SaltSalt MarshMarsh MonitoringMonitoring byby thethe U.S.U.S. FishFish && WildlifeWildlife ServiceService’’ss NortheastNortheast RegionRegion

Ralph Tiner Regional Wetland Coordinator U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Northeast Region February 2010 TypesTypes ofof MonitoringMonitoring

„ RemotelyRemotely sensedsensed MonitoringMonitoring „ Area and type changes (e.g., trends analysis) „ Can cover large or small areas „ OnOn--thethe--groundground MonitoringMonitoring „ Addressing processes (accretion, erosion, subsidence, salt balance, etc.) „ Analyzing vegetation and soil changes „ Plot analysis „ Reference wetlands „ Evaluating wildlife habitat RemotelyRemotely SensedSensed MonitoringMonitoring

„ NWINWI usesuses aerialaerial imageryimagery toto tracktrack wetlandwetland changeschanges inin wetlandwetland typetype „ WetlandWetland StatusStatus && TrendsTrends StudiesStudies == aa typetype ofof monitoringmonitoring „ For large geographic areas „ Statistical Sampling – analyze changes in 4-square mile plots; generate estimates „ For small areas „ Area-based Analysis –analyze complete area for changes over time RegionRegion vsvs LocalLocal ReportsReports CanfieldCanfield Cove,Cove, CTCT 19741974 20042004 Canfield Island Cove

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Low Marsh High Marsh Flat ConsiderationsConsiderations forfor SiteSite--specificspecific MonitoringMonitoring

„ SpecialSpecial aerialaerial imageryimagery „ LowLow tidetide „ PeakPeak ofof growinggrowing seasonseason „ NormalNormal issuesissues re:re: qualityquality (e.g.,(e.g., cloudcloud--free)free) „ LargeLarge--scalescale oror highhigh resolutionresolution „ CIRCIR IntegratingIntegrating TrendsTrends withwith NWINWI UpdatesUpdates

„ RegionRegion 55 StandardStandard Practice;Practice; OptionalOptional elsewhereelsewhere „ Delaware „ Recent „ Long Island „ Historic „ Recent MonitoringMonitoring SaltSalt MarshMarsh Migration:Migration: NortheastNortheast RegionRegion PilotPilot StudyStudy „ AsAs seasea levellevel rises,rises, marshesmarshes tendtend toto advanceadvance landwardlandward convertingconverting forestsforests toto marshlandmarshland „ ThisThis hashas happenedhappened sincesince thethe seasea levellevel ratesrates slowedslowed aboutabout 6,0006,000 yearsyears ago,ago, afterafter risingrising atat greatgreat ratesrates rightright afterafter thethe mostmost recentrecent glacialglacial epochepoch „ TheseThese lowlandlowland forestsforests needneed toto bebe keptkept availableavailable forfor saltsalt marshmarsh migrationmigration „ NeighboringNeighboring landslands areare vitalvital toto futurefuture ofof EastEast CoastCoast tidaltidal marshesmarshes andand preservingpreserving thethe benefitsbenefits theythey provideprovide forfor fishfish andand wildlifewildlife „ ThereThere areare manymany examplesexamples ofof deaddead treestrees oror stumpsstumps inin todaytoday’’ss saltsalt marshesmarshes DowneastDowneast MaineMaine CapeCape LookoutLookout Marshes,Marshes, MDMD MyMy InterestInterest

„ RaisingRaising awarenessawareness ofof thethe needneed toto keepkeep forestsforests asas landslands suitablesuitable forfor marshmarsh migrationmigration „ DocumentDocument thethe longlong--termterm changeschanges inin vegetationvegetation andand soilssoils fromfrom forestforest toto marshmarsh StudyStudy ObjectiveObjective

„ EstablishEstablish permanentpermanent plotsplots toto documentdocument changeschanges inin coastalcoastal plantplant commucommunitiesnities overover timetime „ Vegetation patterns „ Soil properties „ GainGain informationinformation onon howhow longlong itit takestakes forfor significantsignificant changeschanges toto occuroccur „ Salt marsh to tidal flat or open water „ Forested wetland to marsh „ Upland forest to forested wetland or marsh „ Changes in soil properties – mineral soil to organic soil; nonhydric soil to hydric soil MethodsMethods

„ Analyze aerial photos and get input from refuge biologists on possible study sites „ Review sites in field „ Lay out transects along gradient from salt marsh to forested wetland to lowland upland forest „ Establish permanent plots „ 30’-radius circular plots for Forests „ 15’-radius circular plots for Shrub Thickets (or shrub stratum) „ 5’-radius circular plot for Marshes (or herb stratum) „ Mark center point with wooden stake or blaze tree „ Record GPS location „ Sample plant communities and soils VegetationVegetation SamplingSampling

„ StrataStrata -- MetricMetric „ TreeTree –– arealareal cover;cover; dbhdbh/basal/basal area;area; densitydensity „ ShrubShrub -- covercover „ HerbHerb -- covercover „ WoodyWoody VineVine –– qualitativequalitative „ StressStress indicatorsindicators „ ChlorosisChlorosis „ Dieback/DeathDieback/Death SoilSoil SamplingSampling

„ SoilSoil profileprofile descriptiondescription toto 50cm50cm „ TextureTexture analysisanalysis „ InIn--thethe--fieldfield byby feelfeel „ ConfirmedConfirmed oror correctedcorrected byby lablab analysisanalysis „ CarbonCarbon contentcontent PilotPilot RefugeRefuge

