Core
Sound and eastern Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds and photographed (April 1988)
Core'Sound ano eastern Pamlico Sound (both color and infrared at scales of
1:24,000 and 1:50,000). We collected seagrass samples (Oct. 1987 and March
1988) in Core, eastern Pamlico, Croatan,.Roanoke, eastern Albemarle and
Currituck Sounds to provide ground level verification of our photographic
interpretation of SAV. As a demonstration product, we delineated SAV in 1985
photography of southern Core Sound and produced charts of seagrass habitat in
Core Sound from Cape Lookout to Drum Inlet. These charts are based on USGS
quadrangles and include navigational aids from NOAA nautical charts.

The charts and photographs we are generating form a baseline of location
and abundance of this critical fishery habitat for temporal and spatial trend
analysis, environmental impact evaluation and research on functional studies
of the relationship between habitat and fisheries proauctivity. They already
have provided valuable information to habitat managers in their review of
dredge and fill related permit applications and helped achieve the nomination
of Core Sounj ano western Bogue Sound for designation as outstanding resource
waters.

Project Abstract

REGIONAL INVENTORY AND PROTECTION PLAN FOR CRITICAL NATURAL AREAS,
WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITATS OF THE
ALBEMARLE-PAMLICO ESTUARINE REGION
PHASE ONE

The Natural Heritage Program, a unit of the NC DNRCD Division of Parks
and Recreation, has been awarded an APES grant for $59,500 to conduct a
reconnaissance inventory to identify, describe, map, prioritize, and
make protection recommendations for special natural areas, exceptional
wetland ecosystems, and endangered and rare species habitats in ten
counties adjacent to the Albemarle Sound. The counties to be surveyed
in this phase of the project are Currituck, Pasquotank, Camden,
Perquimans, Chowan, Gates, Hertford, Bertie, Martin, and Washington
counties. No comprehensive surveys and mapping of primary natural areas
have been previously accomplished for eight of those ten counties; the
project will.update natural areas information for Gates and Washington
counties which were incompletely surveyed by the Natural Heritage
Program in 1981-1982.

The N.C. Nature Preserves Act delegates responsibilities to the Natural
Heritage Program for mainta'Lning the statewide inventory,of important
natural areas and rare species habitats. However, state funding levels
have been insufficient to enable the program to undertake systematic
resource inventories and protection plans on regional bases, except for
scattered counties in other parts of the state. The APES grant will
enable the program to assemble information crucial to determine
ecological resource protection priorities for the Albemarle region.

Experienced Natural Heritage staff scientists will supervise and direct
the project. The Natural Heritage Program will hire or contract one
research biologist as principal investigator for the project and employ
other biologists as survey assistants. Their assignments will*be to
consult agencies and knowledgeable individuals for existing resource
information, through a screening and preliminary review process to
select potentially significant natural areas, conduct detailed site
surveys, compile resource inventory reports and maps for all important
natural areas and rare species habitats using report formats already
developed by the Natural Heritage Program, make protection
recommendations for each priority site, and prepare a summary evaluation
report for the project. Boundaries of important natural areas will be
mapped for the Land Resources Information Service. Data from the
project will be recorded in the Natural Heritage Program's central
inventory management system, which is used by many other agencies for
environmental impact assessment, land use planning, resource management
decisions, and conservation planning.

The Natural Heritage Program proposes to conduct additional inventories
for the counties of the Pamlico Sound region and inner counties of the
study region and to implement natural areas protection plans and
identify and contact landowners as future phases of the APES project.

APES Project Abstract 1988-90 Project by Charles @L Peterson of -UNC Institute
of Marine Sciences
"Mitigation for the losses of North Carolina bay scallops to the 1987-88 red
tide outbreaMl

The 1987-1988 outbreak of red-tide in coastal North Carolina closed

shellfishing from the Cape Fear River to Avon for up to 4 months and created a

major economic hardship for eastern North Carolina. The red tide prevented

normal harvest of oysters, hard clans, 'and bay scallops, but it also caused

direct mortality of bay scallops. Over 50% of adult scallops died, but by far

the greatest impact fell upon the new recruits, with numbers reduced to about 2%

of normal years averaged over all of Bogue and Back Sounds. Only in central

Core Sound and possibly in Pamlico Sound scallop grounds were recruit

densities near normal.

This new project will, determine whether there is a need to replenish bay

scallops in historically important areas where they have been wiped out by the

red tide. These beds include the commercially most important bay scallop beds

in North Carolina, contributing up to 80% of the usual commercial catch. We

will test the biologic and economic feasibility of collecting newly settling

bay scallops on spat collectors temporarily anchored in surviving bay scallop

beds in Core and Pamlico Sounds. We will then measure the survival of these

seed scallo ps when reintroduced into depleted areas, comparing different seed

scallop sizes, dates of reintroduction, and geographic locations, to assess the

bioeconomic fea ibility of stocking bay scallops in depleted areas. This study

will also map all existing bay scallop beds in North Carolina and determine how

much they vary from year to year

Data
Management

ABSTRACT
ALBEMARLE PAMLICO ESTUARINE STUDY
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

The goal of the data management programoof the Albemarle Pamlico
Estuarine-Study is to provide management support for the objectives of
the overall Study. In this regard, the program will furnish natural
resource managers and researchers with information to directly aid in
addressing the issues of the region.

OBJECTIVES

The'objectives of the,Aibemarle Pamlico Estuarine Study data management
program are:

1. to catalog and assess the literature and data about the
region.

2. to establish institutional and electronic mechanisms for
accessing, integrating, and analyzing pertinent automated
data.

3. to provide resources for automating data developed by the
Study or required by the Study.

4. to develop data reporting and tracking systems that regularly
summarize theconditions of the estuarine area.

THE DATABASES

The data management program utilizes existing databases to the maximum
extent possible. A specialized database for the Study is also being
developed. Software and procedures for accessing datasets residing on
host computers other than the APES primary system are being.developed so
that users needing to combine detailed data from different computer
systems may do so.

The database will have three basic components: a catalog of literature
and data, colurn.-formatted data, and geographic data. The literature
and data catalog will function as an index to all of the known
literature and data about the Albemarle Pamlico. Cross references
between research reports and data generated by the-research will be
provided.,

The APES database will contain data in tabular or columnar form from
existing large datasets. Specifically the datasets include STORET,
EPA's hazard waste database, the State's Permit Compliance System, U. S.
Geological Survey's WATSTOR, and the N. C. Division of Marine Fisheries'
database. The determination of data elements from these datasets to be
incorporated in the APES database is be a first year activity. -Other
tabular data identified in the first year scoping studies may be
included in the database also.

Almost without exception, the tabular data described above can be
considered geographic data in that each data element is associated with
a location on the surface of the earth, such as a discharge location or
sampling site. Most data also contain coordinate locations (e.g.
latitude and longitude) for each site that can serve as the basis for
.geographic datasets. Therefore one of the first geographic data layers
to be entered into the system will be the station locations from those
datasets.

Digitized base map data for the region will be stored in the system.
The official base for the Albemarle Pamlico Study will be the USGS 7.5
minute topographic quadrangle maps. Additionally, the geographic data
include general and detailed soil surveys,.land use and land cover
information, watershed boundaries (drainage basins), and geographic data
about the marine fisheries of the state. The fisheries data includes
primary and-secondary nursery areas; anadromous fish spawning and
nursery areas; shellfish areas; biological monitoring sites; submerged
aquatic vegetation; etc. Census boundary map data and associated
population, housing, income and employment data will be incorporated in
the APES database.

THE COMPUTER SYSTEM

A computer system for managing data has been designed to serve the needs
of the Albemarle Pamlico Estuarine Study.

In designing a system for the study, a numberof design objectives were
identified.

1. A geographic information system must be an integral part of
the data system for the Study. The capability for compiling,
storing, displaying, and analyzing geographic information is a
requirement.

2. The system must minimize duplication of hardware, software,
and data. Duplication will add unnecessary costs to the
project, and can pose potential data integrity and consistency
problems.

The system must support effective interfaces with existing
computer systems.

4. The system must provide local and remote access to users.
Managers and,researchers from many different government
agencies and universities, both within and outside the project
area, must be able to use the data management system.

5. Flexibility is a system requirement. Because the
identification of data needs will be an on-going activity of
the Albemarle Pamlico Estuarine Study, the-system must be
flexible enough to manage both new and existing data, to
permit ad hoc queries, and to facilitate database design
adaptations. The system must also be flexible enough to
permit and accommodate easy use by managers, technicians, and
scientists.

6. The system must be developed in a cost effective manner.

7. The active utility of the system must extend beyond the life
of the Albemarle Pamlico Estuarine Study. The system must be
potentially self supporting at the conclusion of this Study.

The system for the Albemarle Pamlico Study consists of a primary
computer systern which will be connected both to existing systems and to
remote users. The systems will be used to maintain the APES database
and for general data management, geographic data analysis, statistical
analysis, and literature and data cataloging.

The primary system utilized for the Study is the system operated by the
Land Resources Information Service (LRIS) in the N. C. Department of
Natural Resources and Community Development. Connections are being
developed with EPA's National Computer Center (NCC), and the State's
mainframe at State Information Processing Services (SIPS). If required,
connections to the Triangle Universities Computation Center (TUCC) and
the USGS computer systems will also be developed.

A custom "front-end" software package is being designed and developed.
The front-end system will provide a management oriented interface to the
data and will pre-process and integrate disparate data from existing
databases. The software will also include programs for producing
regular reports from the databases.

Users with authorized accounts may.access the APES database and the
primary system in several ways. Terminal access will be supported for
-users desiring to dial-in and query the database. Users may also access
the system through the use of PC-based workstations where subsets of the
database are downloaded to the user's system., Users may also be
provided with information from the system through projects with LRIS in
which the LRIS staff produces a final product from the database.

