The MidThe Mid‐‐Atlantic Coastal Wetland Assessment:Atlantic Coastal Wetland Assessment:Integrated Monitoring of Tidal Wetlands for Water Quality and Integrated Monitoring of Tidal Wetlands for Water Quality and 

Habitat Management and Restoration PlanningHabitat Management and Restoration Planning

Danielle KreegerMartha Maxwell‐DoyleMartha Maxwell Doyle

Amy Deller JacobsAngela Padeletti

Tracy QuirkDavid VelinskyTh B ltThomas BeltonDorina Frizzera

White Paper Top Ten1. Contaminants (forms, sources, fates & effects for different classes)

2. Tidal Wetlands (status, trends and relative importance of different types)

3. Ecologically Significant Species & Critical Habitats (benthos, horseshoe crabs)

4. Ecological Flows (effects of flow changes on salt balance & biota)

5. Physical-Chemical-Biological Linkages (e.g., sediment budgets, toxics & biota)5. Physical Chemical Biological Linkages (e.g., sediment budgets, toxics & biota)

6. Food Web Dynamics (key trophic connections among functional dominant biota)

7. Nutrients (forms, concentrations and balance of macro- and micronutrients)

8. Ecosystem Functions (assessment and economic valuation of ecosystem services)

9. Habitat Restoration and Enhancement (science & policy)

10. Invasive Species (monitoring, management & control)

Tidal Wetlands

Tidal Wetlands

A Signature Trait of SystemN C ti B dNear Contiguous BandDiverse:   Freshwater Tidal Marshes

Brackish MarshesSalt Marshes

Nature’s Benefitsl dFlood ProtectionFish and WildlifeNatural AreasCarbon SequestrationWater Quality

State of the EstuaryState of the Estuary Report 2008

Acreage?no recent, consistent, , ,high resolution data across the estuary

Condition?no datano data

Tidal Wetland Projections ‐ IEc

2000 2100

SLAMM V6 Fi diSLAMM V.6 Findings:• 26% loss of 42,558 hectares of tidal wetlands• loss of 50,236 hectares of adjacent uplands and non‐tidal wetlands• gain of 106,529 hectares of open water and tidal flats• net loss of >60,000 metric tons/year of primary production services

Will Tidal Wetlands Keep Pace with SLR?Will Tidal Wetlands Keep Pace with SLR?

Sediment SupplySediment SupplyPrimaryPrimary

ProductivProductivity

pp ypp yEnergy,Energy,ErosionErosion

El tiEl ti

Nutrients Sea LevelSea LevelElevationElevationCapitolCapitol

7

Angola Neck – Rehoboth Bay, DESummer, 2006

Sudden Wetland Dieback Sudden Wetland Dieback –– Marsh BrowningMarsh Browning

Severely

Minimally or Not

Stressed yStressed

35%

St essed17%

Moderately Stressed

48%

Slide from Chris Bason and Amy Jacobs

Tidal Wetlands - NEP Priority

On-the-GroundState of Estuary

Reporting RegulatoryOn-the-GroundProjects

Reporting

Water Quality

RegulatoryDecision-Making

Fish and Wildlife Water QualityManagement

Fish and WildlifeManagement

Climate

MACWAMACWA

RestorationPlanning

ClimateAdaptation

9

Water Quality ‐Wetland InteractionsWater Quality  Wetland Interactions

• Sinks for Sediments• Sinks for Nutrients

• Alter Vegetation Types• Impair Condition • Sinks for Nutrients

• Detoxify Some Contaminants• Sinks for Pathogens ?

• Impair Condition• Affect Accretion• Enhance Vulnerability gy

Will nutrient criteria need to be more stringent if >25% tidal wetlands are lost?

Delaware Estuary Wetland Monitoring & Mid‐Atlantic Coastal Wetland Assessment Assessment Program (DEWMAP)(MACWA)

Freshwater Tidal Marsh

Salt Marsh

AcknowledgementsTidal Wetland Component of the National Water Quality Monitoring Network Delaware Basin Pilot D i ll K d A J b 11/19/07Danielle Kreeger and Amy Jacobs, 11/19/07

Mid‐Atlantic Coastal Wetland Assessment (MACWA)d t a t c Coasta et a d ssess e t ( C )

• Sample Frameall tidal wetlands between coastal New Jersey and coastal Maryland, including the Delaware Estuary

• Subpopulationswetland type (oligohaline, mesohaline, polyhaline)wetland type (oligohaline, mesohaline, polyhaline)state (DE, NJ, PA)estuary (NEPs and vicinity)estuary (NEPs and vicinity)

