Science-Based Citizen Monitoring
of Restored Salt Marsh in North Carolina
                        Project Need: Seawalls and other hard structure methods used tosecure waterfront
                         property cause the loss of intertidal habitatand may increase erosion to nearby shorelines.
                         An alternative to installing a seawall is to plant marsh grass, a natural buffer against wave
                         energy. Marsh planting is sometimes combined with the installation of offshore breakwaters
                         or stone sills to further protect the shoreline while minimizing the negative effects on coastal habitat.
                        Through marsh restoration projects,NOAA hopes to stabilize shorelines and enhance coastal and
                         marine habitat.

                         Project Objective:  Evaluate tidal salt marsh restoration efforts by collecting data on faunal utilization of
                              the marsh as an indicator of habitat quality.
                              To obtain hands on experience with the fisheries sampling techniques and marine
                              fisheries habitat research.
                              To learn how to fish a fyke net; collect, enumerate, identify and measure estuarine
                              finfish, shellfish and decapod crustaceans;complile and summarize fisheries and
                              environmental data.

                        Research Team:

                        ECSU Students: Project Leaders:Emma Sawyer, Angela Cohoon, Research Assistants:Matt
                         Woolard, Shanna Chambliss, Heather Allen

                       ECSU Mentors:  Dr. Kathleen Fischer, and Elizabeth Noble

                        NOAA- Dr. Carolyn Curin, Priscilla Delano

       PHOTOS

The Team Carrying the Fyke net to the water Deploying the Fike Nets Checking the Nets Marsh Vegetation A Relaxing Break
Measuring Marsh Vegetation Juvenile Fish ID Juvenile Fish Measurement Identification of Unknown Organism The Joy of Discovery Studying Marsh Vegetation
Elevation Determination Field Elevation Measurement Field Measurement Using a Laser Prism Level Using A Laser Level Sample Collection Set-up
Sediment Sampling Another Break Sample Processing Seiving Sediment Samples Sediment Analysis 1 Sediment Analysis 2
Sediment Analysis 3 Lecture by Dr. Currin - NOAA