Synthesizing Monitoring Data to Improve Coastal Wetland Management Across New England - NERRS/NSC(NERRS Science Collaborative)

This project synthesized Sentinel Site data for four New England National Estuarine Research Reserves (Great Bay, Narragansett, Waquoit Bay, and Wells), which have been individually monitoring salt marsh vegetation and elevation changes since at least 2011. The project team developed statistics-ready data packages linking vegetation change with surface elevation and other data, including output from an inundation tool. This project equipped New England reserves and coastal managers with new information to inform and improve the management, protection, and restoration of salt marshes. It produced an improved Sentinel Site monitoring protocol and established a methodology for analysis of marsh condition that can be used across the reserve system and by coastal managers nationwide. This catalyst project was funded by NOAA through the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Science Collaborative to advance collaborative science. It did not produce any new data.

Sea level rise and climate change present major threats to salt marshes nationwide. In an effort to better track and understand their impacts on marsh vegetation and sediment accretion, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System established Sentinel Sites at reserve around the country. However, most reserves had not yet analyzed their Sentinel Site data and there had been no attempt to conduct regional syntheses despite the fact that regional-scale processes can strongly influence marsh vulnerability to sea level rise.

Project Lead

David Burdick

University of New Hampshire

(603) 862-5129

David.Burdick@unh.edu

Project Type

Catalyst – Targeted investment for

advancing collaborative science

Project Collaborators

• Great Bay National Estuarine

Research Reserve

• Narragansett Bay National

Estuarine Research Reserve

• University of New Hampshire

• Waquoit Bay National Estuarine

Research Reserve

• Wells National Estuarine

Research Reserve

The distributor does not assume liability.

None

Cite this dataset when used as a source: NOAA retains the right to analyze, synthesize and publish summaries of the NERRS/NSC data. The NERRS/NSC retains the right to be fully credited for having collected and process the data. Following academic courtesy standards, the NERR site where the data were collected should be contacted and fully acknowledged in any subsequent publications in which any part of the data are used. The data enclosed within this package/transmission are only as accurate as the quality assurance and quality control procedures that are described in the associated metadata reporting statement allow. The user bears all responsibility for its subsequent use/misuse in any further analyses or comparisons. The Federal government does not assume liability to the Recipient or third persons, nor will the Federal government reimburse or indemnify the Recipient for its liability due to any losses resulting in any way from the use of this data. Requested citation format: NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Science Collaborative(NSC).