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Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve

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University of Southern Maine USM Digital Commons Presentations Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) 2010 Restoring Resilience to Casco Bay’s Shores (2010 State of the Bay Presentation) Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/cbep-presentations Recommended Citation Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. (2010). Restoring Resilience to Casco Bay’s Shores (2010 State of the Bay Presentation). [Presentation slides]. Portland, ME: University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) at USM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Presentations by an authorized administrator of USM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact jessica.c.hovey@maine.edu. WELLS NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVERESTORING RESILIENCE TO CASCO BAY’S SHORES• Resilience – the ability to recover from disturbance  • Healthy coastal habitats have the greatest resilience• Restoring salt marshes will improve coastal resilienceWhy Restore Coastal Habitats?• Both Chronic and Acute Disturbance  – Coastal Storms: increased frequency and intensity– Rainfall: extreme precipitation events– Temperature:– Relative Sea Level: 2 – 3 mm per yearClimate ChangeWhy Restore Salt Marshes?Physical Resistance to Storm SurgeFiltration of Freshwater RunoffFiltration of Sediments from Fresh or MarineMaintains Elevation at Mean Sea LevelUnique Habitat for Many Plants and AnimalsSource of Energy for Coastal Food Webs- Nekton Trophic RelayHealthy Marshes Track Sea LevelWells National Estuarine Research ReserveWave and Ice ExposureSediment SupplyRoot and Rhizome Growt hSea Level Rise (0-5 mm/ yr)Decomposit ionSediment Trapping and BindingCompact ionConceptual model of marsh sediment interactionsMarsh persistence during periods of sea level riseConditions for elevation changesPeatSalt MarshVery slow Transgression over uplandNo Transgression or  Regression over flatsSurface elevation increases as peat buildsPhysicalBiologicalBurdick 2004Wells National Estuarine Research ReserveMarker HorizonDonald R. Cahoon, Ph.D and James LynchWells National Estuarine Research ReserveMarsh Response to Chronic  Disturbance - ErosionWells National Estuarine Research ReserveMore ErosionWells National Estuarine Research ReserveNutrientsWells National Estuarine Research ReserveHomes - Buffer Loss - Nutrients - Docks: an increasingly popular combination Phragmites Rules ?Wells National Estuarine Research ReserveIf we help it get started …….Wells National Estuarine Research ReserveWells National Estuarine Research ReservePhrag Loves LawnsWells National Estuarine Research ReserveFinding Fishes on the MarshWells National Estuarine Research ReserveResidents, Transients, MigrantsWells National Estuarine Research ReserveWells NERR Fishes – 50 SpeciesGOM Estuaries – 55 SpeciesWells National Estuarine Research Reserve       Nekton Trophic Relay• Small fish stay in shallow water and eat smaller things• Bigger fish stay in deep water and eat larger things, such as juvenile fish.• The biggest fish live in deeper water and eat even larger things, such as adult fish.Large Predators as Energy ExportersWells National Estuarine Research ReserveWells National Estuarine Research ReserveNEKTON TROPHIC RELAY MODEL (Kneib)Nekton Trophic Relay – Kneib 1997Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve       Ways to Restore and MaintainSalt Marsh Habitat• Restore/Maintain Natural Tidal Hydrology• Restore/Maintain Natural Shorelands• Restore/Maintain Natural Sediment Sources• Provide for Habitat MigrationWells National Estuarine Research ReserveRestoration Goal• Produce self-sustaining ecosystem that closely resembles natural system in structure, function and valuesRestoring Marshes in the Gulf of Maine• Hydrology – seems to be on the right track• Small scale alterations – not clear• Improvements in adjacent land use – need to be implementedTidal RestrictionWells National Estuarine Research ReserveWhen Tides are LostMarshes are transformedWells National Estuarine Research ReserveThousands of Acres of LostSalt Marsh ProductionWells National Estuarine Research ReserveWells National Estuarine Research ReserveSUBSIDENCE Spruce Creek Pre-RestorationSpruce Creek Post Restoration (Year 4)Wells National Estuarine Research ReserveNearly 30% of York County tidal marsh area is compromised by tidal restrictionHow is the Patient Doing?• Recovering Salt Marshes need Check-Ups• Recovery requires improvement in ecological  state over time  - to expected level• Recovery is measured by comparison to appropriate “healthy” examples called reference systems• Recovery cannot be assumed – it must be evaluated• Recovery often requires additional interventionGPAC Core VariablesWells National Estuarine Research ReserveHydrologyTidal Signal, Marsh Surface ElevationSoils/SedimentsPorewater SalinityVegetationComposition, Abundance, Height, Density, PhotosIdentifying altered or restricted flowsin tidal marshes and watershedsTidal CreekIntertidal Emergent MarshDiked/ ImpoundedTidal RiverPond/ River0.9 0 0.9 MilesBase MapLocation, Key Features, Wetland Types, StationsNektonComposition, Density, Species Richness, Length, BiomassBirdsDensity, Species