Time: June 25, 11:30 to 1:00 pm

Marsh migration is one of the main mechanisms for salt marshes to maintain their aerial extent on centennial timescales. Recently, resource managers have discussed it as a key strategy to preserve marshes for shorter periods of times. A literature review, conducted for the Great Bay Reserve, sought to understand the current state of the marsh migration science, guide future research and conservation initiatives, and learn from local facilitation projects. This talk will share some of the findings of the review and dive into the environmental and hydrologic drivers of marsh migration. It also will explore how upland vegetation, historic agricultural embankments, and ditching delay or outright prevent marsh migration. Together, we will discuss different methods of remote sensing and in-field monitoring to identify marsh migration corridors and share future plans for migration projects and the pursuit avenues of migration research.

If you weren’t able to make it, you can watch the webinar recording here.

Speakers

Grant McKown is a research associate focused on novel restoration methods of salt marshes, seagrass meadows, and oyster reefs in the Seacoast of New Hampshire and broader New England. He has conducted botany surveys in backcountry wetlands throughout Colorado for the Bureau of Land Management and Colorado State University. In his spare time, Grant conducts rare plant surveys for the Native Plant Trust in freshwater wetlands, beach dunes, and salt marshes. He is the New Hampshire state chair for the Society of Ecologist Restoration – Northeast Chapter.  He works closely with Dr. David Burdick and Dr. Ray Grizzle at UNHJEL. He received a Master of Science degree, with a focus on salt marsh living shoreline projects in Great Bay.