THE EFFECTS OF TIDAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE HEALTH OF A SALT MARSH

Salt marshes are a major defense against climate change, due to their ability to grow with rising sea levels and high rates of net carbon storage. Salt marshes are a blue carbon ecosystem that sequesters CO2 and stores it in vegetation and sediment. Anthropogenic changes to saline wetlands through restrictions, blockages, drainage, and wetland impoundments impact the ability of a salt marsh to reduce carbon emissions, hurt ecosystems, alter microbial and chemical processes, and turn saline waters brackish or fresh by reducing salinity levels. The Camp St. salt marsh in Wareham, MA has been impacted by a culvert. During an undergraduate capstone research project, the effects of the restriction on the health of the marsh were studied. Salinity and depth data collected from HOBO loggers show that salinity and depth ranges are lower on the restricted side of the salt marsh. Pore water ammonia and salinity were also evaluated. Results for pore water ammonia were found to be inconclusive, while pore water salinity increased with distance from the culvert on both the restricted and unrestricted side.