Southeast Coast Network News April 2020

Wadeable Stream Monitoring to Begin at Chattahoochee River NRA

Stephen Cooper, a former University of Georgia graduate student assistant, has returned to take a position as fluvial geomorphology intern for the Southeast Coast Network through the Student Conservation Association. Stephen earned his Master of Science in Geography from UGA in December 2019. Stephen will lead the wadeable stream channel monitoring effort at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Field work will begin later this year.

A newly mounted automated recording device at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, used  for landbird and vocal anuran monitoring.

NPS photo / Michael Parrish

In the Field

COVID-19 Disrupts March Field Work and Meetings.

The spread of COVID-19 altered travel plans for the Southeast Coast Network during March. Water-level data collection from groundwater monitoring wells at Cumberland Island National Seashore was postponed, along with repair work to the housing of the continuous water-quality data sonde at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. Shoreline data collection at Canaveral National Seashore and Cape Hatteras National Seashore was also postponed due to the travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus. The Resource Stewardship Strategy Workshop at Cape Lookout National Seashore was rescheduled as a virtual meeting, and was attended by Program Manager Brian Gregory.

On a positive note, 16 automated recording devices (ARDs; just over half the number planned) were deployed at Cape Hatteras National Seashore before field work was halted. An additional 30 ARDs were deployed in the Gold Branch, McGinnis Ferry and Bowman's Island units of Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Shoreline data was collected at Cape Lookout National Seashore, Fort Matanzas National Monument, Cumberland Island National Seashore and Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. Continuous water-quality data was collected during the first week of March at Congaree National Park, Cumberland Island National Seashore, Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, Fort Matanzas National Monument, Canaveral National Seashore, and Fort Pulaski National Monument.

Field Work Postponed Through April

For safety reasons, travel restrictions were issued by NPS Inventory and Monitoring Division leadership late last month, postponing any field work until the end of April. These restrictions will be revisited and adjusted as necessary. For more specific information, please contact:

• Continuous water quality data, groundwater wells at Cumberland Island National Seashore, and wadeable stream monitoring, email Eric Starkey.
• Shoreline monitoring, email Lisa Cowart Baron.
• Landbird and vocal anuran community monitoring and ARD deployment, email Michael Parrish.
• Vegetation community monitoring, email Forbes Boyle.
• All other inquiries, email Brian Gregory

Sunrise at the start of shoreline data collection at the jetty on Cumberland Island National Seashore on the south end of the island.

NPS photo / Lisa Cowart Baron

Winter Concert in Arizona

Program Manager Brian Gregory, Botanist Forbes Boyle, and Biological Technician Elizabeth Rico attended the NPS Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Division's Conservation Initiative March 2-6 in Prescott, Arizona. Much of this national meeting focused on how the I&M Program can better position itself to serve parks and lead as a Department of Interior (DOI) natural resource monitoring and science program. Individuals from all 32 I&M networks were encouraged to think collectively and develop their own individual 90-day action plans. Some of our plans included developing better I&M park summary communication products for new network superintendents and resource managers, coordinating the sharing of vegetation field calendars and logistics/personnel among Southeast Region (Interior Region 2-South Atlantic-Gulf Region) staff to gain operational efficiencies, and to develop ways to diversify and improve our own communication skills. Feel free to ask us about our ideas for making our program better.

Brian Gregory, SECN Program Manager

From Our Program Manager

Doing Less and More...

The SECN staff hopes your families, staff members, and friends are doing well and staying safe and healthy. As our program and parks navigate these uncertain times, I want to take a moment to reassure park resource managers and superintendents of our commitment to serve your parks. Although our 2020 workplan is temporary turned upside down, our goal is to maximize our efforts during these landmark conditions, and pick up in the field when it is safe and responsible to do so. Our plan during this period is to stay connected, engaged, and ready to assist your staff do the important natural resource work that they do. We will take advantage of this period to focus on other aspects of our 2020 workplan, and will work to improve protocol workflows, retool several positions on our organizational chart, and catch up with data processing and reports. As always, reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns, and good luck to you and your parks as we plot a course through this global crisis.