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Data Set Info
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Access Info
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Data Quality
Data Management
Lineage
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Catalog Details

Summary

Short Citation
Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 2024: Terracing at Pierce Marsh in Galveston Bay 2001-2002, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/10010.
Full Citation Examples

Abstract

Marsh terracing is used to restore coastal wetlands by converting shallow nonvegetated bottom to intertidal marsh. Terraces are constructed from excavated bottom sediments, and are commonly arranged in a checkerboard pattern of square cells with open corners to form terrace fields. The project was located in shallow estuarine waters, and used bottom sediments or upland soils to construct intertidal areas planted with smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora. We used a quantitative sampling device to compare nekton densities and biomass in habitat types of marsh terraces of three cell sizes at Pierce Marsh in Galveston Bay to a nearby reference marsh. Within terrace cells, density, biomass, and species richness were generally higher in marsh vegetation than over nonvegetated bottom. We also used Geographic Information System (GIS) and high-resolution aerial photography to classify areas into land (marsh vegetation) and water and applied fishery density models to assess fishery support. These models describe finescale distribution patterns for brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus, white shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus, and blue crab Callinectes sapidus across shallow estuarine habitat types (emergent marsh and shallow open water) of Galveston Bay. We show that populations of most fishery species increase as cell size decreases. However, as cell size decreases, the cost of terrace construction increases much faster than population size. Therefore, terrace fields constructed of medium or large cells would be more cost effective in providing fishery habitat than would terraces composed of small cells. Based on our modeling results, restored sites supported relatively high populations of fishery species compared to pre-restoration conditions. However, restoration sites did not support populations’ equivalent to a reference marsh system. Restoration projects should maximize the area of marsh vegetation and create a high degree of water-marsh interspersion to provide the most benefit for fishery species.

Contact Information

Point of Contact
Tim J Baumer
tim.baumer@noaa.gov
409-766-3784

Metadata Contact
Lawrence P Rozas

Extents

Geographic Area 1

-94.97576° W, -94.956894° E, 29.324421° N, 29.19163° S

Gulf Of Mexico

Time Frame 1
2001 - 2002

Item Identification

Title: Terracing at Pierce Marsh in Galveston Bay 2001-2002
Short Name: Pierce Marsh Terracing 2001-2002
Status: Completed
Creation Date: 2001
Revision Date: 2003
Publication Date: 2017
Abstract:

Marsh terracing is used to restore coastal wetlands by converting shallow nonvegetated bottom to intertidal marsh. Terraces are constructed from excavated bottom sediments, and are commonly arranged in a checkerboard pattern of square cells with open corners to form terrace fields. The project was located in shallow estuarine waters, and used bottom sediments or upland soils to construct intertidal areas planted with smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora. We used a quantitative sampling device to compare nekton densities and biomass in habitat types of marsh terraces of three cell sizes at Pierce Marsh in Galveston Bay to a nearby reference marsh. Within terrace cells, density, biomass, and species richness were generally higher in marsh vegetation than over nonvegetated bottom. We also used Geographic Information System (GIS) and high-resolution aerial photography to classify areas into land (marsh vegetation) and water and applied fishery density models to assess fishery support. These models describe finescale distribution patterns for brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus, white shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus, and blue crab Callinectes sapidus across shallow estuarine habitat types (emergent marsh and shallow open water) of Galveston Bay. We show that populations of most fishery species increase as cell size decreases. However, as cell size decreases, the cost of terrace construction increases much faster than population size. Therefore, terrace fields constructed of medium or large cells would be more cost effective in providing fishery habitat than would terraces composed of small cells. Based on our modeling results, restored sites supported relatively high populations of fishery species compared to pre-restoration conditions. However, restoration sites did not support populations’ equivalent to a reference marsh system. Restoration projects should maximize the area of marsh vegetation and create a high degree of water-marsh interspersion to provide the most benefit for fishery species.

Purpose:

The purposes of this study were to evaluate marsh terracing as a method for restoring estuarine habitat and fishery production in Galveston Bay, and to test whether cell size affects the fishery value of habitat created by marsh terracing.

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None abundance
None Callinectes sapidus
None cost to benefit
None distribution
None Farfantepenaeus aztecus
None fisheries independent data
None Litopenaeus setiferus
None marsh terracing
None modelling
None non-vegetative bottom
None nursery habitats
None Spartina alterniflora

Temporal Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None 2001-2002

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
NODC SEA AREA NAMES Gulf of Mexico
None Galveston Bay, Texas
None Pierce Marsh

Physical Location

Organization: Southeast Fisheries Science Center
City: Miami
State/Province: FL
Country: USA
Location Description:

Location Of The Main Office Of The South East Fisheries Science Center

Data Set Information

Data Set Scope Code: Data Set
Data Set Type: Mixed
Maintenance Frequency: None Planned
Data Presentation Form: Table (digital)

Support Roles

Data Steward

CC ID: 40325
Date Effective From: 2001-09-26
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Ditty, James
Address: 4700 Avenue U
Galveston, TX 77551-5997
Email Address: Jim.Ditty@noaa.gov
Phone: 409-766-3782
Fax: 409-766-3508

Data Steward

CC ID: 282835
Date Effective From: 2001
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Rozas, Lawrence P
Contact Instructions:

Contact by email preferred.