Richness, Feeding and Breeding BehaviorWells National Estuarine Research ReserveRegional SynthesisKonisky et al. 2006Drakeside – Hampton NHCheverie Creek – Cheverie NSBay of FundyNova ScotiaNew BrunswickWeskeag Marsh - Thomaston MEDrakes Island - Wells MESeavey Landing - Scarborough MESandy Point - Stratham NHPickering Brook – Greenland NHGranite Point - Biddeford MEWheeler Marsh – York MEMoody Marsh Wells MEChauncey Creek - Kittery MEParson’s Creek - Rye NHAwcomin – Rye NHRye Harbor & Bass Beach - Rye NHBrown’s River – Seabrook NHPlumbush – Newbury MAOak Knoll – Rowley MAJoppa Flats - Newburyport MAForest River – Salem/Marblehead MAFisherman’s Bend – Winthrop MALong Wharf & Eastern Point – Gloucester MASaratoga Creek & Seaview St - Rockport MAIsland Rd - Essex MA Argilla Rd, Little Neck, & Town Farm Rd – Ipswich MAEastham/Orleans – Eastham MANamskaket – Brewster MACascade Brook - Scarborough MEPhilbrick - N. Hampton NHGulfofMaineGulf of Maine Salt Marsh Restoration Database 36 Monitored Sites1995-2003Mill Brook - Stratham NHLittle River - Hampton NHConomo Pt - Essex MAApprox 20 milesNFunctional Results: Soil SalinityWells National Estuarine Research ReserveSalinityy = 5.0922Ln(x) + 20.539R2 = 0.84971015202530*Before (C:16,E:4,D:3) After 1yr (C:8,E:2,D:6) **After 2+ yrs (C:6,E:0,D:2)Mean Salinity (ppt)All Culvert DitchPlug ExcavationReference (n=19): 26.43 + 1.2 Functional Results:  Tidal HydrologyWells National Estuarine Research ReserveTidal Hydrology00.20.40.60.81*Before (C:12,E:2,D:0) **After 1+yr (C:6,E:0,D:0)Percent of Unrestricted Maximum Tidal Height All Culvert ExcavationReference (n=14): 1.0 + 0.1Functional Results:  Vegetation (Halophyte)Wells National Estuarine Research ReserveHalophyte Plant Speciesy = 4.24x2 - 22.74x + 68.68R2 = 0.574901020304050607080*Before (C:14,E:8,D:3) After 1yr (C:8,E:3,D:4) After 2yrs (C:4,E:2,D:2) After 3+yrs (C:5,E:2,D:2)Percent Cover of Halophyte SpeciesAll Culvert DitchPlug ExcavationReference (n=18) 64.0 + 3.7Wells National Estuarine Research ReserveFunctional Results: FishFish Density...É..  Reference Mean + 1 SE (n=10, 6.8 fish + 02468101214Bef ore (C:5,E:0,D:3) Af ter 1y r (C:2,E:2,D:3) Af ter 2+ y rs (C:2,E:2,D:0)Fish Per Square MeterAll Culvert Di tchPlug ExcavationWells National Estuarine Research ReserveAssessment ConclusionsV.    Differences in regional use of the protocol detract from regional assessment capabilities.II.    Regional restoration practices are successful at restoring physical functions of degraded marshes.III.    Recovery of biologic functions is inconclusive, although plant communities trended toward reference states.  I.    Sites selected for restoration activities are degraded relative to reference marshes for many ecological indicators.IV.    Response of biologic functions may be more variable and take longer than physical responses, continue monitoring.VI.    Progress toward increased regional acceptance would be facilitated by protocol refinements.Wells National Estuarine Research ReserveHow do created poolscompare to natural pools?Drakes Island Marsh• 125 acre wetland partially restored in 1991• Additional restoration action in 2005– Self Regulating Tide Gate (SRT)• Manage tide gate for “natural” hydrology– Use % time under water as a measureable indicator– Requires accurate elevation surveys– Requires water level/elevation monitoring Self-Regulating Tide Gate (SRT)Wells National Estuarine Research ReserveChange in Flow at the Culvert and Rate of Fish Passage0.000.100.200.30HucklberryRoadDIM Brown's Parson'sCreekLittle DIMReference0.000.400.801.201.602.00Flow (m/sec)Fish PassageCulvert River RiverRestricted Restored ReferenceFlow Change at CulvertFish PassageCasco Bay Sampling Stations:High impact = Intermediate impact = Low impact = Nekton Indicators of Casco Bay Fringing Marsh Health2002 & 2004Wells National Estuarine Research ReserveCASCO BAY FRINGING MARSH NEKTONCrustaceansGreen CrabJonah CrabSand ShrimpHermit CrabMarsh Resident FishMummichogAtlantic SilversideThree Spine SticklebackFour Spine SticklebackJuvenile Marine FishesWinter and Smooth FlounderHakeMigratory SpeciesRainbow SmeltTom CodAmerican EelAlewife  Marine Transient FishesAtlantic HerringStriped BassMulletOther CandidatesSand LancePollockBluefishCod?Wells National Estuarine Research ReserveCANDIDATE METRICS FOR FRINGING MARSH IBIPOPULATION/BIOMASS Green Crab % Biomass + Fundulus Biomass Density +  Fundulus Density +Other Fish Density --Number of Piscivores -- % Biomass Shrimp --CANDIDATE METRICS OF MARSH HEALTH- INDEX OF BIOTIC INTEGRITY (IBI) -Casco Bay Fringing Marshes• 1,160 mainland marsh units identified• 101 acres total area• Benefits to 93 miles of coastlineProjecting Marsh MigrationMarsh Footprints Changewith Sea LevelCasco Bay Fringing Marshes• Average Impact Score – 73%• Restoration priorities:– Improve shoreland buffers– Reduce physical damage • Docks, boats, foot traffic– Control PhragmitesPriority Sites for RestorationWells National Estuarine Research ReserveSPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES

Restoring Resilience to Casco Bay’s Shores (2010 State of the Bay Presentation)

https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1049&context=cbep-presentations

Restoring Resilience to Casco Bay’s Shores (2010 State of the Bay Presentation)

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