Cape Romain National Wildife Refuge AQRV's
Cape Romain NWR and Wilderness contain extensive areas of open water, salt marsh, tidal creeks, and fresh and brackish ponds. The aquatic resources associated with these areas are considered to be sensitive air quality related values (AQRVs). Coastal waters are sensitive to atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (primarily from power plants, agriculture, and automobiles). Excess nitrogen contributes to eutrophication, characterized by algae blooms, loss of seagrass beds, and deterioration of fish and wildlife habitat. Freshwater ponds on sandy substrates may have low acid-neutralizing capacity and, therefore, be sensitive to acidic deposition. In addition, freshwater ponds on sandy substrates in Cape Romain may have low acid-neutralizing capacity and, therefore, be sensitive to acidic deposition.
Fauna/Wildlife
Cape Romain has a rich diversity of fish and wildlife. There are eight Federally-listed and eight State-listed endangered or threatened species occurring in Cape Romain, including the American alligator, arctic peregrine falcon, bald eagle, Cooper's hawk, eastern brown pelican, glossy ibis, ground dove, least tern, loggerhead sea turtle, osprey, piping plover, red wolf, swallow-tailed kite, and wood stork. Leatherback sea turtles and red cockaded woodpeckers are also known to use the area on occasion. The fish and wildlife of Cape Romain are considered sensitive air quality related values (AQRVs), that is, they may be affected by air pollution. Air pollution may indirectly affect these AQRVs by causing habitat degradation. In addition, they may be directly affected by atmospheric deposition of pollutants such as mercury and other toxics.
Soils
Some of the soils in Cape Romain are very sandy and, therefore, are poorly buffered from the effects of atmospheric deposition of acidic pollutants (“acid rain”). The susceptibility of Cape Romain soils to acidic deposition has not been investigated, but it is possible that they are sensitive AQRVs.
Vegetation
Field surveys have documented ozone injury on a number of plant species in Cape Romain. The affected plant species are sensitive AQRV's.
- Cape Romain Ozone Injury Survey
- Ozone Sensitive Plant Species on NPS and U.S. FWS Lands
- Ozone Bioindicators on NPS and U.S. FWS Lands
Visibility
Visibility is a sensitive AQRV at Cape Romain. Visibility impairment due to fine particle pollution has been documented at Cape Romain.