Fisheries

SCOPING STUDY OF DATA REQUIREMENTS FOR FISHERIES STOCK ASSESSMENT
IN NORTH CAROLINA

A B S T R A C T

Paul S. Phalen

North Carolina Department of Natural Resources
and Community Development

Division of Marine Fisheries
Morehead City, NC 28557

Stock asessments are very important to the management of North Carolina's
marine fisheries. The purpose of assessment is to determine the past and
current status of a stock and provide insight into the effects that changes in
management practices or the fishery will have on the future stock condition.
To conduct stock assessments, biologists need various kinds of biological and
statistical data. Currently the Division of Marine Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service, and other organizations collect these types of data ' This
proje@ct is to identify needed data types, evaluate the available data, and
recommend needed adjustments in existing data collection activities. The
recommendations will be based on the goals and objectives of the Division of
Marine Fisheries, the types of data needed for stock assessments, and the
available data and their quality.

The overall management goal for the fisheries r 'esources is to preserve,
protect, and enhance the resource in order to derive the greatest possible
economic and social benefits (optimum yield). Individual species or fishery
management objectives are.based on the apparent stock status, current and past
landings, regulatory jurisdiction, and social/economic needs. The data
requirements for stock assessments include stock identification; commercial
and recreational fisheries landings and effort; fisheries independent survey
data; and size, age, and sex data. The data are used to estimate such fishery
parameters as growth, abundance by age and size, mortality (fishing, natural
and total), fecundity, recruitment, and rate of reproduction. Management
goals and objectives have been identified. The available data are now being
identified and evaluated as to their quantity and quality. Recommendations
for modification in data collection activities and additional data needs for
the future will be made.

EVALUATION OF TRAWL EXCLUDER DEVICES IN THE PAMLICO.SOUND SHRIMP FISHERY

A B S T R A C T

Kenneth B. Pearce, David W. Moye, and Steven K. Strasser

1988. Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Study, Project Number 154, 42 pages

North Carolina Department of Natural Resources
and Community Development

Division of Marine Fisheries
Morehead.City, NC 28557

The Scottish Separator Trawl, Florida Fish Excluder, Georgia tu.rtle
excluder device (TED), and the Parrish TED were tested to determine their
effectiveness in reducing the bycatch of scrap (unmarketable finfish) taken by
shrimp trawls in Pamlico'Sound, NC during the fall- of 1987. In addition, the
retention of shrimp was examined in the four gears. A 50 ft shrimp trawler,
pulling two 55 ft shrimp nets, was employed using a randomized block design so
that each experimental net could be tested against the others and a control.
.All work was done at night, and the primary target species was pink shrimp
(Penaeus durorarum).

Analysis of variance ("ANOVA) was used to determine significant
differences in mean values (using weight (kg) and percent).

In terms of overall bycatch reduction, the Georgia TED, Florida Fish
Excluder and the Parrish TED showed a significant reduction when compared to
the control. Neither the Georgia TED nor the Florida Fish Excluder showed
significant differences in shrimp weights when compared to the control net.
The Florida Fish Excluder would be recommended over the Georgia TED due to its
ease in installation and smaller size. The Scottish Separator Trawl may be
better suited for use in the ocean trawl fishery off North Carolina and the
mid-Atlantic states to separate flounder from midwater species, as was evident
in this study.

Extensive work is needed in inshore waters with the Georgia TED, Florida
Fish Excluder and other fish excluders or efficiency devices to determine the
optimum gear for the shrimp fleet in Pamlico Sound. Until this research can
be Completed, it is recommended that shrimpers in Pamlico Sound use the
Florida Fish Excluder to redu-ce bycatcK.

Title: The Value of Recreational Fishing on the Albemarle
and Pamlico Sounds

PrinciRal Investigators: V. Kerry Smith and Raymond B. Palmquist

Abstract:

The objective of this project is to develop economic models of how
individuals use the Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds for recreational fishing. In the
process we sought to describe demands for marine fishing. These models would
be used to evaluate one aspect of the benefits people would realize from
improvements in the quali ty of these resources, and management policies
directed to reducing the effluent loading entering the sounds could then be

evaluated.

This work has found that the recreational fishing for the area.involves
primarily residents of coastal or nearby counties. Demand models have been
sucessfully estimated for two broad usage areas - the Pamlico and Outer Banks
regions. Based on these estimates, our preliminary findings,suggest that a
typical fishing trip to the area was,valued at between $30 and $60 (in 1982
dollars). Our results incorporating the features of the resource as an
influence on decisions involving fishing trips has been somewhat less
successful, with the specific results depending on the model selected. Some
encouraging estimates have been developed for the Outer Banks region indicating
that quality measures are important to experienced fishermen.
Moreover, related work with these same data sponsored by the North
Carolina Sea Grant has-been influenced by our early findings. It has used an
alternative framework. Based on preliminary findings, this research shows
considerable promise. These results suggest that once the local, single-trip
orientation of the recreational decisions was specifically incorporated.into
the model, proxy measures for the characteristics of the areas were found to be
important to the recreational decisions of all households, not exclusively to
the experienced recreationists. The work remains preliminary but offers the
prospect of gauging how specific improvements at individual locations along the
coast might influence the patterns of use of these areas and the benefits
derived by the recreationists inivolved.

ABUNDANCE AND VIABILITY OF STRIPED BASS EGGS SPAWNED IN
THE ROANOKE RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA, IN 1989

Roger A. Rulifson
Institute for Coastal and Marine Resources, and
Department of,Biology
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858

This study, which will not be initiated until April 1989, is the second
year of work begun in 1988. The intent of the study is to continue a 30-
year data base established by Dr. W.W. Hassler of N.C. State University on
spawning success of striped bass in the Roanoke River watershed below the
Roanoke Rapids dam near Weldon, North Carolina. In mid-April, waters of
the Roanoke River above the Scotland Neck bridge (NC 258) will be sampled
with fine-meshed egg nets every 4 hours for 60 days to determine the
abundance and viability of striped bass eggs deposited on the spawning
grounds farther upstream. Once fertilized, the eggs develop as they are
t,ransported downstream by the currents. Total egg production and overall
viability for the 1989 spawning season will be estimated. This information
will ne used as a relative indicator of spawning success for studies
farther downstream to determine larval and juvenile abundance later in the
season.

FOOD AND FEEDINg OF LARVAL FISHES IN THE LOWER ROAnOKE RIVER
AND WESTERN ALBEMARLE SOUND, NORTH CAROLINA

Roger A. Rulifson and John E. Cooper
Institute for Coastal and marine Resources
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina 27858

Based on results of our larval striped bass research from 1982 to 1988, we
believe that there is an inadequate food supply in the Roanoke River for
finfish larvae, especially striped bass, wnich limits successful formation
of strong year classes of striped bass in western Albemarle Sound. We
believe that this inadequacy is the result of: 1) low food abundance (i.e.,
low zooplankton densities), and 2) food uality (size and mbility of
prey). Zooplankton is not uniformly distributed throughout the lower
Roanoke watershed but is highly concentrated only in several specific
locations. in past years, larval striped bass have not fed ,successfully
because their abundance was mismatched in both space and time with the
highest zooplankton concentrations. Apparently, the manner in which
striped bass larvae move through the Roanoke delta or their way to the
historical nursery grounds in western Alpemarle Sound is dictated by the
prevailing water currents, which may or may not correspond to peak
zooplankton abundance. This phenomenon does not prevail for other larval
finfish species. By examining these other species. we will be able to
answer the question, "is poor feeding success a result of food
concentration, food quality (size and mobility), cr timing between the
presence of food and initiation of feeding:

The objective of this project, shceduled for initiation in October 1988, is
to deterine the feeding success of larvae of various fish species
collected in the ciritical habitats of the lower Roanoke River and western
Alpemarle Sound from 1982 1986. Information obtained by examination of
these preserved specimens will be compared to the zooplankton
present at the same time and location. These analyses will be compared to
results obtained for larval striped bass feeding success during the same
period. In year 1 of the study, we will examine larvae collected in years
1982, 1983, 1984, and a portion of 1985, then compare the data obtained
with the historical zooplankton data base stored in the ECU mainframe
computer. In year 2, we will complete the study by examination of years
1985 adn 1986. It is important that all five years of the collection be
used to ascertain the efrects of water flow (i.e., discharge from the
Roanoke Rapids Reservoir) on larval fish distribution and feeding success.

WATER QUALITY AS A FUNCTION OF DISCHARGE FROM THE
ROANOKE RAPIDS RESERVOIR DURING HYDROPOWER GENERATION

Roger A. Rulqifson and John T. Bray
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858

W. Michael White and Robert E. Herrmann
Weyerhaeuser Company
New Bern, NC 28560

A study desgned to Examine how various water quality parameters of the
Roanoke River change as a function of discharge from a reservoir was
undertaken in the spring of 1988 as a cooperative effort between East
Carolina University and Weyerhaeuser Company. Sampling effort was matched
with that of a study on abuncance and viability of striped bass eggs
spawned in the spring of 1988. Water samples were collected for one 24-
hour period each week at two locations: one site near Scotland Neck, North
Carolina, just downstream of the major spawning grounds; and the second
area in the Roanke delta near the town of Plymouth. Scotland Neck samples
were collected six times (every four hours) over the 24-hour perio every
two weeks. On alternate weeks, one composite sample was collected for
the 24-hour period. Roanoke delta samples were collected at four locations
.Once each week. The study was initiated on 14 April and was terminated on
8 june 1988.

