A collaboration with the NERRS Science Collaborative
Combating rising seas
As coastal ecosystems continue to suffer the onslaught of rising seas and big storms, land managers have to explore proactive techniques to promote coastal wetland resilience. Northeastern Florida and the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR) have some of the most intact estuarine ecosystems in the southeastern U.S. but their susceptibility is still somewhat unknown. The GTMNERR’s management plan prioritizes sustaining “surface elevation” in coastal wetlands, which is controlled by plant and sediment inputs.
As an interdisciplinary team we will explore the question:
Which method is best for maintaining surface elevation?
We have combined the expert opinion of our stakeholders, GIS coastal modelling, and a combination of virtual and in person workshops to achieve the following outcomes;
Outcome 1
Identify portions of the GTMNERR that are particularly vulnerable by refining an existing coastal vulnerability index assessment with elevation data
Coastal vulnerability model that incorporates drivers such as elevation, boat wakes, and habitat. Poster by Gregg Verutes.
Outcome 2
engage both land manager and scientist end users in northeast FL to develop a plan for targeting wetland restoration pilot projects, and elicit expert opinion to bolster coastal vulnerability modelling
A flowchart summarizing the ways in which we intend to incorporate stakeholder opinion into the coastal vulnerability model. Credit: Tess Adgie
Stakeholders at the in-person EWE workshop discuss potential restoration sites. Photo by Nikki Dix.
Click here to see some more photos from our in-person workshop!
Collaborators & End Users
Samantha Chapman - Project Lead
Kaitlyn Dietz - Collaborative Lead
Michael Shirley - Team Member/Stakeholder
Nikki Dix - Team Member
Scott Eastman - Team Member/Stakeholder
Adam Langley - Technical Lead (Field Elevation Measurements)
Gregg Verutes - Technical Lead (CVI Assessment)
Lia Sansom - Team Member/Stakeholder
Tess Adgie - Project Technician
Christine Angelini - Professor, University of Florida
Annie Roddenberry - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Ron Brockmeyer - St. John’s River Water Management District (SJRWMD)
Chuck Jacoby - Indian River Lagoon Basin Bureau of Water Resources St. Johns River Water Management District
Tim Telfer - Public Lands and Natural Resource Manager, Flagler County
Mike Lagasse - Public Lands and Natural Resource Manager, Flagler County
Lorae’ Simpson - Florida Oceanographic Society
Clay McCoy - US Army Corps of Engineers
Matt Schrader - US Army Corps of Engineers
Elizabeth Guthrie - North Florida Land Trust
Ryan Moyer - Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Kimberly Mann - Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Heather Diekman - Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Whitney Qualls - Anastasia Mosquito Control District
Kelly Ussia - St Johns County Parks and Recreation