Clemson's Excellent Watershed World

As a Center of Excellence, the institute will receive EPA technical assistance, promotion to stakeholders; EPA letters of support for grant opportunities; and identification of opportunities for the center's involvement in local and regional watershed issues.

Gene Eidson, director of Clemson Restoration Institute's ecology program, said the center is taking a leadership role in water resources and watershed issues in South Carolina by developing partnerships with other institutions and agencies and organizing a statewide water resources conference October 14 and 15 at the Charleston Area Convention Center.

One of the major projects being developed by the center is a cyber infrastructure-based digital watershed.

A system of remote sensors will provide scientists, professional environmental managers and the public with real-time information about environmental characteristics - water quality, stormwater runoff, even tree growth from any Internet access point. The cyber infrastructure is expected to be online by October.

Clemson awarded a $1.5 million grant to the center to develop the cyber infrastructure and four demonstration projects.

These projects include real-time monitoring of 215 miles of the Savannah River watershed and a low-impact development project in Georgetown County.

In addition, two small watershed projects at Lake Issaqueena in Pickens Count and along a segment of the Saluda River Watershed in Greenville County were funded.

In addition, the center is working with the city of Aiken, South Carolina, and the Hitchcock Woods Foundation to formulate an Ecological Restoration Master Plan for the Sand River that will describe the existing conditions and prioritize restoration and remediation projects for the area.

Finally, the Center is working on the Pickens County Strategic Water Supply Plan that brings together all water-supply groups in Pickens County to formulate a 20-year plan to address population growth and water needs.

"The Restoration Institute's work in protecting South Carolina watersheds is vital to our future," said Clemson Vice President John Kelly. "This center can be an important resource for local governments, industries and community groups who recognize the need for a comprehensive approach to water management."

To designate the Center of Excellence, Clemson officials signed a memo of understaning on July 8 with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control during a ceremony at the Madren Center on the university's campus.

"This designation recognizes our shared commitment to restore and protect South Carolina's watersheds," said Jim Giattina, director of EPA Region 4's Water Management Division.

He said the three partners are taking a broader approach to managing water resources "by looking at watersheds more holistically."

David Wilson, Water Bureau chief with the state health and environment agency, said, "The center is the first of its kind in South Carolina, and we as an agency believe it will increase awareness and facilitate improvement in water quality across the state."

To become a recognized Center of Excellence, institutions must demonstrate technical expertise in identifying and addressing watershed needs; involvement of students, staff and faculty in watershed research; capability to involve the full suite of disciplines needed for all aspects of watershed management; financial ability to become self-sustaining; ability to deliver and account for results; willingness to partner with other institutions; and support from the highest levels of the organization.

In February 2008, the University of Tennessee's Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment and the Cumberland River Compact were designated as a Center of Excellence for Watershed Management.

Each center designated by the EPA actively seeks out watershed-based stakeholder groups and local governments that need cost effective tools for watershed scientific studies, engineering designs and computer mapping, as well as assistance with legal issues, project management, public education and planning.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.