ASWM NEWS
Coastal Wetland Dieback: The Phenomenon of Marsh Browning & Marsh Dieback Wetland scientists and riverkeepers have observed a distinct, disturbing change in the coastal marsh landscape since the 1990s—in the pan handle of Florida, and since 2000—in Louisiana, Georgia and Virginia, as the once green, intertidal smooth cord grass (Spartina alterniflora) turned unusually brown at a rapid rate, then died. The specific details of the dieback vary significantly from place to place. For example, in some cases, the original vegetation reestablished itself at the dieback sites, whereas in others, different vegetation supplanted the previously dominant species; yet in other marshes, vegetation remains absent. To read the full story in PDF format, [click here].		Spartina alterniflora and S. patens both affected at a marsh dieback site on Cape Code. Photo by Dr. Stephen Smith, Plant Ecologist, Cape Cod National Seashore

RECENT REPORTS/STUDIES

Status of Sudden Wetland Dieback in Saltmarshes of the Delaware Inland Bays, Winter 2007

Authors: Chris Bason, Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, Amy Jacobs, Andy Howard, & Melanie Tymes, Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control - February 28, 2007. Sudden Wetland Dieback (SWD) is characterized by the rapid death of at least the above ground parts of saltmarsh vegetation or its failure to grow during a single or multiple growing seasons (Figure 1). SWD may also result in the complete death of saltmarsh vegetation. Saltmarshes normally support lush summer crops of vegetation consisting primarily of saltmarsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). Marshes where SWD occurs appear brown or dead because little or no live green vegetation is present and the dead plant material from the previous year remains, or the marsh surface is exposed. For a direct link to this white paper, go to: http://www.inlandbays.org/cib_pm/pdfs/uploads/swdwhitepaper07final.pdf

Multi-decadal changes in salt marshes of Cape Cod, Massachusetts: a photographic analysis of vegetation loss, species shifts, and geomorphic change

By Stephen M. Smith, Ph. D., Cape Cod National Seashore (2008) http://www.nps.gov/caco/naturescience/upload/SMSMITH_in_press.pdf (direct link to report) http://www.nps.gov/caco/naturescience/salt-marsh-dieback.htm

MEDIA COVERAGE

New Report Shows Loss of Coastal Wetlands in Eastern U.S.

Contact: Monica Allen – NOAA Press Release – February 17, 2009 While the nation as a whole gained freshwater wetlands from 1998 to 2004, a new report by NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service documents a continuing loss of coastal wetlands in the eastern United States. The new report, Status and Trends of Wetlands in the Coastal Watersheds of the Eastern United States, shows a loss of approximately 60,000 acres each year in the coastal watersheds of the Great Lakes, Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico from 1998 to 2004. “This report shows the nation’s need to expand the effort to conserve and rebuild valuable coastal wetlands,” said Jim Balsiger, acting NOAA assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “Coastal wetlands are nurseries for important commercial and recreational fish and are vital to many threatened and endangered species. They also provide natural protection to coastal communities from the most damaging effects of hurricanes and storm surges.” For full press release, visit: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090217_wetlandsloss.html To read the report: Status and Trends of Wetlands in the Coastal Watersheds of the Eastern United States: 1998 to 2004

Federal grant to allow study of Barnegat Bay pollution

By Kirk Moore – Ashbury Park Press – January 27, 2009 A new $480,562 federal grant obtained by Rutgers University scientists could be the long-sought bankrolling of comprehensive research into the causes of — and potential solutions to — nutrient pollution that's disrupting the ecosystem of Barnegat Bay. "We're trying to develop something new here to get to the bottom of our problems," said Michael Kennish, a research professor at the Rutgers Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, who is leading the new project. "This is going to provide some answers." http://www.app.com/article/20090127/NEWS02/901270351/1070/NEWS02

Aquatic Life makes adjustments during winter

By Mike Gutzmer – Columbus Telegram – January 25, 2009 As humans grudgingly take precautions during winter, we complain and feel better. Our counterparts in nature also have to make adjustments, but their complaints are heard less often. During the winter, aquatic organisms face the challenge of adjusting to temperatures low enough to freeze their homes. To deal with this, organisms have come up with a number of different strategies to survive. These range from remaining active to slowing down their activity to sleeping through the winter. There are a few winters I would have liked to sleep through. For full story, go to: http://www.columbustelegram.com/articles/2009/01/25/news/local/doc497 bb4b98277c739920912.txt

Dying marsh may be to blame for orange water

ByNikki Buskey – Houma Today – January 24, 2009 Dying wetlands in the Pointe-aux-Chenes area are likely responsible for the bright-orange water in a southern Terrebonne canal, state scientists say. Montegut and Pointe-aux-Chenes residents were concerned that the tinged water, which stained homes, rocks, trees and anything else it touched, could be dangerous. The canal runs under La. 665, the highway that connects Montegut with Pointe-aux-Chenes. For full story, visit: http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20090124/ARTICLES/901230283/1211/NEWS01? Title=Dying_marsh_may_be_to_blame_for_orange_water

Sudden Wetland Dieback

Susan Adamowicz - USFWS Reporters Tip Sheet -- November 15, 2006 Researchers are investigating whether a pathogenic fungus may be partly responsible for the rapid death of wetland grasses in New England. Sudden Wetland Dieback has been recorded in several Gulf Coast and southeastern states as well as all New England states, and researchers suspect the latest outbreaks may be in the Mid-Atlantic, at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware, said Susan Adamowicz, salt marsh researcher at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Maine. Contact Susan Adamowicz, (207) 646-9226, for more information, or click on this link: http://www.fws.gov/news/tipsheet/november-december-2006/story06.html

USEFUL LINKS & RESOURCES

Saltmarsh Dieback on Cape Cod - (updated info, 2008) http://www.nps.gov/caco/naturescience/salt-marsh-dieback.htm

Georgia Coastal Research Council http://www.gcrc.uga.edu/

Salt Marsh Dieback in Louisiana http://brownmarsh.net

Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection & Restoration Act Task Force -- Breaux Act website or call the Louisiana Governor's Office of Coastal Activities at 225-342-3968 www.LAcoast.gov/brownmarsh

Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act http://www.fws.gov/laws/laws_digest/COASWET.HTML

USGS National Wetlands Research Center - Coastal Marsh Dieback http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/about/web/brwnmrsh.htm

New England Sudden Wetland Dieback http://wetland.neers.org/ Updated by New England Estuarine Research Society http://www.neers.org/

Center for the Inland Bays - Projects and Research on Dieback in Delaware http://www.inlandbays.org/cib_pm/saltmarsh-db-pages.php?id=165_0_42_0_C

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