Guidance from EPA

Level IV Intensive monitoring at fixed stations

MACWAD i

Design Component Example Indicators Example Metrics

Wetland Extent wetland acreage (hectares) per subpopulation and NWI attribute type Wetland Buffer Condition adjacent land use (e.g., % natural vs. developed in 100m band) Wetland Contiguousness connectivity (inter/intra); patch sizes and fragmentation Hi t i Ch l i i f diff t b l ti & tt ib tDesign: Historic Change loss or gain in acreage for different subpopulations & attributes Wetland Morphology percent open water; edge to area ratios

Plant Community Integrity vegetation community/type (e.g., Phragmites vs. Spartina, high marsh vs. low marsh, bare soil, open water)

Shoreline Condition edge status (e.g., hardening, erosion)

Tier 1

Anthropogenic Alterations channel straightening, ditching, tide gates, groundwater withdrawals vegetation community type (description of species assemblage) invasive species (percent cover of Phragmites) species list (floristic quality assessment index)

Plant Community Integrity

vegetation structure board Primary Production below and above ground biomass Wetland Morphology percent open water; edge to area ratios

Tier 1data on acreage,some condition Wetland Morphology percent open water; edge to area ratios

Invertebrate Community Integrity (sessile species)

presence and relative abundance of functional dominant and bioindicator species

Wildlife Habitat Integrity (mobile species) evidence of fish and mobile shellfish; avian IBI

Hydrological and Shoreline Integrity

evidence of hydrological alterations or impairment (e.g. depressions, dikes, rip rap)

Tier 2

Tier 2data on condition g y , p p)

Substrate Integrity percent organic matter and sediment description Elevation and Sediment Budget

relative elevation, evidence of accretion or subsidence, wrack accumulation fixed monitoring stations in second order tidal creek (temperature, specific conductivity, pH, turbidity, DO, water level)

Water Quality grab samples in tidal creek for dissolved nutrients and seston

data on condition,stressors

Water Quality grab samples in tidal creek for dissolved nutrients and seston quantity & quality, ebb & flood tides (TSS, chlorophyll, proximate biochemistry and stoichiometry)

Biogeochemical Cycling sediment porewater nutrient concentrations, forms, stoichiometric ratios; denitrification rates

Carbon Storage carbon sequestration in belowground biomass; litter accumulation Elevation and Sediment Sediment Elevation Table (SET), elevation relative to sea level

Tier 3

Tiers 3 and 4data on condition, f ti t Budget

( )(in addition to Tier 2 metrics)

Plant Community Integrity vegetation robustness (percent cover and stem counts per species) (in addition to Tier 2 metrics)

Functional Dominant Fauna Integrity

invertebrate and vertebrate species lists along intertidal edge and high marsh, biofiltration capacity of bivalves

function, stressors

Tier 1 Example Percentage Loss of Emergent Tidal Marsh 1996‐2006Percentage Loss of Emergent Tidal Marsh 1996‐2006

Satellite Data – Kearney and Riter Tier 1 1993

Percent vegetation

2006

MACWADesign

Component Example Indicators Example Metrics

Wetland Extent wetland acreage (hectares) per subpopulation and NWI attribute type Wetland Buffer Condition adjacent land use (e.g., % natural vs. developed in 100m band) Wetland Contiguousness connectivity (inter/intra); patch sizes and fragmentation Hi t i Ch l i i f diff t b l ti & tt ib t

Current FocusHistoric Change loss or gain in acreage for different subpopulations & attributes Wetland Morphology percent open water; edge to area ratios

Plant Community Integrity vegetation community/type (e.g., Phragmites vs. Spartina, high marsh vs. low marsh, bare soil, open water)

Shoreline Condition edge status (e.g., hardening, erosion)

Tier 1

Anthropogenic Alterations channel straightening, ditching, tide gates, groundwater withdrawals vegetation community type (description of species assemblage) invasive species (percent cover of Phragmites) species list (floristic quality assessment index)

Plant Community Integrity

vegetation structure board Primary Production below and above ground biomass Wetland Morphology percent open water; edge to area ratios

Tier 2Rapid Assessment Wetland Morphology percent open water; edge to area ratios

Invertebrate Community Integrity (sessile species)

presence and relative abundance of functional dominant and bioindicator species

Wildlife Habitat Integrity (mobile species) evidence of fish and mobile shellfish; avian IBI

Hydrological and Shoreline Integrity

evidence of hydrological alterations or impairment (e.g. depressions, dikes, rip rap)

Tier 2 Rapid AssessmentMethods (RAM)

g y , p p)Substrate Integrity percent organic matter and sediment description Elevation and Sediment Budget

relative elevation, evidence of accretion or subsidence, wrack accumulation fixed monitoring stations in second order tidal creek (temperature, specific conductivity, pH, turbidity, DO, water level)