As of this writing, a number of the last series of samples are waiting to
be analyed for heavy metals; however, enough information from all samples
is available to list some of the preliminary results. The spring of 1988
appeaqrs to have been an excellent year for establishing baseline data on
Roanoke River water quality. water release from the Roanoke Rapids
Reservoir was held between 6,000 and 9,000 cfs for duration of the study,
which is the flow regime recommended by the Roanoke River water Flow
Committee as optimal for survival of striped bass eggs and I larvae. Water
quality throughout the study remained stable and rather "bland"; no strange
or unusual water quality parameters were noted. Nutrient levels (e.g.,
phosphates, nitrites, nitrates) were indicative of an oligotrophic system.
Alkalinity was low, indicating that the system is poorly buffered. The pH
of the waters remained near 7.0. Heavy metal analysis did not reveal any
element present in high concentrations. Diel variability and seasonal
variability of water quality parameters have not been analyzed. We believe
that the stable water release schedule was a contributing factor to the
good water quality observed in 1988, which in turn contributed to the
highest viability of striped bass eggs observed since the late 1970s, and
the best index of juvenile abundance in western Albemarle, Sound since the
mid 1970s.

ABUNDANCE AND VIABILITY OF STRIPED BASS EGGS SPAWNED IN
THE ROANOKE RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA, IN 1986

Roger A. Rulifson
Institute for Coastal and Marine Resources, and
Department of Biology
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858

Studies on striped bass egg abundance and viability have been conducted in
the Roanoke River each year since the mid-1950s by Dr. W.W. Hassler and co-
workers from North Carolina State University in Raleigh. The information
gathered by these researchers spans nearly 30 years of uninterrupted
records and is well-Known as tne best data base on striped bass spawning
activity in North American. These records have been an extremely important
source of information for reconstructing the historical spawning record in
relation to exploitation, changes in regulations, and man-induced changes"
in the flow regimen and water quality for the Roanoke River. Upon the
retirement of Dr. Hassler in 1987 from actively pursuing these studies, the
APES program. ensured continuation of the egg production data base by
funding the study through ECU in 1988.

The objectives of the study are: 1) to continue tne data base established
by Dr.Hassler; 2) to develope a means to back-calculate Hassler's data- in,
an egg density-per-unit-volume format (to compensate for radical changes in
the flow regimen); and 3) to correlate the intensity of striped bass
spawning (as measured egg production) with water releases from the
reserviur at Rapids, North Carolina.

Sampling the waters of the Roanoke River for striped bass eggs was
ininiated on 10 April 1988 at a site below the historical spawning grounds
just downstream of the Caledonia State Prison Farm near Scotland Neck,
North Carolina. Samples were taken every four hours for a 60-day period.
Eggs were collected in fine-meshed nets suspended in the water column for
five minutes. The eggs were returned to the field station on the river
bank, enumerated, and examined to determine viability. Diel and seasonal
variability in the date remains to be analyzed. Over 89% of the scheduled
sampling trips were completed; the remainder were not completed due to
inclement weather and equipment problems. A total of 41,719 striped bass
eggs were obtained in the 311 trips. Nearly 77% were examined for
viability; during peak egg production, subsampling for viability was
mandatory. Preliminary results indicate that total egg viability for 1983
was about 89%, the best value since 1972 (excluding values for 1985-87,
which were not available). Total egg production for 1988 has not been
estimated at this time. This high viability estimate corresponds with good
1988 water quality (determined by another APEA study), moderate river
flows, good larval striped bass abundance in the critical habitats of the
lower river, and the best (estimated) juvenile abundance index since 1983.

Water Quality

Hyde County Soil Survey

APES is sharing the local cost of the North Carolina Cooperative Soil Survey
Program in Hyde County. The purpose of the survey is to determine the
nature and extent of the various soils in Hyde County. This inventory will
provide basic land resource data necessary for making proper land use
decisions. The data will support local, state and federal level efforts. to
protect and conserve the natural resources of the county. 'The potential of
land areas will be determined relative to suitability for agriculture, forestry,
residential and other uses.

The Hyde County Soil Survey is undertaken through the North Carolina
Cooperative Soil Survey Program as a joint effort between the USDA, Soil
Conservation Service, the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources
and Community Development (NRCD) and Hyde County. Each level of
government is responsible for about one-third of the survey's cost. NRCD
and the Soil Conservation Service are providing a total of 7 man years of
Aechnical expertise. Hyde County is making a cash contribution of $60,000,
half of which is funded through APES.

Hyde County has a land area of approximately 400,000 acres. Soils mapping
was previously done on about 110,000 acres by Weyerhauser, the Soil
Conservation Service and First Colony.Farms, leaving about 290,000 acres for
the Cooperative Soil Survey Program. The survey began in the fall of 1987
and is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 1990. The first years mapping
goal of 45,000 acres has been met and much of the county soils legend has
been established.

The soil survey identifies soil types on 1:24,000 scale aerial photographic
base maps. Preliminary sheets will become available beginning in August
1989. A final document will be published by the Soil Conservation Service
after the completion of the survey.

The Potential for Eutrophi cation and Nuisance Algal Blooms in the
Albemarle-Pamlico Estuary: Principal Investigator Hans W. Paerl,
U.N.C. Institute of Marine Sciences Morehead City, N.C., 28557

The Albemarle-Pamlico Sound System (APSS) is North
Carolina's most expansive, ecologically and economically-
important water body, supporting diverse and valued marine and
estuarine fisheries, recreational and tourism resources. All are
highly dependent on desirable water quality and fertility. Based
on recent documentation of accelerated algal production
(eutrophication) in key APSS tributaries (Chowan, Pamlico and
Neuse Rivers) periodically culminating in nuisance blue-green
algal and dinoflagellate "blooms" (and associated bottom water
-oxygen depletion, toxicity and loss of fisheries resources),
managers and the public are concerned how both water quality and
fertility (productivity) may be affected by accelerating nutrient
and sediment inputs in the APSS itself. Currently, little is
known regarding either water quality status or the potential for
eutrophication in the APSS.
Accordingly, the following informational and management
needs are being.addressed in this project; 1) Seasonally, what is
the relative importance of nitrogen (N) vs. Phosphorus (P) as
chief algal growth-regulating (limiting) nutrients? 2) What is
the relative importance of sediment-associated vs. soluble
nutrients as eutrophicating factors? 3) What combination of
nutrient inputs and physical conditions (light, temperature,
salinity) lead to and sustain nuisance algal blooms? 4) What is
the potential for bottom water oxygen depletion during algal
growth cycles? Using a combination of field monitoring, bioassay
and experimental manipulations, results thus far show ; 1)
Seasonally, N limitation exclusively occurs during summer and
fall, while N and P co-limitation takes place during winter-
spring. Hence, future management policies aimed at stemming
eutrophication should consider seasonally-adjusted N and P input
constraints. 2) Thus far (first 6 months of this project) no
strong selection for nuisance blue-green algal or dinoflagellate
(including red tide species) appear obvious in response to
nutrient additions alone; we suspect that physical conditioning
of the water column plays an additional, synergistic role in
nuisance bloom development. 3) While some bottom water oxygen
depletion appears during maximum algal growth periods, complete
anoxia (total oxygen depletion) has not been observed. Further
manipulative experiments are planned for year 2 to more
thoroughly evaluate the potential for anoxia in response to N and
P enrichment as well as the relative impacts of sediment input on
algal bloom potentials. 4) work in progress points to the
importance of within system N regeneration in supplementing "new"
N inputs as eutrophicating factors. 5) Lastly, eliciting N2
fixing blue-green nuisance algae in response to high P loading is
more likely among bottom and fouling as opposed to planktonic
(suspended) algal communities in the APSS.

REDUCTION OF ESTUARINE NUTRIENT LOADING:
N AND P REMOVAL IN COASTAL SWAMPS

Edward J. Kuenzler
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

ABSTRACT

The estuaries of North Carolina sometimes exhibit symptoms of
eutrophication: excessive algal growth, discolored waters, ahoxic
bottom waters, and fish kills. Control of eutrophication is
essential for optimum use of these estuaries. Estuarine eutro-
phication depends largely on the amounts of nutrients coming off
the land, but we know little about how efficiently nutrients such
as sewage-nitrogen and phosphorus are removed by forested swamps
bordering Coastal Plain streams.
Assessment of nutrient removal from swamp stream waters re-
quires careful selection of study sites.. In the first year of
the study, we determined major criteria'for selecting good study
sites: representativeness; presence of extensive floodplain;
absence of disturbance; accessibility; logistical practicality;
wastewater load appropriate to the stream discharge; and absence
.of large tributaries close below the outfall. These criteria
were then used to evaluate a large number of possible swamp
sites. We assembled existing information, gathered original data
on field trips, and enlisted the help of wetland experts in order
,to narrow the original list of forty-nine potential sites to two
sites.-
Our plan for the next two years is to measure nitrogen and
phosphorus concentrations above and below municipal wastewater
outfalls every three weeks at the two sites. From the downstream
changes in concentrations we shall calculate removal efficien-
cies. In addition, we shall do similar extensive studies (mea-
surements twice a year at about ten sites) in order to evaluate
differences from one swamp to another. The results are expected
to aid in decision-making regarding both wastewater trea tment and
wetlands protection.

