[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                                                               AL NA170-20-498
											   1992



                                        MARSH RESTORATION
                                         Dauphin Island
                                            Sea Lab
                                       Dauphin Island, AL.





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           A Cooperative Project of:

             Coastal Programs, Alabama Department of
                 Economic & Community Affairs

             Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium

             Office of Ocean & Coastal Resources Management,
               National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration




















                
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                     MARSH RESTORATION: DAUPHIN ISLAND, ALABAMA





























          A COOPERATIVE PROJECT OF:


               COASTAL PROGRAMS, ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC &
                    COMMUNITY AFFAIRS


               MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES CONSORTIUM


               OFFICE OF OCEAN & COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT,
                    NATIONAL OCEANIC & ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION






                               US Department of Commerce
                           NOAA Coastal         Center Library
                                2234		Avenue
                                             
                                Charleston, SC 29405-2413



          Financial assistance for this report provided
          in part by the Coastal Zone Management Act
          of 1972, as amended, administered by the
          Office of Ocean & Coastal Resources
          Management, National Oceanic & Atmospheric
          Administration.
 












                                      FINAL REPORT
                     MARSH RESTORATIONS: DAUPHIN ISLAND, ALABAMA


                                      INTRODUCTION


                The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has estimated that 30-40%
           of the original wetlands in the United States have been lost and
           that destruction continues at 300-400,000 acres per year (Tiner,
           1984). Roach et al. (1987) documented a 35% loss of Alabama salt
           and brackish marshes in the 25 year period, 1955 to 1979. Growing
           concerns for maintenance of these critical natural resources have
           produced a national policy of "No net loss of wetlands."
           Approaches to meet this goal include wetlands preservation
           accompanied by restoration of degraded wetlands and creation of new
           wetlands. In a recent U.S. EPA report on the status and needs of
           wetland creation and restoration (Kusler and Kentula 1989),
           conclusions included:

               1.    Restoration should be favored over creation.

               2.    Restoration/creation efforts should be designed to be
                     self-sustaining systems and "persistent" features in the
                     landscape.

               3.    The greatest potential for filling gaps in scientific
                     knowledge lie in careful monitoring of selected projects.

               4.    Standardized methods for project evaluation and project
                     monitoring are needed to facilitate determination of
                     "success" and comparisons between systems.

               5.    Wetland demonstration projects offer the greatest
                     "control" and have the greatest potential for answering
                     research questions and providing the know-how for
                     restoration of systems already degraded as well as for
                     reducing future impacts.

                The Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium (MESC) operates
           the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) as the key facility for marine
           education and research in Alabama. A primary focus. of the Sea Lab
           research program has been to address environmental questions of
           local and regional significance. of particular importance to the
           economy of Alabama coastal communities have been projects related
           to commercially important species, their life history requirements,
           habitat losses, management needs, and coastal water quality.

                The Sea Lab occupies U.S. surplus property previously utilized
           for over 100 years for various military facilities, most recently
           as an Air Force radar base. Island wetland and dune habitats have
           been altered by various modifications to the site over the years.
           MESC philosophy has been to minimize any further habitat
           alterations and to enhance and restore on-site habitats where
           possible and use these efforts as environmental education for
           students and the public. A ten-year effort on the south Gulf beach









           has resulted in significant recovery of beach vegetation and the
           coastal slash pine forest. Continuing in this philosophy, MESC is
           implementing a multi-phased project to provide both indoor and
           outdoor exhibitry and exposure to native habitats for a combination
           of  formal   educational   activities    and   self-guided    public
           participation.  In FY 1991-92, MESC initiated Phase I involving
           site preparation and restoration of altered habitats (wetlands and
           dunes) on-site.


                                        APPROACH

               MESC is restoring approximately 1.5 acres of the north side of
           the Sea Lab, along the Mobile Bay shoreline to its original
           wetlands function (see Figure 1) . Sand fill placed by the military
           has been removed to establish intertidal elevations and tidal
           hydrology. The site includes topography suitable for open water
           tidal creeks and vegetated wetland (Figure 2). Wetland plants will
           be transplanted to create cover of approximately 40% Juncus
           roemerianus and 60% Spartina alterniflora.     This work is being
           accomplished with state funds, a grant from the U.S. Fish and
           Wildlife Service, and with engineering and design assistance from
           the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District.

               The restoration site will be used as a demonstration of sound
           restoration practices and effective evaluation tools. Access by
           elevated boardwalks and overlooks will allow visitors to monitor
           all aspects of the habitat and its inhabitants as well as view
           scientists "in the field" doing applied research.      A series of
           static outdoor exhibits (Phase I) will interpret both the
           philosophy of wetlands restoration and creation as well as the
           value and functions of wetlands in general. Real-time data will be
           displayed from in-situ instruments.      Displays documenting the
           wetland as it historically appeared, as it was altered, under
           restoration and as it recovers will be updated frequently with
           photos, and field data in visitor-friendly formats. Displays will
           acknowledge the contributions of participating agencies.

               Subsequent phases of the MESC project include an indoor-
           interpretive center with aquaria, touch tables, static exhibits and
           visitor research demonstrations. The habitat restoration research
           will be further interpreted by allowing center visitors to view
           actual processing of field samples in a laboratory setting and to
           discuss the analysis of the progress of wetland recovery with
           technicians and scientists.

               A program of functional assessment and management for
           restoration success will be implemented to include plant growth,
           primary   production,   nekton    utilization,   nursery     species
           recruitment, avian use, sediment dynamics and hydrology.         The
           restored marsh will be compared to an adjacent reference marsh.
           Data will be collected using Breder traps (Breder 1960) and weirs
           (Kneib 1991) for nekton and nursery species and litter bags for
           benthic recruitment (Rutherford 1989).       Planting success and









           primary production will be assessed through survival, cover and
           standing biomass estimates. Bird utilization will be determined by
           timed censusing. Soil characteristics including particle size and
           percent organics will be monitored as the ecosystem develops. A
           sediment-erosion table will be installed to assess the rate of
           sedimentation (Day and Boumans 1991), and the relative contribution
           of allocthonous v. autochthonous materials will be compared between
           the restored and reference marshes.       Functional data from the
           restored marsh will be compared to a similar natural "reference"
           marsh to assess the extent of success and evaluate development of
           the restored marsh.

