DATE:     10/20/00
CONTACT:  Cal Sawyer, (843) 722-5940; calvins@clemson.edu
WRITER:   Tom Lollis, (803) 284-3343; tlollis@clemson.edu

Coast-A-Syst program to help
public protect water quality

     CHARLESTON -- South Carolinians need to be constantly on 
the alert to make sure that water stays clean along the 
coast.
     "We have so much at stake -- from our drinking water 
to the economic effects of tourism," said Cal Sawyer, coastal
environmental quality specialist with the S.C. Sea Grant 
Extension Program. He heads up a new program called 
Coast-A-Syst, which will help coastal residents identify 
environmental risks around their homes and learn how to 
safeguard their health and the health of the environment.
     Sawyer pointed out that the state contains 2,876 miles 
of tidal shoreline, 500,000 acres of tidal bottoms and 504,450 
acres of salt marsh which is 20 percent of the salt marsh on 
the East Coast.
     In addition, each year more than 2,000 commercial 
fisherman harvest more than 15 million pounds of seafood worth 
about $25 million from coastal waters.
     In 1997, more than 60 percent of the $14.4 billion spent 
on recreation and tourism in the state was spent along the 
coast.
     More than a quarter of the state's 3.5 million residents 
live in the eight coastal counties, where the rate of population 
growth is about double the state average, according to Sawyer.
     "We all contribute to water pollution, whether we realize 
it or not," he said, noting that one of the biggest impacts on 
the environment is from washing boats and cars on a paved 
driveway.
     The soap and water used to wash a boat or vehicle typically 
goes straight into a storm drain and then directly into the 
nearest body of surface water. That could be a reservoir, 
neighborhood pond, tidal creek, river, estuary or private 
well.
     "Just one person may not cause much of a problem, but 
when everybody does it, the cumulative effects can be huge," 
said Sawyer. The phosphate in soaps can stimulate algal bloom, 
which in turn can reduce oxygen levels in the water and make 
life more difficult for fish and shellfish.
     One way to avoid the problem is to use phosphate-free 
cleaners, but the simplest solution is to park your boat or 
car on the lawn to wash it. That way most of the wash water 
soaks into the soil, and what runs off will at least be filtered 
by the grass.
     Another big no-no is applying pesticides and fertilizers 
too close to a water body at the wrong time.
     "You need to pay attention not only to the calibration 
of the applicator and the amount of fertilizer or pesticide 
you put out, but also to the weather," said Sawyer. "If a storm 
front is coming, don't apply chemicals within a day of the 
storm."
     These issues and others are covered in a 122-page 
publication called "South Carolina Coast-A-Syst: An 
Environmental Risk-Assessment Guide for Protecting Coastal 
Water Quality." 
     "Anyone who is interested in doing something to protect 
the environment may contact me for a copy of this publication 
free of charge," said Sawyer. 
     He may be reached at (843) 722-5940 for voice mail. His 
fax number is (843) 722-5944. His e-mail address is 
calvins@clemson.edu.
     "This is a voluntary program. Big Brother will not be looking 
over your shoulder," he said.
     The publication contains seven chapters covering subjects 
such as: protecting water quality around your home; managing 
stormwater; keeping well water clean; managing your home septic 
system; managing hazardous household products; environmentally 
friendly gardening and landscaping practices; and caring for 
your boat and dock.
     Sawyer said he will be training Clemson Extension Service 
agents and Master Gardeners in the Coast-A-Syst program in 
coming months, and coastal residents will eventually have 
contacts in each county Clemson Extension office.
     Counties with at least some coastline include Jasper, 
Beaufort, Colleton, Charleston, Georgetown and Horry. Other 
counties in the lower Coastal Plain, either wholly or partially,
include Hampton, Allendale, Bamberg, Orangeburg, Dorchester, 
Berkeley, Williamsburg, Clarendon, Florence and Marion.
     Coast-A-Syst is a companion project of Home-A-Syst and
Farm-A-Syst, two national self-assessment programs sponsored 
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Cooperative
State Research Education and Extension Service, the USDA 
Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Environmental
Protection Agency.
     The Sea Grant Extension Program is a joint effort of the 
Clemson Extension Service and the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.
                              END