A Scoping Study of the Distribution, Composition, and Dynamics
of Water-Column and Bottom Sediments: Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine
System

John T. Wells
Institute of Marine Sciences
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Morehead City, North Carolina 28557

Se diments are especially irportant to the management of estuarine
waters because they may concentrate heavy metals, pesticides, orother
toxic substances that adhere to their surfaces. In shallow water systems
like the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System, the water column and bottom'
sediments interact continually, exchanging and redistributing particles
and solutes so as to impact the operation of the entire system. Unfor-
tunately, many of the cheirdcal and biological pollutants are temporarily
stored in the most mobile sediments, the mud fraction, thus making for
easy passage of these materials through the food web. The objectives of
this scoping study were to take the first step in consolidating to a
co mmo n scale on a base map what we know about bottom sediments and,
through remote sensing techniques, to provide the first basin-wide glimpse
of suspended sediments under different environmental donditi.ons.
Our knowledge of the origin of the sediments and their composition
and size is based on approximately 25 reports and journal articles pub-
lished since the late 1950s. Data on sediment samples (location, type,
size, corWsition) were taken from each of these reports, plotted by com-
puter onto a series of large (30" x 30") base maps, and permanently stored
in the data files of the N. C. Land Resources Information Service. Four
sets of satellite images, collected during different seasons, are being
photographically enlarged and studied for patterns of sediment movement under
different conditions of wind and river discharge. Final sediment maps and
satellite images will serve as: 1) a reference for benthic habitat studies
where bottom sediments are a critical factor; 2) a first-order map set
showing potential sites where sediments of different sizes and composition
may be stored; 3) an index for sediment resuspension, where the resuspension
of sediments.is controlled by grain size; and, 4) a characterization of
bottom type that can be used in mathematical models for water movement and
sediment dispersal.

Conclusions drawn from the scoping study are that: 1) soft, mobil sed-m.
iments are accumulating very rapidly in the estuarine parts of the Neuse
River, Pamlico River, and in Albemarle Sound; 2) muds that escape the
estuarine "trap" are confined to Pamlico Sound by the Outer Banks barrier
islands and are simply recycled until finally coming to rest in the deepest
part of the basin; 3) short-term wind, wave, and tidal processes are secondary
to longer-term processes, such as sea-level rise and barrier island migration,
in net movement of Albemarle-Pamlico sediments; and, 4) at the present rate
of sediment input and sea level rise, the system will never become filled with
sediments, as will most other east coast estuaries.

Water-Quality Trends of the Albermarle-Pamlico Estuary System--
A Progress Report

Douglas A. Harned, U.S. Geological Survey

The objectives of this study are to identify, compile and analyze
existing hydrologic and water quality data of the Albermarle-Pamlico
estuary system (APES) in order to identify long-term temporal and spac-ial
trends. Existing information on river and estuary water quality,
agricultural land use and fertilizer use, and precipitation quality is
being complied in a Statistical Analysis System (SAS) dataset. Additional
data on land use, drainage density, and point sources will be complied. as
it becomes available.

The upstream boundary of the study area is defined by the watershed
boundaries of the basins of the National Stream Quality Accounting Network
(NASQAN) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Analysis of dissolved solids
data from NASQAN stations on the Neuse River, Tar River, and Contentnea
Creek shows a statistically significant increase of 1.5 mg/L per year over
the last 20 years. Discharge data from these NASQAN stations is the best
available long-term flow data for the APES system. A special effort will be
made to relate the upstream water quality as monitored at the NASQAN
stations to water quality in the estuary system. As part of this effort,
monitors have been installed at the Neuse River at Kinston and Tar River at
Tarboro NASQAN stations to continuously monitor specific conductance. The
conductance data collected at these stations will allow comparison to data
currently being collected at the USGS stations downstream in the estuaries.

Three principal sources of data supply water quality information for the
APES area. A number of individual investigators have collected data for the
systemr the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) database system
STORET contains much of the N.C. Department of Natural Resources (NRCD)
data, and the USGS database system.WATSTORE contains NASQAN and atmospheric
precipitation data of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP)
network. A bibliography has been complied of reports by individual
investigators for the APES'area. Data from 25 of these reports has been
entered into SAS data sets. Data has also been retrieved from WATSTORE for
the seven NASQAIN stations and is being obtained from STORET for most of the
.450 stations listed in that database, including the NRCD Ambient Monitoring
System. Maps of locations of the water-quality stations for the individual
investigators and STORET data have allowed the identification of areas of
missing data, and have helped break the region up into segments to ease
water-quality comparisons. An examination of NADP data from the Lewiston
and Clinton precipitation stations indicates that although pH of
precipitation is low (around 4.5) there is no statistically significant
trend over the last 10 years. However, water-quality variation in the
rainfall may help to explain some of the water-quality variation observed
in the estuary system.

Once the data set has been constructed the data will then be analyzed to
determine spacial variation and temporal trends. Relationships between
estuary water quality and agricultural land use, fertilizer use,
precipitation quality, and other hydrologic characteristics will be
examined. Both parametric and non-parametric statistical techniques will be
employed to determine trends and to identify correlations.

Evaluation of Off-Site Changes in Hydrology and water Quality
Resulting from BMP's in the Albemarle-Pamlico Region

Jerad D. Bales, U.S. Geological Survey

The objectives of this investigation are (1) to quantify the
effects of tide gates and flashboard risers on runoff and water
quality (specifically sediment and nutrients) immediately downstream
from drained agricultural fields and (2) to determine the effects of.
controlled and uncontrolled freshwater inflows on salinity in a
Pamlico River nursery area.

Six study sites have b 'een selected. Three sites are in Beaufort
County east of Aurora, with two of the sites on adjacent ditches which
are tribu'tary to Campbell Creek. The third Beaufort County site is
approximately five miles west of the other sites and is tributary to
Bond Creek. A flashboard riser has been installed in one of these
ditches; risers will be installed at the remaining two sites in about
two years. Three additional study sites are located in Hyde County on
adjacent ditches which are all tributary to Rose Bay Creek. A tide
gate has been installed in one of the ditches; tide gate installation
will follow at the other two ditches in about two years.

A water-level recorder, an automatic water-quality sampler, and a
bi-directional, electromagnetic current meter with an electronic data
logger have bee'n installed in each ditch downstream of the planned or
existing water-control structure. A water-level recorder has also
been installed upstream of the existing tidegate and the existing
flashboard-riser installation. Recording rain gages were installed
near the Beaufort County sites and near the Hyde Countysites.

Water-level information is being used to aid in designing the
water-quallty sampling program. Water-quality samples will be
collected for about six high-flow events per year. The
electromagnetic current meters are used to provide a continuous record
of point velocity in the ditch. Continuous flow rates in the ditch
will be calculated from the water-level data, the point velocity data,
and a relation among point velocity, water level, and cross-
sectionally averaged velocity. Flow data will be combined with water-
qua-lity data to estimate nutrient and sediment loads in the ditch.

A tidal gage and conductivity meter have been installed on
Campbell Creek. In the coming year, five in situ, recording
conductivity meters will be installed along the longitudinal axis of
'Campbell Creek. Data from these instruments (and from a companion
study) will be used to investigate the mixing of fresh and saline
@waters in Campbell Creek.

Determination of Flows and Flow Patterns in the
Pamlico River and Neuse River Estuaries

Jerad D. Bales, U.S. Geological Survey

The objectives of this investigation are (1) to collect,
analyzer and interpret information needed to characterize the
hydrodynamic conditions and to numerically model flows and flow
patterns in the Pamlico and Neuse River Estuaries, and (2) to modify,
calibrate, validate, and apply a two-dimensional vertically-averaged
numerical model of the two estuaries to characterize flow and
salinity patterns and to provide a continuous record of flows.

Five tidal gages have been installed on the Pamlico River
Estuary between Washington and the confluence of the Pamlico and
Pungo Rivers; tidal information from a gage located on Campbell
Creek, as part of a companion study, is also being utilized in this
investigation. Six tidal gages have been constructed on the Neuse
River Estuary between New Bern and the confluence ofthe Neuse and
South Rivers. All of the gages, which are located on the shoreline
or at. bridge crossings, are referenced to a common datum.

.Three conductivity meters are in place in the Pamlico River; two
conductivity meters are operating along the Neuse River.
Installation of conductivity meters on aids-to-navigation was delayed
at the request of APES in order to integrate data from this study
with the monitoring program. Now that the monitoring program has
been approved, construction of instrument platforms on the aids-to-
navigation is essentially complete. Five water-quality monitors will
be installed in the Pamlico and six monitors will be placed in the
-Neuse. The instruments will monitor conductivity and dissolved
oxygen at three points in the water column; temperature will be
monitored at one depth. Data from these monitors will be recorded by
electronic data loggers. All water quality and tidal data are being
recorded at fifteen minute intervals.

Bathymetric data for the two study areas has been obtained from
the National Ocean Survey. The data have been placed in a geographic
information system. Contour and three-dimensional plots have been
developed, and the study areas have been gridded in preparation for
numerical modeling.

A two-dimensional vertically-averaged numerical model is being
modified for this application. Plans are to do some preliminary .
modeling in early 1989 in preparation for intensive velocity surveys
to be conducted in the two estuaries. These surveys will involve
continuous measurement of velocity profiles at about six sites for a
period of about two days. About ten recording current meters will
also be moored within the study reach for a period of about three
weeks, which will include the time when profiles are being measured.

