Fiscal Year 2017: 3 rd Quarter Status Report. 01 April 30 June, 2017

Transcription

1 Fiscal Year 2017: 3 rd Quarter Status Report BARUCH INSTITUTE OF COASTAL ECOLOGY AND FOREST SCIENCE Highway 17 North PO Box 596 Georgetown, SC P (843) F (843) April 30 June, 2017 To: Sherry Whitaker U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center ERDC Contracting Office 3909 Halls Ferry Road Vicksburg, MS CC: William Bailey, Mary Richards, and Nathan Dayan Planning Division US Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District 100 W. Oglethorpe Ave. Savannah, GA Office of Naval Research 100 Alabama Street, SW Suite 4R15 Atlanta, GA From: Jamie Duberstein Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science Clemson University PO Box 596 Georgetown, SC JamieDuberstein@gmail.com Cell: FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 1

2 US Army Corp. of Engineers: This quarterly status report is provided to satisfy the reporting requirements outlined in Section 13 of our original Research Cooperative Agreement Schedule. Please see below for an executive summary, bulleted items highlighting major accomplishments, actions, and progress associated with the vegetation and salinity monitoring within the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge in the months of April, May, and June This work is done under Cooperative Agreement Number W912HZ under the terms of the Piedmont South Atlantic Coast (PSAC) Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU). The Cooperative Agreement Title is Identifying and Evaluating Impacts to Wetlands from the Savannah River Estuary. Respectfully, Jamie Duberstein Clemson University Executive Summary: All regularly scheduled field work was carried out successfully during this quarter, including monthly visits to download water sensor data, sensor cleaning, pumping wells to remove sediment accumulations, spot salinity checks, and monthly tree growth measurements. There weren t any data losses this quarter. In fact, 8 days of aboveground salinity data at Back 3 previously missing were recovered via sensor download. Water data tables provided in this report include: monthly site salinity statistics since 01 October 2016, a record of salinity data losses since 01 October 2016, and three monthly spot checks of salinity conditions comparing Aquatroll values to those measured manually using a handheld unit. The June marsh vegetation collection was completed and physical samples partially processed; all but the drying and weighing. Also, the field component of the herpetological survey (reptiles and amphibians) being undertaken by the Masters student was completed this quarter. FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 2

3 April 2017 Marsh Vegetation The date for the June synoptic vegetation sample was set to begin 24 June. Water Data Data from all water sensors were downloaded on 13 and 18 April. An updated salinity table was provided (see Table 1). A complete list of salinity data losses thus far for FY17 was provided, but no data losses have occurred since January (see Table 2). A spot check of belowground salinity conditions were measured using a YSI Pro30 handheld salinity meter during the April sensor download. Salinity values were compared to those measured via Aquatrolls (Table 3). Forest monitoring Monthly measurements of baldcypress tree growth were last taken on 18 April at the swamp monitoring areas. Average basal area increase since last measurement: o Swamp 1: -0.3 cm 2 (17 March 18 April) o Swamp 2: 0.0 cm 2 (17 March 18 April) o Swamp 3: -0.2 cm 2 (17 March 18 April) Herpetofauna (MS student) study The 2017 field data season began 01 March and data collection was underway. This was the second and final field season for this component. FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 3

