**FIELD PROTOCOLS FOR NRDA Salt Marsh Reconnaissance**

**[Objectives]{.underline}**

• To provide guidance on conducting a preliminary reconnaissance of salt
marshes

• To estimate the areal extent and degree of oiling and vegetation
impact

• To obtain preliminary information to help evaluate the need for more
comprehensive studies

Parameters

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| • Extent and degree of oil on     | • Qualitative vegetation          |
| vegetation and substrate          | condition                         |
|                                   |                                   |
| • Plant species composition       | • Degree of cleanup-associated    |
|                                   | disturbances                      |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

Equipment

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| • 4 ft stakes (two per transect)  | • plant identification guides     |
|                                   |                                   |
| • hammer or mallet to drive       | • 35 mm cameras, video camera     |
| stakes in                         |                                   |
|                                   | • film, video tapes               |
| • profile rods (two, 1.5 m long,  |                                   |
| 2 cm intervals)                   | • photo scales                    |
|                                   |                                   |
| • 30 m fiberglass tape measure,   | • photo log forms                 |
| marked in cm                      |                                   |
|                                   | • zip lock bags for vegetation    |
| • GPS                             | specimens                         |
|                                   |                                   |
| • compass                         | • chain of custody forms and      |
|                                   | labels                            |
| • hand level                      |                                   |
|                                   | • 8 oz. precleaned glass jars and |
| • calculator                      | equipment for sediment and oiled  |
|                                   | vegetation samples                |
| • field notebook (water-proof     |                                   |
| paper)                            | • cooler and ice                  |
|                                   |                                   |
| • pencils                         | • aerial photography guidelines   |
|                                   |                                   |
| • percentage estimation charts    | • shoreline assessment survey     |
|                                   | guidelines (incl. profile rod     |
| • shoreline terminology code list | instructions)                     |
|                                   |                                   |
| • marsh oiling datasheets         | • shovel and/or coring device     |
| (attached)                        |                                   |
|                                   | • sediment sampling guidelines    |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

**[Methods]{.underline}**

[Reconnaissance Activities]{.underline}

• Conduct an overflight of the entire affected area within two hours of
low tide (before or after), to observe the extent of visible
contamination. Use USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangles, vertical
aerial photographs, or other detailed maps to record observations. Note
the:

> \- locations and approximate lengths of oiled vegetation segments
>
> \- approximate width and degree of oiling along different segments of
> shoreline
>
> \- obvious vegetation zonation
>
> \- access points, major landmarks, and locations for ground-truth and
> reference stations
>
> \- all photographs taken

• Conduct a preliminary ground survey to determine the potential
magnitude of vegetation injury. Look first at the sites with the highest
severity of oiling and disturbances from cleanup. Make a rough estimate
of the acres of vegetation with different degrees of potential injury.
Then decide if further assessment activities are needed.

[Estimating Areal Extent of Oiling]{.underline}

• If there is significant visible oiling of the vegetation, obtain
vertical aerial photography of the impacted area. The photographs can be
used to generate updated basemaps (esp. important in areas with high
rates of shoreline change). See references for how to order an aerial
photography mission.

• Conduct a systematic ground survey of the entire area of oiled
vegetation. Use color copies of the aerial photographs to:

> \- delineate the areas of oiling categories on the vegetation.
> Usually, up to three different categories are delineated and defined
> using objective descriptors (e.g., height and percent cover of the oil
> band on the vegetation)
>
> \- delineate vegetation types
>
> \- delineate areas affected by different types of response
> disturbances
>
> \- verify the oiling category and measure the dimensions of areas
> which are not clear on the aerial photographs (e.g., covered by
> shadows)

[Obtaining Preliminary Information on Vegetation Impacts]{.underline}

• It may be appropriate to establish stations at sites representative of
the different vegetation types and oiling conditions, to provide
preliminary data to assist in evaluating the need for and design of more
comprehensive studies. Consider the following factors in site selection:

