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Shellfish Resource Update
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A March 5th forum on shellfish issues held at Preservation Hall featured speakers from the National Park Service, US Geological Survey, Geological Society of America and Center for Coastal Studies. The speakers provided an overview of monitoring and adaptive management measures planned or underway by the Herring River Restoration Project to track restoration benefits to coastal resources, including shellfish.
By restoring twice-daily flushing with high-salinity Cape Cod Bay water, the restoration will improve water quality, which could lead to re-opening and expansion of harvestable shellfish beds.
More than 50 shellfisheries and interested citizens attended the forum and ask questions of the speakers.
Many thanks to the Wellfleet Shellfish Advisory Board for co-sponsoring the forum, and Shellfish Constable Nancy Civetta for coordinating the meeting.
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'Blue carbon' in the Herring River: Can we reduce greenhouse gas emissions through wetland restoration?
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A March 29th event co-sponsored by Climate Mobilization Outer Cape and the Friends of Herring River will explore the regionally and globally significant role healthy salt marshes play in combating climate change.
WHEN/WHERE
Thursday, March 29, 2018, 6 pm, Wellfleet Senior Center, 715 Old King's Highway. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
WHO/WHAT
Dr.
Kevin D. Kroeger, Ph.D., Research Biogeochemist, at U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, will present 'Blue carbon' in the Herring River: Can we reduce greenhouse gas emissions through wetland restoration? Dr. Kroeger's presentation will review findings from local and national research demonstrating how healthy salt marshes absorb carbon; the potential role for salt marsh restoration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and local and regional examples of coastal restoration projects with carbon storage potential, including Herring River, where blue carbon benefits are being examined.
Blue Carbon
is a term used to describe carbon captured and retained by coastal wetlands and seagrass beds. These natural habitats store massive amounts of carbon that would otherwise contribute to global climate change. Coastal wetlands store large quantities of carbon at a rate faster than even tropical forests. Carbon storage is now recognized as a significant public benefit of coastal wetland restoration projects such as the Herring River Restoration Project.
By increasing tide range and saltwater inundation in the Herring River, hundreds of tons of carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide gas would be buried within the floodplain soils as they build and increase in elevation. Tidal restoration of the Herring River would also greatly reduce emissions of methane- a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide-as saltwater wetlands replace methane-emitting freshwater wetlands.
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SAVE THE DATE
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Wildlife of Herring River: Community Conversations about Science in the Herring River Restoration Project
When: Thursday, May 3rd, 6:30 pm
Where: Massachusetts Audubon
Wellfleet Bay
Sanctuary
Co-hosts:
Friends of Herring River,
Wellfleet Natural Resource Advisory Board
Wellfleet Conservation Trust
Massachusetts Audubon Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary
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