HEAVY METAL POLLUTANTS IN ORGAXIC-R ICH MUD OF THE PAMLICO RIVER
ESTUARINE SYSTEM: THEIR CONCENTRATION, DISTRIBUTION, AND EFFECTS
UPON BENTHIC ENVIRONMENTS AND WATER QUALITY

Stanley R. Riggs, Paul X. Stout, Eric R. Powers, John T.. Bray,
Richard P. Moore, and- J. Craig Hamilton; East Carolina
University, Greenville, N.C. 27858

Disch,arge of apparently low concentrations of.heavy metals
from both natural and anthropogenic point and non-point sources
into coastal waters does not rule out pollution problems in
estuarine environments. High adsorption capabilities of clay
minerals and high chemical reactivity of organic matter, both
major components of suspended and bottom sediments, continuousl7
strip trace metals from the water column. The cumulative effect
of large disch@irge volumes even with low concentrations over long
time periods leads to metal enrichment. Storms, biological
processes, and man routinely suspend the mud sediments into the
.water column. These processes concentrate the metals within
bottom se@diments to levels that are orders of magnitude above
acceptable water level concentrations. The toxic metals are then
potentially available for further concentration and movement
through the food chain by abundant filter and detritus feeding
organisms living within the organic-rich mud environments. The
EPA list of pollutants of priority concern includes the following
metals: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury,,
nickel, and zinc. Our study concerns the concentrations of
these, as well as 16 other metals in sediments from the Pamlico
River Estuary. This will provide a basin-wide assessment of the
extent of heavy metal pollution, a prerequisite essential for
proper management and preservation of our estuarine resources.
Organic-rich muds were cored at 150 stations within the
Pamlico River estuarine system reflecting a regional grid and
known point and non-point sources within the baSin. Each core
to 4.0 meters in length) has been subsampled at 10 to 30 cm
intervals for subsequent chemical and physical analysis. Trace
metal concentrations are being determined for 24 elements,
including those on the EPA's list of priority pollutants. In
addition, water Content, particle size, and percent organic
material are being measured. These data will be used to
determine where heavy metals concentrate within the basin, as
well as environmental conditions favoring heavy metal enrichment.
Deeper cores are being used to determine pre-industrial and pre-
agricultural conditions in N.C.
Results obtained to date indicate important spatial and
temporal variability in heavy metal concentrations. Surface
sediments have significantly higher concentrations (by factors of
3 to 6 times) of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc than
sediments from deeper in the cores. Sediments from tributary
creeks containing known point-source discharges, are enriched
(from 5 to more than 30 times) in cadmium, chromium, copper,
nickel and zinc compared to sediments from the main channel.
These data suggest anthropogen'ic sources are partly responsible
for metal enrichment throughout the estuary.

DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF A SERIES OF TECHNICAL WORKSHOPS

Under a contract with the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Study, The
University of North Carolina Water Resources Research Inst:itute developed
and conduct 'ed a series of one and two-day technical workshops to critically
assess priority issues for the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Study. These
work sessions provided a setting for scientific analysis by a
multidisciplinary and interagency panel to examine in detail specific
technical, and management issues.

The following workshop titles and the dates for each were:

Hydrodynamic and Water Quality Models for Estuarine
Studies
September 3 and 4, 1987

- Fish Diseases in the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuary
September 22, 1987

- Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems for, Use
in Managing the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuary
November 9-10, 1987

The specific objectives of these workshops were:

1. To review approaches used in a variety of estuarine settings

2. To assess the State's current capabilities

3. To benefit from the experience of other agencies and.
universities that have attempted a similar approach

4. To review examples of expertise within the region

5. To recommend a practical strategy for addressing the
problems as part of the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Study

The workshops were successful in meeting these objectives. The
workshops created a successful exchange of ideas among scientists and
managers and provided clearer focus and a narrowing down of choices to be
made. The 30-45 speakers and participants in each workshop represented the
leaders and expert'ise in the selected subject areas. Experts included
university researchers, and state and federal agencies both from North
Carolina and from outstanding estuarine programs in other states.

Proceedings for these workshops have been completed and are in.the
process of being bound. These proceedings contain the papers presented at
the workshop, a record of the discussion, and a summary and recommendations
section.

Tyler, Mary. Versar, Inc., ESM Operations, 9200 Rumsey Road,
Columbia, Maryland 21045. POTENTIAL FOR THE LONG-TERM
PERSISTENCE OF THE RED TIDE DINOFLAGELLATE Ptychodiscus
bravis IN NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL WATERS.

in October 1987, the toxic red tide dinoflagellate
Ptychodiscus brevis which normally resides along the Florida
coast We int7o-duced into North Carolina waters via the instrusion
of a Gulf Stream eddy, The resultant population caused the
closure of shellfish beds in North Carolina due to the presence
.,of brevetoxin in the shellfish. Many red tide organisms form
resting stages during adverse conditions in which they sink to
the sediment and'regain *their swimming form when conditions,
become more favorable. This cyst is most 'often associated with
life cycle changes in which the cell commenc,es sexual reproductionr
including gamete production and cyst formation. The existence
of a resting form for Ptychodiscus brevis is currently under
debate; however, the distinct possibility that the initial
inoculum had established a resident population of toxic organisms
in the benthic sediments in North Carolina which could. germinate
and form blooms on an annual basis was addressed in the following
way. A field sampling program was conducted the 9th through
l1th of February 1988 aboard the Nptional Marine Fisheries R/V
Carolina Coast. Sampling areas indluded seven looations in the
stra.its, three locations in Bogue Sound, nine 'locations in Morehead
and Beaufort Harborst and seven locations in the Beaufort inlet
area of the Atlantic Ocean. At each location, the water column
.was vertically sampled for or ganisms and profiles of salinity,
temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen were obtained. in
addition, samples of sediment were taken at each of the 26
locations. Each was subdivided and one set incubated at room
temperature immediately upon return from the field, while the
other set was kept at field temperatures in the dark for 1 -
month (to simulate in situ conditions) prior to gradual warming
to 200C.- Culture d'ishes were swirled daily for aeration*and
the overlying water monitored for the appearance of cells. -
Incubation of the samples yielded no motile population which
indicates that one of the following is true: 1) Ptychodiscus
did not form a resting stage in North Carolina waterer 2)_
Ptvchodiscus formed a resting stager however, its ' obligate
period of dormancy was not complete during the short one month
incubation, or 3) 1Ptychodiscus formed a resting stage which was
not viable in North Carolina coastal waters.

ALBEMARLE PAMLICO SOUND COUPLING STUDY

ABSTRACT

by
Leonard J. Pietrafesa
and
Gerald S. Janowitz

Albemarle Sound is a desert relative to Pamlico Sound in terms of fish
population. While the cause of this phenomena of a lack of substantial fish
colonization in Albemarle is at present not understood, two possibilities
present themselves. Either fish larvae present in Albemarle Sound may not
survive to maturity or there may be only a small number of estuarine dependent
finfish larvae entering the sound. It is the second possibility we shall
investigate by conducting field studies to examine the hydrodynamic coupling
between Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds via Croatan Sound; with a two year period
necessary to understand inter-annual variability. Oregon Inlet, which is the
'probable source of marine fish larvae for Albemarle Sound, supplies ocean
waters and fish larvae to northeastern Pamlico Sound. By direct measurement
we will determine whether the flow through Croatan Sound is or is not
favorable for the abiotic transport of larvae from Pamlico into Albemarle
Sound. If the flow is unfavorable for abiotic trans-port, improvements in
water quality conditions in Albemarle Sound will have little impact on fish
population in that sound. It is possible that northwesterly winds which occur
frequently during the December - June recruitment period may have a negative
impact on transport into Albemarle Sound. This wind field would tend to
increase water transport from the ocean into Pamlico Sound (Pietrafesa and
Janowitz, 1988) but might drive surface waters away from Croatan Sound. This
wind might also tend to tilt water level in Albemarle Sound upwards towards
the east and so drive water at all depths from Albemarle into Pamlico Sound;
hence we might postulate that the hydrodynamics coupling between the sounds is
not favorable for abiotic larval recruitment in Albemarle Sound. We shall
test this hypothesis while determining the actual hydrodynamic coupling
mechanisms between the twomajor sounds.

SHELL DISEASE IN BLUE CRABS FROM THE ALBEMARLE-PAMLICO ESTUARY

by Edward J. Noga(1) and David P. Engel(2)

(1) College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State
University, 4700) Hillsborougqh Street, Raleigh, NC 27606
and (2) National Marine Fisheries Service,, Beaufort Laboratory,
Beaufort, NC 28516-9722

Landings of blue crabs in the Pamlico River have been

steadily declining since 1984. One factor which might be

ifluencing this decline is shell disease, which has recently

reached epidemic proportions. This disease has been most

commonly associated with a bacterial infection of the shell, and

can ultimately lead to death of the crab. While shell disease

has been linked to poor water quality, there is no information as

to why population increases susceptibility. This project will

adddress that problem by examining the natural bacterial-fighting

ability healthy blue crabs and comparing it with that of

individuals with shell disease. We will look at both the ability

of these crabs to kill bacteria and to inhibit the destructive

chemicals which they produce. Demonstrating differences in

bacteria-fighting ability of healthy versus diseased crabs may

allow the development of methods of determining when crab

poppulations are stressed. This, in turn, may facilitate the

identification of pollutants that may be contributing to the

induction of shell disease.

EFFECTS OF WATER MANAGEMENT AND LAND USE PRACTICES ON HYDROLOGY AND
WATER QUALITY IN THE ALBEMARLE-PAMLICO REGION

R. W. SKAGGS AND J. W. GILLIAM

The hydrology and runoff water quality from the poorly drained soils
of the APES region are significantly affected by land use, drainage
and related water management practices. Our research will evaluate
the effects of alternative land uses and water management practices
on peak rates of runoff, total runoff and water quality from
watersheds in the coastal area. For example, we will investigate
the effects of changing land use from row crop agriculture to
forestry for a given watershed. We will also look at the effects
of going the other way, from say 30% ag., 70% forestry to 70% ag.,
30% forestry. The effects of water management practices such as
controlled drainage will also be analyzed. What happens, for
example, to the water quality from a 10,000 acre watershed when
control structures are placed in the drainage outlets of all the
farmed areas? What would be the effect on peak outflow rates and
water quality if the present drainage system, which is primarily for
surface drainage, is replaced by a good subsurface drainage system?

