Southeast Wetlands Monitoring Intensification Grant 2012

1. Southeast Wetlands Monitoring Intensification Grant 2012 James Graham NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Water Quality SWPBA 2012

2. Summary • Grant and Project History • Objectives • Site Selection • Methods • NCWAM/ORAM • Data/Collaboration • Staff

3. Wetland Monitoring in NC: 2011 • EPA’s National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA) • NC had 47 sites to survey/monitor and 2 revisits in Inner and Outer Coastal Plain • Wetland types were: • Salt/ Brackish Marshes (18) • Riverine Swamp Forest (5) • Pocosins (2) • Pine Flat (3) • Hardwood Flat (8) • Esturine Woody (3) • Bottomland Hardwood Forest (4)

4. Objectives To collect data based on the NWCA protocol to add to the NWCA database of wetlands to further assess condition To make some conclusion about the condition of wetlands (riverine swamp forest in ecoregion 65 and bottomland hardwood forests in ecoregion 45 in the southeast region To expand the data collected from the NWCA protocol to include hydrology monitoring, amphibian and macroinvertebrate sampling To collect data that could lead to a regional rapid assessment method.

5. Southeast Wetlands Monitoring Intensification Grant 2012 • North Carolina: 20 sites (10 Riverine Swamp Forest (RSF) and 10 Bottomland Hardwood Wetlands (BLH)) • South Carolina and Alabama: 10 RSF + RAM and Buffer assessment in 10 BLH • Georgia: 15 RSF and 15 BLH

6. Palustrine Forested-PFO Bottomland Hardwood Forest Riverine Swamp Forest

8. Methods • NWCA monitoring protocol included: • Extensive Vegetation Survey • Soil Survey (4 soil pits) • Extensive Buffer assessment • Water quality and Algal samples • Hydrology analysis • USA-RAM • Aquatic macroinvertebrates • Amphibians • Hydrology Monitoring

9. X FLOW X 140 m 40 m X X WQ X WQ

10. Amphibians Acris crepitans and Acris gryllus Marbled Salamander-Ambystoma opacum

11. Aquatic Macroinvertebrates • As many as 5 stations per site (March 2012) • Sweep net : 1 square meter (3-4 sweeps) • NC had over 80 samples to pick • Finished Picking-Ready For ID Water Quality/Hydrology

12. Vegetation • Preliminary Data for NC • Canopy species are consistent with wetland types • Shrub and herb layer’s species diversity is decreased. • Problem: Invasives and lack of hydrology due to stream Incising in Piedmont • RSF less invasives than BLH (some Murdannia) • BLH lots of Microstegium and Ligustrum

13. Soils and Buffer Analysis • 4 pits in SW corner of each veg plot • 60 cm • Pick one as reference • Profile • Collect for soil chemical analysis • Upland sample

14. Differences between NCWAM and ORAM • NCWAM is a functional assessment method • ORAM is a condition assessment method • NCWAM assigns a high, medium, low rating • ORAM assigns a numeric score • NCWAM: Hydrology, Water Quality, Habitat • ORAM: No emphasis on Water Quality, more emphasis buffer, habitat, stressors

15. The 16 General Wetland Types • Mountain Bogs • Salt/Brackish Marsh • Estuarine Woody • Non-Tidal Freshwater Marsh • Tidal Freshwater Marsh • Pine Savannas • Seeps • Bottomland Hardwood Forest • Riverine Swamp Forest • Headwater Forest • Floodplain Pool • Pocosin • Hardwood Flats • Pine Flats • Small Basin Wetlands • Non-Riverine Swamp Forest

17. Wetland Monitoring: Use of WM data, Future • Use of data to supplement the NWCA. • Use of data to provide reference wetlands. • Use of data to establish Water Quality standards. • By establishing a WM Network in NC and with current work with other SE states, extend that WM to the SE region. • Use of WM data in a regional scale.

18. Wetland Monitoring: Use of WM data, current and future • Use of WM methodology in 401/404 permitting. • Use of WM data in 401/404 permitting. • Use of WM data in restoring wetland function. • Use of WM data in guidelines for determining wetland restoration/mitigation success. • Use of WM data (long term, WM Network) to analyze trends in wetland condition/function overtime.

19. Wetland Monitoring in NC: Into the Future & Taking WM to a New Level • A key effort is to form partnerships with other states and agencies and integrate wetland monitoring data in basin plans, permitting, protection, mitigation, etc. • Partnerships include: • Basinwide planning • APNEP • Ambient monitoring for streams, lakes, rivers • Biological assessment • 401 Water Quality Certification and Isolated Wetland/Waters Permitting

20. Who is NC’s Wetland Monitoring Team? • Rick Savage • James Graham • Anthony Scarbraugh • Michael Coleman • Ross Vander Vorste (Now in France) • Larry Eaton • Ginny Baker • Aquifer Protection Staff – Amy Keyworth, Rick Bolich, Ray Milosh • MUCH help from temporary staff and supervisor: • Greg Rubino -- Lori Montgomery • Cheryl Gregory --Amanda Johnson • Kristie Gianopulos -and others

21. South Carolina Crew :Michael BishopNydia BurdickScott CastleberryWill DillmanDavid EargleHarriet GilkersonDr. Jim GloverChuck GormanChuck HightowerEmily HollingsworthJustin LewandowskiDr. John Nelson, Curator at USC HerbariumErin OwenHeather PrestonJeff SchragRusty Wenerick& numerous DHEC EQC Laboratory Staff

22. Alabama Brien Diggs Ashley Lockwood Bonnie Coleman Aaron Goar Preston Roberts Ron Sparks Ruthie Young Rebekah Moore Gena Todia Dan Spaulding Gina Curvin Lisa Huff Fred Leslie

23. Questions?