ACSEC E-Newsletter

March/April 2014

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New Resource!

Pond Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Be Wise if You Fertilize

Pet Waste Management

Car Care

Septic System Maintenance

Clean Boating

Fats, Oils, and Grease

Hazardous Household Materials

Litter and Illegal Dumping

Construction Site Sediment

Programs and Resources

Create Your Own Carolina Yard

Rain Garden Manual

Residential Rainwater Harvesting Manual

Coastal Friendly Living Guide and Links to other SC Sea Grant Publications

This booklet explores tidal creek ecosystems and the various threats to the valuable services they provide

Guide for Community Associations

Home and Garden

Information Center

Certified Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Inspector

Free for Teachers:

New SC Standards-Based

Watershed Lessons and Interactive Whiteboard Activities

SC Green Steps Program

Disposing of Household Waste

County Solid Waste and Recycling Center Info

Berkeley County

Charleston County

Dorchester County

Interactive Maps

SC Watershed Stewardship Map

SC NEMO LID Atlas

SC Coastal Information Network Website Search for Training Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

Litter Sweeps

Berkeley County

Charleston County

Dorchester County

KAB Affiliates

Keep Charleston Beautiful

Keep Dorchester County Beautiful

Keep North Charleston Beautiful

Surfrider Foundation- Charleston Chapter

Storm Drain Marking

Mark Storm Drains In Your Neighborhood and Promote Awareness that Storm Drains and Ditches Connect to SC's Waterways
Email Angela Crouch

Oyster Reef Restoration and Water Quality Monitoring

SCORE Program

Top Pic

On February 22nd, an estimated 1500 plants were transplanted from Sullivan's Island to Folly Beach as part of the Great Seaoat Rescue. This impressive effort was organized by the SC Native Plants Society, CCPRC & the Surfrider Foundation. The translated plants removed were in the path of a future interpretive trail, and in their new location these plants will help to stabilize the dunes & protect Folly Beach County Park.

Tip of the Month: Proper Paint Disposal

Keep Paint Out of Our Storm Drains & Waterways

Have a big Spring paint job planned soon? Use these tips to save money and keep paint out of our storm drains and waterways! Remember that local regulations can vary so contact your public utility for specifics for your community.

Calculate how much paint you need before you buy (and save money, too!). When planning for a project, we often buy too much paint and must find a way to handle the leftovers. Talk to a salesperson at a paint retailer for calculation assistance.
Dispose of paint chips properly. If removing old paint from outside your home, be sure to pick up all paint chips and dispose of in the trash. If using a pressure-washer to remove paint, contain water and do not allow runoff to flow to a drain, gutter, ditch or waterway. If chips are from marine paint or paint that contains lead, contact your local household hazardous waste collection facility for information on how to dispose.
Never rinse paint brushes down a storm drain. Questions on how to clean paint brushes are common and methods vary depending on the type of paint. For water-based (latex) paints, rinse out brushes with water in a sink or contain outdoors by using a bucket. Pour rinse water down a sink that drains to the sanitary sewer. Oil-based paints are considered a hazardous waste. Never wash oil-based paints down any sink, drain or outside. For oil-based paint, clean brushes with paint thinner in a sealable container and contact your nearest Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility for disposal information.
Recycle or donate leftover paint! Contact a Recycling Center near you to find out if they offer a recycled paint program. Or, donate to a friend or needy organization!

For information on a Recycling Center or Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facilities near you, visit:

SCDHEC Recycling Program website .

Source: American Coatings Association

New Resource!

Do you live near or next to the salt marsh? If so, we have the fact sheet for you!

Learn more about buffer establishment & responsible gardening practices recommended for yards adjacent to the salt marsh. "Life along the Salt Marsh: Protecting Tidal Creeks with Vegetative Buffers" is housed in the SC Waterways library. Click HERE to read more!

Save the Date!

Charleston Area Stormwater
Pond Management Conference

May 22, 2014

Save the Date! The second, bi-annual Charleston Area Stormwater Pond Management Conference will be held on May 22, 2014 at Trident Technical College. Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn from the experts on how to maintain your pond to control flooding, protect water quality, and keep your community beautiful! Registration will open and additional information will be shared by April 1 at www.ashleycooper.org.

pond banner

2014 Conference

Community Fairs and Festivals

March-April 2014

Spring has sprung, and in the Charleston Tri-County area this means the opportunity to attend a community-based fair or festival, many of which are themed around the Earth Day Celebration. Keep an eye out for the ACSEC booth, we hope to see you there!

Berkeley County Earth Day

When: Saturday, March 15 from 10:00AM to 4:00PM

Where: Cypress Gardens

Learn more HERE

Flowertown Festival

When: Friday to Sunday, April 4-6

Where: Downtown Summerville

Learn more HERE

MUSC Earth Day

When: Tuesday, April 15

Where: MUSC "Horseshoe"

Learn more HERE

Charleston County Earth Day

When: Saturday, April 26 from 10:00AM to 4:00PM

Where: Riverfront Park, North Charleston

Learn more HERE

SC Native Plants Society Native Plant Sale

March 15

Native Plants = Healthy Habitats

Interested in finding native plants to help our pollinators and create a water-wise backyard? The SC Native Plants Society (SC NPS) Spring native plant sale will not disappoint! This is your chance to find a diverse array of native plants, including trees, shrubs, perennials, vines and grasses, at a nice price! SC NPS volunteers will be there to help answer your questions and point you in the right direction. The spring sale is always very popular, so best to get there early!

When: March 15 from 9:00AM to 11:00AM

Members can start shopping at 8:30AM

Where: Charles Towne Landing

Who: SC Native Plants Society, Lowcountry Chapter

Sale is open to the general public

Learn more at scnps.org/lowcountry

Carolina Yard Gardening School

March 22

Don't miss your chance to attend the 2014 Carolina Yards Gardening School - Register Today! This full day event will feature garden lectures, workshops, educational exhibits, plant problem diagnosis clinic, a Making It Grow Q&A, a chance to win door prizes and more. Topics covered include heirloom vegetable seeds, integrated pest management, life along the shoreline, landscape design, gardening for birds and much more. Participants receive one soil test and complimentary compost. Learn from the experts and meet new friends; lunch and refreshments included!

When: March 22, from 8:00AM to 4:30PM
Where: Charleston Exchange Park
Register and Learn More: HERE

This effort is offered in partnership between Clemson Extension Service, Tri-County Master Gardeners Association, Exchange Park, Charleston County Recycle, Carolina Clear and the Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium.

Carolina Yard Five Week Online Class

Start May 8

"Carolina Yards Online Guide to Environmentally Friendly Gardening" is a five week online course aimed to help participants create an attractive and healthy yard by working with South Carolina's environment rather than against it. The course is self-paced and can be done in the comfort of your very own home! Learn through this interactive online classroom and meet peers from around the state! The Spring course starts soon!

To learn more email CarolinaYards@clemson.edu
Or, visit the Carolina Yard website at www.clemson.edu/cy

Clemson 4-H2O Summer Camp

June 16-20, July 7-11

Registration is now open for Clemson's 4-H2O "Exploring Lowcountry Waterways" Summer Camp. Youth will learn about watershed stewardship and coastal ecology by exploring their local watersheds, from cypress knees to sandy beaches! Along the way we will kayak, dip net, travel aboard boats, walk swamp boardwalks, view microscopic life, take water quality samples and much more. We will also meet many friends, such as experts from SC SeaGrant, SC DNR, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, CCPRC and SC Audubon!

This camp is offered by Clemson Extension Carolina Clear and 4-H Program and is open to youth in the Tri-County area ages 10-13.

To learn more and to register click HERE
group june 2013

From Seeds to Shoreline Teacher Workshop

June 25

The "From Seeds to Shoreline" teacher workshop series provides an opportunity for teachers to learn more about the S2S program as well as get a little muddy, too! The teacher workshop is now a prerequisite for new teachers joining the program. All grade levels and content areas are welcome, but registration is a must. The lineup for the 2014 summer is as follows:

June 25 - Charleston Area Workshop

June 26 - Beaufort Area Workshop

June 27 - Georgetown/Myrtle Beach Area Workshop

Learn more at SC Sea Grant. Registration to post soon.

Questions? Email EV Bell.

Thank you! for reading this edition of the Ripple Effect, the Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium (ACSEC) E-newsletter. Like ripples on the water, we hope you will pass on your knowledge, and this newsletter, to others.

Thank You!

for protecting SC's water resources!

Storm Drains and Ditches Lead to SC Waterways

THE ACSEC MISSON

The ACSEC is a regional partnership between counties, municipalities, universities, state and local agencies, non-profits and other organizations in the Tri-County region.

The ACSEC mission: Improve water quality within the Ashley and Cooper River basins by providing educational opportunities on stormwater impacts and our community roles in supporting healthy, fishable, and swimmable waterways.

For Protecting South Carolina's Waterways

Have a workshop or event request, or just want to know more? Please contact us!

Kimberly Counts

Water Resources Extension Agent

kcounts@clemson.edu

Guinn Garrett

Water Resources Extension Agent

cggarre@clemson.edu

Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.