Our approach will be to select a watershed in the APES region of
about 10,000 to 20,000 acres for intensive study. Hopefully one of
the watersheds on which field data are not being collected in other
AFES studies will be suitable for our purposes. We will then survey
available data sources, document and map land uses, soils, and
drainage system facilities on the watershed. Then using field data
and models developed in several previous studies in the region, we
will evaluate the effects of alternative land uses and water
management practices. Where possible we will compare predicted
watershed outflows and pollutant loadings to measured values on the
same .

Our hypothesis is that alternative drainage and land use practices
can be selected to significantly affect the rate and quality of
frehswater draining into the estuary. Furthermore, models and data
from previous studies in the region can be used to evaluate the
effectiveness of such practices. Since the impact of a given
practice depends on the site, soil and crop parameters, it is
necessary that they be evaluated for specific, large watersheds.
That is the goal of this study.

Public
Participation

NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL FEDERATION

1832 J SWI Um (Ooean) - NEWPORT, NORTH CAROUNA 28M - (919) 393-8185

A CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO COASTAL WATER-RI&SOURCE 14ANAGOONT

A Citizen's Guide to Coastal Water Resource Management
serves as a resource document for citizens who want'to become
active and effective participants in managing our coast. The
book served as resource material for a series of two day
workshops that were held in Edenton, Washington, Beaufort and
Nags Head and for two field trips held in Dare and Carteret
counties. Approximately 1,100 books have already been
distributed. A total of -150 people attended the workshops and
field trips, including local government officials, developers
and' their consultants. State and federal resource management
agencies took an active educational role in presenting, their
management programs at the workshops.

The guidebook is designed to. help citizens develop an
understanding of the laws -and regulations that govern our
coastline. It is written from the perspective and experience
of citizens who have learned how to contribute to and improve
our coastal management process. The guidebook begins with a
chapter that summarizes the general concepts of regulatory
programs and the basic principles of public participation.

A complex combination of federal and state laws form the
basis of North Carolina's coastal management program.- The
guidebook explains the most notable of these laws including the
federal Clean Water Act first enacted in 1972, the N.C. Coastal
Area Management Act of 1974 and the N.C. Sedimentation and
Pollution Control Act of 1973. Four chapters of the guidebook
are devoted to water quality standards, coastal management,
wetland management, and sediment and erosion control.
opportunities for effective public participation for each. of
.these management efforts are identified. The final two
chapters of the guidebook describe other regulatory and
nonregulatory programs that also apply in the coastal region.

The guidebook is a product of five years of experience by
the North Carolina Coastal Federation. It was written by staff
members Jim Kennedy and. Todd Miller. Contributing to the book
were Lundie Spence, Walter Clark and Kathy Hart of the
University of North Carolina Sea Grant College Program. They
helped in developing the book's content and served as editors.

Active citizen involvement in managing our coast is a
priority of the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Study.' To that
end, the study provided the financial support necessary to
develop the guidebook as well as conduct the workshops and
field trips.

NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL FEDERATION

1832 J Bell Lane (Ooean) - NEWPORT, NORTH CAROLINA MM - (919) M-8185

ALBFMARLE-PANLICO PRESS TOUR

The North Carolina Coastal Federation in conjunction with
Duke University Marine Laboratory organized a three day press
tour last April. The bus trip began at Duke Marine Lab. Stops
were made- in Ocracoke, Buxton, Avon, Manteo, Englehard, Lake
Mattamuskeet, Swan Quarter Wildlife Refuge, farm fields between
Swan Quarter and Washington, Washington, Texasgulf, and forest
managed by Weyerhaeuser. In addition, travel time on the bus
was devoted to talks regarding on-going APES projects, growth
management and sea level rise, taxes, land ownership, water
management, sea turtles, and surface and groundwater hydrology.

There were three objectives of the tour:

(1) Develop more indepthunderstanding about coastal
issues among press members for their future
reference when covering coastal stories;

(2) Generate immediate publicity about the Albemarle-
Pamlico Estuarine Study to help the public better
understand what it is all about;

(3) Provide a project that a broad range of interests
could come together to accomplish.

The tour succeeded on all three objectives. Regarding the
first two objectives, just about every major newspaper in the
state participated in the study as well as the Washington Post.
In addition, local papers covered portions of the tour that
occurred in their communities. Television stations from
Greensboro, Raleigh and Washington also participated. Many of
the reporters are assigned to cover environmental stories, and
they all indicated that the trip was worthwhile in developing a
better understanding of coastal issues.

In regards to the third objective, the tour succeeded
because of the cooperation and ability of a diverse group of
interests all to work together. Every effort was made to
present all sides of each issue. examined.' It took the
involvement of fishermen, farmers, scientists, businessmen,
industry representatives, and government officials to plan and
conduct the tour. The tour provided one of the first
opportunities ever for these different -interests to work
together. This should assist later when these interests are
asked to do their part to implement the Comprehensive
Management Plan to be developed by the Albemarle-Pamlico
Estuarine Study.
38

CITIZEN MONITORING: PILOT PROGRAM ON THE TAR-PAMLICO
Completion date: October 1988

'ABSTRACT The Pamlico-Tar River Foundation (PTRF) designed
and implemented a-pilot program for water quality monitoring
.using.volu.nteers in the Tar-Pamlico basin.

In planning the program, PTRF solicited input from the
Policy, Technical and Citizen Advisory Committee of the
Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Study, as well as N.C. agency
water quality professionals. To insure scientific validity,
a support committee of area scientists was consulted. A
final facet of the planning was an exhaustive review of
existing lay monitoring programs. The Citizen Program for
the Chesapeake Bay ('CPCB) was adopted as a prototype.--

We have equipped and trained 16 volunteers who began
collecting s&mples in April, 1988, at nearshore sites in the
Tar-Pamlico and its tributaries. We have also introduced
the program and methodology to other interested parties in
the APES reoion. Water and air temperature are determined
with a field thermometer; ph, with a wide-range color
comparator kit; dissolved oxygen, with a micro-winkler
titration kit; salinity by means of a specific gravity
hydrometer; and turbidity or limit of visibility, by means
of Secthi disk depth measurement.

At the upstream, fresh water Isites salinity is notmeasured,
but nitrate-nitrogen and phosphate are, both by use of color
comparator kits. Each monitor follows strict procedures and
records their test results on a standardized form. The
form is mailed to the project coordinator for verification
and entry into a computer file.

Quality assurance began with informed planning and conti-
nues through every aspect of the program. Each volunteer
was initally trained at a ,.-orkshop held in late March.
Follow-up calls are made to the monitors to answer
questions and discuss any problems. In addition, on
August 6, we had a "quality control session" workshop
wherein we reviewed and tested policy and proceedure.
Fourteen of our sixteen stations have been functioning,
virtually flawlessly. We intend to remedy the problems at
two of our sites.

During the year, the concept of this program has captured
the imagination of people throughout the estuarine region;
therefore, it has been targetted for future APES funding on
a larger scale. PTRF has been determined to be the best
agency to administer the formative stages of the program.
We have already contracted with a qualified individual to
carry out the obligations and duties of a full-time project
coordinator. The program expansion (to include the entire
A-PES region) began on October 1, 1988.
39

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROJECTS
Radio Reports, Video Public Service Announcements, Radio
Public Service Amnouncements, State of the Estuary Booklet

Work performed by the Environmental Resource Project located
at UNC-CH's institute for Environmental Studies
Contact Person: Melva Okun (919) 966-3332

To enhance citizen input, interested community members need
useful and relevant information. To this purpose the
Environmental Resource Project agreed to develop educational
materials on topics pertaining to the Albemarle Pamlico.
Estuarine Study Project.

Radio Reports.* Five radio reports were produced by Melva
Okun, the science producer for WUNC radio, the National.
Public Radio member station in Chapel Hill. The reports
covered: declining water quality; changes in fishing
conditions; growth issues on Ocracoke Island; growth on
Hatteras Island; and the Cedar Island Ferry as a connector
in the tourism industry. The reports consisted of interviews
with locally involved citizens, state government
representatives, environmental leaders, and business
representatives. The reports were also made available to
WHOR in Wilmington, and WTEB in New Bern.

Video Public Service Announcements: Four video spots for
television broadcast were produced by Melva Okun, The video
spots cover the following topics: a commercial fisherman
co=enting on changes on the Pamlicoj a farmer commenting on
Best Management Practices; a citizen talking, about working
with the citizen water monitoring project; and a fish house
operator describing the need for all concerned parties to
work together. Television stations throughout the APES area
have agreed to air the spots. Upon-completion of changes,
the spots will be distributed to the stations.

Radio Public service Abbouncements: Ten interviews were
conducted by Melva okun with representatives of business and
industry, citizen groups,'environmental leaders,
institutional leaders, and commercial fisherme'n. Those
interviewed commented on concerns for the Sounds of North
Carolina and why it it important for the public to be
involved. Final editing of the pieces is being completed at
which point they,will be distributed to identified
commercial radio stations in the APES area.

state of the Zatuary Booklet: Frank Tursi, journalist with
the Winston-Salem Journal, is writing a booklet about the
Sounds of North Carolina. The booklet will describe what an
estuary is, the resource it provides, what signs of distress
are presently being noted, and how the public can be
involved. The booklet will be distributed to the public.

VIDEO AND SLIDE PRODUCTIONS OF THE
ALBEMARLE-PAMLICO SOUND
by Dr. Gar), C. Smith, East Carolina University

The effective dates of my grant are from March 1, 1988 to March 1,
1989. The dual-projector dissolve slide program I am developing will
be approximately 25-30 minutes long. Primary focus is on the watersheds
flowing into the sound area. I will trace water from the mountains
of N. C. and Va. as it moves down creeks and rivers and into the
sound. Each ecosystem the water flows through will be highlighted.
Recreation, pollution problem , and natural resource management will
be emphasized. At this point in time (mid September) I have completed
most of the photography for the slide program. I will be adding a
few more slides of pollution and resource management.. The U. S. Fish
and Wildlife Service at Mattamuskeet Wildlife Refuge shared slides
from their file for this production. A written script in rough form
has been completed.

