Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-154-2026 (submitted: 04/16/2026, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Groundwater monitoring at Marsh Landing (North) long-term monitoring site
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Alicia M. Wilson | ||
| Home Institution: | University of South Carolina | ||
| Award Information: | Some combination of SC SeaGrant Consortium or NSF (Hydrology or Biological Oceanography) funds for well installation, less than $1000. Existing GCE Cera and CTD divers to be transferred from the Upland Monitoring site. | ||
| Mailing Address: | Department of Geological Sciences | Phone Number: | (803) 777-1240 |
| University of South Carolina | E-mail Address: | awilson@geol.sc.edu | |
| Columbia, South Carolina 29208 | |||
| Co-investigators: | |||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
The project is designed to characterize the groundwater hydrology at Steve Pennings' long-term ecological monitoring site near Marsh Landing, with a specific goal of finding a mechanism to explain observed links between drought and migration of plant zones in the high marsh. The immediate objective is to install 5 wells in a transect running through Steve's site, to monitor the groundwater hydrology (water levels and salinity) of the site. Later analysis and modeling will be part of GCE IV.
NOTE: The wells were installed July 13, 2018 (R5 added in 2023). There was miscommunication about who would do the paperwork, and we apologize that it was not done at that time. Now that this has been brought to our attention, we are remediating.
Where will the project be located?
R2 31°25'0.98"N 81°17'34.99"W R3 31°25'0.64"N 81°17'34.37"W R4 31°25'0.06"N 81°17'33.43"W R5 31°24'55.54"N 81°17'24.14"W
How will you provide GPS coordinates for study sites?
GPS coordinates are listed in the project location field
What are the expected start and end dates of the project?
Start Date: 07/01/2018 End Date: (ongoing)
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
3 people for well installation. Thereafter, 1 person every 6 months to download dataloggers.
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
Wells will be installed at 4 locations (R2, R3, R4, R5). Pairs of wells will be installed at R2 and R3. Individual wells will be installed at R4 and R5. (This is a total of 6 wells.) The wells will be constructed of 1 1/4" PVC and will extend 2' above land surface and reach 3 to 8' below land surface. In each well, a small depth-level logger or conductivity-temperature-depth probe will be installed. The wells at R2, R3, and R4 will be installed in July 2018. R5 will be installed in 2023. The wells will stay in place until new long-term monitoring sites are developed (likely 2027 or 2028). The wells will be abandoned by pulling them out and filling the hole with bentonite clay, if possible. If the well cannot be pulled out (likely after 8-10 years), it will be cut off as low as possible (at or slightly below land surface) and filled with bentonite.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
NA
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
Installation causes some trampling in the marsh in a 3-ft radius around the well, but this will be minimized by bringing small portable boardwalks (plastic shelving) to stand on. The marsh invariably recovers within a few months. Disturbance around upland wells is limited to a few inches around the well.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
No impact after conclusion.
Site Photographs:
Files attached to this application
GCE-154-2026_Maps_MarshLandingNorth_Site_map.pdf (PDF file, 921.63 kb, submitted 04/16/2026)
GCE-154-2026_Photos_IMG_8940.JPG (Jpeg image, 3108.59 kb, submitted 04/16/2026)
GCE-154-2026_Photos_Wells_on_Sapelo.jpg (Jpeg image, 4567.08 kb, submitted 04/16/2026)
GCE-154-2026_General_RLS20260027_Wilson_signed_Marsh_Landing_North.pdf (PDF file, 321.99 kb, submitted 05/11/2026)
