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Current Projects: Carbon sesquestration in Marshes Ι Soil Judging

Past Projects: Marlboro Clays Ι Sediment Source Identification Ι Nutrient Transport in Drainage Ditches

Carbon Sequestration in Restored Tidal Marshes at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Introduction

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (BNWR) is a 28,000 acre refuge in Dorchester County on Maryland's Easter Shore. It is 1/3 marsh, 1/3 forest and 1/3 water. It contains over 1/3 of all tidal wetlands in Maryland and is a major stop along the Atlantic Flyway for migrating waterfowl. The refuge is a sanctuary for Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, osprey, and endangered Delmarva Fox Squirrels. Over 350 species of bird use the refuge annually. It has been designated a "Wetland of International Importance" by the Ramsar Convention and 1 of 6 priority wetland areas by North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The Nature Conservancy has named it one of the "Last Great Places".

1938 Air Photo	2005 Color Ortho Photo

The marsh is vanishing at an astonishing rate. 8000 acres (12 sq. miles) have been lost at a rate of 150 - 400 acres per year. These losses are due to the combined effects of salt water intrusion, subsidence, invasive species (through herbivory), and sea level rise. These losses will continue as sea levels continue to rise.

Typical soil sampling click on image for larger version	Sampling transects click on image for larger version

There is hope in a plan to restore the marsh. The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Army Corps of Engineers are investigating the use of clean dredged sediments (PDF) from the shipping channels in the Chesapeake Bay to restore and rebuild tidal marshes within the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (BNWR). Pilot projects were carried out in 1983 and 2003 to restore small acreages with dredged sediment.

The purpose of our study at BNWR is to evaluate the soils of these restored marshes. Specifically, we want to evaluate the ability of these marshes to accrete. Accreting, by accumulating organic soil material, will allow them to rise with sea-level thus sequestering carbon. This accumulated organic material also sequesters carbon.

Spatial patterns of organic matter accumulation
click on map for larger version

Important Links

• Mid Chesapeake Bay Wetland Restoration: Dr. Dixie Birch USFWS
• Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge - USFWS - Wetland Restoration
• The Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP)
• Baltimore Sun October 9th article about project by Tom Pelton

Data, Reports, Presentations

• Dr. Skye Wills - 2006 ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting
  PDF Poster: Initial Carbon Distribution in Restored Tidal Marshes at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
  PDF Presentation: Initial Carbon Distribution in Restored Tidal Marshes at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
• Raymond Crew - 2008 GSA and ASA-CSSA-SSSA Joint Annual Meeting
  PDF: Accretion Response of Soils in a Restored and Natural Tidal Marsh Under Rapid Relative Sea Level Rise
• Dr. Brian Needelman - 2006 MRCSP Partners Meeting
  PDF: Carbon sequestration in restored tidal marshes at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

DOE Press Releases

• DOE-Funded Research at Maryland Marsh Aids Climate Change Solutions
• Link to video interview regarding DOE-Funded Research (Windows Media file)

Partners

 

SAWGAL Director - Dr. Brian Needelman - Office 301-405-8227 - Lab 301-405-1309 – bneed@umd.edu Website Administrator - Raymond C. Crew - Office 301-405-1309 - rcrew@umd.edu Last updated 12/03/2008 9:10 AM