                 Weirs and sediment-erosion tables will be installed during
           wetlands construction to minimize impact.      Data collection will
           begin as soon as plant installation is complete and tidal
           inundation has been restored.



                              PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS UNDER
                                ADECA PAD-MESC-CAM-92-012

                 Stipend support was provided for two graduate research
           assistants to provide technical support for implementation of the
           Phase I marsh restoration. During the period April 1, 1992 through
           September 30, 1992, assistance was provided to project design,
           plant resource protection, and fabrication of monitoring equipment.

                 The natural reference marsh was utilized to obtain design
           criteria    related   to   elevations,    plant   composition,     and
           physiographic features for the restoration marsh.          Assistants
           worked closely with the Mobile District Corps of Engineers through
           the design phase and subsequently with the contractor during site
           preparation.

                 As the site was excavated, existing key wetland and dune
           plants were removed to a storage nursery for replanting and seed
           stocks were harvested.       Seeds are being maintained in the
           laboratory for spring 1993 planting.

                 In preparation for the monitoring effort to follow completion
           of the restoration effort, assistants acquired materials and
           constructed four field collection weirs (Kneib 1991), 12 Breeder
           traps (Breeder 1960), and sampling boardwalks.
                 Completion of site   PROJECT STATUS
                                   .preparation and restoration was delayed due
           to the discovery of a Civil War headstone within the site boundary.
           Work was halted while a complete Cultural Resources survey was
           completed.

                 Dedication of the "Living Marsh" was held October 10, 1992,
           and Phase I is expected to be completed in early February 1993









           (weather permitting).        (See enclosed news clippings and
           announcements.)



                                      SIGNIFICANCE

                The restoration and monitoring effort has multiple significant
           science, demonstration, and education components.

                -    restoration of a former wetland


                -    concurrent success evaluation

                -    development of valid but efficient evaluative methods for
                     application in broader restoration efforts

                -    utilization, as demonstration, of sound design criteria
                     for industry and resource managers

                -    enhanced public awareness

                -    access and interpretation during all phases for the
                     public, educational groups, regulators, planners, and
                     developers

                -    real-time observation of wetlands function and scientific
                     approach by visitor groups

                Implementation of wetland restoration at the Sea Lab site
           (Phase I) offers an ideal opportunity for the development and
           testing of not only restoration methods but also for assessing
           various tools to evaluate the functional success of a restored
           wetland. The location of the restoration site on the campus of a
           research laboratory provides for more frequent and more intensive
           observation and data acquisition than is usually possible. Nearby
           (ca. 1000 m) natural Juncus marshes will serve as reference data
           sources for comparison with functional development of the restored
           marsh.













                    References Cited

                    Breder, C. M. 1960. Design for a fry trap. Zoologica 45:155-160.

                    Day, J. and R. Boumans. 199 1. The use of sediment fences for wetland creation and
                         restoration in Louisiana. Poster presented at I I th Intl. Estuarine Res. Conf., San
                         Francisco, CA, November 10-14, 1991.

                    Kneib, R. T. 1991. Flume weir for quantitative collection of nekton from vegetated intertidal
                         habitats. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 75:29-38.

                    Kusler, J. A. and M. E. Kentula (Eds.) 1989. Wetland creation and restoration: the status of
                         the science. U. S. EPA/600/3-89/038.

                    Roach, E. r., M. C. Watzin, J. D. Scurry and J. B. Johnson. 1987. Wetland changes in
                         coastal Alabama. pp. 92-101, IN: T. A. Lowery (Ed.), Symposium on the natural
                         resources of the Mobile Bay estuary. Miss.-Ala. Sea Grant Publ. MASG P-87-007.

                    Rutherford, S. 1989. Detritus production and epibenthic communities of natural versus salt
                         marshes. M.S. Thesis, San Diego State Univ., San Diego, CA 79 p.

                    Tiner, R. W., Jr. 1984. Wetlands of the United States: Current status and recent trends. U.
                         S. Fish Wildl. Serv., Nad. Wetland Inventory. Washington, D.C.



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                        New Estuarium
                        will be showcase
                        of state water life

                        By Justin Fox                              Grand Bay, has steered $1 million In
                        News staff writer                        state money to the project.
                                                                    The federal Environmental Pro-
                                                                 tection Agency and Fish and Wild-
                                                                 life Service together are chipping in
                             CAUPHIN ISLAND -           George                                          
                        Crozier has made a name for him-         $100,000 to dredge and replant the
                        self over the years as a defender of     marsh, which was filled in decades
                        Alabama's beaches- and scourge           ago.
                        of those who build houses on them or        The Estuarium's architects in-
                        drive on the dunes.                      clude some of the designers of the
                          So what is the Dauphin Island Sea      Aquarium of the Americas In New
                        Lab director doing promoting a $4      Orleans. But the Estuarium will be
                        million waterfront aquarium and ed-      on a much smaller scale than the
                        ucational center that could bring        New Orleans aquarium and the new
                        150,000 tourists to this tiny island     Tennessee Aquarium In Chatta-
                        every year?                              nooga. It will feature only fish and
                         "I'm gambling," Crozier said.          plants from the Mobile-Tensaw
                        "We're going to bring them down          Delta, Mobile Bay and nearby areas
                        here, but I think they're going to       of the Gulf of Mexico.
                        leave reasonably well educated and
                        appreciative of the problems" of the        "All this stuff comes from Ala-
                        coast.                                   hams," Crozier said last week as he
                          Work is about to start on the first    showed a visitor a sea-lab tank hous-
                        phase of the "Estuarium" - a man-        ing, among other things, a decorator
                        made marsh with a boardwalk from         crab, a mantis shrimp and an angler
                        which visitors can see how wetlands      fish - which catches its prey with a
                        work.                                    lure that protruds from the middle
                         After that, if the money flows as      of its head.
                        Crozier hopes, construction will            "Nobody believes me, but it all
                        start on a building that will house      comes from Alabama.
                        aquariums and exhibits.                     The goal of the Estuarium, Cro-
                          "I'm worried about the economy,"       zier said, is to educate visitors about
                        Crozier said. "It's not going to be      the richness of area marine life -
                        easy to raise $3 million from the        and about threats to it such as pol-
                        feds and the private sector."            lution and wetlands destruction. The                                                            
                          So far, most of the Estuarium's        exhibits will be structured large
                        money has come from the state of                                                 Dauphin Island Sea Lab Director George Crozier points out
                        Alabama. The local state represen-       for children, who already come to
                        tative, House Ways and Means Com-        the sea lab by the thousands every        where marsh exhibit will be at new Estuarium.
                        mitttee Chairman Taylor Harper, D-           See Estuarium, Page 18A
 

