Management Plan - National Estuarine Research Reserve System

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NERR system recently implemented a standardized,nationwide program using the GeostationaryOperational Environmental Satellites (GOES)system, a critical component of the IntegratedOcean Observing System (IOOS). The data aretransmitted via satellite at 15 minute intervals,and are used by National Weather Service’sHydrometeorological Automated Data System, andcan be viewed online by anyone. The Reserve willcontinue to support telemetry and other efforts thatintegrate with the Gulf of Maine Ocean ObservingSystem and IOOS. More generally, the Reservewill promote awareness of SWMP data within theGulf of Maine scientific community.Figure X.3. A long night of field work is just beginning.Photo by Andrea Leonard.Data Committee. The CDMO then compiles anddisseminates all system-wide data and summarystatistics over the world-wide web, where researchers,coastal managers, and educators may readilyaccess the information.Telemetry, or the delivery of data to remote users inreal-time or near real-time, is an important elementof SWMP. Although telemetry efforts have beenongoing at Wells NERR for over six years, theWells Reserve Research ThemesEstuarine Water QualityWater quality is monitored continuously at severalstations with automated instruments as part ofthe System Wide Monitoring Program, as wellas bimonthly at 15 to 20 stations through theWatershed Evaluation Team (WET) volunteermonitoring program. These data have allowed usto identify several bacterial “hot spots,” are used toidentify and open areas safe for shellfishing, andhave uncovered a relation between tides and lowdissolved oxygen levels. Our water quality work hascontributed to the designation of several “PriorityWatersheds” in coastal southern Maine by theMaine Department of Environmental Protection.Our water quality data is currently being used aspart of a NOAA Northeast regional assessmentof estuarine eutrophication. Our partnershipwith Maine Sea Grant and the University of NewHampshire has identified species-specific sources ofbacterial contamination in our coastal watersheds.Salt Marsh Habitats andCommunitiesFactors that control the dynamics and vigor of saltmarsh plant communities and marsh peat formationdetermine the ability of a salt marsh to persistin the face of sea level rise. Through a combinationof experimental manipulations and long termmonitoring, we are producing data to answer ques-82 Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
tions concerning the sustainability of natural andrestored salt marsh habitats in this region. Thesestudies address land-use impacts, nutrient-plantrelations, plant community responses to physicaland hydrologic disturbance, and the relative contributionof short-term natural events (e.g., storms)and human activities (e.g., dredging, tidal restriction)on patterns of sediment accretion and erosion.The Reserve’s marshes and beaches are amongthe best-studied sites nationally with regard tolong-term accretion and erosion (over thousands ofyears). The barrier spits that protect these marsheshave also been well studied, especially with respectto alterations due to human activity and sea levelrise.Habitat Value for Fish, Shellfishand BirdsThe Reserve combines long-term monitoring withperiodic surveys and short-term experiments toidentify species and measure trends and changes inpopulations of fish, crustaceans, clams, and birds.We have more than 10 years of data on upland birds,wading birds, and shorebirds for assessing populationstatus. Our wading bird data are used as a grossindicator of salt marsh health. Our periodic larval,juvenile, and adult fish surveys have produced thebest available data for fish utilization of salt marshestuaries in the Gulf of Maine. We are currentlyfocused on the development of nekton indicatorsof shoreland land-use impacts on estuarine habitat.We periodically conduct surveys and field experimentsto look at the survival and growth of hatcheryseed, juvenile and adult softshell clams, as well astheir favored habitat characteristics and predationby the invasive green crab. Our food web studiesare quantifying the movement of energy and contaminantsfrom primary producers to nekton.Salt Marsh Degradation andRestorationSince 1991, the Wells Reserve has been studying theimpact of tidal restrictions on salt marsh functionsand values, and the response of salt marshes to tidalrestoration. Salt marsh ecosystems in the Gulf ofMaine sustained themselves in the face of sea-levelrise and other natural disturbances for nearly 5,000years. Since colonial times large areas of salt marshhave been lost through diking, draining, and filling.Today, the remaining marshland is fairly wellprotected from outright destruction, but during thepast 100 years, and especially since the 1950’s, saltmarshes have been divided into fragments by roads,causeways, culverts, and tide gates. Tidal flowto most of these fragments is severely restricted,leading to chronic habitat degradation and greatlyreduced access for fish and other marine species.Currently, we are studying how adjacent landuse change is altering the amount and quality offreshwater flow into Gulf of Maine marshes. Underthe umbrella of the Global Programme of ActionCoalition for the Gulf of Maine, and the Gulf ofMaine Council on the Marine Environment, theReserve evaluates monitoring results from marshrestoration projects throughout the Gulf to assesstheir performance and to identify data gaps andfuture monitoring needs.Field Research SitesThe Wells Reserve supports studies within severallocal estuaries and watersheds. The research programis currently at capacity with respect to itsability to provide on-site staff support to visitinginvestigators, and is approaching capacity for itsrelatively small field site. The Reserve encouragesvisiting investigators to consider alternative saltmarsh estuaries for their studies, but does not controlaccess to these sites. Researchers using sites outsidethe Reserve boundary collaborate with Reservestaff but must comply with the research protocols ofthe host location. The Wells Reserve would benefitgreatly from an expansion of the coastal area withinwhich its scientists regularly conduct research.Academic and InstitutionalPartnershipsThe Wells Reserve maintains professional relationshipswith colleagues at the University ofNew Hampshire, the University of New England,Brown University, Boston University, DartmouthCollege, Antioch New England Graduate School,Management Plan: Research and Monitoring83
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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
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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 and 94: Figure X.1. Jeremy Miller (right) a
Page 95: System-wide Monitoring ProgramThe N
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
Page 145 and 146: 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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