measuring restoration success at installations in … epa states dod... · measuring restoration...

Measuring Restoration Measuring Restoration Success at Installations in the Success at Installations in the Chesapeake Bay WatershedChesapeake Bay Watershed

Leslie Leslie OrzettiOrzetti

Bob MurphyBob Murphy

Ecosystem Solutions, Inc.Ecosystem Solutions, Inc.

Why measure success?Why measure success?

•• Important component of any Important component of any restoration monitoring programrestoration monitoring program

•• Assess the functionality of your Assess the functionality of your restoration projectrestoration project

•• Provides cost benefit analysisProvides cost benefit analysis

==

How measuring success can help How measuring success can help you..you..

•• Justify funds for further restoration Justify funds for further restoration programsprograms

•• Demonstrate commitment to Demonstrate commitment to Chesapeake Chesapeake 20002000 goalsgoals

•• Meet regulatory requirementsMeet regulatory requirements

•• Provide important data for variety of state Provide important data for variety of state and federal laws and statutes:and federal laws and statutes:–– Clean Water ActClean Water Act–– Endangered Species ActEndangered Species Act–– Coastal Zone Management ActCoastal Zone Management Act–– Executive Order 11988, Floodplain ManagementExecutive Order 11988, Floodplain Management–– Executive Order 11990, Protection of WetlandsExecutive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands–– National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969

•• Alert installation commanders of natural Alert installation commanders of natural resource success on their installationresource success on their installation

How measuring success can help How measuring success can help you..you..

How to measure successHow to measure success

•• Data collection of specific parameters that Data collection of specific parameters that indicate a indicate a ““changechange”” or or ““responseresponse”” in the in the systemsystem–– Calculate metrics based on collected dataCalculate metrics based on collected data

•• Track changes in parameters and metrics Track changes in parameters and metrics over timeover time

•• Statistically or graphically compare data Statistically or graphically compare data collected before and/or after your restoration collected before and/or after your restoration projectproject

Current ProjectsCurrent Projects

•• Riparian Buffer RestorationRiparian Buffer Restoration•• Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

Restoration Restoration •• Shoreline modificationShoreline modification

Riparian Buffer RestorationRiparian Buffer Restoration

•• DoDDoD Legacy funded projectLegacy funded project–– ““An Analysis of Forest Riparian Buffer An Analysis of Forest Riparian Buffer

Zones on Military Installations in the Zones on Military Installations in the Chesapeake Bay WatershedChesapeake Bay Watershed””

–– 2006/20072006/2007•• Goal:Goal:

–– Assess the effectiveness of restored forest Assess the effectiveness of restored forest riparian zone buffers on military riparian zone buffers on military installationsinstallations


•• Why is measuring riparian buffer Why is measuring riparian buffer success important?success important?–– Help managers know the extent to which Help managers know the extent to which

buffers are performing desired functionsbuffers are performing desired functions–– Help managers know the time required for Help managers know the time required for

the return of biological integritythe return of biological integrity–– Overall, help managers justify the need for Overall, help managers justify the need for

and success of restoration activities on and success of restoration activities on their installationstheir installations


•• Why is measuring riparian buffer Why is measuring riparian buffer success important?success important?–– Help identify watersheds in need of Help identify watersheds in need of

TMDLTMDL’’ss and secure funding to mitigate and secure funding to mitigate TMDLTMDL’’ss..

–– Ensure habitat requirements for Ensure habitat requirements for endangered species within aquatic and endangered species within aquatic and riparian areasriparian areas

Riparian Buffer RestorationRiparian Buffer RestorationAPPROACHAPPROACH•• Used database from AEC to locate restored Used database from AEC to locate restored

areasareas•• Sites were located from Carlisle Barracks in Sites were located from Carlisle Barracks in

PA to Sugar Grove in WVA to Norfolk Naval PA to Sugar Grove in WVA to Norfolk Naval Base in VABase in VA

•• Visited 30 different sitesVisited 30 different sites–– 22 sites were deemed 22 sites were deemed ““sampleablesampleable””–– 8 sites were either 8 sites were either ““missingmissing”” or or ““unsampleableunsampleable””


•• Data CollectedData Collected–– Water quality: temperature, oxygen, Water quality: temperature, oxygen,

salinity/conductivity, nutrients, solidssalinity/conductivity, nutrients, solids–– Benthic MacroinvertebratesBenthic Macroinvertebrates–– Habitat AssessmentHabitat Assessment

•• Amount of data collected:Amount of data collected:–– Water quality: 22 sitesWater quality: 22 sites–– Habitat Assessment: 20 sitesHabitat Assessment: 20 sites–– Benthic Macroinvertebrates: 18 sitesBenthic Macroinvertebrates: 18 sites

Trend shows improving ammonia Trend shows improving ammonia concentrations with age of bufferconcentrations with age of buffer

Water Quality: Graphic shows Water Quality: Graphic shows grouping of sites based on grouping of sites based on physiographic regionphysiographic region

Water Quality ResultsWater Quality Results

Trend shows improving stonefly Trend shows improving stonefly community over time. Stoneflies are community over time. Stoneflies are not tolerant of pollution, therefore, not tolerant of pollution, therefore, this indicates improving water quality.this indicates improving water quality.