Estuarium

From page 17a
								land and left a former Holiday Inn on		many aquariums around that the 		 "I think the Estuarium is going to
year on school firld trips.				the island a sand-swept shell.			idea is, I wouldn't say worn out, but	be very unique.
	The sea lab, which is run by 21			The Estuarium will be near Fort
Alabama public and private colleges			Gaines on the bay side of the east end
and funded by the state, has beeen on		of the island, on land that is about 10
the island since 1971.					feet abouve sea leve. Crozier said the
	"We've got the tanks; I've got the		sea-lab buildings, hand-me-downs
personnel," Crozier said. "We just			from an old air base that were built
need a place to put it."				to withstand nuclear attack, weath-
	George Benz, curator of fishes at		ered Hurricane Frederic in 1979 and
the new Tennessee Aquarium in				Hurricane Elena in 1985 without
Chattanooga, visited Dauphin Island			much damage.
earlier this month and said the Estu-			The air base's concrete-and-steel
arium is a wonderful idea.				radar tower will be part of the Estr-
	"They already have got quite a fa-		arium, and the rest of the building is
cility down there," he said. "It's in a		designed with rough weather in
terrific location. I think their big-		mind, said Eean NcNanghton of New
est problem is how to accommodate			Orleans, one of the architects. Most
all the people who will want to go			of the windows will have metal cur-
there."							tains that can be pulled down in case
	The Estuarium will be built at the		of a hurricane warning.
sea lab, incorporating one existing 			Crozier said be happy the Estua-
building. Crozier plans to build a new		rium will draw local residents,
parking lot, but hopes many of the			beachgoers and people passing
visitors come on foot on the ferry			through South Alabama on inter-
from Fort MOrgan-which is near			states 10 and 65. The sea lab already
the tourist hotels and condominiums			has              and this summer
of Gulf Shores.						made an educational camp for
	Another worry is hurricanes,			younger         Crozier hopes it will
which in the past, have destroyed			become a sort of seaside equivalent.
homes on the west end of Dauphin Is-		of Huntsvilles Space Camp.
								    Saind Mcnaughton "There are so












                              








   tj@TS. SOUTH                                                                     WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1992


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              U.S.'Rep. So            n, left, jolnettaii R*:Taj1oi Harper,' dgfit;'.andUi@elsoer of Z@119, in
              dedicating the first"phase of the Estuarlum.at the Dauphin Island Sea Lob Saturdai'.-The Lhilng'Marsh
              was dedicated In memory of Mrs. Ladnee3 daughter, Both, a former student at-the see'Laii who was
              killed In a car accident In 1991.'



LIVING MARSH DEDICATED AT DAUPHIN ISLAND	
By Earl Sweatt
Staff Reporter						Visitors to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab get a close look at one of the aquariums there Saturday.

  DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala.-There			the marsh.							work toghether." he added.					$3.5 million, Crozier said, of which
were no complaints of "pork bar-			The young girl had first come to			Crozier estimated the marsh				approximately $1 million already
rel" porjects Saturday at the Dau-		the Sea Lab program as part of a			section will cost approximately				has been raised. Another $2.5 mil-
phin Island Sea Lab as the new		field trip from Monte Sano Elemen-			$175,000 and should be completed				lion alson will be needed to com-
Living Marsh segment of the pro-		tary School, Huntsville. She stayed			in about two months.						plete the rest of the program. An
posed &3.5 million Estuarium was		in the program in high school.				"It will take about threee years for		additional $1.5 million will be
dedicated.							After her death, a scholarship		the marsh to actually grow to what				needed for a restoration project of
  U.S. Rep. Sonny Callahan, R-Mo-		was established in her memory for 			it was originally," he said. "The				other buildings at the Sea lab.
bite, along with state Rep, Taylor		a student from Huntsville High to			tours will be self-guiding with signs				"The $5 million total includes
harper, D-Grand Bay, and state		attend the summer program at				explaining each section."					the entire capital development
Sen. Steve Windom, D-Mobile,			Dauphin Island.							The site will be the entry to the			plans for the Sea Lab," Crozier
joined Dr. George Crozier, execu-			Callahan said some of the money		aquarium and museum area and					said. He added that some of the
tive director of the Sea Lab, in		for the project will be coming from			will offer an interpretive nature				funding had been raised through
dedicating the first phase of the 		funds appropriated for the Gulf of			trail through the salt marsh. The				the Environmental Protection
project.						Mexico Project, a $30 million pro-			natural history of the marsh, as				Agency and the U.S. Fish and
  Windom, in addressing guests as 		gram signed by President Bush.			well as the mechanisms of recov-				Wildlife Service as part of the "Year
they stood in the sand and sand			The funds will be divided by the		ery, will be presented on story				of the Gulf" celebration.
spills across from the Sea Lab		states bordering the Gulf of Mexi-			boards along the 500 to 600 feet of					The Estuarium/Aquarium is ex-
officers, said, "For those of you who	co, Callahan said. "This project is a 		elevated boardwalk.						pected to bring tourist dollars to
have complained about port bar-		classic example of how federal,				The total Estuarium/Aquarium				the area and also will be beneficial
ral projects, or don't like them, you	state, and city governments can			project will cost approximately				to the programs at the Sea Lab.
are standing in the middle of one
right now."
  Windom said it was appropriate
that Callahan and harper attended
the dedication since it was through
their efforts that the project was
begun and will become a reality.
  "The next project is gettin the
beach erosion solve." he added.
  Crozier said the dedication coin-
cided with the Year of the Gulf and
the 500th anniversary of the Gulf of
Mexico. He said Taylor was re-
sponsible for getting $500,000 in
state funds to begin the project.
  Taylor Harper has been a long-
time supporter of our operation on
Dauphin Island, and we know he is
going to assist us even more in the
future." Crozier said.
  The Living Marsh was dedicated
in the name of a former student at
the Sea Lab, Beth Ladner of Hunts-
ville who was killed in a car
accident in 1991. Her parents were
on hand for the dedication.
  A permanent plaque will be
placed at the entrance of the
boardwalk leading into and around
  
