Volunteers
- Site: Marlin Quay, South Pawley's Island, North Pawley's Island, and Hogs Inlet
- Group Volunteer: Cathy Smith
- Description: The Grand Strand Master Gardener Association, in cooperation with Clemson Extension Service Horry County, has been sampling tidal creek sites along the north coast of South Carolina since the fall of 2002. The GSMGA is an environmentally-conscious group that is interested in educating the general public on the virtues of safe, common-sense gardening and how landscapers can affect our natural resources through hazardous actions.
The GSMGA sampling group, better known as the "Wednesday Morning Social Club" is currently sampling 5 sites weekly that extend from Cherry Gove, SC to Georgetown, SC. This encompasses about 60 miles of coastline. Our sites are all tidal creeks and estuaries that are no farther than 1 mile from the open ocean. Becoming educated on the microscopic world of our oceans has allowed us to gain a perspective of how our everyday actions can influence the much bigger picture of our environs. We have also been able to educate our membership, as well as the general public, on what they cannot see lurking in the shallows of our beaches and tidal creeks. Hopefully, this will bring a new awareness to environmental protection through educated actions.
