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Development and Validation of Rapid Assessment Indices of Condition for Coastal for Coastal Wetlands in Southern New England, USA
Citation:
WIGAND, C., B. Carlisle, J. Smith, M. Carullo, D. Fillis, M. A. CHARPENTIER, R. A. MCKINNEY, R. L. JOHNSON, AND J. HELTSHE. Development and Validation of Rapid Assessment Indices of Condition for Coastal for Coastal Wetlands in Southern New England, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT. Springer, New York, NY, 182(1-4):31-46, (2011).
Impact/Purpose:
Wetland condition data is essential in monitoring the quality of aquatic resources, prioritizing sites for restoration, and listing potentially degraded sites. Here we present and validate the New England Rapid Assessment Method (NERAM), which was used to assess the ambient condition of 81 wetlands in southern New England USA. Vegetation, soils, on-site disturbances, and watershed land use and land cover were assessed at the coastal wetland sites using the NERAM. Condition indices (CIs) were derived from various combinations of the multi-dimensional data using principal component analyses and a ranking approach. Nested within the set of 81 wetlands, were ten reference sites that were previously examined with an intensive assessment, which included detailed measures of vegetation, soils, and infauna. Significant relationships were found between the rapid assessment CIs and the intensive assessment index. Significant relationships were also found between some rapid assessment CIs and the developed lands in a 1 Km buffer around the wetlands. A robust and standardized rapid assessment method will allow New England states to inventory the condition of coastal wetlands, assess long term trends, and support management activities to restore and maintain healthy wetlands. This research was conducted in partnership with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management.
Description:
Vegetation, soils, on-site disturbances, and watershed land use and land cover were assessed at 81 coastal wetland sites using the New England Rapid Asssessment Method (NERAM). Condition indices (CIs) were derived from various combinations of the multi-dimensional data using principal component analyses and a ranking approach. Nested within the set of 81 wetlands were ten reference sites that were previously examined with an intensive assessment, which included detailed measures of vegetation, soils, and infauna. Significant relationships were found between the rapid assessment CIs and the intensive assessment index. Significant relationships were also found between some rapid assessment CIs and the developed lands in a 1 Km buffer around the wetlands. The regression results of the rapid assessment CIs with the intensive assessment index suggest that it is unnecessary to make finer scale measurements of plant species and soils when evaluating condition of coastal wetlands in southern New England in a rapid fashion. However, more detailed measures of hydrology, soils, and biota may be necessary for tracking restoration or mitigation projects. A robust and standardized rapid assessment method will allow New England states to inventory the condition of coastal wetlands, assess long term trends, and support management activities to restore and maintain healthy wetlands.