NERRS data is a powerful resource for addressing the impacts of changing sea levels on tidal wetlands. Putting this data to work, however, is not a simple task. The challenges facing wetland managers impact diverse stakeholders and trigger many questions that can only be answered by interdisciplinary teams. Solutions shift with geography—what works in one place may not be appropriate only a dozen miles away, let alone in another state. Given this complexity, how do we put our NERRS data to work in an effective way? At what scale is the data relevant? How do we decide?
A tested approach can help address such questions. ROAD is a process designed to support Reserves and their partners seeking to connect NERRS monitoring data to coastal management needs at a regional scale. It was developed as a result of a NERRS/NOAA pilot that explored the relevance of NERRS Sentinel Site data to the practice of applying dredged sediment to support wetland restoration in the Mid-Atlantic region. This pilot has led to active collaborations involving the region’s Reserves.
Each step of ROAD is accompanied by lessons learned and tools generated through this pilot. The NERRS/NOAA pilot team looks forward to learning from other Reserves and as they test this approach and enrich it with their own experience. For more information, contact info@nerra.org.