> \- as time and available personnel permit, stratify sites by level of
> oiling and response-related disturbance
>
> \- in all cases, examine reference sites with no observed oiling
>
> **-** consider degree of exposure (to waves, boat wakes, currents),
> water salinity, and other sources of variation when choosing oiled and
> reference sites
>
> \- consider access (to facilitate follow-up, but also to avoid areas
> likely to be disturbed by human activities)
>
> \- if the results are to be used to support quantification of impacts
> to the vegetation, a detailed and rigorous study design is required

• When establishing ground stations:

> \- record station location using a GPS unit, but also accurately plot
> the station on a map or aerial photograph
>
> \- permanently mark station locations using "front and back" stakes
> which line up along the transect lines, and consider stake placement
> carefully to minimize loss to vandalism, erosion, ice-scouring, etc.
>
> \- record the transect angle with a compass so it can be re-surveyed
> at a later date, even if one stake is lost; note whether the angle
> reading is magnetic or corrected to true north

• At each ground station, run transects within two hours of low tide
(before or after). Run transects perpendicular to the shoreline from the
upper edge of the marsh to its seaward extent, covering the entire width
of oiling. Modify the attached form, as needed for the spill conditions,
but make sure to complete all entries.

• Along each transect, use standard oiling terminology codes and
estimation charts (see references, attachments) to record the following
for each interval:

> **-** distance of the interval
>
> \- plant species present
>
> \- plant condition, including death or discoloration
>
> \- vertical oil interval, oil thickness, and % oil cover on the
> vegetation
>
> \- oiling type description and % cover on the substrate
>
> \- depth of oil penetration into the sediments , if any (using a
> shovel or coring device)
>
> \- sediment type (grain size)
>
> \- type and extent of plant or substrate disturbance such as
> trampling, cutting, burning, erosion, etc.
>
> \- presence, condition, and/or altered behavior of visible biota such
> as snails, crabs, etc.

• If time and personnel permit, topographic profiles can be conducted
along the transects. Profiles are useful due to the strong influence
topography has on vegetation and oil distribution. Make the transect
intervals short enough to represent the topography of the site and
changes in the plant community, but no longer than 3 m apart so that
topography is accurately recorded. At each interval, record horizontal
distance and change in elevation using the profile rods, tape measure,
and hand level (see references).

• Photo document each station. All photos or videotape should be
described in the photo log, located on a simple sketch map of the site,
and noted on the data sheet. Photos or videotapes should include:

\- the general station location and setting, showing permanent stakes

\- examples of plant zonation and condition along the transect,

\- sites where samples were collected

\- representative examples of the extent and degree of oiling

\- the extent and degree of trampling, burning, or other disturbance in
the area

\- examples of services provided by the marsh (animal use, shoreline
protection, etc.).

• Collect vegetation samples in impacted and reference areas, as needed.
Oiled samples can be used to fingerprint the oil or measure the amount
of oil on the vegetation, which can be used in mass balance analyses.
Place oiled samples in a pre-cleaned glass jar and place on ice in a
cooler while in the field. Transfer to a freezer at the end of each day.
Vegetation samples for confirming plant species identifications should
be collected from unoiled areas, if possible, and can be placed in
plastic bags.

• Take sediment samples, particularly in areas where vegetation impacts
are visibly obvious. If impacted areas are sampled, sediments from
reference areas should also be collected. See the field sampling
protocols for intertidal sediments for guidelines.

[References]{.underline}

Dalby, D.H., 1987, Salt marshes, Chapter 3: [in]{.underline} J.M. Baker
and W.J. Wolff (eds.), Biological Surveys of Estuaries and Coasts,
Estuarine and Brackish Water Sciences Association Handbook, University
of Cambridge Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 38-80.

NOAA Damage Assessment Center, 1997, Field forms and codes. Appendix 6:
[in]{.underline} Natural Resource Damage Assessment Emergency Guidance
Manual, Version 3.1. NOAA Damage Assessment Center, Silver Spring, MD.

Research Planning, Inc., 1997, Extent of oiling of wetlands, JULIE N oil
spill, Portland, Maine. Report prepared for the JULIE N Trustee Council.
Research Planning, Inc., Columbia, SC, RPI/R/97-2.

Research Planning, Inc., 1997, Guidelines for planning and contracting
aerial photographic missions. Prepared for the NOAA Damage Assessment
and Restoration Program, Silver Spring, MD, 15 pp. + two appendices.