4 May 2017 Marsh Vegetation The June synoptic vegetation sample was set to begin 24 June. Water Data Data from all water sensors were downloaded on 24 and 25 May. We did not provide an updated salinity table this month. Our efforts were focused on acquiring and configuring equipment to enable real-time access to data for the belowground sensor at Back 3.5. There haven t been any data losses since January. In fact, eight days worth of data were recovered from the Back 3 aboveground sensor by downloading all the way back to January. A new wellpoint (i.e., with thin slits) aboveground well pole was installed on the aboveground monitoring well at Middle 2. The old one was warped. No data were compromised by the slight warpage. All belowground sensors (Aquatroll 200s) were cleaned and calibrated immediately after data were downloaded, with the exception of the belowground sensor at Swamp 2. That sensor, and all aboveground water sensors, were scheduled to be calibrated in June. A spot check of belowground salinity conditions were measured using a YSI Pro30 handheld salinity meter during the May sensor download. Salinity values were compared to those measured via Aquatrolls (Table 4). Forest monitoring Monthly measurements of baldcypress tree growth were last taken on 25 May at the swamp monitoring areas. Average basal area increase since last measurement: o Swamp 1: 2.9 cm 2 (19 April 25 May) o Swamp 2: 3.0 cm 2 (19 April - 25 May) o Swamp 3: 2.6 cm 2 (19 April - 25 May) Herpetofauna (MS student) study The 2017 field data collection was underway. FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 4

5 June 2017 Marsh Vegetation The June synoptic vegetation samples were collected on 24 & 25 June, Transport to cold storage in Georgetown (SC) was 25 June. Sorting and counting began the next day, and was finished within the week. Sorted samples were placed in drying ovens for desiccation, in preparation for biomass measurements. Water Data Data from all water sensors were downloaded on 13 and 14 June. An updated salinity table was provided (Table 1). There haven t been any data losses since January o See Table 2 for a complete list of salinity data losses thus far for FY17. All aboveground sensors (Aquatroll 100s), plus the belowground sensor at Swamp 2, were cleaned and calibrated immediately after data were downloaded. This completes the annual calibration for all sensors within the monitoring sites. A spot check of belowground salinity conditions were measured using a YSI Pro30 handheld salinity meter during the June sensor download. Salinity values were compared to those measured via Aquatrolls (Table 5). o There was notable difference (3 psu) between autonomous versus hand-held sensor at Back 4. We will note this and compare again in July; 0.2 PSU measured by the handheld seems low for Back 4. The telemetry unit used for real-time data access was deployed on 08 June :00. It transmits data from the belowground sensor at the Back 3.5 monitoring area. o Raw data and graphical representation can be accessed online at hydrovu.com using username and password. o Data are still stored within the deployed Aquatroll sensor, and can be downloaded as usual. FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 5

6 Forest monitoring Monthly measurements of baldcypress tree growth were last taken on 14 June at the swamp monitoring areas. Average basal area increase since last measurement: o Swamp 1: 1.9 cm 2 (25 May 14 June) o Swamp 2: 1.7 cm 2 (25 May - 14 June) o Swamp 3: 0.4 cm 2 (25 May - 14 June) Herpetofauna (MS student) study The 2017 field data collection ended, making the season 01 March - 14 June, This was slightly longer than the previous field season that spanned 01 March - 31 May, Data are entered and analyses are underway. They will ultimately be written up into thesis format. FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 6

7 Table 1. Fiscal Year 2017 average, minimum, and maximum salinity (psu: practical salinity units) measured via sensors at above- and below-ground locations at (12) marsh monitoring areas and (3) tidal forest areas. Summaries are based on hourly measurements starting 01 October 2016 through 13 June 2017 for all monitoring areas unless noted by superscript; details of data losses are provided in Table 2. Measurements taken during dry well conditions were removed from calculations of summary statistics. Aboveground Salinity (psu) Belowground Salinity (psu) Area Month Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Back 1 October (0.01) (0.00) November (0.01) (0.00) December (0.01) (0.00) January (0.00) (0.00) February (0.00) (0.00) March (0.02) (0.00) April (0.02) (0.00) May (0.01) (0.00) June (0.03) (0.00) FY (0.01) (0.00) Back 2 October (0.01) (0.00) November (0.03) (0.01) December (0.01) (0.00) January (0.01) (0.00) February (0.01) (0.00) March (0.02) (0.01) April (0.02) (0.01) May (0.01) (0.00) June (0.02) (0.01) FY (0.01) (0.00) FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 7

