Southeast Coast Network News July 2019

Agarista populifolia (pipe-plant) was discovered in abundant population in the first plot monitored at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve last month. The plant was not listed on the park's species list.

NPS photo / Forbes Boyle

Great Find on Day One

On the first day of implementing the new terrestrial vegetation community protocol at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, an abundant population of Agarista populifolia (pipe-plant) was discovered in the first plot established. Network botanist Forbes Boyle said the plant was not listed on the park's species list. Vegetation monitoring at Timucuan started May 15 and a total of 13 plots were sampled through the end of the month.

Work Completed

Protected Data Agreements

Protected data handling agreements have been completed for all parks in the Southeast Coast Network. The latest versions have been approved, signed and sent to each park. In addition, all the agreements and summary spreadsheets have been uploaded to the NPS Integrated Resource Management Applications (IRMA) Portal. These agreements will ensure sensitive natural and cultural resource data are handled appropriately through each park's established procedures.

Jake McDonald records the position of the shoreline at the northern end of Cumberland Island National Seashore. Hydrologic Technician Daniel McCay is operating the total station in the swash zone.

NPS photo

Back Barrier Erosion Survey at Cumberland Island NS

The back barrier erosion survey was completed last month and a draft report has been submitted for review. Findings from this work and previous studies suggest that certain areas of the island are rapidly eroding due to the combination of wave, wind and storms. See the report here.

At Plum Orchard, Jake McDonald performs data collection of the bluff edge with Daniel McCay operating the total station on the right.

NPS photo

Publications

The Southeast Coast Network recently published the following reports:

• Terrestrial Vegetation Monitoring in Southeast Coast Network Parks Protocol Implementation Plan . The Standard Operating Procedures associated with this protocol implementation plan are also available on the NPS Integrated Resource Management Applications (IRMA) portal.
• Standard Operating Procedure 2.1.01 Revision of Southeast Coast Network Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures—Version 3.0

In the Field

Upcoming in July:

• Water-quality data is being collected at Congaree National Park, Fort Pulaski National Monument, Cumberland Island National Seashore, Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, Fort Matanzas National Monument and Canaveral National Seashore July 1-3.
• An assessment of estuarine water and sediment quality is scheduled for Canaveral National Seashore July 14-19.
• Terrestrial vegetation monitoring will be ongoing during the month of July at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Completed in June:

• Terrestrial vegetation monitoring was conducted at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve and Fort Matanzas National Monument.
• Wildlife Biologist Michael Parrish and Data Manager Paula Capece attended a Wildlife Acoustics ARD (automated recording devices) training class in Washington, D.C.

Other Recent Accomplishments:

• Data Manager Paula Capece traveled to the National Capitol Region Inventory and Monitoring Network (NCRN) to collaborate with Bonnie Campbell to discuss and diagnose issues with the DOI's surface elevation table (SET) database.

• Coastal Ecologist Lisa Cowart Baron attended a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Coastal Resilience Workshop. This was the final workshop presenting the VISTA tool that incorporates data on open space, human community, as well as fish and wildlife habitat, to analyze and map coastal resiliency.