                                                                            

The first phase of project could be completed as early as October
By Earl Sweatt
Press Register Reporter
Dauphin Island, Ala.-Construction should begin soon on the first phase of the $3 million Estuarium on Dauphin Island.
Dr. George Crozier, director of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and coordinator of the planned coastal waters center, said the marsh section of the project will be the first segment constructed.
"We are shooting for an opening in October, just for the marsh section, to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of the Gulf of Mexico," Crozier said.
Estuarium, according to Crozier, is Latin for estuary, and will be built around a Mobile Bay theme.  Once the entire project is completed, officials estimate, it will attract 150,000 visitors a year to Dauphin Island.
"We have already received $1 million from the state, thanks to the efforts of (state Rep.) Taylor Harper and the Legislature, and we will be going to the public and private sector for the remainder of the funds," Crozier said.
The estuarium will be a segment of the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and will basically be an educational facility.
Crozier said the faciity will introduce the basic principles of the ecology of the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, the Mobile Bay estuarine system, the barrier islands, and the offshore regions to the edge of the continental shelf.
"It will serve as a window into the activities of the lab and its researchers fot the general public, and as a hands-on facility and local activity for the students annually utilizing the sea lab facilities."
The estuarium will be located on the north side of Bienville Boulevard across from the sea lab Crozier said an outdoor aquatic and raised boardwalk will be created amid fresh and saltwaterponds Sand dunes will form a trail through a natural setting leading to the entrance of the estuarium.
Dr. Judy Stout, marsh ecologist, will be in charge of designing the marsh phase of the project.
Crozier, standing where the marsh will begin, pointing toward a small sand dune, said the marsh once covered that area which will be re-developed.  We will re-create what was once here 40 years ago, before the Federal Cut was made through the marsh he said.
One of the wetlands issues, he added, was whether or not wetlands could be restored.  "They can be restored, but to what degree is unknown.  Through this project we will be able to record the progress of how the wetlands can be returned to what it wa spreviously," Crozier said.
Stout is currently doing research on restoring the marsh and how quickly it recovers and becomes a breeding ground for marine life.
"We will be able to track the progress, follow it with photographs, and be able to show the public this is what it looked like in 1992, and here it is six months, a year, two years, later," he said.
As tourists and students walk the boardwalk, they will be able to see the progress.
The effort is to develop a presentation of interactive exhibits combined with live animal capability which does not currently exist in many places in the country.
The architects, the same ones who also built the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, were reportedly happy that the exhibit was dedicated to education first, tourism second.
Crozier said a market study indicated a strong parallel with the Space Camp in Huntsville.  Interest is running high in the northern part of the stae to promote Huntsville, Gulf Shores and Dauphin Island's Estuarium as a family package vacation.
"They are looking at a half million people," Crozier said of the Huntsville plan.
Plans call for the interior of the Estuarium will focus on the ecology of Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.  Secondary subject matter will be the environmental issues.  "We will be showing both sides of the enviromental issues," he said. "It will show the harm clear cuttin gdoes to the environment and how Scott's (Paper Co.) helicopter logging operation can benefit the environment."
Each area of the exhibitry will be portrayed with live animal exhibits of key species.  The exhibits will include a video presentation showing an overview of Alabama's ecology from the Delta to the Gulf.
Individual displays will include the Delta, Mobile Bay, the barrier islands, the Gulf of Mexico, a touch lab where visitors will be able to touch and handle some marine life, and other displays of marine life.
The touch lab will be housed in a former radar tower.  "We will have marine life where the people can actually handle them, and we will show how the food is prepared where the marine life is cared and treated," Crozier said.
The entire procedure, from boardwalk over the marsh lan the displays and aquariums, showcase the region, show coastal Alabama resources.
Crozier said they have the Pl the land, some of the facilities, about a third of the funds complete the project.  "We have been given a $100,000 Coastal America, a federal prooperated, by the EPA, Fish Wildlife and the Corps of neers," he said.
Those funds will be used to construct the marsh site


											"This coast, However, is disappearing
											so rapidly that the measures needed to
											save it are almost at the limits of
											technology, to say nothing of economics
											and political will.
												And, as with almost all coastal re-	
											sources, when it is gone, it is gone for-
											ever."

															-Oliver A. Houck



						You are Cordially invited to attend an
								OPEN HOUSE
							and Ground Breaking for
								"THE LIVING MARSH"



							the first phase exhibit of the
						Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Estuarium
							Dedicated to the memory of
								Beth Ladner
					and the thousands of acres of tidal wetlands
					lost from the Gulf Coast over the last century.


							Groundbreaking ceremony - 11:00

	Saturday, October 10th 10:00 am								Family & Friends Welcome
																	













           Activity Summary: April 1, 1992 - September 30, 1992
           Marsh Restoration Project (ADECA No. PED-MESC-CZM-92-012)
           By: Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium (J. Stout)


                Stipend support was provided for two graduate research
           assistants to provide technical support -for implementation of a
           marsh restoration project on Dauphin Island, AL.       The completed
           project will be a portion of an outdoor public educational program
           on coastal habitats and ecology.      In preparation for designing,
           installing, and monitoring the functional evolution of the restored
           2.5 acre salt marsh, graduate assistants performed the following
           tasks.
               1.     Survey   of   natural    reference   marsh    to    provide
                      specifications for restoration design.

               2.     Consulted with architects and engineers during design
                      phase.

               3.     Located,   monitored    for  maturity,    harvested,    and
                      maintained seed collections of Spartina alterniflora and
                      Uniola paniculata for,planting   in the restored marsh.

               4.     Salvaged and maintained in a nursery, plants subject to
                      destruction during site preparation.

               5.     Acquisition of supplies and equipment and fabrication of
                      sampling gear and field collection weirs.

               6.     Coordination of site preparation with contractor.














           QUARTERLY REPORT: OCTOBER 1, 1992 - DECEMBER 31, 1992
           AGS Subcontract No. 93CO35304
           By: Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium, Dr. Judy Stout


               A graduate research assistant was hired to assist with the
           project. During the reporting period, sta:ff have compiled locally
           available documents, maps, data bases and other materials related
           to the tasks within the scope of work. A task-specific data base
           of documents has been initiated.






