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Press Release from
The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
Media Contact: Lee Yokel
Mobile Bay NEP Outreach Coordinator
Phone: (251) 431-6409
E-mail:
lyokel@mobilebaynep.com
______________________________________________
An unprecedented marsh gardening project, spanning two
states and utilizing the talents of many agencies, is ready to begin
this spring. Headed by Dr. Just Cebrian, Senior Marine Scientist
at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, this ambitious “greening of the
estuaries” seeks to establish new, or rehabilitate existing, marsh
sites.
In 2002, the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program’s
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan was approved by the
Environmental Protection Agency. This document identifies the
crucial role salt marshes and submerged grasses play in the bay area and
the need for their preservation and restoration. Many area
organizations and agencies have similar plans which identify the
importance and need to preserve estuarine ecosystems. Work such as
that done by Dr. Cebrian, and collaborators including Weeks Bay and
Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserves, Bon Secour National
Wildlife Refuge, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, and the
volunteers of Gulf Shores High School, Fairhope High School, Americorps
and Mississippi Power, is vital to tackling the challenges.
Saltmarshes and submerged grass
beds were once dominant habitats along the Gulf Coast. Due to
man-made and natural causes, these habitats have dwindled significantly.
These highly valued habitats provide a multitude of functions from
providing food and shelter for aquatic organisms to serving as wave
attenuators and buffers for erosion control, and are thought to act as
natural water purification systems. Dr. Cebrian’s research
specifically will examine how black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus),
a dominant plant of our coastal saltmarshes, can be restored and if the
restored marshes truly act as water cleansing systems.
Planting sites will include the Grand Bay Reserve within
the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Weeks Bay Reserve, and the Bon
Secour National Wildlife Refuge. Dr. Cebrian’s project will test what
the optimal conditions are that will encourage new growth, least disturb
donor sites and best filter water quality.
The first project kicks off in the Grand Bay National
Estuarine Research Reserve along Bayou Heron, Mississippi during the
second and third week of April. The ambitious schedule of restoration
involves two days of harvesting black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus),
constructing a sand wedge at the erosion site, and then transplanting
the Juncus sp. to the sand wedge. The program involves the
coordinated efforts of Dr. Cebrian and his students with the Dauphin
Island Sea Lab, staff members from the Mississippi Department of Marine
Resources’ and the Grand Bay Reserve and volunteers from Mississippi
Power.
Like our backyard gardens, these restored coastal
ecosystems will need the constant attention of everyone involved.
Projects such as these bring together the efforts of researchers,
resource managers, and educators to fulfill a vital need of a healthy
coastal environment. To learn more log onto:
www.mobilebaynep.com for links to various organizations and their
activities.
A complete schedule of the project and partners is listed
below.
Schedule of Harvesting, Site Preparation, and
Planting
** Please call a contact below to confirm a date,
activity, and location as things may change pending weather and other
issues. **
April 11
Grand Bay Reserve, Bayou Heron Mississippi – Volunteers with Mississippi
Power assist in harvesting salt marsh plants with Reserve personnel and
the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.
April 12
Grand Bay Reserve, Bayou Heron, Mississippi – harvesting continues as
needed
April 12
Weeks Bay Reserve Grasses in Classes Dune Vegetation Planting
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama with Fairhope High School
April 13
Dune planting continues at Bon Secour Refuge
April 17
Grand Bay Reserve, Bayou Heron, Mississippi - Construction of sand wedge
for future salt marsh planting with Dauphin Island Sea Lab and Reserve
personnel
April 18
Sand Wedge construction continues in Bayou Heron, Mississippi
April 18
Tentative – Harvesting underwater grass
Vallisneria sp. plants Daphne,
Alabama; Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
April 19
Planting Vallisneria in Weeks Bay Reserve, Barner Branch Project,
Alabama with Lisa Allen and Gulf Shores High School
April 19
Grand Bay Reserve, Bayou Heron, Mississippi; Volunteers planting
Juncus sp with Reserve personnel and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab
April 20
Grand Bay Reserve, Bayou Heron, Missisippi planting continues
April 25
Harvesting underwater Shoal Grass, Perdido, Alabama, Dauphin Island Sea
Lab and Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
April 26
Planting Shoal Grass Bon Secour National Wild Life Refuge, Little
Lagoon, Alabama with Gulf Shores High School, Mobile Bay National
Estuary Program
May
Juncus harvesting and planting Weeks Bay, Alabama
Eric Brunden and AmericaCorps Volunteers, Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Contacts
Mississippi Projects
Dr. Just Cebrian
Dauphin Island Sea Lab 251-861-7568
jcebrian@disl.org
Chris May
Grand Bay Reserve 228-475-7047, Cell 228-697-0415
Jennifer Buchanan Grand Bay
Reserve 228-475-7047
Susan Perkins
PR MS Dept. of Marine Resources
228-219-5062
perkins5156@yahoo.com
Alabama Projects
Dr. Just Cebrian
Dauphin Island Sea Lab 251-861-7568
Margaret Sedlecky Weeks Bay
Reserve 251-928-9792
Eric Brunden
Weeks Bay Reserve 251-928-9792
Jeremy Phillips
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge 251-540-7720
Lisa Allen
Gulf Shores High School 251-968-4747
Megan Anderton
Fairhope High School 251-928-8309 ext. 29021
Lee Yokel
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, 251-431-6409; lyokel@mobilebaynep.com
Financial Supporters
Gulf of Mexico Program
Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Locations / Directions
** To participate, take pictures, take video, get
interviews please call one of the contacts above. Due to weather
and unforeseen problems, the schedule is fluid. Transportation to
some activities maybe necessary but most definitely can be arranged. **
Bayou Heron in Grand Bay, Mississippi
At the end of bayou heron road just down from the reserve
office adjacent to the fishing pier; Harvesting from up and down Bayou
Heron; Go to boat launch to get on boat to get to the site; Time 8AM;
media and volunteers please call ahead to secure a boat ride
DIRECTIONS: In southeast MS, Exit I-10 at the Franklin
Creek Exit (#75) and travel south. Cross MS Hwy. 90 and continue south
on Pecan Road. Take your first paved left. Carefully cross the tracks
and turn to your right. Follow Bayou Heron Road to the end where you
will find harvesting taking place along Bayou Heron
Weeks Bay / Barner Branch, Alabama
Barner Branch – Marlow Boat Basin –
Kenny Horton House driveway due south of Barner Branch Bridge on Hwy 9
at white tractor tires; will need waders – not clear shot to get to
locations, area is wet – call for assistance.
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama
Dune planting at the end of Mobile Street in Refuge;
Shoal grass planting at the west end of Little Lagoon; take trail head
parking lot and follow the road to the Lagoon |
