1.0  Introduction

            In 1993 scientists at the UNC Wilmington Center for Marine Science Research began studying five tidal creeks in New Hanover County.  This project, funded by New Hanover County, the Northeast New Hanover Conservancy, and UNCW, yielded a comprehensive report detailing important findings from 1993-1997, and produced a set of management recommendations for improving creek water quality (Mallin et al. 1998a).  In 1999-2000 Whiskey Creek was added to the matrix of tidal creek watersheds analyzed in our program.

            Additionally, in October 1997 the Center for Marine Science began a project (funded by the City of Wilmington Engineering Department) with the goal of assessing water quality in Wilmington City watersheds under base flow conditions.  Also, certain sites were analyzed for sediment heavy metals concentrations (EPA Priority Pollutants).  In the past six years we have produced combined Tidal Creeks – Wilmington City Watersheds reports (Mallin et al. 1998b; 1999; 2000a; 2002a; 2003; 2004).  In the present report we present results of continuing studies from August 2003 - July 2004 in the tidal creek complex and January - September 2004 in the City of Wilmington watersheds. 

            The water quality data within is presented from a watershed perspective.  Some of the watersheds cross political boundaries (i.e. parts of the same watershed may lie in the County but not the City).  Bradley and Hewletts Creeks are examples.  Water quality parameters analyzed in the tidal creeks include water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity/conductivity, turbidity, nitrate, ammonium, orthophosphate, chlorophyll a, and in selected creeks fecal coliform bacteria.  Similar analyses were carried out in the City watersheds with the addition of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) at selected sites.