SAV Restoration MonitoringSAV Restoration Monitoring

Bob MurphyBob MurphyEcosystem SolutionsEcosystem Solutions

Becky ThurBecky ThurChesapeake Research Consortium, Chesapeake Research Consortium,

Freshwater SAV PartnershipFreshwater SAV Partnership

SAV Restoration MonitoringSAV Restoration Monitoring

Need:Need:• More than More than ten agencies or ten agencies or

organizations have been organizations have been involved in SAV restoration involved in SAV restoration projects baywide since 1997projects baywide since 1997

• Restoration is not limited to Restoration is not limited to one species or type of stock one species or type of stock material within speciesmaterial within species

• Restoration is not limited to Restoration is not limited to one methodologyone methodology

• Lessons learned?Lessons learned?

SAV Restoration MonitoringSAV Restoration Monitoring

• Variability in source materialsVariability in source materials

• Adult plant-based restorationAdult plant-based restoration

• Laboratory, nursery grown, and Laboratory, nursery grown, and field collected -transplantedfield collected -transplanted

What can we learn?What can we learn?

SAV Restoration MonitoringSAV Restoration Monitoring

•Seed-based restorationSeed-based restoration

•How is it working?How is it working?

•Synthesis of cost-effectivenessSynthesis of cost-effectiveness

What can we learn?What can we learn?

SAV Restoration MonitoringSAV Restoration Monitoring

• Site selectionSite selection

•Model validation (MD DNR, Short et al. 2002, others)Model validation (MD DNR, Short et al. 2002, others)

• Site suitabilitySite suitability

•Light requirements: Are they stringent enough?Light requirements: Are they stringent enough?

•Other physical constraints (wave energy, sediments, etc.)Other physical constraints (wave energy, sediments, etc.)

What can we learn?What can we learn?

• Department of DefenseDepartment of Defense– Has provided funding for Has provided funding for

FY 2007 to assess FY 2007 to assess restoration sites at 10 restoration sites at 10 installations covering ~ installations covering ~ 12 planting locations in 12 planting locations in TF, OH, MH, and PH TF, OH, MH, and PH regions of Bayregions of Bay

– Potential funding renewal Potential funding renewal in FY 2008 (leveraging)in FY 2008 (leveraging)

• Interest from NOAA and Interest from NOAA and ACOE for similar workACOE for similar work

SAV Restoration MonitoringSAV Restoration MonitoringWhy Now?Why Now?

SAV Restoration MonitoringSAV Restoration MonitoringWhat we need from the Workgroup nowWhat we need from the Workgroup now

1. Methodology Input – standardized metrics1. Methodology Input – standardized metrics• Survival, areal coverage, number of shoots (Fonseca et al. Survival, areal coverage, number of shoots (Fonseca et al.

1998)1998)• Density estimates vs original planting densityDensity estimates vs original planting density• Spatial coverage of current bed vs plantedSpatial coverage of current bed vs planted• Sediment assessment (% organics, sand/silt ratio, etc.)Sediment assessment (% organics, sand/silt ratio, etc.)• Water quality (salinity, DO, Temp, secchi, TSS)Water quality (salinity, DO, Temp, secchi, TSS)• Additional metrics?Additional metrics?

What we need from the Workgroup nowWhat we need from the Workgroup now

2. What are thresholds for “success” or “failure”?2. What are thresholds for “success” or “failure”?• Density compared to original plantingDensity compared to original planting• Spatial coverage vs pre-plantingSpatial coverage vs pre-planting• Spatial coverage vs planted areaSpatial coverage vs planted area• Presence/absence (is something better than nothing?)Presence/absence (is something better than nothing?)• Living resources (fish, invertebrate) colonizationLiving resources (fish, invertebrate) colonization• Plant species diversity (in TF, OH, MH)Plant species diversity (in TF, OH, MH)• Consider temporal persistenceConsider temporal persistence

SAV Restoration MonitoringSAV Restoration Monitoring

What we need from the workgroup forWhat we need from the workgroup forthe future of restoration monitoringthe future of restoration monitoring

1.1. Expand to ALL Chesapeake sites (not just DoD)Expand to ALL Chesapeake sites (not just DoD)• 10 year historical sites?10 year historical sites?

2.2. Cooperation with active restoration programsCooperation with active restoration programs• Database of all sites, all sizesDatabase of all sites, all sizes

3.3. FundingFunding• CBPOCBPO• NCBONCBO• ACOEACOE• OthersOthers

SAV Restoration MonitoringSAV Restoration Monitoring