The video production of approximately one half hour duration will
follow the same format as the slide program. At this point, I have
good sequences of all natural ecosystem completed and will focus
on pollution, fisheries ' and waterfowl, migrations this fall. Channel 7
(WITN) in Washington, N. C. is sharilig some excellent aerial footage
and special feature material on the Sound for inclusion in this
production. I am presently organizing a series of interviews which
should be completed in October. These will be edited into the production'.

A suney questionnaire which I administered to the C.A.C.'s
and other organizations in Eastern N. C. helped me to identify inter-
viewees, critical habitats, and pollution problem that are being
included in both the slide and video productions. Special editing,
titling, and graphics will be completed by the Communications Media
Department of the E. C. U. Health Sciences Division in the earl), part
of 1989. 1 aj-,i worling closely with several members of the Citizen's
Advison, CoTmiittees on these projects.

ALBEMARLE-PAMLICO ESTUARINE STUDY

PUBLIC AWARENESS MEETING
November 14, 1987

ABSTRACT

Dr. Maurice Powers and Dr. John Carson initiated and
organized a public awareness meeting concerning the Albemarle-
Pamlico Estuarine Study. ' The meeting was held at Elizabeth
City State University on November 14, 1987.

Puroose of the meeting was to highlight the coastal waters
study in terms of management systems, needed investigations and
public concerns. Panel sessions., consisting of experts from
federal and state agencies and private citizens, addressed dif-
ferent aspects of estuarine problems. These included water
pollution, aquatic life deteriotion, habitat destruction and
nutrient buildup in coastal waters.

About three hundred people attended themeeting, repre-
senting the entire Albemarle-Pamlico region. Federal and state
officials from Atlanta, Washington, Raleigh and numerous other
agency headquarters were present to discuss problems and offer
opinions., The Albemarle and Pamlico Citizens' Advisory Commi-
ttees were invited to take part in the meeting.

From Sound to the Sea: Journey of the Striped Bass

North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

Environmental and economic problems of the Albemarle and

Pamlico S ounds are interpreted through the Striped Bass,

Morone saxatilis in this major exhibit at the North Carolina

Aquarium on Roanoke Island. The life history of the striped

bass is described and related,to environmental stresses which are

affecting the natural migratory cycle of these fish. Movements

of mature adults are followed in display format as they travel

from the ocean, through the inlets and sounds into freshwater

rivers. spawning activities and the development of the young are

traced along their return route to the ocean. The importance of

salt marsh nursery areas are.emphasized. The information will

be presented using interpretive graphics, interactive computers,

.and a 11,00 gallon aquarium to house live specimens. Over 500,00

people per year will view this exhibit. This project is

sponsored by the North Carolina Aquarium society, a private non-

profit association organized to support educational activities at

the North Carolina Aquariums.

GUIDE TO STREAMWALKING: AN ESTUARINE COMPANION

ABSTRACT

GUIDE TO STREAMWALKING: AN ESTUARINE COMPANION

This project dovetails nicely with the public education goals of
APES); it will create an effective avenue for dissemination of
information about the estuarine system and the work of the
Study. The Guide to Streamwalking is an excellent booklet,
written for adults but in common) parlance; unfortunately, it is
not applicable to our estuarine region.

As; noted in the review of APES first year effort, the revision of
Streamwatch's, "A Guide To Streamwalking", into a text relevant
for use in estuarine areas, is a high priority item for public
education in APES.

The format and design of the original need not be altered;
however, the current text and artwork pertains to freshwater
streams and will be revised and made relevant to estuarine to estuarine
systems in general, and to the Albemarle/Pamlico in specific

We propose to develop the revision; the current proposal does
include funding to subcontract for printing and publishing 500
copies.

COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH

ABSTRACT

COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH:

The Albemarle/Pamlico Estuarine Study acknowledged the value of substantial
existing research and data bases. At the outset of APES, the study began an
inventory and catalogue of existing information and research so that it
might not fund redundant efforts. In analogous fashion, PTRF recognizes the
existence of many fine educationa '1 materials: bookletsq mapsq exhibits,
audio-visual aids, posters, etc. Therefore, to avoid the production of
reoetitious materials, we Dr,opose to begin our education outreach with an
inventory of these materials.

While developing the inventory, PTRF would establish a speakers bureau
catalogue so the authorities on various subjects related to estuarine
resources and their management might be easily identified and contacted by
citizen's qroups, schools and civic organizations.

The heart of the proposal is not the collation of these materials, but
rather, is the prr-sentation of them in the public arena. The obvious place
to begin public education is in the schools. We propose to target the
schools in Pitt and Beaufort Counties; even, this limited scope is a
for midable challenQe as there are @q7 schools and over 26,000 students in
these two counties.

There is little dount t@)at such a,task alone could consume the energy of one
or two full time edjCa*crs. PTR;:' is fortunate to have a cadre of volunteers
or) an education committee tc assist in this outreach program. A part time
staff person would kiark with this committee to carry the presentation into
as manv of the classrooms as possible through the year.

The presentation wouli teach students about the ecology and resources of the
estuary, the issues and problems of estuarine resource management and would
highlight the APES program and other vehicle.s through which the students can
contribute tb the protection of the re'gion.

In addition to the, schools, the presentation would be delivered to civic
clubs, citizen organizations, youth groups, scout troops and in a variety of
public festivals in the watershed.

All other projects aside. personal, direct communication is the most
efficient a\,E!nue to public education. This project is,the perfect comple-
ment to the APES project and is perhaps the simplest way to accomplish both
of.the aims of APES' public involvement funding. It will assist APES.as an
.1effective avenue fur disseminating information about the study; and (by)
ottainino regular advice and input from the public concerning APES
activities

EDUCATIONAL CALENDAR: YEAR 1990

ABSTRACT

EDUCATIONAL CALENDAR: YEAR 1990

This project dovetails nicely with the public education goals of APES; it
will create an effective avenue for dissemination of information about the
estuarine system arid the work of the Study. An aesthetically pleasing
calendar that simultaneously conveys clear information will be a valuable
tool. Although, it will transmit only a small piece of information, the
calendar will reach a broad cross-section of regional -people who might
otherwise remain unaware the purpose or even existence of APES or the
problems.

We propose to design and develop a 12" x 12" (dimension approximate) full
color wall calendar. The calendar will be designed for the year 1990 and
5000 copies should be availavle for distribution by July 1989. The calendar
will feature 13 full color photographs (I. for each month plus a cover
photo); it will a spiral bound. Paul Nurnberg, a professional
photographer whose studio is in Washington, NC, will solicit and collect
apppropriate photographs throughout the region. He proposed to conduct
a competition (selected photos will receive cash awards). Ten winning
photos will be included in the calendar along with three of his own
creation.

PTRF's education committee will develop two or three lines of text to
underscore each montn's The text will apprise the audience about
issues in estuarine resource management.

Printing and spiral binding of the calendar will be sub-contracted with Chip
Henderson of Lihtworks, 6005 Chapel Hill Road, Raleigh, NC.

Paul Nurnberg is highly trained photographer who owns and operates a
studio in Washington, North Carolina (BS in Professional Photography, 1980,

Rochester Institute of Technology, 7 years professional experience).
(portfolio available for review)

Whiting Toler is a commercial artist from Blounts Creek, North Carolina who
has considerable experience in the visual representation of scientific
concepts (BS Art East Carolina University 1969, 15 years of expeience as a
technical/commercial artist: including collaborations with the Smithsonian
Institution, the planning group from North Carolina Phosphate Corporation,
science departments at ECU and Duke Marine Lab, NCSU Sea Grant, and Science
Maqazine.

Chip Henderson (7 years of experience in graphics) and his company
Lightworks (3 1/2 years) will print and bind the calendar. They have
previously produced 4 calendars and have one currently in production.

ABSTRACT OF

TEACHER ENVIORNMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

This program will establish a series of teacher workshops in the
cities of Elizabeth City (February 11, 1989), Edenton (March 11, 1989),
Plymouth (April 8, 1989), and Manteo (May 13, 1989), concerning
aquatic environmental management in the Albemarle-Paqnlico Estuarine
System.

In the first phase of the program, we will develope a slide
presentation for presentation to public school faculties in the Fall
of 1988. At the same time, we will provide the teachers with applica-
tions for the workshops. This exposure will help encourage partici-
pation in the workshops. In addition, Mrs. Wendy Allen of the
Northease Regional Education Center, will work very closely with us in
establihing the workshops and encouraging teacher participation.

In the second phase, the workshops will be. conducted on Saturdays
from 9:00 A.m. to 4:00 Pm., and will be led by scientists and educators
with the relevant environmental background. Each participant will
receive a stipend of $20.00, in addition to lunch. These benefits, plus
a renewal credit, will maximize the probability of participation by
relevant area teachers. Each workshop will be limited to forty (40)
participants.

Each workshop will be divided into morning and afternoon sessions,
with the morning session devoted to the basic understanding of the
aquatic environment and its management. The afternoon session will
divide participants into smaller groups led by consultants who will
lead a discussion concerning the integration of the subject into
particular classroom environrents, the development of class projects
and the development of lesson plans.

Followomg the group meetings, a wrap-up session will bring, all of
the information together with a general discussion of techniques and
strategies for the presentation of aquatic environmental information in
the classroom.

The final element of the workshops will involve projects and
lesson plans which each participant will be responsible for completing
and returning to the instructor.

A written report on each workshop will be submitted to the
Albemarle-Pamlico Study with regard to the names of participants and
the names of workshop leaders and consultants. A written evaluation
will also be Submitted by each workshop leader.

