Nancy H. HadleyRebekah J. W. Szivak

The Problems

• Increased coastal populationIncreased coastal population• Increased impact on water quality and Increased impact on water quality and

water-based resourceswater-based resources

• EconomyEconomy• Decrease in number of resource Decrease in number of resource

managersmanagers

1973: 70 sq. mi. 1994: 180 sq.mi. 2030: 618 sq.mi.

Urban area in Charleston County

• Instead of being part of the problem, they can be part of the solution

• If coastal residents are good stewards, environmental impacts can be lessened and even reversed

• Environmentally aware citizens can influence government policies

Uninformed

Interested

Informed

Involved

Provide information so your audience can:• Understand the science• Recognize the information is credible• Be motivated to advocate for natural

resources• Know how to act to benefit natural

resources

But, remember information alone is not the answer

You need to:• Give the public “permission” to be resource

advocates• Communicate using a diverse array of tools• Offer hands-on activities to increase engagement• Delegate responsibility• Involve all age groups on appropriate levels• Maintain regular contact

• Reaches a diverse audience• Retirement communities• School children• Youth groups• Inner city kids• Anglers clubs

• More than 50 community partners spanning SC coast

• Shell recycling

• Shell bagging

• Reef building

• Water quality monitoring

Environmental Action Volunteers (EAV)

Volunteer – run Shell Recycling Program, Bluffton, SC

Recycled and bagged ~ 3,600

bushels of shells since 2002

Shell Bagging

More than 20,000 bags since 2001

Filled with 350 tons of oyster shells

161 reefs at 34 sites since 2001161 reefs at 34 sites since 2001

Reef Building

Volunteer Water MonitoringVolunteers monitor water quality weekly and enter data online. More than 25 sites being monitored weekly.

Volunteer Water Monitoring Partner with local groups

• Town of Bluffton

• Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium

• Earthforce

• Michaux Conservancy

Underdock Oyster CultureRecreational aquacultureWaterfront property owners may grow

their own oysters for personal consumption if they are in approved waters

Gives waterfront property owners a vested interest in water quality

Spat collection program Homeowners will host bags of oyster shell during

summer months Shell with spat attached will be returned to DNR to

create oyster reefs during the winter Increases capacity for oyster restoration Engages different segment of population - may

segue to underdock oyster culture Participants do not have to be in approved waters

but may become interested in improving the water quality

ConclusionsAn informed and engaged citizenry

can assist resource managers and potentially reverse environmental degradation on a local scale

Social networks/partnering increases impact

We can’t do it alone – we must involve and empower the public