Ellen Sturup Comeau Water Resources Agent Beaufort County
Photo Credit: Guinn Wallover”
With autumn’s cooler temperatures now fully here, we can enjoy the last blooms of our Lowcountry landscapes before they become dormant for the winter. While we may be sad to see the purple of sweet grass and the yellow of goldenrod fade, most folks along ponds are rejoicing for the end of the algae season. However, many residents don’t realize that many of the ponds in Beaufort are not a natural part of our landscape. In fact, there are no natural ponds in Beaufort County!
Many of our ponds are actually engineered systems designed to capture and treat stormwater runoff. That’s why even if you refer to them as ponds, lakes, or lagoons, many pond managers, engineering staff, and water quality educators will call them stormwater ponds. These stormwater ponds are designed and built to prevent flooding and protect water quality by temporarily storing and releasing stormwater runoff. Stormwater ponds also capture sediment and promote biogeochemical processes that break down potential pollutants before the water flows downstream.
Therefore, no matter what you call the beautiful water feature in your neighborhood, it has an important job to do! However, stormwater ponds need regular maintenance and inspection to keep your community safe and healthy. Regular pond maintenance includes, but is not limited to:
- Keeping inlets and outlets free of litter, debris, and other blockages.
- Preventing shoreline erosion by stabilizing the bank with a vegetated buffer.
- Dredging the pond when sediment fills 25% of the pond’s permanent pool.
While an HOA or neighborhood may own the pond, managing a stormwater pond takes the whole community to work together. No matter how close they live to the stormwater pond, all residents play a role in protecting its function. All residents should:
- Keep yard debris, like grass clippings, out of storm drains and ponds.
- Pick up their pet’s waste in the yard and on walks.
- Reduce nuisance Canada Geese populations by not feeding them.
For more information on stormwater ponds, check out Clemson Extension’s Home and Garden Information Center or SC Stormwater Pond Management website! However, if you want an in-person event to learn more about stormwater ponds, please consider the 2023 Beaufort Area Stormwater Pond Management Conference on 12/06/2023! The 2023 Beaufort Area Stormwater Pond Management Conference is also a great option to learn about the latest information, tools, and resources for pond management to pond management professionals and property managers. The conference will be held at USCB’s Bluffton Campus from 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM. Topics include water quality, floating wetlands, vegetated buffers, aeration, harmful algal blooms, and more! Conference participants will receive presentations and advice from local and regional experts, lunch, continuing education credits, and a tour of the USCB Bluffton Campus’ stormwater pond system. Tickets are $75 and available at https://bit.ly/3QsmXMQ. For more information, contact Water Resources Agent Ellen Sturup Comeau at ecomeau@clemson.edu or 843-473-6023.
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status, and is an equal opportunity employer.
