Assessing the Current and Potential Role of Shellfish for Improving Water Quality - NERRS/NSC(NERRS Science Collaborative)

This project team will leverage a well established collaborative group, GTM Reserve’s Oyster and Water Quality Task Force and engage additional users, including state agencies, nonprofits and the oyster fishery community that are working to improve water quality in Guana River Estuary. To assist with the development of restoration and management plans, this project will: 1) identify sources of nutrients to the Guana River Estuary, and determine how nutrient loads from the lake to the river are affected by hydrology and land use; 2) map the current distribution of shellfish communities; 3) quantify filtration and nitrogen removal by shellfish; and 4) conduct field and lab experiments to assess how water quality affects shellfish health, and also how shellfish affect water quality in the estuary. In collaboration with project end users, the project team will generate a suite of research products, including a coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model for Guana Lake and monitoring and restoration recommendations. Project findings will be shared through a stakeholder workshop exploring ways to reduce nutrient inputs into the estuary, a training program for using shellfish for water quality remediation, and peer-reviewed and outreach publications.

Many estuaries have been degraded by nitrogen pollution coming from urban and agricultural run-off, which can lead to algal blooms and eutrophication. Many of these same estuaries have also lost important shellfish communities, including oysters, clams and mussels that can filter water, remove nitrogen, and improve water quality. Restoring shellfish populations can help control eutrophication and achieve mandated water quality targets; however, this approach requires that managers have a good understanding of how nitrogen moves through their estuary and the nitrogen removal capacities of their shellfish communities. This project (also known as Guana Nutrients: Budgets and Bivalves) will help fill this information gap and support water quality management efforts in and around the Guana River Estuary in northeast Florida.

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==Project Lead

Ashley Smyth, University of Florida, ashley.smyth@ufl.edu

==Collaborative Leads

Nikki Dix, GTM NERR, Nikki.Dix@dep.state.fl.us

Kaitlyn Dietz, GTM NERR, Kaitlyn.Dietz@dep.state.fl.us

==Technical Leads

Christine Angelini, University of Florida

Alexander Reisinger, University of Florida

Shirley Baker, University of Florida

Peter Ifju, University of Florida

Hallie Fischman, University of Florida, halliefischman@ufl.edu

Jayla Kindelspire, University of Florida

Orlando Cordero, University of Florida

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).

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This information is detailed within the project links.

This information is detailed within the project links.