Human
Environment

Title. ''The State of the Estuary" Television Public Service
Announcement Campaign.
Duration: January 1989 to January 1990
Principal Investigator: Willard, Lisabeth Willard Productions.
The "State of the Estuary" public service television campaign will bring
the North Carolina sounds into virtually every home in North Carolina at an
estimated cost of less than a penny per viewer. Five thirty-second television
spots, airing over twelve months will focus on general education-, the study
itself, and citizen involvement.

Preliminary Outline "State of the Estuary" Television Campaign

An introduction to the North Carolina sounds-and the
Study this spot will run the entire length of the campaign. It will define the
sounds, what an estuary is, and the importance of good stewardship.
Air dates January 1989 to January 1990.
Spot Two: Man and Water, This spot looks at mans affect on the
sounds, the sink basin for vast amounts of water originating hundreds of
miles away. Herbicides, pesticides, the wastes of modern man end her(,-.
Air Dates. March 1989 to June 1989.
Spot Three: This spot looks at the symptoms of stress:
nutrient. enrichment and algal blooms, dead water. fish and crab diseases,
and the disappearance of seagrasses.
Air Dates. May 1989 to August 1989 to August 1989.
Spot Four: The Pamlico Tar River. A personal look at the plight of this
river, Air Dates, August 1989 to November 1989.
Spot Five: We are all reponsible. This spot details the importance of
citizn involvement in preserving the North Carolina estuaries.
Air Dates: October 1989 thru February 1990.

Scripting and production will begin by November, 1 a first air date of
January 1999.
In cooperation with: North Carolina Association of Broadcasters, North
Carolina Coastal Federation, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Pamlico-Tar
River Foundation, North Carolina Fisheries Association.

Lisabeth Willard Productions, 3010-g Walnut Creek Pky.,

Raleigh, N.C. 27606, 919-859-2624

CITIZEN W-Q MONITORING 1988-89; PTRF
ABSTRACT:
Water quality monitoring by volunteer citizens is an
excellent and meaningful way of incorporating public
participation into APES. Management of estuarine resources
will ultimately prove more effective if the general public
better understands the subtle dimensions of the problems and
proposed solutions. The project will not only provide
credible data to the Study but will also increase public
involvement and education.
We propose to continue the citizen monitoring program
established in this year's pilot program on the Pamlico-Tar
River. As the program expands geograph 'ically, we will explore
the possibilities of expanding the extent and sophistication
of the data collection as well. In addition to the baseline
water quality data collected, the monitors will be trained to
maL%e routine sociological and meteorlogical observations a
part of their report.
We have modeled our pro-ram on the Citizen's Program for
the Chesapeake Bay. We believe a p.rogram of approximately
50 stations would adequately involve the interested
oroanizations of the region and could be implemented by a
single staff person.
The Pamlilco-Tar River Foundation (PTRF) will appoint a
steering committee to supervise the project. The steering
committee will facilitate the efforts of a fulltime project
coordinator, and will serve as liason to individual volunteers
in the various watersheds of the APES region.
PTRF will assist the steering committee during the
formative sta-es of the project; through the hiring of staff
and in the development of policy and procedure that will
structure the program. It is, however, the intent of PTRF
that involvement by us will gradually diminish as the steering
committee assumes more responsibility.
The steering committee will include representatives, from
each of the citizens groups that foster monitoring projects in
their watersheds. We have already received verbal endorsement
for this proposal from most of the groups. For the program to
succeed, it must have the support of North Carolina's state
water quality authority. Their assistance in eSLablishin.-
quality assurance and quality control are necessary to insure
that the citizen's efforts are viable. The,committee will
include two employees of the state. The recently established
PERT (Pamlico Early Response Team) is dedicated to close
interaction with the public; this unit is comprised of four
individuals, any of whom could ideally serve on the committee.
The person employed as coordinator will be responsible
for materials acquisition and training programs throughout the
APES study area. She will also collate the data and transmit
it to APES for storage. The office will be in Washington, NC
at the PTRF office; the coordinator will develop and maintain
volunteer data collection, publicize the findings and work
with state officials to unify citizen data with agency
monitoring efforts.

CHARACTERIZATION OF BASELINE DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS IN THE PERMANENT
AND TEMPbRARY POPULATIONS IN T8E AL8EMARLE-PAMLICO ESTAURINE
STUDY AREA.
Paul Tachetter
Department of Sociology.and Anthropology
East Carolina University
Greenville, KC 27656

This proiect was designed to provide baseline demographic
data and trends for the populations of the thirty-three cou nty
Albemarle-Pamlico Estaurine Study (APES) area. Two types of@pop-
ulatlons are identified. The first is the permanent population
which Is the count of people for whom a particular community Is
their usual place of residence. The second is the temporary
recreational population, more specifically, the count of the
overnight-tourist population. The total estimated population :tar
a community is the sum of the permanent population and the over-
night population. The estimates were developed using the county
as the unit of analysis.

Permanent. population counts are available for census years.
Post-censal estimates are developed using data on changes-in the
number of residential electric metere.

Estimates of the temporary population are developed by seek-
ing counts of four different types of overnight facilities.
First, the number of motels/hotels and the number of motel/hotel
roams are counted. -Second,, the number of campgrounds and camp-
sites are counted. Third, the number of marines and-boat &lips
are counted. The date for these three types of facilities came
from secondary sources plus additional on site Inspection. The
fourth type of overnight facility is the -private recreational
housing unit. Counts of private recreational housing are based on
data from the Census of Housing. Estimates of the recreational
population are developed using multipliers reflecting the average
number of persons per. motel room, campsite, boat. alipo and
housing unit.

In developing estimates, counties were ranked by the number
of different types of recreational :facilities they possess.
Overall, Carteret end Dare Counties had the highest level of
recreational activity. Other counties identified as having
significant amounts of one or more type of overnight recreational
facility are Seaufort, Currituck., Craven, Hyde, Pamlico, and
Perquimans.

The estimatee indicate that the prime coastline recreational
counties have experienced significant growth during the 19806.
During the 19808 the most significant increases have come in
private recreational housing, motels/hotels, and marines. There
has been, if any, increase in campgrounds during the decade.

UNC SEA GRANT COllEGE PROGRAM

Box 8603
105 1911 Building
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8605
919 737-2454

M E M 0 R A N D U M

TO: Bob Holman

FROM: Walter Clark

SUBJECT: APES Review Meeting
October 14 - Washington, NC

DATE: August 29, 1988

North Carolina's Estuaries:

A Pilot Study for Managing Multiple Use in the State's Public Trust Waters.

North Carolina's Coastal Area Management Act clearly states that the
management of water areas, especially estuarine waters, is important in
achieving the balanced use and preservation of the state's coastal
resources. However, CAMA, through its dual program of regulation and
planning, has, to date, focused on land and wetland management. In other
words, the program has given little attention-particularly-through the
program's planning component-to the implementation of a comprehensive
management scheme for estuarine and public trust waters. Yet, conflicts
between public trust users in the state's estuarine waters are drastically
increasing in the face of growing population and development.

This proposal suggests the development of a management scheme for estuarine
waters using the model of state and local cooperation set up under the
CAMA. The scheme will be tested through a pilot study that will focus on
a single coastal county's jurisdictional waters.

The study will involve; (1) mapping resource and use areas in the county's
estuarine waters-i.e.-shellfish beds, areas heavily used for recreational,
purposes ect. The services of the state's Land Resources Information
computer mapping program will be utilized; (2) the development, using the
resource maps, of a water use plan. This will be an extension of the
CAMA's land use planning program; (3) the development of local ordinances
utilizing the water use plan, state regulations and local water use goals,
and desires.

At the conclusion of the project the results will be taken to the other
coastal counties through a series of workshops.

This study is relevant to the Albemarle-Pamlico Study goal of providing
information needed to make rational management decisions.

The University of North Carolina is comprised of the sixteen senior institutions in North Carolina
52

PROJECT TITLE/PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

Evaluation of Environmental Management and Resource Protection Programs
in the Albemarle-Pamlico Region / August 1988 through July 1989

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:

Robert Nichols, Research Triangle Institute, RTP, NC

PROJECT ABSTRACT:

This project will assess the effectiveness of existing policies and
management programs that address water quality in the Albemarle-Pamlico
region. The framework of implementation analysis (as developed by Daniel
Mazmanian and Paul Sabatier) will be used to evaluate individual programs,
With an emphasis on State management activities. Programs to be investigated
include those that regulate pollutant-generating activities (e.g., municipal
and industrial point sources, marine waste disposal, stormwater runoff,
agricultural and forestry practices and Defense Department activities) and
resource consumption acitivities (wetlands development, shellfishing, and
finfishing).

implementation research examines the way in which policies and programs
conceived at one level or branch of government (usually in a statute) are
translated into specific actions at another level and achieve certain impacts
on target groups. Success is evaluated using specific criteria that have been
shown to promote effective implementation. The six criteria to be used under
this project are;

1. Enabling legislation or other policy directives that set clear and
consistent objectives
2. Enabling legislation or regulations that are based on a technically
sound theory concerning what actions will result In achievement of the
desired objectives
3. Adequate resources and program structure that will maximize the
potentlal for achieving desired objectives
4. Implementing agency leaders that possess substantial managerial,and
political skills and are committed to the program goals
5. Active support of interest groups, constituency groups and key
legislators
6 An environment where the relative priority of statutory goals is not
undermined by conflicting polities or changed conditions.
A final report will (1) evaluate the effectiveness of critical
environmental management programs (2) evaluate the overall effectiveness with
which existing programs address use-conflicts in the region: and (3) where
necessary, propose changes that may improve the effectiveness of both
individual programs and the overall structure of resource management in the
region.