3.1 Coastwide Trends
The results of the MK testing and Sen slope estimation of FC
concentrations were mapped alongside the developed land use change for
each coastal watershed (Figure 4). Results for all stations including τ
values, p-values, and β slopes are documented in Table S1. The spatial
distribution of τFC varied along the coast with defined
areas of similar τFC values. From the most southern
coastal area, we observe higher, positive τFC values for
stations down estuary of areas with very high proportions of developed
change. Within the south-central portion of the coast, we can see more
negative τFC values. Farther north, in the area
characterized by the large, Albemarle-Pamlico sound which spans SGAs F,
G, H, and I, there is a mixture of lower positive and lower negative
τFC values. The developed land use change is fairly
uniform along a majority of the state’s coastline, with higher
proportions of developed land change being located in the watersheds
associated with SGA C and E and the most intense increase in proportion
of developed land being in central watersheds associated with SGA B.