SHEP Monitoring Components

Activities of the SHEP monitoring program include Pre-Construction, Construction and Post-Construction components:

  • Pre-Construction Monitoring: establish baseline databank/conditions to assist with impact assessment during later phases
  • Monitoring During Construction: ensure the construction process is within the environmental constraints imposed by EIS and approvals of the resource agencies
  • Post-Construction Monitoring: verify that project does not produce more impacts than predicted and mitigation features function as intended

The following table shows a summary of the major components of the SHEP monitoring program and the time period for which each monitoring element will be performed. Appendix D of the Final EIS contains more information about the program and its requirements. Click each element for a description of the work.

# Element Pre During Post Construction
Y
1		 Y
2		 Y
3		 Y
4		 Y
5		 Y
6		 Y
7		 Y
8		 Y
9		 Y
10		 Post Year 10
1 Establish Baseline Data Bank •
2 Installation of Continuous Water Quality Data Recorders (5 new, 3 upgrades) •
3 Update Hydrodynamic and WQ Models (If Necessary) •
4 Bathymetric Surveys of Sediment Basin • •
5 D.O. Transfer Efficiency Study •
6 D.O. Levels near Dredge during Summer Months (Monitor USGS gage near Corps Depot) •
7 Cadmium Sediment Sampling in 14A/14B •
8 CDF (DMCA) Effluent • • •
9 Monitoring of 8 Continuous Water Quality Data Recorders • • • • • • • • • • • • 4 recorders
10 2 Intensive Water Quality/Hydrologic Monitoring Events • • •
11 2 Bathymetric Surveys in Unique Areas • • •
12 Hydrodynamic/Water Quality Model Assessment • • •
13 Freshwater Interface Determination • •
14 Chloride Monitoring at Abercorn Creek Intake • • • • • • •
15 Groundwater Chloride Monitoring • • • • • • • • • • • • 8 wells
16 Monitoring of 12 Marsh Sites (Chloride/Hydrologic/Vegetation) • • • • • • • • • • • •
17 Monitoring of Marsh Restoration Site (1S) • • • • • • •
18 Shortnose Sturgeon Distribution in Estuary • • • • • • • •
19 Shortnose Sturgeon Distribution at NSBL&D • • • • • • •
20 Fish Distribution Along Marshes • • • • •
21 Impact Assessment Review • • • • • • • • • •
22 Wildlife Use in 14A/14B (Avian/Terrestrial Field Counts) • • • •
23 14A/14B Inflow/Effluent (South Carolina) • •
24 14A/14B Bird Tissue Analysis • • • • •
25 Sampling Exposed Miocene for Cadmium • •
26 Shortnose Sturgeon and Striped Bass Habitat Monitoring • • •

• Elements were brought forward in schedule for preconstruction monitoring (not originally planned for as discussed in Appendix D of 2012 SHEP EIS)