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A Science-Based Regional Restoration Initiative in the Delaware Estuary

A Science-Based Regional Restoration Initiative in the Delaware Estuary. Danielle Kreeger Science Director Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. To be discussed. The Delaware Estuary brief orientation. Making our efforts count: why can regional restoration help?.

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A Science-Based Regional Restoration Initiative in the Delaware Estuary

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  1. A Science-Based Regional Restoration Initiative in the Delaware Estuary Danielle KreegerScience DirectorPartnership for the Delaware Estuary Kreeger

  2. To be discussed The Delaware Estuary brief orientation Making our efforts count: why can regional restoration help? Regional Restoration Initiative goals & approach structure and evolution restoration matrices NCV & ESV framework case studies Synergistic Activities climate adaptation ecological inventories on the ground projects Kreeger

  3. The Watershed 13,611 Square Miles Kreeger

  4. Complex Landscape Upper Watershed: “pristine” recreational area water supply for NYCTidal River 4th largest USurban center world’s largest freshwater port Port 70% of east coast oil Major industry buildupLower Estuary: Water fowl, finfish, shellfish Horseshoe crab population Kreeger

  5. Delaware Estuary Kreeger

  6. Fill Vital Niches: Technical Committees Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Benthic Inventory Workgroup Kreeger *Prospective

  7. Science Activities • 1. Conferences & Workshops • Science and Technical Committees • 3. Watershed-Level Initiatives • Science Priority Setting (White Paper) Kreeger

  8. Science Activities • 1. Conferences & Workshops • Science and Technical Committees • 3. Watershed-Level Initiatives • Science Priority Setting • Conceptual Framework • Monitoring • State of the Estuary • Restoration Kreeger

  9. Avoiding RedundancyBridge Science Sectors City Government State & RegionalAgencies Federal Agencies Non-Profits& NGO’s Industry Scientists Academia(40+ universities) Kreeger

  10. Limited resources $ • Broad CCMP • Urgency Making our efforts count • Large and complex system Complex System To have Highest Impact, must invest strategically in highest value projects that yield maximum benefits to ecosystem goods and services Regional restoration considers which activities are best across time and space at both the watershed and sub-watershed scale Kreeger

  11. Restoration for the FutureRestore, conserve or otherwise enhance ecosystem structure and function Kreeger

  12. …But SmartlyRegional Restoration Initiative Includes: • Protection • Conservation • Enhancement • Restoration Kreeger

  13. Project Registry Regional Restoration Initiative • Principles: • science-based • proactive • timely, responsive • comprehensive • multi-jurisdictional Goals: • Characterize the most ecologically significant natural resources in different watershed regions • Assess ecological goods and services flowing from these resources • Use a natural capital valuation approach to identify highest value activities that maximize goods and services from these resources • Identify, inventory and rank specific projects that conserve, enhance or restore these resources • Identify high value activities for which we still need projects in different watershed regions, and work to fill project gaps Kreeger

  14. Project Registry Schematic of operational groups and activities • Science Track • Policy Track • Project Registry Kreeger

  15. 2005 Science Conference Restoration Decision-Makers White Paper Science & Tech Needs” RR Workshop Sustainable Funding (Trust) RR Feasibility Study STAC Existing Advisory Groups 2008 Alliance for Comprehensive Ecosystem Solutions Regional Restoration Initiative 2008 RRI Work Group Technical Work Groups Urban Waterfronts Tidal Wetlands Bivalve Shellfish Headwater Streams Evolution of the Regional Restoration Initiative 2007 PDE Strategic Plan Science Track←│ →Policy Track Kreeger Subgroups

  16. Raw Material to Work With Kreeger

  17. Kreeger

  18. Kreeger

  19. Examples from Other Areas LOUSIANA OIL SPILL STATISTICS • # of Notifications/Year: 2000 • % of U.S. Notifications: 20 • % of U.S. Volume: 20 • # of NRDA cases ≈25 Slide from Karolien Debusschere, Office of the Governor Kreeger