8 Table 1 (cont'd). Fiscal Year 2017 average, minimum, and maximum salinity at above- and belowground locations in marsh and tidal freshwater forest monitoring areas. Aboveground Salinity (psu) Belowground Salinity (psu) Area Month Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Back 3 October (0.03) (0.02) November (0.06) (0.02) a 0.63 a 3.50 a December (0.02) (0.01) a 0.40 a 1.50 a January (0.01) a 0.00 a 0.17 a 0.65 (0.00) a 0.27 a 1.84 a February (0.03) (0.01) March (0.06) (0.01) April (0.07) (0.01) May (0.03) (0.01) June (0.05) (0.01) FY (0.02) a 0.00 a 4.05 a 0.93 (0.01) a 0.19 a 3.50 a Back 3.5 October (0.04) (0.01) November (0.07) (0.00) December (0.02) (0.00) January (0.03) (0.00) February (0.03) (0.00) March (0.06) (0.01) April (0.05) (0.01) May (0.03) (0.01) June (0.05) (0.02) FY (0.02) (0.00) a Incomplete data record. See Table 2 for details. FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 8

9 Table 1 (cont'd). Fiscal Year 2017 average, minimum, and maximum salinity at above- and belowground locations in marsh and tidal freshwater forest monitoring areas. Aboveground Salinity (psu) Belowground Salinity (psu) Area Month Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Back 4 October (0.06) (0.02) November (0.11) (0.02) December (0.06) (0.01) January (0.05) (0.02) February (0.04) (0.01) March (0.06) (0.04) April (0.10) (0.02) May (0.05) (0.01) June (0.09) (0.01) FY (0.03) (0.01) Front 1 October (0.02) (0.00) November (0.03) (0.01) December (0.01) (0.00) January (0.00) (0.00) February (0.01) (0.00) March (0.02) (0.00) April (0.02) (0.00) May (0.01) (0.00) June (0.02) (0.00) FY (0.01) (0.00) FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 9

10 Table 1 (cont'd). Fiscal Year 2017 average, minimum, and maximum salinity at above- and belowground locations in marsh and tidal freshwater forest monitoring areas. Aboveground Salinity (psu) Belowground Salinity (psu) Area Month Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Front 2 October (0.07) (0.02) November (0.08) (0.01) December (0.03) (0.01) January (0.02) (0.01) February (0.04) (0.01) March (0.08) (0.05) April (0.04) (0.02) May (0.03) (0.02) June (0.06) (0.01) FY (0.02) (0.01) Middle 1 October (0.02) a 0.08 a 0.35 a 0.55 (0.02) November (0.09) (0.02) December (0.02) (0.00) January (0.02) (0.00) February (0.01) (0.00) March (0.03) (0.01) April (0.04) (0.00) May (0.01) (0.00) June (0.05) (0.01) FY (0.02) a 0.00 a 3.46 a 0.62 (0.00) a Incomplete data record. See Table 2 for details. FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 10

11 Table 1 (cont'd). Fiscal Year 2017 average, minimum, and maximum salinity at above- and belowground locations in marsh and tidal freshwater forest monitoring areas. Aboveground Salinity (psu) Belowground Salinity (psu) Area Month Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Middle 2 October (0.36) (0.04) November (0.12) (0.03) December (0.03) (0.02) January (0.01) (0.01) February (0.03) (0.01) March (0.05) (0.02) April (0.05) (0.02) May (0.03) (0.01) June (0.26) (0.02) FY (0.04) (0.01) Middle 3 October (0.26) (0.04) November 2016 N/A b N/A b N/A b 2.01 (0.04) December (0.05) (0.02) January (0.05) (0.01) February 2017 N/A b N/A b N/A b 0.81 (0.01) March (0.11) (0.01) April (0.08) (0.01) May (0.02) (0.01) June (0.15) (0.02) FY (0.04) (0.01) b There wasn't aboveground flooding for this reporting period. FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 11

