Early Results and Guidance from a Coastal Habitat Restoration Project Twenty Years after the 1991 Gulf War Oil Spill
|
|
- Damon Brian Newman
- 5 years ago
- Views:
Transcription
1 Early Results and Guidance from a Coastal Habitat Restoration Project Twenty Years after the 1991 Gulf War Oil Spill Christopher D. Cormack Jason A. Hale, Owen Langman, Thomas G. Minter, Michael J. Risk, Linos Cotsapas, Jacqueline Michel
2 Overview Background Gulf Spill Principles - UNCC Restoration Program Actions - What are we doing, and why? Channelization Tilling Planting Guidance Lessons learned
3 Oil Spill 1991 Gulf War 10 M barrels 800 km KSA shoreline
4
5
6 Deepwater Horizon
7 The Consequences 20 years later: Little natural recovery Heavy oil loading (physical + toxicity effects) Low energy setting Deep penetration into burrows Physical alterations to habitat (disrupted hydrology by algal mats)
8 Heavily Impacted Marsh Healthy Marsh How do we go from..to..
9 Guiding Principles Adhering to Decision 258 and F4 panel principles; remediation activities aim to: avoid techniques that pose unacceptable risks result in more positive than negative results facilitate natural recovery to the extent possible rely on proven techniques utilize adaptive management be cost effective consider short- and long-term effects and landscape connectivity
10 Approach Target Ecological Restoration Methods must include: Adaptively managed Understand and characterize conditions and site Identify stressors Design appropriate remediation activities Test and monitor effects of remediation activities
11 Adaptive Management Increasing Knowledge Demonstration Contracts Large-scale Remediation Contracts Pilot Projects Small-scale Studies Increasing Scale and Complexity
12 Adaptive Management Increasing Knowledge Demonstration Contracts Large-scale Remediation Contracts Pilot Projects Small-scale Studies Increasing Scale and Complexity
13 Progression of Stress Part 1: Oil
14
15 Progression of Stress Part 2: Algal Mat
16 Progression of Stress Part 2: Algal Mat What s wrong with this picture? Algal mat as a barrier
17 Progression of Stress Part 3: Hydrology
18 Progression of Stress Part 3: Hydrology What s wrong with this picture?
19 Oil Algal Mat Hydrology
20 How to Restore Salt Marsh Habitat?
21 Choosing Remediation Activities EXCAVATE - Refresh (existing) and/or excavate (new) tidal channels TILL Remove algal mats/de-compact and aerate substrate in marsh and tidal flat habitats PLANT - Transplantation of mangroves/halophytes to rapidly increase the populations
22 Channel Excavation What s wrong with this picture? better?
23 CRC1 Colonization Two months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods
24 CRC1 Colonization Three months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods
25 CRC1 Colonization Four months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods
26 CRC1 Colonization Five months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods
27 CRC1 Colonization Six months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods
28 CRC1 Colonization Seven months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods
29 CRC1 Colonization Eight months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods
30 CRC1 Colonization Nine months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods
31 CRC1 Colonization Ten months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods
32 CRC1 Colonization Eleven months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods
33 CRC1 Colonization Twelve months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods
34 Excavation of Tidal Channels
35 10-May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr-2012 Number of Burrows present in channel along 10 m transect Monitoring Results To Date Low Elevation Mid Elevation High Elevation
36 Natural Channel Development Aug 1
37 Natural Channel Development Oct 31
38 Natural Channel Development Dec 12
39 Natural Channel Development Dec 12
40 Natural Channel Development Dec 12
41 Tilling Three alternative marsh surface treatments: Tilling Algal mat removal Algal mat removal followed by tilling Treatment directly adjacent to channel excavation in 5 x 5 m plots
42 CRC1 Alternative Treatment Plots - 0 Months South Channel North Channel - Till - Remove Algal Mat - Remove Mat and Till
43 CRC1 Alternative Treatment Plots 3 Months South Channel North Channel - Till - Remove Algal Mat - Remove Mat and Till - Colonized by Nasima
44 CRC1 Alternative Treatment Plots 6 Months South Channel North Channel - Till - Remove Algal Mat - Remove Mat and Till - Colonized by Nasima
45 CRC1 Alternative Treatment Plots 9 Months South Channel North Channel - Till - Remove Algal Mat - Remove Mat and Till - Colonized by Nasima
46 CRC1 Alternative Treatment Plots 15 Months South Channel North Channel - Till - Remove Algal Mat - Remove Mat and Till - Colonized by Nasima
47 Jan-11 Feb-11 Apr-11 Jun-11 Jul-11 Sep-11 Nov-11 Dec-11 Feb-12 Apr-12 May-12 Jul-12 Average number of Nasima burrows per m 2 +/- SE Tilling/Algal Mat Removal 30.0 Algal mat Removal Algal mat Removal and Tilling Tilling Only 15.0 Control - No Surface Treatment
48 Planting
49 Planting Mangroves Avicennia marina Perennial Halophytes Halocnemum strobilaceum Arthrocnemum macrostachyum
50 Mangroves Observable changes (same plant) after 2 months after 6 months after 1 year
51 Mangroves Observations: Majority of previously surviving plants continue to grow Overall plant height has not increased, however, branch density and leaf count is increasing
52 1/22/2010 5/2/2010 8/10/ /18/2010 2/26/2011 6/6/2011 9/14/ /23/2011 Average number of healthy leaves per plant Monitoring Results To Date C1 C2 C3 80 Natural B channel
53 Mangroves Transplanting mangroves in oiled sediments can be successful Poor survival in areas lacking drainage, having high oil concentration, and high algal mat cover Highest survival on banks of newly excavated channels. Linkage between excavation and planting
54 Adaptive Restoration Process Increasing Knowledge Small studies Meters Pilot Projects Demonstration Contracts Increasing Scale Large Scale Remediation Contracts Hectares
55 Lessons Learned Rapid increases in colonization can occur in areas of remediation until balanced state is achieved Abundance of organisms colonizing areas may follow seasonal trends Channels not expected to fill or slump Planting success is species dependant
56 Guidance Lessons Learned Channel Excavation Efficient method in low energy environment to increase tidal flushing and promote recolonization.
57 Guidance Lessons Learned Channel Excavation Efficient method in low energy environment to increase tidal flushing and promote recolonization. Channels will continue to be the primary method of remediation of the salt marsh habitats
58 Guidance Lessons Learned Tilling Effective at reducing oil residues and de-compact areas covered by barrier increasing potential for recolonization
59 Guidance Lessons Learned Tilling Effective at reducing oil residues and de-compact areas covered by barrier increasing potential for recolonization Increased areas of tilling have been incorporated into future contracts
60 Guidance Lessons Learned Planting Recommended for species that are slow to recruit and grow but also able to survive and establish following transplanting
61 Guidance Lessons Learned Planting Recommended for species that are slow to recruit and grow but also able to survive and establish following transplanting Mangroves are to be included along the banks of the channels in all future contracts Other halophytes remain limited to small scale/demonstration tests until successful methods can be determined
62 Adaptive Restoration Process Increasing Knowledge Small studies Meters Pilot Projects Demonstration Contracts Increasing Scale Large Scale Remediation Contracts Hectares
63 Adaptive Restoration Process Other Remediation Projects Increasing Knowledge Small studies Meters Pilot Projects Demonstration Contracts Increasing Scale Hectares
64 Thank You Christopher Cormack Pandion Technology