Water Quality grab samples in tidal creek for dissolved nutrients and seston

Tier 4Si S ifi

Water Quality grab samples in tidal creek for dissolved nutrients and seston quantity & quality, ebb & flood tides (TSS, chlorophyll, proximate biochemistry and stoichiometry)

Biogeochemical Cycling sediment porewater nutrient concentrations, forms, stoichiometric ratios; denitrification rates

Carbon Storage carbon sequestration in belowground biomass; litter accumulation Elevation and Sediment Sediment Elevation Table (SET), elevation relative to sea level

Tier 3

Site‐Specific Intensive Monitoring(SSIM) Budget

( )(in addition to Tier 2 metrics)

Plant Community Integrity vegetation robustness (percent cover and stem counts per species) (in addition to Tier 2 metrics)

Functional Dominant Fauna Integrity

invertebrate and vertebrate species lists along intertidal edge and high marsh, biofiltration capacity of bivalves

(SSIM)

MACWADelaware Est arEstuary

Barnegat Bayg y

DE Inland Bays

MD Coastal Bays

Others?Others?Other NJ Coastal

National Wetland Monitoring & A t W k GAssessment Work Group

NWMAWG

Mid Atlantic Wetland Work GroupMid-Atlantic Wetland Work GroupMAWWG

STAC Wetland Work GroupMACWAGMACWAG

• Focus on Tidal Marshes• Link to Adjacent Estuaries (Network)• Link to Adjacent Estuaries (Network)

MACWA Sites in the Delaware EstuaryEstuary

See later slide for updated fixed station locations  

RAM SSIMMain Points of Contact

Angela Padeletti (PDE) Tracy Quirk (ANSP)See her poster!

RAM Attribute Metric Description

Buffer/Landscape Percent of AA Perimeter with 5m-

Buffer

Percent of AA perimeter that has at least 5m of natural or semi-natural condition land cover

Buffer/Landscape Average Buffer The average buffer width surrounding the AA

DE MidTRAM (Jacobs et al )

Buffer/Landscape Average Buffer Width

The average buffer width surrounding the AA that is in natural or semi-natural condition

Buffer/Landscape Surrounding

Development

Percent of developed land within 250m from the edge of the AA

Buffer/Landscape 250m Landscape Landscape condition within 250m surrounding (Jacobs et al.)

3 Attributes:

Condition

the AA based on the nativeness of vegetation, disturbance to substrate and extent of human

visitation

Buffer/Landscape Barriers to Landward Migration

Percent of landward perimeter of wetland within 250m that has physical barriers preventing

wetland migration inland3 Attributes: g

Hydrology Ditching & Draining

The presence of ditches in the AA

Hydrology Fill & Fragmentation

The presence of f ill or wetland fragmentation from anthropogenic sources in the AA

Hydrology Wetland Diking / The presence of dikes or other tidal f low• Buffer Integrity  Hydrology Wetland Diking /

Tidal Restriction The presence of dikes or other tidal f low

restrictions

Hydrology Point Sources

The presence of localized sources of pollution

Habitat Bearing Capacity

Soil resistance using a slide hammer

g y

• Hydrologic IntegrityHabitat Vegetative

Obstruction

Visual obstruction by vegetation <1m measured with a cover board.

Habitat Number of Plant

Layers

Number of plant layers in the AA based on plant height

Habitat Percent Co Percent of co dominant invasive species in the

• Habitat/Bio Integrity

Habitat Percent Co-dominant Invasive

Species

Percent of co-dominant invasive species in the AA

Habitat Percent Invasive

Percent cover of invasive species in the AA

RAM Progressg• MidTRAM Training

QAPP• QAPP

• Tests Near SSIM Stations

All Tid l W l d i PA• All Tidal Wetlands in PA

• Broadkill Watershed, DE

2011:

• Maurice Watershed, NJ

• Christina Watershed, DE

2012:

• Barnegat Bay, NJ

PA Tidal Wetlands – Cumulative Distribution

PA Tidal Wetlands – Condition Summary

Tidal Wetlands – Condition Comparison

Analysis by Alison Rogerson, DNREC

RAM Lessons Learned 2010A large portion of tidal freshwater wetlands in PA were degraded in 

d dcondition.  But condition scores were comparable to salt marshes in the St. Jones and Broadkill watersheds of DE

Some stressors found in the upper estuary, such as trash smothering were not directlysuch as trash smothering were not directly captured by MidTRAM

MidTRAM difi i b iMidTRAM modifications are being considered based on these lessons and to potentially add shoreline condition (erosion, alterations)

Future RAM Strategy(contingent on funding)

Delaware Estuary2009 20152009 – 2015+

Barnegat BayBarnegat Bay2012+

Delaware Inland Bayscompleted

RAM SSIMMain Points of Contact

Angela Padeletti (PDE) Tracy Quirk (ANSP)See her poster!