12 Table 1 (cont'd). Fiscal Year 2017 average, minimum, and maximum salinity at above- and belowground locations in marsh and tidal freshwater forest monitoring areas. Aboveground Salinity (psu) Belowground Salinity (psu) Area Month Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Middle 4 October (0.09) (0.07) a 1.02 a a November (0.09) (0.02) December (0.03) (0.03) January (0.04) (0.02) February (0.05) (0.01) March (0.08) (0.07) April (0.06) (0.02) May (0.03) (0.03) June (0.11) (0.02) FY (0.03) (0.01) a 0.68 a a Middle 5 October (0.05) (0.01) November (0.06) (0.01) December (0.02) (0.00) January (0.02) (0.01) February (0.02) (0.01) March (0.05) (0.05) April (0.05) (0.02) May (0.03) (0.03) June (0.06) (0.03) FY (0.02) (0.01) a Incomplete data record. See Table 2 for details. FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 12

13 Table 1 (cont'd). Fiscal Year 2017 average, minimum, and maximum salinity at above- and belowground locations in marsh and tidal freshwater forest monitoring areas. Aboveground Salinity (psu) Belowground Salinity (psu) Area Month Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Swamp 1 October (0.00) (0.00) November (0.00) (0.00) December (0.00) (0.00) January (0.00) (0.00) February (0.00) (0.00) March (0.00) (0.00) April (0.00) (0.00) May (0.00) (0.00) June (0.00) (0.00) FY (0.00) (0.00) Swamp 2 October (0.09) (0.00) November (0.04) (0.00) December (0.01) (0.00) January (0.01) (0.00) February (0.01) (0.00) March (0.01) (0.00) April (0.01) (0.00) May (0.00) (0.00) June (0.01) (0.00) FY (0.02) (0.00) FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 13

14 Table 1 (cont'd). Fiscal Year 2017 average, minimum, and maximum salinity at above- and belowground locations in marsh and tidal freshwater forest monitoring areas. Aboveground Salinity (psu) Belowground Salinity (psu) Area Month Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Avg. (std. err.) Min Max Swamp 3 October (0.04) (0.00) November (0.04) (0.01) December (0.01) (0.00) January (0.01) (0.00) February (0.00) (0.00) March (0.02) (0.01) April (0.02) (0.00) May (0.01) (0.00) June (0.01) (0.00) FY (0.01) (0.00) FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 14

15 Table 2. Summary of FY17 salinity data losses from Aquatroll sensors deployed at SHEP monitoring areas between the dates of 01 October June Data loss periods and number of days may include periods within FY16. Minor data losses were incurred when data were downloaded near pre-programmed sensor measurements. Water level data losses may be beyond dates listed below. Data loss period Area Position Beginning End # Days Reason Middle 1 Aboveground 09/28/ :00 10/20/ : Circuit board failure Middle 4 Belowground 10/09/ :00 10/20/ : Circuit board failure Back 3 Belowground 11/06/ :00 11/06/ : Sensor fouling Back 3 Belowground 12/07/ :00 12/09/ : Sensor fouling Back 3 Belowground 12/15/ :00 12/17/ : Sensor fouling Back 3 Belowground 12/29/ :00 12/29/ : Sensor fouling Back 3 Belowground 01/17/ :00 01/27/ : Sensor fouling FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 15