"The Living Marsh"
Ground Breaking Ceremony
11:00 a.m.
Dedicated to the mrmoey of Beth Ladner and the thousands of acres of tidal wetlands lost from the gulf coast over the last century.
Beth Ladner
Beth ladner was one of those students that change teachers lives.  She first came to programs at the Sea Lab as part of a field trip from Monie Sano Elementary School in Huntsville.  She continued her involvement through the Discovery Hall Program, both in the summer institute and field trips from Huntsville High School.  Her tragic death in a car accident in 1991 was felt throughout her world.  In Beth's memory, a scholarship fund has been established for a student from Hutnsville HIgh to attend the Summer Program.  The faculty of the school select the recipient on the basis of their traits of enthusiasm, leadership and friendship that Beth displayed.
The restoration of this marsh site and the educational programs which will be designed around it are dedicatd in her name.  It is hoped that the exhibit will somehow capture the spark and spirit that Beth always brought to the Sea Lab.
The Lost Wetlands
Since the middle of this century alone, almost 7,000 acres of nonfresh marsh have disappeared from the environs of Mobile Bay.  The causes are industrial/navigation development, erosion/ subsidence and/or natural succession.  Over the last two decades. the rate of loss attributable to the first mechanism has slowed and efforts at replacement and restoration have evolved slowly!
The scientists at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and the Mobile District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have designed a restoration p[roject which will transform a septic tank field into a natural estuarine marsh.  The site will be the entry to the aquarium/museum and will offer an interpretive nature trail through the salt marsh.  The natural history of the marsh, as well as the mechanisms of recovery, will be presented on story boards along an elevated boardwalk.  The cultural hisotory of the site will also be reviewed for the visitor.
The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have provided partial funding for the project as part of the "Year of the Gulf" celebration.
Open House October 10, 1992 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Reception Site- Administration (1): The lobby of the administration building will be the check-insite.  Students from the Discovery Hall Program will serve as host personnel for the Open House.
Displays presenting the plans and potential of the Estuarium are available for viewing.  Of special interest is the "hardbottom" tank featuring several rare animals, including deep-water butterfly fish and moray eel previously unreported from the Gulf of Mexico.
The Sea Lab Bookstore/Gift Shop, located in the administration building, will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Discovery Hall (7): The faculty of Discovery Hall are presenting their "touch lab" in Discovery Hall.  You have an opportunity to handle some of the material they use routinely with school groups and become familiar with some of the wonders of our coast.
Hospitality Area - Horizon (8): Visitors may relax under Horizon Hall at the south side of the campus. Refreshments and information packages are available.  There will also be a slide presentation of activities at the Sea Lab.
Classrooms used in the K-12 programs of Discovery Hall and college programs are open for viewing.  Specimens of marine animals commonly encountered on Alabama's coast are on display.
Video Presentations (9): Each hour, on the hour, there will be a video shown in Galathea Hall.
Marine Science Hall (19): The research faculty have arranged a number of displays explaining their programs at the Sea Lab, including studies of sea grass recovery and nutrient enrichment of Mobile Bay.
Wet Lab (20): Staff from the Estuarium have arranged a number of display tanks featuring organisms from the coastal area including sting rays, an electric ray and many others.  A poster display on studies of oysterbiology is set up in the wet lab.
R.V.A.E. Verrill (22): Visit the 65 research vessel of the Sea Lab and get a look a tsome of the equipment that is employed by occanographers and marine biologists.  Technical support personnel from the Lab will be available to demonstrate the near and answer questions.
DAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB FACILITIES LAYOUT
1. Administration/Library/Bookstore
2. Tech Shop/Vehicle-Boat Yard
3. Albatross Hall (Apartments)
4. Laundromat
5. Maintenance
6. Endeavor (Class Room)
7. Discovery Hall (Class Room)
8. Horizon (Class Rooms/Offices)
9. Galathea (Class/Meeting Room)
10. Tennis & Basketball Court
11. Swimming Pool
12. Family Dwelling
13. Family/Faculty Housing
14. Cafeteria
15. Challenger Hall (Dormitory)
16. Beagle Hall (Dormitory)
17. Family/Faculty Housing
18. Radar Dome
19. Marine Science Hall
20. Wet Lab
21. Coast Guard Facilities
22. DISL Research Vessels
Open House Activities






                                                       @J









                                                               n   i., ed
                                                                                                              D         i n: IE: i; I
                                          M
                 Summer, Fall 1992     The newsletter of the Marine Enviromnental Sciences Consortium                            Vol. 6, No. 1

                                                                                                         21st Annual Benthic
                                                                             wo                          Ecology Meetings Planned

                                                                                                         The 1993 Benthic Ecology Meetings
                                                                                                         will be held April 1-4. 1993 at the
                                                                                                         Riverview Plaza -A Stouffer Hotel-
                                                                     E                                   in Mobile, AL. The University of
                                                                    C
                                                                                                         South Alabama and Dauphin Island
                                                                                                         Sea Lab will co-sponsor the meetings
                                                                                                         next spring. If you would like more
                                                                                                         information please contact Drs. Loren
                        S                                                                                Coen, Ken Heck or John Valentine
                                                                                                         (205) 861-2141.

                                                        @b,



              Representative Taylor Harper (left) and Congressman Sonny Callahan view '77ie
                                                                                                                                            _3s
              Living Marsh' display board at the dedication ceremony held in October.


              Sea Lab Dedicates "The Living Marsh"

              Congressman Sonny Callahan joined             Thefirstphaseof theprojectwill restore
              officials from the EPA Gulf of Mexico         about two acres of natural tidal marsh
              Program, the Corps of Engineers,              to an area that had been converted to a
              ADECA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife          septic field. The site will be the entry
              Service at the ground breaking                to the Estuarium and will have an            Governor Hunt Visits
              ceremony for. the marsh restoration           interpretive nature trail through the        Sea Lab
              project held October 10. Dr. Joe              salt marsh. 'Me natural functions of
              Thomas, Vice President for Academic           tidal salt marshes and the cultural
              Affairs and Provost at UNA and                history of the area around Fort Gaines       Governor Guy Hunt became the first
              Chairman of MESC's Executive                  will be presented on story boards along      governor to visit the Dauphin Island
              Committee, represented the consortium         boardwalks. It will take an estimated        Sea Lab. 'Me governor viewed the
              and Sen. Steve Windom joined Rep.             three years for the marsh to return to its   model of the Estuarium as Dr. George
              Taylor Harper in dedicating the project       original condition.                          Crozier explained the educational
              to Beth Ladner. Beth, a talented and                                                       benefits the new construction would
              active participant in the Sea Lab's           Theconstruction contract for the project     bring to the local public and tourist.
              Discovery Hall Program, died                  has been awarded to J. F. Pate General       Before his departure the governorjoined
              tragically in an automobile accident in       Contractor.                                  Dauphin Island's Mayor, Doris
              199 1. Beth's parents were present to                                                      Anderson, in planting a palm tree in
              take part in the ceremony.                                                                 front of the administration building.






