South Carolina Waters Open Explorer Expedition #3--Lake Moultrie

South Carolina Waters Expedition #3 took us to the shores of Lake Moultrie, particularly the Hatchery Waterfowl Management Area. The weather was on the cool side and the skies were mostly cloudy on this late February day, so wildlife activity for the most part was at a minimal.

Upon arrival at the parking area, the expedition team scouted the area for the best location to set up and deploy the OpenROV Trident. A short hike brought us to the shores of Lake Moultrie where we discovered an intrusive plant growing on the beach and thousands of small clam shells along with evidence of the sad side of human activity and disrespect for the environment, trash was strewn all over the sand and adjacent vegetation.

Intentionally or unintentionally, humans can impact their natural environment in several different ways, but for every action there is a reaction, and the consequences can either turn out for the good or for the bad. The formation of Lake Moultrie in South Carolina is an example of one way. In this case, the goal was to produce electricity for a growing population, which you would consider to be a good thing. Another way is through the introduction of foreign species, whether intentionally or unintentionally, into an ecosystem that offers no checks or balances for the intruder.

We encountered species not native to South Carolina that have found its way into the lake's ecosystem. Two of them producing adverse effects and one with a fascinating appetite, and the most likely culprit, human activity. One is a very intrusive plant, the second has had a destructive effect on the native clam populations, and the third is a mystery as to how it got here. The following video will discuss this in more detail.


While part of the team did some trash pickup, Rick Olson deployed his kayak to scout out a water impoundment adjacent to the beach where the waters appeared clearer than the other areas of the hatchery. As he kayaked the impoundment, he found a dead yellow-bellied turtle and tried to determine what caused its demise. There was no damage to the shell, but the turtle was missing an eye. A microscope was used and pictures were taken, but no conclusive reason could be found. Possibly, someone fishing may have hooked it.

We launched the OpenROV from two different spots and underwater video was taken. The bottom of the water impoundment was thick with seaweed and the props on the ROV had to be cleared several times. This is where Rick and his kayak played the integral role of retrieving and clearing the ROV of the intrusive seaweed, thus saving Dave Eslinger from having to get wet again.


Some of the seaweed was collected and pictures were taken with the microscope. Interestingly, small insects were found clinging to the foliage. Some samples were saved to be studied later. We look forward to viewing the underwater video in detail after it is uploaded for examination to see what was captured on our expedition to Lake Moultrie's Hatchery Waterfowl Management Area.

Following are some additional information about Lake Moultrie's freshwater clams:

Freshwater mussels serve as indicators of a healthy ecosystem. Mussels filter large volumes of water, removing food items such as algae, bacteria, diatoms and fine particulate organic material. It is a clear sign that something is wrong when mussels begin to disappear from a water body.

An invading species, such the Asian clam, competes with the native species for food and habitat resources. The Asian clam has been blamed for the decline and local extinctions of several native freshwater mussel species in the waters it has invaded, including South Carolina.

Native freshwater clam to South Carolina

South Carolina Waters Expedition--A Key Piece Of Grant Funded Equipment Has Arrived

Charleston is home to some of the busiest waters on the southern coast from the daily flow of massive ocean-going container ships to the hundreds of considerably smaller paddleboarders leisurely gliding in and around its estuaries and beaches. Add to this, a cruise ship will periodically slip into port with its load of vacationers hungry to soak in the city's harbor views and peninsula history. For sure, there is a lot to be experienced above water level, but silently overlooked is the abundance to be discovered and shared below its murky coastal waters, historically and ecologically.

Compared to clear water, murky water is characteristically home to an abundance of living organisms, including phytoplankton (a flora of freely floating minute organisms and a key part of oceans, seas and freshwater basin ecosystems) and zooplankton (jellyfish, crustaceans, and other ocean-wandering animals). Sediments also play a role. Along certain coasts, easily agitated finer particles like sand and silt will stay afloat for longer periods adding to the water's murkiness. On the other hand, the sediments off clearer coasts may be heavier and coarser. Instead of fine sand, these sediments are often made up of things like pieces of shells and chunks of dead coral, which are often tougher to stir up. Murky Bulls Bay of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge contains the cleanest, richest waters in the world. Notably, Charleston's waters are also rich with the oozy, gooey, viscous substance locals fondly know as pluff mud.

This is the kind of environment the exploration team of the South Carolina Waters Expedition will be performing in as they explore Charleston's waters from salty coastal marshes up brackish tidal rivers for a glimpse of its sunken ships, flooded ghost towns, submerged relics, and unique marine inhabitants. To see in this type of ecosystem, the team will need some specialized equipment. This key piece of equipment to augment the team's visual capabilities has finally arrived--the OpenROV Trident.

Outfitted with a 1080p camera protected by a hardened sapphire lens, the Trident will provide the essential instrumentation for acquiring the fascinating videography the exploration team plans on sharing with its interested parties and followers. Specifically optimized for underwater filming, its great low-light performance and a wide viewing angle supported by advanced color correction algorithms will further allow the exploration team to observe Charleston's diverse aquatic life and collection of hidden underwater treasures in all its murky colors--ideal for exploring its nutrient rich estuaries and tidal rivers.

The Trident can be extended to include custom sensors or modules as add-ons which can be bolted to the payload area and interface with the main vehicle via WiFi. A phone or tablet can be used to control the drone and stream live HD video.

It will take some practice sessions to master Trident's highly tuned electronic speed controller with its rugged brushless motors capable of reaching speeds of up to 2 m/s for a quick descent as far as 300 feet or glide silently at slow speeds to carefully observe the murky and mysterious underwater environment it will be traversing.

Enjoy the expedition team's first video of team leader Dave Eslinger unboxing and showcasing some of the Trident's features, and stay tuned for upcoming videos of practice sessions as the team familiarizes themselves with its advanced autopilot features and fine tunes their operating skills.


The Expedition Team: Dave Eslinger, Rick Olson, Adam Stover, Paul Zoeller, Brad Mallett, and myself.