Contributors

Margo Schwadron, Southeast Archeological Center- National Park Service, Coastal Conservation Commission, Gulf of Mexico Alliance Gulf Star Program

Keywords

living shorelines, shoreline stabilization, oysters, mangroves, monitoring data

Description

The purpose of this project was to evaluate effectiveness of living shoreline techniques at De Soto National Memorial (Bradenton, FL). Stabilizing De Soto's shoreline is essential to decrease erosion and shoreline loss to protect the Park's cultural and natural resources, especially the numerous historically significant shell middens. Through pre-restoration monitoring, we determined that high-energy boat wakes were limiting natural mangrove recruitment. In 2017, University of Central Florida, National Park Service, and Coastal Conservation Commission partnered to plant native vegetation and install oyster shell bags to reduce wave energy, trap sediment and new propagules, and provide habitat for native species.

Abstract

De Soto National Memorial (Bradenton, FL) is an important location where both Native Americans and De Soto's army of soldiers once lived. We have been working closely with the National Park Service and the University of Central Florida to understand how to best stabilize this shoreline using living shoreline techniques combined with long-term natural recruitment. Stabilizing De Soto's shoreline is essential to decrease erosion and shoreline loss to protect the Park's cultural and natural resources, especially the numerous historically significant shell middens. Through pre-restoration monitoring, we determined that high-energy boat wakes were limiting natural mangrove recruitment. Lack of retention of propagules led to destabilized, bare shorelines. To begin the recovery process, planting native vegetation and installing oyster shell bags seaward of the 4-year old planted mangroves was required to reduce wave energy, trap sediment and new propagules, and provide habitat for native species. Phase 1 of the project was completed in August 2017 and stabilized a total of 500 ft of shoreline. Damage caused by Hurricane Irma at Phase 1 shoreline was repaired in March 2018 with support from the Gulf of Mexico Alliance Gulf Star Program. Phase 2 of the project was completed in August 2018 and stabilized an additional 207 ft of shoreline. Post-stabilization monitoring included evaluation of plant survival and growth and recruitment of oysters to the deployed shell bags. Here, we provide post-stabilization monitoring data from August 2017 through September 2018.

Date Created

12-21-2018

Identifiers

Excel file with post-stabilization monitoring data from De Soto National Memorial (Bradenton, FL) following living shoreline stabilization

College

College of Sciences

Type

article

Download
COinS