             Page 2

                                                                                                          School of Science and
                                                                                                          Math Initiate
                                                                                                          Archaeological Survey

                                                                                                          Theheadstonefor the graveof Michael
                                                                                                          Carter triggered a concern for the
                                                                                                          'Icultural" history of the Estuarium
                                                                                                          site.    A Corps of Engineers
                                                                                                          archaeological team examined the area
                                                                                                          in detail and issued a report which was
                                                                                                          unremarkabie. The area had been
                                                                                                          severely altered by the Air Force when
                                                                                                          the septic field was constructed. Useful
                                                                                                          historical information was provided
                                                                                                          for the story line planned for the exhibit.


                                                                                                          Alabama Science Teacher
             The rocky, macroalgal dominated coastline of Maine.                                          Conference Attended

                                                                                                          ASTA held its fourteenth annual
             Field Marine Science Course Goes to Maine                                                    statewide science teachers conference
                                                                                                          in Birmingham, Alabama from Sept.
             In September, 12 graduate and                 During the ten day visit, students were        10-12. Jenny Cook, Hazel Wilson and
             undergraduate students, enrolled in the       very busy with classroom discussions           John DiPlacido conducted workshops
             fall Field Marine Science course              of scientific papers and individual            and attended sessions. ASTA provides
             offered by Drs. Kenneth Heck and              projects. Projects ranged from the role        a vital network for science educators.
             John Valentine, caravaned to the Ira          of nutrients in controlling macroalgal
             Darling Center in Walpole, Maine.             productivity to the influence of g
                                                                                                  reen           SEX.:      AB.
                                                                                                    ge
             The selection of Maine for the class
                                                           crab prey selectivity on the           a
             study site provided many of the               distributions of blue mussels along an
             students with their first opportunity to      intertidal gradient.
             compare and contrast a rocky,
             macroalgae dominated coastline which                                                             At the   end of     the summer
             has tidal ranges in excess of 10 feet         May's Cookbook is Here!                            session, Dr.    Will Schroeder
             with the marsh dominated gulf coast                                                              was honored by Dr. Judy Stout
             where tidal ranges seldom exceed 3            TRIBUTE -To The Great Cooks of                     for surviving 20 consecutive
             feet.                                         the Dauphin Island Sea Ub                          years         0 f       teaching
                                                                                                              oceanography during the
             Students were treated to lectures by          After years in preparation, May                    summer session.
             University of Maine faculty members           TH I man's cookbook, featuring recipes,            George        and       Jennifer
             Drs. Robert Steneck and Les Watling.          stories and pictures from the Sea Lab is           McManus are the proud
             Students also had the unique                  available. The early history of the lab            parents of Pierce Martin. Their
             opportunity to attend a seminar               is delightfully told by both May and               son was born October 22
             presented by Dr. George Branch of the         Dr. Crozier. Great gift and memento of             weighing 8 lbs. 7 oz.
             University of South Africa. Class             the Lab - and a good cookbook. $17.95,             Congratulations.
             participants also took part in a trawl ing    plus $2.50 postage and handling each               We welcome Dana Roberts
             and dredging cruise on the                    book. Alabama residents add $1.26                  and Casey Harrisonto the Sea
             Damariscotta River where collections          sales tax, each book. To order send                Lab family. Dana and Casey
             provided a glimpse of the common check and return address to: May                                are instructors for the
             fauna@ including American lobsters and Tillman, P.O. Box 316, Dauphin Island,                    Discovery Hall Program.
             seascallops.                                  AL 36528.







                                                                                                                                                                                    Page 3

                                                                                                                                         Dr. Bob Shipp Honored

                                                                                                                           
                                                             News of MESC                                                                     Bob Shipp, faculty and former Acting
                                                                                                                                         Director of MESC was honored as the
                                                           Graduate Students
                                                                                                                                         USA College of Arts and Sciences
                        Schreiber Receives Sea                                    Pennock and Students                                   Dean's Lecturer. He is the 11th faculty
                        Grant Marine Policy                                       Attend Gulf Coast                                      member so recognized since 1982.
                        Fellowship                                                Geochemistry Group                                     He has authored about thirty scientific
                                                                                  Meeting                                                papers on Gulf and Atlantic fishes, and
                        Ramona Schreiber (M.S.,                                                                                          directed about twenty masters theses
                        University of Alabama) has been                           Dr. Jonathan Pennock and                               on marine fishes. Five of his students
                        awarded one of the 1993 Dean                              students Ramona Schreiber, Felix                       have gone on to complete doctoral.
                        John A. Knauss Marine Policy                              Fernandez, Jean Cowan and Skeet                        programs. He is author of "Dr. Bob
                        Fellowships administered                                  Lores attended a meeting of the                        Shipp's Guide to Fishes of the Gulf of
                        through the Sea Grant Program.                            Gulf Coast Geochemistry Group                          Mexico" now in its third printing.
                        This fellowship will allow her to                         hosted by the Oceanography
                        spend one year in Washington,                             Department at Florida State                            Recently, the Secretary of Commerce
                        D.C. working and leaming about,                           University in October.  This                           appointed Bob to represent Alabama
                        policy related issues as they affect                      informal meeting is designed to                        on the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries
                        the marine environment. Ramona                            bring marine/aquatic scientists                        Management Council, the decisions of
                        follows in the footsteps of MESC                          together to discuss their research                     which carry the force of Federal law
                        students Marc Wilson and Laurie                           on the Gulf Coast. Jon presented                       regarding marine resource regulations.
                        Sullivan who have also                                    an overview of programs at the                         He also chairs the MARFIN Council,
                        participated in the program. Dr.                          MESC as well as an overview of                         which administers $4.5 million
                        Jim Jones at the Mississippi-                             nutrient cycling in Mobile Bay                         annually to marine researchers along
                        Alabama Sea Grant Consortium                              and near coastal waters. As a                          the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic
                        is responsible for nominating                             result of their participation,                         coasts.
                        individual applicants and                                 MESC was asked to host the next
                        overseeing the progress of the                            meeting at the Sea Lab in the fall                     Dr. Shipp's research focuses on marine
                        students in the fellowship                                of 1993.                                               fish populations, their evolution,
                        program.                                                                                                         ecology, and distribution with special
                                                                                                                                         interest in reef fish communities.