Trend shows less dominance of 1 Trend shows less dominance of 1 organism over time. A more diverse organism over time. A more diverse community is indicative of improving community is indicative of improving water quality.water quality.

Benthic Invertebrate ResultsResults

0 10 20 30 40 50 60Buffer age (years)

50

100

150

200

Hab

itat s

core

Results show improving habitat scores with Results show improving habitat scores with age of buffer. Improved habitat scores will age of buffer. Improved habitat scores will support a more diverse benthic community. support a more diverse benthic community. From Orzetti 2004. From Orzetti 2004.

Habitat ResultsHabitat Results

Riparian Buffer RestorationRiparian Buffer Restoration•• Conclusions:Conclusions:

–– Some sites are performing wellSome sites are performing well•• E.g.: Fort E.g.: Fort DetrickDetrick, Fort Meade, NWS Yorktown, , Fort Meade, NWS Yorktown,

Carlisle Barracks, NWSC Carlisle Barracks, NWSC CarderockCarderock–– Others are in need of further restoration or Others are in need of further restoration or

site managementsite management•• E.g.: St. E.g.: St. JulienJulien’’ss Creek Annex, NWSC Creek Annex, NWSC

CarderockCarderock–– Some no longer exist or need extensive Some no longer exist or need extensive

reworking:reworking:•• E.g.: NWSC E.g.: NWSC CarderockCarderock, Langley AFB, NMC , Langley AFB, NMC

Portsmouth Portsmouth


•• Recommendations:Recommendations:–– Ensure proper site selection and planting Ensure proper site selection and planting

programs.programs.–– Keep good and consistent records.Keep good and consistent records.–– Institute a monitoring program.Institute a monitoring program.–– Ensure proper maintenance of sites.Ensure proper maintenance of sites.–– Provide working definition of riparian forest Provide working definition of riparian forest

buffer zonebuffer zone

SAV Restoration & MonitoringSAV Restoration & Monitoring•• Project TitleProject Title: : ““Continued Development and Continued Development and

Coordination of Coordination of DoDDoD Installation Submerged Installation Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Programs in the Aquatic Vegetation Programs in the Chesapeake BayChesapeake Bay””–– Funding: Legacy ProgramFunding: Legacy Program–– Partners: CRC, AECPartners: CRC, AEC

•• Goal: To evaluate longGoal: To evaluate long--term status of term status of DoDDoD--sponsored SAV restoration in the sponsored SAV restoration in the Chesapeake Bay watershedChesapeake Bay watershed

SAV Restoration & MonitoringSAV Restoration & Monitoring

•• Why is measuring SAV restoration success Why is measuring SAV restoration success important?important?–– Without knowledge of success/failure, we Without knowledge of success/failure, we

cannot improve restoration methodologiescannot improve restoration methodologies–– Help managers justify the need for and Help managers justify the need for and

success of restoration activities on their success of restoration activities on their installationsinstallations

–– Encourage installations to implement water Encourage installations to implement water quality monitoring programsquality monitoring programs

–– Show commitment to Show commitment to Chesapeake 2000 Chesapeake 2000 AgreementAgreement

SAV Restoration & MonitoringSAV Restoration & Monitoring•• Project and site descriptionsProject and site descriptions

Army Navy Air Force

Ft. Eustis (2) NSWC Indian Head (1)

Langley AFB (2-4)

Ft. Monroe (2) NSWC Dahlgren (1)

Aberdeen Proving Ground (2-4)

NAS Patuxent River; Solomons Annex (1)NAS Patuxent River; Webster Field (2)US Naval Academy (3)NAB Little Creek (3)


•• Data collectionsData collections--–– Water quality Water quality

(temperature, (temperature, oxygen, salinity)oxygen, salinity)

–– Stem counts at 8 Stem counts at 8 randomly picked 1 mrandomly picked 1 m22

square plots to square plots to estimate densityestimate density

SAV Restoration & MonitoringSAV Restoration & Monitoring•• ResultsResults

–– All but two installations have been visitedAll but two installations have been visited–– Most restorations have failedMost restorations have failed

•• Likely due to water quality issuesLikely due to water quality issues–– Success at :Success at :

•• Little Creek and APG Little Creek and APG suggests largesuggests large--scale scale restorations thererestorations there


•• Conclusions and RecommendationsConclusions and Recommendations–– Implement Water Quality Monitoring Implement Water Quality Monitoring

•• Benefits Benefits -- restoration targeting, TMDL, etc.restoration targeting, TMDL, etc.