SSSIM Efforts

• Site Selection

• QAPP• Coordination‐ ANSP on phys/chem‐ NEPs on bio

• 2010‐ Baseline monitoring‐ SETs Installed

• 2011: Site Expansion‐Water Quality‐ SET Readings, Biological

Tier 4 Example MetricsWater Quality Elevation and Sediment BudgetBiogeochemical Cycling Plant Community IntegrityC b St F ti l D i t F I t it

p

Tier 4 Example Stations

Carbon Storage Functional Dominant Fauna Integrity

Station Location State Lead Entities Description

Tier 4 Example Stations

1 Tinicum NWR PA PADEP/ANSP Oligohaline, freshwater tidal marsh

2 Christina River DE DNREC/ PDE Mesohaline brackish tidal marsh2 Christina River DE DNREC/ PDE Mesohaline, brackish tidal marsh

3 St. Jones River DE DNREC Euryhaline, Spartina salt marsh

4 Maurice River NJ Rutgers Euryhaline, Spartina salt marsh

MACWA SSIM StationsDelaware EstuaryDelaware Estuary

Tid l W tl dTidal Wetlands

Non-Tidal Wetlands

SSIM Stations (Priority)SSIM Stations (Priority)

SSIM Stations (Secondary)

SSIM Stations (Pending)( g)

Villanova Stations

DNREC Stations

MACWA SSIM StationsBarnegat BayBarnegat Bay

High Salt Marsh

Low Salt Marsh

SSIM Stations

SSIM Station Assessment Area

MACWAMACWAOne size fits all?

No: include both “Core” and “Supplemental” i f b h RAM d i i imetrics for both RAM and station monitoring

‐ Compare only core metrics for climate and other sub‐regionalmonitoring needs

‐ Use core + supplemental metrics for local or watershed specific needs

Barnegat Bay – Parkertown SET Installation

Barnegat Bay – Parkertown Elevation and Vegetation Survey

Getting Equipment To Sites

MACWA Partners (so far)C a t e s (so fa )

Academy of Natural SciencesBarnegat Bay Estuary ProgramDNRECEPA HQ, Regions2 and 3NJDEP + NJ Coast Zone ProgramPADEPPDE (Coordinator)Rutgers UniversityVillanova UniversityWetland Associates

Summary• Coastal wetlands are a hallmark feature of the 

Delaware Estuary and coastal mid‐Atlantic

• They provide diverse critical goods and services that sustain lives and livelihoods

• They are extremely vulnerable to combined watershed and climate stressors

• Improved efforts to monitor wetland status and trends will assist in managing and sustaining them into the futurethem into the future

• Regional coordination strengthens scientific  outcomes, improves management andoutcomes, improves management and leverages more diverse funding 

We Thank the Many People Who Have Assisted in We Thank the Many People Who Have Assisted in y py pWorkshops, Workgroups and in the FieldWorkshops, Workgroups and in the Field

And We Are Grateful to Our Funders:And We Are Grateful to Our Funders:

EPA HeadquartersEPA Region 2EPA National Estuary ProgramDE Dept. of Natural Resources Environ. ControlNJ Coastal Management ProgramPA Coastal Management Program

Wetland Benefits (Ecosystem Services)

Millenium Ecosystem Assessment 1º Service 2º Service 3º Service 4º Service

ProvisioningFood

Fisheries Support

Algae and invertebrate productionG ti M t i l Ph it t l h

LivelihoodsProvisioning Genetic Materials Phragmites control research

Biochemical Products Research in Antifungal AgentsFiber and Fuel Cellulose stock

Sequestration Carbon Carbon Caps,

mitigationMeet TMDLs for

Health

Health

Regulating

Sediment Stabilization Erosion controlMeet TMDLs for

sedimentStorm Protection/ Wave Attenuation/

Flood ProtectionProtect Property Values and

infrastructure

Gas Regulation Carbon SequestrationOxygen production

Lives

Water Quality Sequestration, Filtering TMDLs: Nutrients, Pollutants

Cultural/ Spiritual

Recreation Bird watching, hunting, boatingSpiritual and Inspirational Native American Uses

University reasearch & school

Health

HealthHuman Well Being Educational projects/trips

Aesthetic ValueLandscape pictures, paintings,

open spaceHabitat Wildlife, shellfish, insects

Biodiversity Maintain Plant CommunitiesProduction Primary ProductionSupporting Production Primary Production

Water Cycling/Hydrologic RegimeNutrient Cycling/Biogeochemical

ProcessesMaintain trophic cycles, soil

building

Health