ForsytheForsythe NationalNational WildlifeWildlife RefugeRefuge „ 44,000+44,000+ acreacre refugerefuge inin southernsouthern NJNJ „ 78%78% saltsalt marshmarsh „ 4%4% forestedforested wetlandwetland „ 13%13% uplandupland forestforest „ 3%3% grasslandgrassland „ 2%2% beachesbeaches andand dunesdunes „ areasareas ofof knownknown salt/brackishsalt/brackish marshmarsh migrationmigration (former(former AtlanticAtlantic whitewhite cedarcedar swamp)swamp) ForsytheForsythe NWRNWR StudyStudy

„ ThreeThree ““transectstransects”” „ LeedsLeeds PointPoint „ 1 marsh plot, 1 marsh-forest edge plot, 2 forested wetland plots; 1 upland forest plot „ JobsJobs CreekCreek „ Several marsh plots, one mixed EM/dead-dying trees plots; 2 forested wetland plots; 1 upland forest plots „ AT&TAT&T SiteSite (OMWM(OMWM site;site; researchresearch ongoing)ongoing) „ Several marsh plots, 1 marsh-PFO edge plot; 2 forested wetland plots; 1 upland forest plot JobsJobs CreekCreek StudyStudy AreaArea SoilSoil MapMap NWINWI InfoInfo BrackishBrackish MarshMarsh ““GhostGhost ForestForest”” (Three(Three--square)square) ((PhragmitesPhragmites)) DyingDying ForestForest AtlanticAtlantic WhiteWhite (Nearly(Nearly Dead)Dead) CedarCedar SwampSwamp FrequencyFrequency ofof SamplingSampling

„ Year 1 – establish initial conditions „ Every 5 years thereafter „ And when the Refuge’s Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) is updated „ Forsythe NWR „ CCP in 2004 for Forsythe NWR „ 2009 (initial salt marsh migration study) „ 2014 „ 2019 (CCP update) „ 2024 „ 2029, etc. (ideally, but at least when CCP is updated – 15-year cycle) FutureFuture PlansPlans

„ DoDo aa fewfew moremore coastalcoastal refugesrefuges inin NortheastNortheast „ SeeSee ifif interestinterest inin otherother coastalcoastal refugesrefuges (secure(secure funds)funds) „ GainGain interestinterest byby otherother agenciesagencies toto dodo samesame onon theirtheir landslands „ CoordinateCoordinate studiesstudies withwith universitiesuniversities soso thatthat workwork cancan bebe passedpassed onon forfor graduategraduate studiesstudies (MS(MS theses)theses) „ SeparateSeparate Initiative:Initiative: PossiblyPossibly createcreate coastwidecoastwide mapsmaps showingshowing locationslocations suitablesuitable forfor saltsalt marshmarsh migrationmigration RegionRegion 55 RefugeRefuge ProgramProgram –– SaltSalt MarshMarsh MonitoringMonitoring

„ SaltSalt MarshMarsh IndexIndex ofof EcologicalEcological IntegrityIntegrity „ CoordinatedCoordinated studystudy withwith USGSUSGS „ OneOne measuremeasure ofof biologicalbiological integrityintegrity ofof thethe NWRsNWRs „ DevelopingDeveloping thisthis index;index; USGSUSGS analyzinganalyzing datadata „ AtAt conclusionconclusion ofof study,study, recommendationsrecommendations willwill bebe mademade re:re: indicatorsindicators toto monitormonitor „ Contact:Contact: [email protected][email protected] MetricsMetrics BeingBeing EvaluatedEvaluated

„ VegetationVegetation CommunityCommunity „ WildlifeWildlife CommunityCommunity „ TidalTidal RestrictionsRestrictions „ InvasiveInvasive SpeciesSpecies „ MosquitoMosquito ControlControl ActivitiesActivities „ DegreeDegree ofof PhysicalPhysical AlterationAlteration (e.g.,(e.g., ditching,ditching, pondpond creation)creation) „ AdjoiningAdjoining HabitatHabitat „ DegreeDegree ofof HumanHuman ActivityActivity „ OthersOthers (some(some locallocal interest)interest) UsesUses ofof IndexIndex

„ Identify reference salt marshes to be used as restoration targets „ Use to rank the ecological integrity of salt marsh units and provide for long-term monitoring of salt marsh health „ Identify and prioritize restoration activities „ Evaluate the effectiveness of restoration practices „ Evaluate salt marsh objectives within CCPs and Habitat Management Plans „ Identify thresholds for maintaining intrinsic value of marshes „ Provide measurable objective to evaluate and guide management activities (use in annual performance reporting) „ Satisfy legal mandate to monitor biological integrity of refuges (Refuge Improvement Act) RefugesRefuges WhereWhere SaltSalt MarshMarsh MonitoringMonitoring isis UnderwayUnderway „ SelectedSelected RefugesRefuges „ RachelRachel CarsonCarson (ME)(ME) „ ParkerParker RiverRiver (MA)(MA) „ RIRI ComplexComplex „ McKinneyMcKinney (CT)(CT) „ WertheimWertheim (NY)(NY) „ ForsytheForsythe (NJ)(NJ) „ BombayBombay HookHook andand PrimePrime HookHook (DE)(DE) „ EasternEastern ShoreShore (VA)(VA) FWSFWS MonitoringMonitoring –– SaltSalt MarshesMarshes

„ NotNot systemwidesystemwide „ PilotPilot projectsprojects „ SaltSalt MarshMarsh MigrationMigration MonitoringMonitoring ((TinerTiner)) „ SaltSalt MarshMarsh IntegrityIntegrity IndexIndex ((AdamowiczAdamowicz)) „ WetlandWetland TrendTrend StudiesStudies „ IntegratingIntegrating withwith updatesupdates ofof NWINWI inin RegionRegion 55 andand selectselect areasareas elsewhereelsewhere ((TinerTiner)) ForFor furtherfurther information,information, contact:contact: [email protected][email protected]