–– Deploy test plots at appropriate locationsDeploy test plots at appropriate locations

–– Continue work with regional installations Continue work with regional installations to encourage restoration where potential to encourage restoration where potential for success is highfor success is high

Impacts of Shoreline ModificationImpacts of Shoreline Modification

•• Project Title: Project Title: ““Biological Assessment in Biological Assessment in a a NearshoreNearshore Aquatic Ecosystem Aquatic Ecosystem Associated with Shoreline Associated with Shoreline ConstructionConstruction””–– Funding: NAVFACFunding: NAVFAC

•• Goal: To assess the Goal: To assess the nearshorenearshore fish fish community in response to shoreline community in response to shoreline modificationmodification

Impacts of Shoreline ModificationImpacts of Shoreline Modification•• Why is measuring the impacts of Why is measuring the impacts of

shoreline modification important?shoreline modification important?–– Help determine the positive and negative Help determine the positive and negative

impacts of your project.impacts of your project.–– If a restoration project, help managers If a restoration project, help managers

know if restoration is performing desired know if restoration is performing desired functions.functions.

–– Ensure proper habitat availability for both Ensure proper habitat availability for both aquatic and terrestrial species affected by aquatic and terrestrial species affected by modification.modification.

–– Alert base commanders of success of Alert base commanders of success of projects, and help justify more funding.projects, and help justify more funding.


•• NSWC Indian HeadNSWC Indian Head–– 6 sites along project length6 sites along project length

•• 4 impact sites4 impact sites•• 2 control sites2 control sites

•• Data CollectedData Collected–– Based on BACI designBased on BACI design–– Water quality Water quality –– Seine fish samplesSeine fish samples–– Trawl fish samplesTrawl fish samples

IHPR01

IHPR02

IHPR03

IHPR04

IHMC01

IHMC02


•• Results to dateResults to date–– First year of data First year of data

describing describing ichthyofaunaichthyofauna

•• Collected over 2044 Collected over 2044 organisms, 25 speciesorganisms, 25 species

Species Total

White Perch 562

Spottail shiner 343

Banded killifish 179

Eastern silvery minnow 99

Striped bass 83

American shad 62

Alewife 53

Blue catfish 42

Bay anchovy 41

Golden shiner 29

Bluegill 26

Pumpkinseed 26

Tesselated Darter 21

Gizzard shad 14

Largemouth bass 9

Yellow perch 7

Inland silverside 4

Atlantic needlefish 4

Blueback herring 2

Channel catfish 2

Brown bullhead 2

Blue crab 2

Hogchoker 2

Atlantic menhaden 1

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

SPRING EARLY SUMMER LATE SUMMER FALL

Season

H'

SEINETRAWL

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

SPRING EARLY SUMMER LATE SUMMER FALL

Season

Cat

ch p

er U

nit E

ffort

(No.

fish

hau

l -1)

SEINETRAWLMean diversity of catch by season Mean diversity of catch by season

as measured by the Shannon as measured by the Shannon index, Hindex, H’’..

CPUE across seasons. CPUE is CPUE across seasons. CPUE is mean number of fish caught per mean number of fish caught per sample (seine and trawl).sample (seine and trawl).

Impacts of Shoreline ModificationImpacts of Shoreline Modification• Conclusions:

–– Relatively high abundance of the blue catfishRelatively high abundance of the blue catfish–– Dominant species offshore is white perchDominant species offshore is white perch–– Dominant species Dominant species nearshorenearshore is is spottailspottail shinershiner–– Dataset is similar in structure to others in this Dataset is similar in structure to others in this

region region –– Data will be compared to post construction Data will be compared to post construction

collections to determine the impact of the collections to determine the impact of the projectproject


•• Future directions:Future directions:–– Researchers can use this type of design to Researchers can use this type of design to

determine impacts of a variety of shoreline determine impacts of a variety of shoreline restoration projectsrestoration projects

–– Currently have Currently have DoDDoD Legacy proposal Legacy proposal submittedsubmitted

•• Langley AFB, Aberdeen Proving Ground, NAS Langley AFB, Aberdeen Proving Ground, NAS Patuxent RiverPatuxent River

ConclusionsConclusions

•• Important to collect data for:Important to collect data for:–– Regulatory information Regulatory information –– Return on investmentReturn on investment–– Ensure restoration successEnsure restoration success–– Determine negative impacts of Determine negative impacts of

modificationmodification–– Justify additional fundingJustify additional funding

Contact InformationContact Information

•• Robert MurphyRobert Murphy–– [email protected]@ecosystemsolutions.org

•• Leslie OrzettiLeslie Orzetti–– [email protected]@ecosystemsolutions.org

•• Website:Website:–– http://http://www.ecosystemsolutions.orgwww.ecosystemsolutions.org

measuring restoration success at installations in … epa states dod... · measuring restoration...

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