Wetland
CONDITION OF WETLANDS IN THE MISPILLION RIVER WATERSHED, DELAWARE
Alison Rogerson, Kenny Smith, Andy Howard DNREC Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program January 24, 2017
ASSESSMENT OF MISPILLION RIVER WATERSHED WETLANDS Analysis of landuse changes Evaluation of recent wetland losses Assessment of wetland condition Recommendations for management and future work
WETLANDS ACROSS THE WATERSHED 25% of watershed is wetlands 21,000 acres in 2007
51% tidal estuarine 27% headwater flats 14% floodplain riverine
7% depression ponds
CHANGE IN WETLAND ACREAGE
Modern wetland acreage 20% reduced (4,400 ac) from settlement 1992-2007 19 acres nontidal wetlands lost (Milford) 13 acres tidal wetlands lost (back bay fringe wetlands) 46 acre gain in stormwater ponds
NATURAL AREAS 5 state and 1 federal natural areas 26% of watershed (21,000ac) Milford Neck WA (8,131 ac) Prime Hook NWR (4,000ac; half) 675 acres of unique wetlands (Atlantic white cedar, coastal plain ponds)
LANDUSE 2007 24% 46%
3% 1% 11% 14%
Agriculture Beach/Sand Developed Forest Transition Water Wetland
1%
Changes from 1997-2007 • • • •
Development +3.7 Extraction/Transitional +0.8 Wetlands -0.1 Agricultural -4.3
CONDITION ASSESSMENTS Habitat forest harvesting, mowing farming, invasives, roads Hydrology ditching, dams, filling, structures, flow restrictions
Buffer development, agriculture
TIDAL WETLAND CONDITION Common Stressors: invasive plants and grid ditching Recommendations: Minimize hardened shorelines adjacent to wetlands. Strengthen buffer regulations to allow room for wetlands to move landward with sea level rise. Control the spread of non-native invasive plants (e.g. Phragmites)
C N=34 sites Wetland Health Scale:
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor Very Poor
WETLAND CONDITION - FLATS Common Stressors: invasive plants and artificial drainage ditches Recommendations: Improve regulatory protection is needed at the State and/or County level. Increase landowner enrollment in voluntary conservation programs. Promote/endorse forestry best management practices.
BN=45 Wetland Health Scale:
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor Very Poor
WETLAND CONDITION - RIVERINE Common Stressors: Invasive plants and lack of sufficient buffer from development and agriculture Recommendations: Strengthen buffer regulations to protect wetlands Ensure enforcement of existing County buffer regulations. Restore channelized streams to allow overbank flooding
CN=33 Wetland Health Scale:
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor Very Poor
COMPARED TO OTHER WATERSHEDS
Mispillion
20%
Inland Bays
28%
Murderkill
Christina
16%
43%
40%
St. Jones Broadkill
64%
29% 43%
48%
37%
23% 13%
Minimally Stressed
17% 15%
66% 40% Moderately Stressed
11% 47% Severely Stressed
Includes tidal, flats, riverine and depression wetlands collected 2005-2012
CITIZEN RECOMMENDATIONS Managing invasive species Adding nature based landscaping designs, green infrastructure, into your property to control water runoff and improve water quality Getting involved with the Delaware Bayshore Initiative Supporting better wetland protection by contacting your local decision makers
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Update tidal wetland maps Improve protection of rare and significant wetlands Build off SLR tools to acquire/protect transitional habitat Strengthen county and municipal buffer requirements
MD DNR
QUESTIONS? Alison Rogerson Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Watershed Assessment Section [email protected]
Alison Rogerson, Kenny Smith, Andy Howard DNREC Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program January 24, 2017
ASSESSMENT OF MISPILLION RIVER WATERSHED WETLANDS Analysis of landuse changes Evaluation of recent wetland losses Assessment of wetland condition Recommendations for management and future work
WETLANDS ACROSS THE WATERSHED 25% of watershed is wetlands 21,000 acres in 2007
51% tidal estuarine 27% headwater flats 14% floodplain riverine
7% depression ponds
CHANGE IN WETLAND ACREAGE
Modern wetland acreage 20% reduced (4,400 ac) from settlement 1992-2007 19 acres nontidal wetlands lost (Milford) 13 acres tidal wetlands lost (back bay fringe wetlands) 46 acre gain in stormwater ponds
NATURAL AREAS 5 state and 1 federal natural areas 26% of watershed (21,000ac) Milford Neck WA (8,131 ac) Prime Hook NWR (4,000ac; half) 675 acres of unique wetlands (Atlantic white cedar, coastal plain ponds)
LANDUSE 2007 24% 46%
3% 1% 11% 14%
Agriculture Beach/Sand Developed Forest Transition Water Wetland
1%
Changes from 1997-2007 • • • •
Development +3.7 Extraction/Transitional +0.8 Wetlands -0.1 Agricultural -4.3
CONDITION ASSESSMENTS Habitat forest harvesting, mowing farming, invasives, roads Hydrology ditching, dams, filling, structures, flow restrictions
Buffer development, agriculture
TIDAL WETLAND CONDITION Common Stressors: invasive plants and grid ditching Recommendations: Minimize hardened shorelines adjacent to wetlands. Strengthen buffer regulations to allow room for wetlands to move landward with sea level rise. Control the spread of non-native invasive plants (e.g. Phragmites)
C N=34 sites Wetland Health Scale:
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor Very Poor
WETLAND CONDITION - FLATS Common Stressors: invasive plants and artificial drainage ditches Recommendations: Improve regulatory protection is needed at the State and/or County level. Increase landowner enrollment in voluntary conservation programs. Promote/endorse forestry best management practices.
BN=45 Wetland Health Scale:
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor Very Poor
WETLAND CONDITION - RIVERINE Common Stressors: Invasive plants and lack of sufficient buffer from development and agriculture Recommendations: Strengthen buffer regulations to protect wetlands Ensure enforcement of existing County buffer regulations. Restore channelized streams to allow overbank flooding
CN=33 Wetland Health Scale:
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor Very Poor
COMPARED TO OTHER WATERSHEDS
Mispillion
20%
Inland Bays
28%
Murderkill
Christina
16%
43%
40%
St. Jones Broadkill
64%
29% 43%
48%
37%
23% 13%
Minimally Stressed
17% 15%
66% 40% Moderately Stressed
11% 47% Severely Stressed
Includes tidal, flats, riverine and depression wetlands collected 2005-2012
CITIZEN RECOMMENDATIONS Managing invasive species Adding nature based landscaping designs, green infrastructure, into your property to control water runoff and improve water quality Getting involved with the Delaware Bayshore Initiative Supporting better wetland protection by contacting your local decision makers
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Update tidal wetland maps Improve protection of rare and significant wetlands Build off SLR tools to acquire/protect transitional habitat Strengthen county and municipal buffer requirements
MD DNR
QUESTIONS? Alison Rogerson Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Watershed Assessment Section [email protected]
