The Aquatic Science Programs (ASP) resides in SC DHEC’s Bureau of Water. The purpose of the ASP is to use transparent and valid science to assess water quality and aquatic resources of the state, provide information to decision makers, and educate the public in a straightforward and easily understandable manner. Areas of focus for the ASP include ambient water quality monitoring, harmful algal blooms, fish consumption advisories, beach monitoring, benthic macroinvertebrates and special (targeted) assessments. The ASP team conducts year-round sampling across South Carolina and continually strives to improve water quality monitoring programs by producing high-quality data. On this page you can find technical documents, special study reports, and standard operating procedures produced by the Aquatic Science Programs, some in collaboration with outside partners. Keep up to date with ASP through their yearly Newsletter!
Technical Reports
Beach Monitoring
Macroinvertebrates
- Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Bioassessment of the North Fork of the Edisto River After a Cyanide Release
- Impacts of Coal Tar Contamination on the Invertebrate Community of the Congaree River near the City of Columbia
- Key to Common Aquatic Invertebrates of the Waccamaw River
Fish Tissue
- Mercury bioaccumulation in Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) from Offshore Waters of South Carolina, USA
- Mercury in South Carolina Fishes, USA
- Uranium and Fluoride in Fish from the Congaree River
Water Quality
- 2021 Lake Murray Little Saluda River and Bush River Arms Nutrient Study
- A Bacteriological Assessment of Surface Water Quality in a Small Sub-Watershed of the Okatee River Basin
- Big Wateree Creek 2019 Report
- Lead: A Review of Lead in Surface Waters Jan. 2020
- Lead: Update Regarding Lead (Pb) Waters of Concern Oct. 2020
- Lower Catawba River Basin - 2019 Stream and Lake Nutrient Water Quality Study
- Lower Catawba River Basin – 2020 Nutrient Study
- Okatee River Environmental Condition Assessment 2019
- Okatee River Environmental Condition Assessment 2019 Volume 2 - Raw Data
- Synopsis: Development and Adoption of the Escherichia coli Freshwater Water Quality Standard
- Synopsis: Development and Adoption of the Escherichia coli Freshwater Water Quality Standard, Volume II – Raw Data
- The Condition of South Carolina's Estuarine and Coastal Habitats (by year)
Harmful Algal Blooms
- 2021 SC Cyanotoxin Distribution Project
- 2020 SC Cyanotoxin Distribution Project
- 2019 SC Cyanotoxin Distribution Project
- 2018 SC Cyanotoxin Distribution Project
Standard Operating Procedures
- Continuous Monitoring of Ambient Surface Water
- Fish and Shellfish Tissue Collection
- Macroinvertebrates
- Harmful Algal Blooms (Collection)
- Harmful Algal Blooms (ELISA analysis)
Yearly Newsletter
Contact
Questions about the Aquatic Science Programs can be directed to Bryan Rabon at:
803-898-4402
raboneb@dhec.sc.gov