Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-146-2025 (submitted: 11/19/2025, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Groundwater wells for inundation and salinity
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Amanda C. Spivak | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Georgia | ||
| Award Information: | GCE LTER V | ||
| Mailing Address: | Marine Science Rm. 164 | Phone Number: | (706) 542-5709 |
| Marine Sciences | E-mail Address: | aspivak@uga.edu | |
| Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 | |||
| Co-investigators: | |||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
Salinity and inundation are major structuring agents for coastal ecosystems. Plant species zonation and productivity are largely determined by salinity and inundation, with parallel shifts in community structure, plant microbe interactions, and biogeochemical processes. Our goal is to characterize patterns in tidal inundation and porewater salinities across wetlands and to assess whether variability inundation and salinity is reflected by marsh communities.
Where will the project be located?
See KMZ and PDF
How will you provide GPS coordinates for study sites?
I will provide a GIS file describing my study sites (ArcGIS shapefile, Google Earth KML/KMZ)
What are the expected start and end dates of the project?
Start Date: 01/01/2026 End Date: 12/31/2026
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
Wells will be installed in late winter 2026 and visited periodically (every few months) to download data and ensure instrument functioning. Installation and data-download trips will involve small teams of 2-3 people.
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
We will install 1 groundwater well 5-10 m from wetland creekbanks at each site. Wells will be constructed of 1 1/4" PVC pipe and will extend 2' above the ground and reach 3 to 9' belowground. In each well a small depth level logger or conductivity-temperature-depth probe will be installed. Wells will be installed in late winter 2026 and visited periodically (every few months) to download data and ensure instrument functioning. Installation and data-download trips will involve small teams of 2-3 people.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
no
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
It is likely that marsh plants will be walked upon during well installation and periodic maintenance. This may cause dieback of those plants but based on past experience we expect full recovery by the end of the growing season or beginning of the following growing season. No permanent damage is expected
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
we expect full recovery by the end of the growing season or beginning of the following growing season. No permanent damage is expected
Study Area Map:
Files attached to this application
GCE-146-2025_Documents_GA_DNR_CRD_Permit_distributed_wells_11192025.pdf (PDF file, 680.92 kb, submitted 11/20/2025)
GCE-146-2025_Maps_GCE_well_siting_for_variability_11192025.kmz (Compressed KML file, 3.84 kb, submitted 11/20/2025)
