eDNA Sampling in the Gullah Geechee Corridor

eDNA sampling locations across the country

In partnership with Blacks in Marine Science and Men & Women United for Youth and Families, Palmetto Futures is excited to help support a project that will provide essential data on water quality and wildlife migration patterns in rural communities in the Southeastern Coastal Plain region of North Carolina. The work will involve collecting eDNA water and sediment samples in prime fishing locations in this area, which lies within the Northeast region of the Gullah Geechee corridor. Our fieldwork will help us understand what’s changing in the ecosystem.

To ensure the project is engaging and beneficial to the community, our team has performed community outreach that involved meeting with residents to listen and learn from them about how we can support the environmental health and cultural resilience of four Cape Fear River towns in the northern Gullah Geechee corridor. These communities have raised concerns about ecological shifts, including the loss of traditional fishing grounds and sacred gathering spaces due to water quality issues, driftwood blockage, and habitat disruption affecting fish species like shad. There also is concern about agricultural runoff, as well as pollution from coal ash and PFAS.

Water sampling site

During our outreach, elder members of the community advised us on the best places to collect samples from, areas that are culturally significant and known as historical fishing and social gatherings places. In speaking with the locals, we were informed about one particular area that has become less populated due to the lack of maintenance and fear of contaminated water, making it a prime location for testing. 

This collaboration builds on our continued work with Men & Women United for Youth and Families, a core partner from our PREPARED project cohort. Together, we’re supporting community-driven science and restoration rooted in historic preservation, ecology, and equity. 

See us in action: