Early Results and Guidance from a Coastal Habitat Restoration Project Twenty Years after the 1991 Gulf War Oil Spill

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

Overview Background - 1991 Gulf Spill Principles - UNCC Restoration Program Actions - What are we doing, and why? Channelization Tilling Planting Guidance Lessons learned

Oil Spill 1991 Gulf War 10 M barrels 800 km KSA shoreline

Deepwater Horizon

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)

Heavily Impacted Marsh Healthy Marsh How do we go from..to..

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

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

Adaptive Management Increasing Knowledge Demonstration Contracts Large-scale Remediation Contracts Pilot Projects Small-scale Studies Increasing Scale and Complexity

Progression of Stress Part 1: Oil

Progression of Stress Part 2: Algal Mat

Progression of Stress Part 2: Algal Mat What s wrong with this picture? Algal mat as a barrier

Progression of Stress Part 3: Hydrology

Progression of Stress Part 3: Hydrology What s wrong with this picture?

Oil Algal Mat Hydrology

How to Restore Salt Marsh Habitat?

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

Channel Excavation What s wrong with this picture? better?

CRC1 Colonization Two months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods

CRC1 Colonization Three months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods

CRC1 Colonization Four months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods

CRC1 Colonization Five months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods

CRC1 Colonization Six months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods

CRC1 Colonization Seven months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods

CRC1 Colonization Eight months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods

CRC1 Colonization Nine months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods

CRC1 Colonization Ten months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods

CRC1 Colonization Eleven months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods

CRC1 Colonization Twelve months post excavation South Channel North Channel Nasima Snails Amphipods

Excavation of Tidal Channels

10-May-2010 10-Jun-2010 10-Jul-2010 10-Aug-2010 10-Sep-2010 10-Oct-2010 10-Nov-2010 10-Dec-2010 10-Jan-2011 10-Feb-2011 10-Mar-2011 10-Apr-2011 10-May-2011 10-Jun-2011 10-Jul-2011 10-Aug-2011 10-Sep-2011 10-Oct-2011 10-Nov-2011 10-Dec-2011 10-Jan-2012 10-Feb-2012 10-Mar-2012 10-Apr-2012 Number of Burrows present in channel along 10 m transect Monitoring Results To Date 350 300 250 Low Elevation Mid Elevation High Elevation 200 150 100 50 0

Natural Channel Development Aug 1

Natural Channel Development Oct 31

Natural Channel Development Dec 12

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

CRC1 Alternative Treatment Plots - 0 Months South Channel North Channel - Till - Remove Algal Mat - Remove Mat and Till

CRC1 Alternative Treatment Plots 3 Months South Channel North Channel - Till - Remove Algal Mat - Remove Mat and Till - Colonized by Nasima

CRC1 Alternative Treatment Plots 6 Months South Channel North Channel - Till - Remove Algal Mat - Remove Mat and Till - Colonized by Nasima

CRC1 Alternative Treatment Plots 9 Months South Channel North Channel - Till - Remove Algal Mat - Remove Mat and Till - Colonized by Nasima

CRC1 Alternative Treatment Plots 15 Months South Channel North Channel - Till - Remove Algal Mat - Remove Mat and Till - Colonized by Nasima

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 25.0 20.0 Algal mat Removal and Tilling Tilling Only 15.0 Control - No Surface Treatment 10.0 5.0 0.0

Planting

Planting Mangroves Avicennia marina Perennial Halophytes Halocnemum strobilaceum Arthrocnemum macrostachyum

Mangroves Observable changes (same plant) after 2 months after 6 months after 1 year

Mangroves Observations: Majority of previously surviving plants continue to grow Overall plant height has not increased, however, branch density and leaf count is increasing

1/22/2010 5/2/2010 8/10/2010 11/18/2010 2/26/2011 6/6/2011 9/14/2011 12/23/2011 Average number of healthy leaves per plant Monitoring Results To Date 120 100 C1 C2 C3 80 Natural B channel 60 40 20 0

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

Adaptive Restoration Process Increasing Knowledge Small studies Meters Pilot Projects Demonstration Contracts Increasing Scale Large Scale Remediation Contracts Hectares

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

Guidance Lessons Learned Channel Excavation Efficient method in low energy environment to increase tidal flushing and promote recolonization.

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

Guidance Lessons Learned Tilling Effective at reducing oil residues and de-compact areas covered by barrier increasing potential for recolonization

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

Guidance Lessons Learned Planting Recommended for species that are slow to recruit and grow but also able to survive and establish following transplanting

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

Adaptive Restoration Process Increasing Knowledge Small studies Meters Pilot Projects Demonstration Contracts Increasing Scale Large Scale Remediation Contracts Hectares

Adaptive Restoration Process Other Remediation Projects Increasing Knowledge Small studies Meters Pilot Projects Demonstration Contracts Increasing Scale Hectares

Thank You Christopher Cormack Pandion Technology