                        Graduate Course Schedule (Quarter Hours)

                          1993/94                                   1994/95

      Fall-         Physical Oceanography (6)                Physical Oceanography (6)
          		  Marine Ecology (6)				 Marine Ecology (6)
 			  Marine Biogeochemistry (3)			 Oceanology of the Gulf of Mexico
			  Advanced Topics in Oceanography:         Phytoplankton Ecology and Physiology (3)
 			  Global Change (3)                        Field Marine Science - North Atlantic (3)


     Winter-        Chemical Oceanography (6)                Chemical Oceanography (6)
    			  Seagrass Ecosystem Ecology (3)		 Marine Resource Management (3)
			  Marine Resource Management (3)	       Marine Zoogeography (6)
                    Zooplankton					 Physical Processes in the Coastal Ocean (3)


     Spring-        Biological Oceanography (6)			 Biological Oceanography (6)
   			  Field Marine Science - Florida Keys (3)  Phytoplankton Ecology & Physiology (3)
                    Quantitative Methods                     Fisheries Oceanography 
   			  Benthic Ecology (4)			       Marine Analytical Instrumentation (3)
      		  Marine Animal Physiology			 Fish Physiology
                                                                                                                                                                                                  





             Page 4


             BAYWATCH Goes into the
             Schools


             John DiPlacido and Dr. Crozier are
             demonstrating the citizen monitoring
             protocols to schools in the coastal area.
             The middle school class at the Gulf
             Shores School had already begun work
             in the Weeks Bay Reserve and eagerly
             adopted the new sampling exercise.
             At the other end of the bay, the Adams
             Middle School in Saraland initiated a                                                          
             monitoring site on Bayou Sara, one of
             the tidal streams leading into the Delta.

             The BAYWATCH program in schools
             is more oriented toward the educational
             and student awareness objectives than
             true trends analysis, but the data will
             be utilized if it bears up under QA/QC
             scrutiny. The schools are also excited
             about using their computer labs to
             analyze the data and communicatewith         Students and teachers of Adams Middle School listen as John DiPlacido and Dr.
             each other.                                  Crozier explain the BAYWATCH Program.



                                                          Pennock and Schroeder                       ESEA Honors Discovery
                                                          Attend Estuarine Sciences                   Hall Program
                                                          Meeting                                     At the National Elementary/Secondary
                                                          Drs. Jonathan Pennock and Will              Education Act, the Dauphin Island Sea
                                                          Schroeder presented papers at thejoint      Lab's Marine Science for Teachers was
                                                          meeting of the European Estuarine and       identified as exemplary by a consultant
                                                          Coastal Sciences Association (ECSA)         from the U. S. Department of Education
                                                          and the Estuarine Research Federation       during a review in August 199 1. Wayne
                                                          (ERF) in Plymouth, England in mid-          Teague, State Superintendent of
                                                          September.  The meetings brought            Education, congratulated the teachers
                                                          together estuarine researchers from         and staff involved in the program for
                                                          Europe and the United States to discuss     their hard work, enthusiasm and
                                                          thei research findings and directions.      dedication to quality teaching in
                                                          Jon presented results factors controling    Alabama's schools.
                                                          the expression of eutrophication in
                                                          estuaries, while Will discussed the
                                                          role that storm events play in shaping
                                                                                                                    Tidings newsletter is produced by 
                                                          estuaries.      In addition to the                        the Marine Environmental
                                                          presentations, participants were treated                  Sciences Consortium, P.O. Box
                                                                                                                    369-370, Dauphin Island, AL.     
                              														  charge.  Correspondence and
																			  address corrections should be
																			  directed to its editor, Lynn Bryant,
																			  or phone (205) 861-2141.  Fax
																			  number (205) 861-4646.



















                                                                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                        
             Drs. Jon Pennock and Will Schroeder in       to a cruise on the Tamar Estuary and a
                                                                                                                                   
             front of the statue of Sir Francis Drake.    tour through the Plymouth Marine              
             Drake departed Plymouth , England on         Laboratory.
             the historic voyage in which he                                                            
             circumnavigated the globe.                                                                 




                                                                                                                                         Page 5
              Professional Conferences                                Recent Publications
              and Meetings

