Department or Program

Environmental Studies

Abstract

This study functions to evaluate the success of a salt marsh restoration project in Georgetown, Maine. The study area was located in the northern arm of the Little River Salt Marsh, where a tidal restriction that had been in place for decades was removed in February 2018. In this study, groundwater data collected in 2016, before the restoration of the Little River Marsh, was compared to groundwater data collected in 2018, after the marsh was restored. Groundwater depth, salinity, and temperature were compared between 2016 and 2018, as well as between wells in the restricted marsh and in the unrestricted reference marsh. In addition, methane emissions from the restricted marsh were compared before and after restoration. The study found that the hydrology of the study area was complicated due to unknown freshwater inputs in the restricted and unrestricted marsh. Overall, however, the study found that restoration appeared to be at least partially successful. Groundwater and pore water salinities increased from 2016 to 2018 in the restricted area of the marsh. Additionally, there was a greater daily fluctuation in water depth found in wells in the restricted marsh after restoration. Groundwater temperatures in wells in the restricted marsh in 2018 showed daily fluctuations, whereas wells in the restricted marsh did not show any daily fluctuations in 2016. Vegetation change also showed that there was a decrease in brackish vegetation and increase in halophytic (salt tolerant) vegetation after restoration.

Level of Access

Restricted: Campus/Bates Community Only Access

First Advisor

Bev Johnson

Date of Graduation

5-2019

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Number of Pages

72

Components of Thesis

1 pdf file

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