Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-71-2016 (submitted: 02/10/2016, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
The Link between Suspended Sediment Concentration and Salt Marsh Accretion
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Ellen Herbert | ||
| Home Institution: | Ducks Unlimited | ||
| Award Information: | NSF GLD: Watershed, estuarine, and local drivers of coastal marsh establishment and resilience. Award #1529245 to Dr. Matt Kirwan, Virginia Institute of Marine Science. $199,865. 2015-2018 | ||
| Mailing Address: | Ducks Unlimited | Phone Number: | |
| E-mail Address: | eherbert@ducks.org | ||
| Co-investigators: | Daniel J. Coleman (Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences) | ||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
We are testing the model derived hypothesis that the maximum rate of sea level rise that a marsh can survive is linearly related to the suspended sediment concentration of water that floods the marsh surface. The work will be conducted in 5 Atlantic coast salt marshes including GCE, PIE, and VCR. At GCE, we propose to install 4 turbidity sensors with wipers, ~30 sediment tiles, and 2 sediment cores from a salt marsh infilling the channel near Little Broughton Island. A VIMS graduate student (Dan Coleman) and technician (David Walters) would install all equipment, take cores, and collect water samples to calibrate turbidity sensors in June 2016. Installation will take 3 days (1 day to deploy instruments, 2 days Dan & one other person will need to be left on site for an entire flood tide, 6.5 hrs. and a second day for ebb tide). After installation, we anticipate visiting the site approximately quarterly for a duration of 2-3 hours. Each of these trips would require boat support (drop off and pick up [could be scheduled with other field work, sonde cleaning etc.]), but not technical support. Additionally, we have requested technician support to collect bottle samples and wipe turbidity sensors of any fouling during regular GCE water sonde maintenance/quality monitoring efforts (every 2 weeks during summer months, and 4 weeks during non-summer months). These efforts would involve taking bottle samples from the water surface adjacent to the 4 turbidity sensors (3 on the marsh, 1 in the river) during stages of the tide that flood the marsh surface (which is approximately 50% of the time at this site). We will supply bottles and a fed-ex account number to cover shipping costs (do not need to be cold shipped). The sensor located in the river will need to be retrieved (and re-deployed) to wipe the sensor. Battery replacement, sensor maintenance (downloading, battery changes, calibration), and troubleshooting will be done on our quarterly visits so will not require technician time. The data collected & results for this project will be shared with GCE LTER personnel and will inform the marsh modeling planned for the collaborative Coastal SEES project. It can also provide field-based estimates of marsh vulnerability to sea level rise that may be useful for the broader GCE LTER project. We will be responsible for removing all equipment from the field at the end of the monitoring period.
Where will the project be located?
Little Broughton Island approx. 31.302, -81.405
How will you provide GPS coordinates for study sites?
GPS coordinates are listed in the project location field
What are the expected start and end dates of the project?
Start Date: 06/01/2016 End Date: 06/01/2017
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
3 people (E. Herbert, D. Coleman, D. Walters [VIMS]) at installation and take down (two trips in 1 year time).
1 person every 2 weeks in warm months and every 4 weeks in cold months: have coordinated with Jacob Shalack to have technicians pick up a bottle sample near the site every time techs go to do maintenance on GCE 8 sonde.
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
3 RBR turbidity sensors will be deployed on the marsh for one year and marked with ~1m high pvc stakes and then removed. 1 YSI Sonde will be installed 30cm from the bed in a small, non-navigable tidal creek, mounted on a ~2.5m fence post for 1 year and then removed. 15 ceramic tiles and 15 cloth squares (6" by 6") will be staked to the marsh and collected and replaced monthly. They will be marked by ~1ft pvc stakes and permanently removed after 1 year.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
No
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
Three sediment cores will be taken with ~1m depth and ~15cm diameter. 3 small (~30cm2) area of vegetation will be clipped around the RBR sensors so that their detection ability is not obstructed. About 18-20 pvc stakes will be placed in the marsh for 1 year. Grass will be walked on during site installation, take-down, and maintenance.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
We will use temporary (movable) boardwalks for instillation & site visits. Routine water collection should not require walking on marsh.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
The core holes will likely fill in very quickly, with no noticeable impact within a few weeks-months. The equipment will have a minimal impact which will likely not persist following removal. We are attempting to observe the natural state of the system and it is therefore in our best interests to cause as little impact as possible.
Research Permits:
Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division: GCE-71-2016_Permit_Herbert_Altamaha_sediment_research_4_18_16 (06/01/2016-06/15/2017)
Study Area Map:
Files attached to this application
GCE-71-2016_GPS_ColemanHerbert_(VIMS)_Sediment_Study_Site.kml (KML file, 1.52 kb, submitted 03/09/2016)
GCE-71-2016_General_Herbert_Altamaha_sediment_research_4_18_16.pdf (PDF file, 994.36 kb, submitted 04/29/2016)
