Management Plan - National Estuarine Research Reserve System

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◊when such entities conduct estuarine research;andConduct and coordinate estuarine researchwithin the System, gathering and makingavailable information necessary for improvedunderstanding and management of estuarineareas.The primary research objective for the NERRSystem is to study the causes and effects of naturaland anthropogenic change in the ecology ofestuarine and estuarine-like ecosystems. NOAAEstuarine Reserves Division (ERD) research isdesigned to provide information of significant valueto the development and implementation of resourcemanagement policy governing U.S. coastal waters.ERD has identified five aspects of estuarine ecologicalchange to receive particular emphasis: non-pointsource pollution, habitat restoration, biodiversityand invasive species, sustaining resources withinestuarine ecosystems and socioeconomic research.System-wide Research FundingPrioritiesERD is a significant source of research fundingfor both independent and reserve staff researchers.Federal regulations (15 C.F.R. sec. 921.50 (a))specify that ERD research funds (under subpart Fof the regulations) are to be used primarily to:◊◊◊Support management-related research thatwill enhance scientific understanding of theReserve ecosystem,Provide information needed by reserve managementand coastal management decisionmakers,andImprove public awareness and understandingof estuarine ecosystems and estuarine managementissues.Graduate Research FellowshipsIn 1997, the NOAA/Estuarine Reserves Divisionbegan funding a competitive graduate researchfellowship program in the NERRS. The NERRSGraduate Research Fellowship Program (GRF) isintended to produce high quality research in thereserves focused on improving coastal zone managementwhile providing graduate students withhands-on experience in reserve research and monitoring.This fellowship provides graduate studentswith funding for 1 to 3 years to conduct their ownresearch projects and training in ecological monitoring.GRF projects must address coastal managementissues identified as having regional or nationalsignificance, relate them to the NERRS ResearchPriorities and be conducted at least partially withinone or more designated reserve sites.Students are asked to provide up to 15 hoursper week of research assistance to the reserve. Astudent’s individual GRF program is designed withon-site staff and may include on-site monitoring orresearch; this training may take place throughoutthe school year or may be concentrated during aspecific season.The Wells Reserve will continue to sponsorGraduate Research Fellows to the extent possible.Most fellows have been funded for 3 years, soopenings for new fellows at the Reserve may not beavailable in some years. The Research Coordinatorwill communicate regularly with the fellows, eitheras an informal project advisor or as a graduate committeemember.System-wide Phased MonitoringIt is the policy of the Wells Reserve to follow thePhased Monitoring plan initiated by the EstuarineReserves Division in 1989, and as outlined in theNERRS Regulations and Strategic Plan:Phase I: Environmental Characterization, includingstudies necessary for inventory and comprehensivesite descriptions;Phase II: Site Profile, to include a synthesis of dataand information; andPhase III: Implementation of the System-wideMonitoring Program (SWMP).80 Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
System-wide Monitoring ProgramThe NERR System-wide Monitoring Program(SWMP) provides standardized data on nationalestuarine environmental trends while allowing theflexibility to assess coastal management issues ofregional or local concern. The principal mission ofthe SWMP is to develop quantitative measurementsof short-term variability and long-term changein the integrity and biodiversity of representativeestuarine ecosystems and coastal watersheds for thepurpose of contributing to effective coastal zonemanagement. The program is designed to enhancethe value and vision of the Reserves as a system ofnational reference sites. The program currently hasthree main components.Abiotic VariablesThe abiotic factors collected by the NERRS-SWMPinclude temperature, specific conductivity, pH, turbidity,dissolved oxygen (both % and mg/l), waterlevel, chlorophyll-a, orthophosphates, combinednitrate/nitrite, silicates, and ammonia for waterquality monitoring; and air temperature, relativehumidity, wind speed and direction, barometricpressure, precipitation, and PAR (photosyntheticallyactive radiation) for meteorological monitoring.Each Reserve uses a set of YSI automated waterquality instruments and a Campbell Scientificweather station to collect data. The data undergoquality control and are then submitted to a centralizeddata management office.Biological MonitoringThis vegetation monitoring program will utilizea Tier I approach and aerial photography to mapthe distribution of the common salt marsh grassesPhragmites australis (usually adjacent to uplandborder including road beds, dredge spoils, etc.),Spartina patens (a dominant species in the highmarsh) and Spartina alterniflora (a dominant speciesin the low marsh). The second task will employTier II methods to assess the relationship betweenupland land use, elevation and the abundance ofcommon marsh plants.Figure X.2. A researcher records the location of anexperiment lead by Dr. Mark Bertness of BrownUniversity which investigates the effect of globalwarming on salt marsh vegetation.Land Use and Habitat ChangeThis component of SWMP will be developed andimplemented for purposes of identifying changes incoastal ecological condition with the goal of trackingand evaluating the status of estuarine habitatchange and watershed land use for all the reserves.The main objective of this element will be to examinethe link between watershed land use activitiesand coastal habitat quality. The basic questionto be addressed is: “What is the magnitude andextent of habitat change in estuarine systems andhow are these changes linked to watershed landuse practices?” The use of the NERRS HabitatClassification Scheme will support monitoring ofland use and habitat change.Data collected by the NERRS-SWMP are compiledelectronically at the centralized data managementoffice (CDMO) at the Belle W. BaruchInstitute for Marine Biology and Coastal Researchof the University of South Carolina. CDMOprovides additional quality control for data andmetadata. NERR-SWMP data are formatted tomeet the standards of the Federal GeographicalManagement Plan: Research and Monitoring81
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Wells National Estuarine Research R
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Table of ContentsAcknowledgments..