  20. Federal Waters LA Regional Restoration Planning Regions Kreeger Slide from Karolien Debusschere, Office of the Governor

  21. Restoration Opportunities Slide from Karolien Debusschere, Office of the Governor Kreeger

  22. e.g., LE1 Sub-Watershed Scale Kreeger

  23. Basic Restoration Matrix Kreeger

  24. Kreeger

  25. Value-Added Restoration Matrix Kreeger

  26. Valuation of New Jersey’s Natural Capital and EcosystemServices New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Slide from Bill Mates, NJDEP Kreeger

  27. Different EcosystemsDifferent Benefits Slide from Bill Mates, NJDEP Source: Philippe Rekacewicz, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) Kreeger

  28. A Valuation Grid Kreeger Slide from Bill Mates, NJDEP

  29. ID Key Resources Ecological Valuation Tidal Marshes Bivalve Shellfish N.C. Outcomes from Activities Project Registry & Gaps Urban Waterfront Headwater Streams Regional Restoration Initiative Case Studies Kreeger

  30. # 2 Technical Need from 2006 PDE Science Conference Tidal Wetlands Status, trends, and importance of different types Kreeger

  31. Oysters and Other Bivalve Shellfish From Rutgers HSRL Kreeger

  32. Kreeger

  33. 11 Other Species of Freshwater Unionid Mussels Corbicula fluminea Elliptio complanata Rangia cuneata Mya arenaria Geukensia demissa Mytilus edulis Ensis directus Mercenaria mercenaria Others? DRBC Kreeger Crassostrea virginica

  34. Marsh Mussels Freshwater Mussels Kreeger CTUIR Freshwater Mussel Project DE Living Shorelines 2008

  35. Oyster Landing Data Kreeger

  36. Ecosystem Services 1. Structure  Habitat Complexity  Binding of Bottom  Bottom Turbulence 2. Function Suspended Particulates  Particulate N, P  Light  Sediment Enrichment Recycle Dissolved Nutrients Kreeger

  37. Clean Water Start No mussels 8 adult mussels Kreeger Slide from Catherine Gatenby, USFWS

  38. Biofiltration Potential Later No mussels 8 adult mussels Kreeger Slide from Catherine Gatenby, USFWS

  39. Susquehanna Brandywine River, PA Elliptio complanata Delaware Estuary Marshes Geukensia demissa Delaware Bay Oysters Crassostrea virginica Brandywine River, PA Kreeger

  40. Oyster Reef Revitalization Kreeger

  41. 2.0 Billion Crassostrea (Powell, 2003 data)Mean size = 0.87 g dry tissue weight (DKdata)Clearance Rate = 6.5 L h-1 g-1(Newell et al 2005)= 11.2 Billion Liters per Hour Oysters on Seed Bed Reefs Kreeger

  42. Geukensia demissa Salt Marshes 208,000 per hectare on average 10.5 Billion Geukensia Clearance Rate = 5.1 L h-1 g-1(DK data)11.7 Million Kilos Dry Tissue Weight= 59.0 Billion Liters per Hour Kreeger

  43. Loss of Biodiversity & Population Abundance Kreeger

  44. PDE Study Area Patchy, Impaired Rare Extirpated Kreeger

  45. Kreeger

  46. Kreeger

  47. 4.3 Billion Elliptio= 2.9 Million Kilos Dry Tissue Weight= 9.8 Billion Liters per Hour Estimate of Water Processing Potential Elliptio complanata Kreeger

  48. What do we get back if we rebuild lost populations? Space and time considerations are important If we have to choose, which activities yield greatest outcomes? Kreeger

  49. Importance of Shellfish to the Delaware Estuary Watershed Natural Capital Value Kreeger

  50. Importance of Shellfish to the Delaware Estuary Watershed Natural Capital Value Kreeger

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