Maritime Forests
Bobcat populations are increasing and deer populations are decreasing , which will stabilize over time as they reach a balance . Decreased use in SGA rodenticides will help support healthy bobcat populations which will help naturally stabilize deer populations in the future . Efforts are still ongoing to study Kiawah ’ s bobcats and the Conservancy continues to support the researchers on the project .
The community remains concerned about flooding and standing water . An increase in impervious surfaces on the island will continue to contribute to this by producing more stormwater runoff . This can be reduced by decreasing the volume of stormwater runoff into drainage infrastructure . Understanding groundwater dynamics , land cover , and forest composition over time will help us track changes and estimate potential issues within the watershed . These efforts also help inform the siting of green-infrastructure projects ( e . g ., rain gardens and bioretention areas ) and implementation of landscape practices to improve the island ’ s resilience to flooding while also enhancing areas with a diminishing freshwater lens .
Tidal Salt Marshes
There is concern for the long-term stability of the tidal salt marshes due to sea-level rise , major storm frequency and intensity , stormwater , and coastal development . All of which have the potential to negatively impact the health of salt marshes . Reducing the negative impact of these drivers to marsh health can aid in the overall resilience of marshes to impacts from other environmental stressors . Stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces is of particular concern due to the introduction of contaminants which degrade water quality and serves as an indicator of the lack of groundwater recharge to dilute soil salinity . Reducing stormwater runoff and recharging the groundwater table in the upland areas will enhance functioning of the marsh . This helps by improving the availability of freshwater in the subsurface , but also assists in reducing the introduction of contaminants and excess nutrients into the marsh .
Ecological Health of Kiawah Island 2022 40