Site Profile of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve Site Profile of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve Published by the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve For more information about this report or to obtain additional copies, contact: Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve Research Program 342 Laudholm Farm Rd Wells, Maine 04090 telephone: 207-646-1555, x136 fax: 207-646-2930 Internet: http://www.wellsreserve.org Citation: Dionne, M., C. Dalton and H. Wilhelm, editors. 2006. Site Profile of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. Wells ME. 313 pp. Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve (Wells NERR) is a partner- ship between the US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the State of Maine, Wells Reserve Management Authority (RMA). The RMA consists of the Laudholm Trust, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Maine Department of Conservation, the Maine State Planning Office, and the Town of Wells. Acknowledgements: The Site Profile of the Wells NERR was created with the efforts of various authors. Additional review and editing was generously pro- vided by Susan White of NOAA, Daniel Belknap of University of Maine, and Erno Bonebakker, Paul Dest, James Dochtermann, and Jeremy Miller of Wells NERR. Completion of this publication was made possible, in part, with the generous support of George and Eleanor Ford and Laudholm Trust. Funding for this publication was provided for by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Grants NA05NOS4201119 and NA06NOS4200116 and Laudholm Trust. Cover art: James Dochtermann Design: Christopher Cayce Dalton January 2007 iv Wells National Estuarine Research Resverve Table of Contents Contributors. vii Preface. xi I . I NTRODUCT I O N Introduction. 3 Estuarine Type Characterization. 3 Habitats. 3 Historical and Cultural Setting. 5 The National Estuarine Research Reserve System. 6 Ecological Significance and Designations of Reserve. 8 Management Priorities. 8 Reserve Protection Efforts. 9 References. .11 I I . E NV I RONM E NTAL S E TT I NG Geomorphology . .15 Barrier Beaches . 16 Salt Marshes. 18 Tidal Flats. 21 Tidal Channels. 22 Rivers and Streams. 24 Upland. 25 References. 26 Advances in Geomorphic Research. 26 Climate and Weather. 29 Annual Weather Patterns. 31 Storms and Ice. 33 Variability . 34 Topics for Future Research . 34 References. 36 Hydrogeography. 37 Little River Watershed. 37 Webhannet River Watershed. 39 References. 42 Land Use. 43 Land and Water Use History. 46 Public Water Supply. 47 Land Conservation. 48 The Estuaries. 50 References. .51 v Water Quality. 53 Regional Setting. 53 Local Setting. 54 State Classification of Waters at Wells NERR . 54 Heavy Metals and Toxins. 55 Bacterial Contamination . 57 Nutrients and Dissolved Oxygen. 61 Management Recommendations. 63 References. 64 I I I . B I OLOG I CAL S E TT I N G Habitats . 69 Distribution of Habitat Types. 69 Salt Marshes. 70 Phragmites Australis . 73 Sandy Sediments . 79 Current Research . 82 Research Needs. 83 Management Recommendation. 83 References. 83 Vegetation. 85 Coastal Vegetation . 85 Salt Marsh Vegetation . 88 Biogeographic Patterns. 91 Salt Marsh Restoration. 91 Low Salinity Tidal Marshes . 92 References. 94 Human Impacts . 94 Invertebrates. 107 Characteristic Marine and Estuarine Invertebrates. 108 Fouling Communities. 111 Human Influences. 112 Research on Marine and Estuarine Invertebrates . 113 Research Needs. 117 Management Recommendations. 118 References. 120 Reptiles and Amphibians. .135 The Southern Maine Landscape as Reptile and Amphibian Habitat. .135 Vernal Pool Habitat . 137 Species Accounts. 140 References. 147 Fish. 149 vi Wells National Estuarine Research Resverve Research Overview. 150 Species Accounts. 160 Human Influences. 169 Research Needs. 169 Management Recommendations. 169 References. 170 Birds. .175 History of Studies at Wells NERR. 175 Habitats. 178 Research Overview. .185 Human Influences. 185 Research Needs. 186 Management Recommendations. 187 References. 188 Mammals . 193 History of Studies at Wells NERR. 193 Upland Habitats . 194 Wetland . 196 Marine. 197 Research Overview. 197 Research Needs. 198 Management Recommendations. 198 References. 199 I V. E COLOG I CAL S E TT I NG Origin and Evolution of the Estuary. 205 Geologic History and Bedrock . 205 Glacial History of New England. 207 Relative Sea-Level Rise . 208 Projected Sea Level Rise . 214 Conceptual Model . 214 References. 217 Physical Influences on the Biota. .221 Temperature . ..