              Coen, L. D., C. E. Tanner and N. M.              Gittings, S. R., T. J. Bright, W. W. Schroeder, W. W. Sager, J. S.
              Targett. "Form variation in a tropical           Laswell and R. Rezak. 1992. Invertebrate Assemblages and Ecological
              marine alga: consequences of                     Controls on Topographic Features in the Northeast Gulf of Mexico.
              differential grazing pressure among              Bulletin of marine Science 50(3):435-455.
              habitats and herbivores." Ecological
              Society America Meetings, Honolulu,              Mars, J. C., A. W. Shultz and W, W. Schroeder. 1992. Stratigraphy and
              Hawaii. Bull. Ecol. Soc. 73:142. (Aug.           Holocene Evolution of Mobile Bay in Southwestern Alabama.
              1992):                                           Transactions - Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies. Vol.
                                                               XLH, pp. 529-542.
              Coen,    L. D. and K. L. Heck.
              "Evaluation of quahog (Mercemaria                Targett, N. M., L. D. Coen, A. A. Boettcher and C. E. Tanner. 1992.
              mercenaria) abundance and growth                 Biogeographic Comparisons of Marine Algal Polyphenolics: Evidence
              inshore Alabama and northwestern                 Against a Latitudinal Trend. Oecologia (Berl.) 89:464-470.
              Florida waters:      an assessment of
              favorability for clam culture. Fifth
              Annual MARFIN Conference, Corpus
              Christi, TX (Oct. 1992).                     New Grants Received                         Schroeder Speaks at
              Heck, K. L. and D. A. Nadeau. "T'he                                                      Dolphin Symposium
              relative value of vegetated habitats to      U.S. EPA.- "Coastal Submerged
              juvenile red drum and spotted seatrout."     Aquatic Vegetation Initiative." K.L.        Dr. Will Schroeder was invited by the
              National Marine Fisheries Service,           Heck, L. D. Coen, J. R. Pennock, J.         Alabama Conservancy to present the
              MARFIN Conference, Corpus Christi,           Valentine. 199211993. $32,000.              opening talk at the recent public
              TX (Oct. 1992).                                                                          symposium entitled "The Dolphins of
                                                           NSF-EPSCoR -- "Physical              and    the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico and
              Pennock, J. R. "Nutrient Dynamics in         biogeochernical regulation of               their Environment." His topic was
              Mobile Bay and Near-Coastal Waters."         production        and      community        "An Overview of the Abiotic
              Gulf Coast Geochemistry Group                metabolism in a coastal embayment.          Characteristics of the Northeastern Gulf
              Meeting, Tallahassee, FL (1992).             "J. R. Pennock, W. W. Schroeder.            of Mexico." He focussed on air and
                                                           1992-1995.$296,177.                         water temperature data collected by
              Pennock, J. R., J. H. Sharp, W. W.                                                       the Sea Lab on the east end of Dauphin
              Schroeder.       "What controls the          Fall Colloquium Speakers                    Island over the past 18 years, as well as
              expression of estuarine eutrophication?                                                  historical data sets of Atlantic tropical
              - Case studies of nutrient enrichment                                                    storms and local river discharges to
              and phytoplankton production from            Dr. Ken Brown, LSU, "Complex                illustrate climatic trends and the degree
              the Delaware Bay and Mobile Bay              Interactions in freshwater Lake Food        of regional variability.
              estuaries, USA. " Joint Estuarine and        Webs-"
              Coastal Sciences Association/Estuafine       Dr. Don Potts Univ. Calif Santa Cruz        Fox Visits Lab
              Research Federation Meeting,                                Y
              Plymouth, England. (Sept. 1992).             and     Smithsonian Institution,            Dr. Sydney Fox, an expert on the
                                                           "Divergent speciation rates in Atlantic     inorganic synthesis of biological
              Schroeder, W. W., S. Douglass and            and Pacific corals.                         macro-MOleCules, was given a tour of
              W. Isphording. "Storm events: their                                                      the Sea Lab facilities by Dr. George
              role in shaping estuaries." Joint            Dr. David Millie, USDA-New Orleans,         McManus in October. Visiting from
              Estuarine and Coastal Sciences               "Algal Pigments and Remote S     Iensing:   the University of Southern Illinois,
              Association/Estuarine Research               an    Organismal        and      System     Dr. Fox gave a seminar at the University
              Federation Meeting, Plymouth,                Perspective."                               of South Alabama.
              England. (Sept. 1992).





            Page 6


                                                                                                         Chemosynthetic
                       t*" @77
                                All
                                                                                                         Community Study
                                                                                                         Continues


                                                                                                         Dr. Will Schroeder participated in his
                                                                                                         second summer cruise in the northern
                                                                                                         Gulf of Mexico investigating
                                                                                                         chemosynthetic communities in
                                                                                                         August. This research is being
                                                                                                         conducted by the Geochemical and
                                                                                                         Environmental Research Group of
                                                                                                         Texas A & M University and is
                                                                                                         sponsored by the Minerals
                                                                                                         Management Service of theDepartment
                                                                                                           f Commerce.
                                                                                                         0
                                                                                   -0t,
            Matt Williams relocates sea oatsfor the "liWng marsh' exhibit.

            Marsh Restoration Begins

            Matt Williams, one of the Sea Lab              The contractor will lower the elevation                                               '?N
            graduate students from the University          of the land just south of the fringing
            of South A] abama, turns the soil under        marsh and Dr. Stout's team will                       Happy
            thefirst batch of sea oats to be relocated.    construct weirs to control water levels               Holidays
            One of the key stories in the                  in the site during the planting phase
            construction of the "living marsh"             which will begin in the late winter. A               from th C;
            exhibit is the tracking of the evolution       number of experimental configurations
            of natural processes associated with           will be pursued and the site will be                  Sea Lab
            the reconstruction of the system. The          equipped with a number of remote
            northern edge of the site already has          monitoring instruments. The readouts
            some natural marsh elements and those          will be available for the general public
            are to be undisturbed by the                   to view as part ofthe displays under the
            construction activities.                       pavilion.




            Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium                                                                                 Bulk Rate
            Dauphin Island Sea Lab                                                                                                  U.S. Postage
                                                                                                                                      PAM
            P.O. Box 369-370                                                                                                        Permit No. 4
            Dauphin Island, AL 36528                                                                                               Dauphin Island
                                                                                                                                     Alabarna
                                                                                                                                      36528




           "The Living Marsh - Sword to Plowshare"


       The tidal marshes of the north-central Gulf of Mexico are
       dominated by two grasses - smooth cordgrass near the water I s
       edge and black needlerushjust above the high tide line. Like
       all tidal marshes, these areas are known to be functional
       nurseries, providing both food and protection to its varied
       inhabitants. But quantitative assessments of the users are
       rare and the gradual invasion of "new" areas has never been
       studied in detail.


       The natural marsh has been restored within an area which
       had been completely altered to provide septic tank treatment
       for the formerAir Force base now occupied by the consortium
       of colleges and universities which operate the Dauphin Island
       Sea Lab. The wooden structures seen at the edge of the marsh
       are experimental "weirs" designed to trap animals who enter
       the marsh at high tide. Removable mesh panels are inserted
       at high tide to enclose an area of 25 square meters. The
       organisms thus captured are then measured. As the natural
       marsh matures we expect the nature of the animal population
       to reflect that evolution. The experiment will also yield
       valuable data with regard to the economic potential-of restored
       marshes in terms of living resources.

       Data from the "new" marsh will be compared to similar
       efforts in the natural marsh near the ferry landing. The
       functional recovery of these reconstructions has long been
       questioned in the technical community and these experiments
       are designed to address that management issue.











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