Marsh Sediment in Translation (MSiT): A Collaborative Project to Broaden - NERRS/NSC(NERRS Science Collaborative) the Impacts of Marsh-Sediment Research at China Camp State Park

Natural resource managers, policy makers and regulators, restoration planners and practitioners, and consulting scientists came together to translate research on regional sediment dynamics into an accessible publication.

The Project

This project distilled and conveyed relevant lessons learned from a series of past research within and adjacent to a tidal salt marsh in the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Motivation for the project stemmed from a long history of regional reports, workshops, working groups, and conversations around best practices for sediment management in the estuary that collectively highlighted the need for greater understanding of how and when sediment is transported from the bay onto marshes.

Tidal marsh resilience in San Francisco Bay is threatened by sea-level rise and a downward trend in the available sediment in the estuary. Reduced marsh sediment accretion increases the likelihood of marsh vegetation drowning, widespread habitat loss, and a reduction in shoreline protection and other ecosystem services. People charged with addressing such challenges include natural resource managers, policy makers and regulators, restoration planners and practitioners, and consulting scientists. Large-scale restoration efforts are planned for the estuary, and these decision makers must consider sediment movement when they plan and implement management actions to enhance and restore tidal marsh habitat.

The project team worked with these decision makers using a deliberate collaborative process involving surveys, interactive workshops, and iterative document review and revision to improve understanding of key principles and past research. Over the course of the project, the team synthesized and translated technical data on hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and sediment accretion into an approachable and understandable communication product that will be freely accessible to regional collaborators and additional users around the San Francisco Bay area and beyond.

This project continues a collaborative effort that started with the 2013 research project "Mud on the Move," focusing on data from a set of connected field studies based in San Francisco Bay NERR's China Camp State Park and the adjacent waters of San Pablo Bay.

The Impact

Regional collaborators gained enhanced awareness of contemporary research on sediment dynamics and the specific processes at work in the San Francisco Bay NERR, thanks in part to workshop presentations designed to orient participants to the project, the area, and the research. Presentations and discussions during the workshops highlighted widespread support to broaden the scope of the research beyond China Camp State Park.

In addition to attending workshop presentations, participants also provided feedback and clear recommendations on how to tailor messaging to reach the intended management audience. The resulting publication reflects the regional collaborators’ consensus around a preferred style for communicating about the scientific content, including simple diagrams, the use of common language, a glossary of technical terms, and an easily accessible medium.

Thoughtful workshop planning and responsiveness to participant feedback created an environment that fostered open and robust conversations among participants. The workshops provided opportunities to focus on the marsh-sediment science, revealed possibilities for future collaboration, and yielded detailed feedback that directly informed the final products.

Project Lead(s):

Matt Ferner, San Francisco Bay NERR, mferner@sfsu.edu

Madeline Foster-Martinez, University of New Orleans, mrfoster@uno.edu

Team Members:

Jessica Lacy, United States Geological Survey

John Callaway, University of San Francisco

Aimee Good, San Francisco State University

Brenda Goeden, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission

The distributor does not assume liability.

None

Cite this dataset when used as a source: NOAA retains the right to analyze, synthesize and publish summaries of the NERRS/NSC data. The NERRS/NSC retains the right to be fully credited for having collected and process the data. Following academic courtesy standards, the NERR site where the data were collected should be contacted and fully acknowledged in any subsequent publications in which any part of the data are used. The data enclosed within this package/transmission are only as accurate as the quality assurance and quality control procedures that are described in the associated metadata reporting statement allow. The user bears all responsibility for its subsequent use/misuse in any further analyses or comparisons. The Federal government does not assume liability to the Recipient or third persons, nor will the Federal government reimburse or indemnify the Recipient for its liability due to any losses resulting in any way from the use of this data. Requested citation format: NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Science Collaborative(NSC).

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This information is detailed within the project links.

This information is detailed within the project links.