16 Table 3. Comparison of belowground salinity measurements taken April 2017 via autonomous sensors (In-Situ Aquatrolls) versus a "spot check" measured via handheld YSI salinity meter (units: parts per thousand = ppt). Reports typically provide summaries of hourly Aquatroll measurements of salinity as practical salinity units (psu) though measurements of total dissolved solids as parts per thousand (ppt) are also collected. Here we report both Aquatroll measurements to facilitate comparisons with handheld YSI measurements. Accuracy of the handheld YSI meter is 0.1 (ppt), while accuracy of the Aquatrolls is (psu, ppt); Aquatroll values were rounded to the nearest 0.1 to facilitate comparisons. Aquatroll Total Aquatroll Salinity Dissolved Soilds YSI "spot check" YSI Measurement Time Aquatroll Measurement Site (psu) (ppt) (ppt) Time Back /13/ :05 04/13/ :00 Back /13/ :35 04/13/ :00 Back /13/ :58 04/13/ :00 Back /13/ :27 04/13/ :00 Back /13/ :53 04/13/ :00 Front /18/ :44 04/18/ :00 Front /18/ :53 04/18/ :00 Middle /13/ :35 04/13/ :00 Middle /13/ :13 04/13/ :00 Middle /13/ :46 04/13/ :00 Middle /13/ :31 04/13/ :00 Middle /13/ :05 04/13/ :00 Swamp /18/ :51 04/18/ :00 Swamp /18/ :39 04/18/ :00 Swamp /18/ :25 04/18/ :00 FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 16

17 Table 4. Comparison of belowground salinity measurements taken May 2017 via autonomous sensors (In-Situ Aquatrolls) versus a "spot check" measured via handheld YSI salinity meter (units: parts per thousand = ppt). Reports typically provide summaries of hourly Aquatroll measurements of salinity as practical salinity units (psu) though measurements of total dissolved solids as parts per thousand (ppt) are also collected. Here we report both Aquatroll measurements to facilitate comparisons with handheld YSI measurements. Accuracy of the handheld YSI meter is 0.1 (ppt), while accuracy of the Aquatrolls is (psu, ppt); Aquatroll values were rounded to the nearest 0.1 to facilitate comparisons. Aquatroll Total Aquatroll Salinity Dissolved Soilds YSI "spot check" YSI Measurement Time Aquatroll Measurement Site (psu) (ppt) (ppt) Time Back /24/ :06 05/24/ :00 Back /24/ :38 05/24/ :00 Back /25/ :23 05/25/ :00 Back /25/ :58 05/25/ :00 Back /25/ :06 05/25/ :00 Front /25/ :11 05/25/ :00 Front /25/ :48 05/25/ :00 Middle /24/ :16 05/24/ :00 Middle /24/ :48 05/24/ :00 Middle /24/ :14 05/24/ :00 Middle /25/ :03 05/25/ :00 Middle /25/ :29 05/25/ :00 Swamp /25/ :41 05/25/ :00 Swamp /25/ :45 05/25/ :00 Swamp /25/ :31 05/25/ :00 FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 17

18 Table 5. Comparison of belowground salinity measurements taken June 2017 via autonomous sensors (In-Situ Aquatrolls) versus a "spot check" measured via handheld YSI salinity meter (units: parts per thousand = ppt). Reports typically provide summaries of hourly Aquatroll measurements of salinity as practical salinity units (psu) though measurements of total dissolved solids as parts per thousand (ppt) are also collected. Here we report both Aquatroll measurements to facilitate comparisons with handheld YSI measurements. Accuracy of the handheld YSI meter is 0.1 (ppt), while accuracy of the Aquatrolls is (psu, ppt); Aquatroll values were rounded to the nearest 0.1 to facilitate comparisons. Aquatroll Total Aquatroll Salinity Dissolved Soilds YSI "spot check" YSI Measurement Time Aquatroll Measurement Site (psu) (ppt) (ppt) Time Back /13/ :10 06/13/ :00 Back /13/ :38 06/13/ :00 Back /13/ :06 06/13/ :00 Back /13/ :35 06/13/ :00 Back /13/ :17 06/13/ :00 Front /13/ :39 06/13/ :00 Front /14/ :29 06/14/ :00 Middle /13/ :38 06/13/ :00 Middle /13/ :07 06/13/ :00 Middle /13/ :04 06/13/ :00 Middle /13/ :05 06/13/ :00 Middle /13/ :36 06/13/ :00 Swamp /14/ :04 06/14/ :00 Swamp /14/ :40 06/14/ :00 Swamp /14/ :46 06/14/ :00 FY17 3 rd Quarter Status Report, p. 18