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Representation on the Reserve Manag
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Objectives and Strategies.. . . . .
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XIII. Volunteer Plan.. . . . . . .
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xiiWells National Estuarine Researc
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I. OverviewIntroduction to the Rese
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Exhibits and Interpretive Trails; P
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The Wells Reserve requires specific
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II. IntroductionThe Value of Estuar
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Figure II.3. Biogeographic regions
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1.2.3.Address coastal management is
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Department of of CommerceNational O
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16 Wells National Estuarine Researc
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III. Wells NERR SettingPhysical Set
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Figure III.3. The two principal wat
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Wells Reserve campus and adjacent s
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230 bird species and at least 32 ma
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landscapes are assuming a suburban
Page 43 and 44: IV. Strategic Plan29
Page 45 and 46: Objective 2: Optimize educational u
Page 47 and 48: V. Accomplishments33
Page 49 and 50: Figure V.2. Chris Feurt, the CTP Co
Page 51 and 52: Figure V.4. The barn complex was co
Page 53 and 54: ◊With partners (U.S. Fish and Wil
Page 55 and 56: VI. Administration41
Page 57 and 58: RMAManagerEducationResearch & Stewa
Page 59 and 60: ◊The York County Audubon Society,
Page 61 and 62: The Reserve Manager serves as the c
Page 63 and 64: Figure VI.4. An October sunrise gra
Page 65 and 66: VII. Facilities andConstruction51
Page 67 and 68: ◊Make facilities available to par
Page 69 and 70: Figure VII.2. The Reserved Life Est
Page 71 and 72: Killing House (early 1900’s)This
Page 73 and 74: Estate and are currently privately
Page 75 and 76: VIII. Public Access61
Page 77 and 78: Figure VIII.2. An artist at work by
Page 79 and 80: Figure VIII.4. A family enjoys a wa
Page 81 and 82: IX. Education and Outreach67
Page 83 and 84: Strategies◊ Work with partners to
Page 85 and 86: K-12 EducationThe Wells Reserve edu
Page 87 and 88: signs of wildlife, water quality mo
Page 89 and 90: irds, beach exploration, seasonal m
Page 91 and 92: X. Research and Monitoring77
Page 93: Figure X.1. Jeremy Miller (right) a
Page 97 and 98: tions concerning the sustainability
Page 99 and 100: permit, the Research Department als
Page 101 and 102: XI. Stewardship87
Page 103 and 104: ◊◊◊◊◊Protect pristine hab
Page 105 and 106: Reserve cooperates with the followi
Page 107 and 108: will monitor this site (and others
Page 109 and 110: Figure XI.6. The Wells Reserve Stew
Page 111 and 112: XII. Reserve Boundary andAcquisitio
Page 113 and 114: Proposed Changes to the Reserve and
Page 115 and 116: Figure XII.2 (top): The main stems
Page 117 and 118: By expanding its boundary the Wells
Page 119 and 120: forests, and wetlands. It has habit
Page 121 and 122: Conservation EasementThe Wells Rese
Page 123 and 124: XIII. Volunteers109
Page 125 and 126: Figure XIII.1. Beach Profiling volu
Page 127 and 128: XIV. Communications113
Page 129 and 130: images, and cultivates interest in
Page 131 and 132: AppendicesAppendix A: Memoranda of
Page 133 and 134: Appendix A: Memoranda ofUnderstandi
Page 135 and 136: Appendix A-1Management Plan: Append
Page 141 and 142: Management Plan: Appendix A127
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Management Plan: Appendix A131
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Appendix A-4Management Plan: Append
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Appendix B: ConservationEasementsMa
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Appendix B-1Management Plan: Append
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Management Plan: Appendix B153
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Appendix C: State of MaineLegislati
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Appendix C-1Management Plan: Append
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Management Plan: Appendix C171
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Appendix D: Rules forPublic UseMana
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Appendix Das part of the Reserve. T
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Appendix D(a) No person shall remov
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Appendix D(a) Third through fifth g
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Appendix E: NaturalResource LawsMan
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Appendix Ecomponents of the Program
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Appendix Eability of these areas to
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Appendix ETowns experiencing less g
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Appendix Emust be in place before a
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Appendix F: FederalRegulations—NE
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Appendix Ffor resource management p
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Appendix F(b) The biogeographic cla
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Appendix Fzone. Key land and water
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Appendix Fminor construction projec
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Appendix Finterests therein, for an
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Appendix Fagencies and/or private o
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Appendix Fand the additional compon
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Appendix FResearch Reserve System.(
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Appendix FDC 20235. The following m
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Appendix FThis typology system refl
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Appendix Fthe boring clam Playdon,
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Appendix FC. Inlet type. Inlets in
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Appendix FB. pH Regime: This is ind
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Appendix G:CZMA—Section 315Manage
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Appendix GIn developing the guideli
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Appendix H:Wells National Estuarine
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Appendix HWells National Estuarine
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