Distributor

CC ID: 282836
Date Effective From: 2001
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)
Address: 75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami, FL 33149
USA
Phone: (305)361-5761
URL: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center
Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST
Contact Instructions:

Contact by email preferred.

Metadata Contact

CC ID: 277138
Date Effective From: 2001
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Rozas, Lawrence P
Contact Instructions:

Contact by email preferred.

Point of Contact

CC ID: 279695
Date Effective From: 2016
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Baumer, Tim J
Address: 4700 Avenue U
Galveston, TX 77551
Email Address: tim.baumer@noaa.gov
Phone: 409-766-3784
Contact Instructions:

Contact by email preferred.

Extents

Currentness Reference: Ground Condition

Extent Group 1

Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1

CC ID: 277142
W° Bound: -94.97576
E° Bound: -94.956894
N° Bound: 29.324421
S° Bound: 29.19163
Description

Gulf Of Mexico

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1

CC ID: 277141
Time Frame Type: Range
Start: 2001
End: 2002

Access Information

Security Class: Unclassified
Data Access Procedure:

Download from provided link

Data Access Constraints:

None

Distribution Information

Distribution 1

CC ID: 856254
Start Date: 2018
End Date: Present
Download URL: http://grunt.sefsc.noaa.gov/parr/10010.zip
Distributor: Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) (2001 - Present)
File Name: 10010.zip
Description:

zip file on SEFSCc PARR Data Server containing all data files for this dataset and a readme file

File Type (Deprecated): zip
Compression: Zip
Review Status: Chked Viruses Inapp Content

Data Quality

Accuracy:

Data were entered into spreadsheets and checked against the raw data sheet to avoid entry errors

Quality Control Procedures Employed:

Each sample was assigned a unique identification code. Field collected samples were tagged redundantly (e.g. one label inside of the collection vessel and a matching label attached to the outside of the vessel). The identifier and its associated information (e.g. date, location, habitat) was recorded on field data sheets. Once a sample arrived at the laboratory, the label remained with the sample throughout the various stages of sample processing. After data were entered into an Excel spreadsheet or similar database file, the information was printed out and compared against the field data sheets by two biologists. Corrections were made at this time and saved. The resultant electronic file was also sorted and examined by the Lab Supervisor or other project personnel in a variety of ways to look for outliers, missing data, and other potential errors.

Data Management

Have Resources for Management of these Data Been Identified?: No
Approximate Percentage of Budget for these Data Devoted to Data Management: 0
Do these Data Comply with the Data Access Directive?: Yes
Is Access to the Data Limited Based on an Approved Waiver?: No
If Distributor (Data Hosting Service) is Needed, Please Indicate: No
Approximate Delay Between Data Collection and Dissemination: 365
If Delay is Longer than Latency of Automated Processing, Indicate Under What Authority Data Access is Delayed:

N/A

Actual or Planned Long-Term Data Archive Location: To Be Determined
If To Be Determined, Unable to Archive, or No Archiving Intended, Explain:

The archival process is currently under development.

Approximate Delay Between Data Collection and Archiving: 365
How Will the Data Be Protected from Accidental or Malicious Modification or Deletion Prior to Receipt by the Archive?:

The data resides on a secure government network requiring multi-factor authentication for network access.

Lineage

Process Steps

Process Step 1

CC ID: 282842
Description:

After sample collection, field data were entered into an Excel spreadsheet or database file (DBF) using database manager software. A text file was created to describe these data and associated variables. Entered data were checked against the field sheets by two biologists to minimize entry errors. Samples were processed in the laboratory, sorted, specimens identified and measured, and information was entered into an Excel spreadsheet or DBF file. Files were printed out and compared against original data sheets by two biologists for data entry errors. Corrections were made at this time, the electronic file was saved, and a back-up copy made. Hard copies of the QCd files were printed and stored in the project folder along with the original field and laboratory data sheets. The electronic file was also sorted and examined by the Lab Supervisor or other project personnel in a variety of ways to look for outliers, missing data, and other potential errors. Verified data files were then saved electronically on the Galveston Laboratory server and backed-up as needed.

Process Contact: Ditty, James
Phone (Voice): 409-766-3782
Email Address: Jim.Ditty@noaa.gov

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 10010
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:10010
Metadata Record Created By: Lee M Weinberger
Metadata Record Created: 2009-08-28 13:47+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2023-08-15 17:09+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2021-10-21
Owner Org: SEFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2021-10-21
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2022-10-21