UNH Today

A team of scientists from the University of New Hampshire are collaborating with Ducks Unlimited (DU) in an innovative effort to restore salt marsh resiliency in Maine. Partnering with federal, state, academic and municipal organizations, DU is leading the implementation of Maine’s first Beneficial Use of Dredge Material project at Webhannet Salt Marsh located in Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). This technique involves placing sediment on the marsh surface to increase elevation to promote the natural ebb and flow of the tides.

The interdisciplinary team from UNH includes co-principal investigators Gregg Moore, associate professor in the department of biological sciences, and Adrienne Kovach, associate professor in the department of natural resources and the environment, as well as Julie Paprocki, assistant professor in the departments of civil and environmental engineering and ocean engineering, Ashley Bulseco, postdoctoral diversity and innovation scholar from the department of biological sciences, Marjorie Mednikova, a doctoral student in the marine biology PhD program, and Talia Kuras a doctoral student in the natural resources and Earth systems science PhD program. The team is focused on monitoring the multi-faceted response of the ecosystem to the restoration, with Moore and Kovach each focused on different aspects of the work.

Moore’s lab will be conducting vegetation and elevation surveys, evaluating pore water chemistry, recording surficial hydrology, quantifying belowground biomass and marsh peat sheer strength and characterizing sediment microbiome. They also will be working with DU to advise adaptive management if necessary and assisting with public outreach, reporting and engaged scholarship.

“We are so excited to be part of this landmark project, the first of its kind in the state on Maine,” says Moore. “Our pilot studies on the benefits of sediment addition in the Great Bay Estuary were critical to assisting DU with design, implementation and ecological monitoring. We hope this project will be a springboard to similar salt marsh resilience efforts in the region.”

Kovach’s group will monitor the bird community, with a special focus on birds that rely on the unique salt marsh habitat for nesting, including the endangered saltmarsh sparrow. They will conduct surveys to evaluate bird diversity and monitor the breeding success of marsh-nesting birds. They will also use automated radio telemetry to monitor the movements and habitat use of saltmarsh sparrows following restoration.

“The Wells Harbor marsh elevation enhancement at Rachel Carson NWR is DU’s most pressing project in New England,” said DU Biologist Bri Benvenuti ’16G. “The goal is to design and implement Maine’s first salt marsh restoration project using dredge sediment. This work is a result of years of partnerships between the Army Corps of Engineers, the town of Wells, state regulatory agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to ultimately develop the blueprint to increase marsh elevation in the Gulf of Maine, which is subsiding due to rising sea levels.”

This effort aims to combat the impacts of coastal flooding and habitat degradation by restoring two acres of salt marsh by placing clean, stockpiled marine sediment from the Army Corps of Engineers winter 2024 dredge of Wells Harbor. The project is critical in preserving habitat for the state’s endangered saltmarsh sparrow. It will also serve as a model for future marsh restoration efforts in New England.

“Innovative marsh restoration practices, such as the sediment addition project in Wells, are needed to restore the resiliency of salt marshes and thereby the unique habitat needed to support breeding populations of the saltmarsh sparrow,” says Kovach. “Resilient salt marshes also provide many ecosystem services that benefit humans, including shoreline protection from coastal storms and carbon sequestration.”

Along with UNH, USFWS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Town of Wells and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection are partnering on the marsh restoration. Funding is being provided by Greenfield Penobscot Estuary Beneficial Project Trust LLC, Trustee of the Penobscot Estuary Beneficial Environmental Projects Trust and other private foundations. These organizations bring extensive expertise and resources, ensuring the project’s success and broader applicability throughout the Gulf of Maine.

The project is in the construction phase, which is expected to be completed by late March. Once finished, this pilot project will provide crucial data for future restoration projects across Maine.