ON‐THE‐GROUND PROJECTS Spotlight o
S
on Shoreliine and Sp
partina Ma
arsh Stabilization a
along the A
Atlantic In
ntracoasta
al Waterw
way This project w
T
will rehabilittate tidal maarsh areas e
experiencing
g degradatio
on from boat trraffic along
g the Intracoastal Waterway W
(A
AIWW), byy constructting naturaal breakwaters using oysteer reefs. Th
he objectivees of the project includ
de: engaging
g co
ommunity v
volunteers in
n shoreline h
habitat resto
oration; constructing ap
pproximatelyy 0.06 acres of o oyster habitat to pro
otect 100 meters m
of sh
horeline; and over timee creating apprroximately 0
0.15 acres off adjacent tiidal marsh. The expected results of th
he project include: inccreased fish
h habitat (o
oyster reef,, tidal saltt marsh), stabilized s
sh
horeline, improved water w
quallity, and in
ncreased pu
ublic awaren
ness throug
gh hands‐
on stewardsh
hip opportunities and associated outreach. The T project was identiffied as a priority by th
he Atlantic Coastal Fish
h Habitat Partnership. P
In
n South Carolina, shoreelines adjaceent to the AIWW A
are su
ubject to seevere erosion due to ACE Basin NEERR Project Sitte heavy boaat trafficc and artificial channelizatio
on, which diisrupts natu
ural shoreline processess. This erosion destroyss or threatens oyster reef and salt maarsh habitatss. Previous work has deemonstrated
d th
hat bagged oyster shells provide a stable sub
bstrate for oyster recru
uitment and
d create self‐ssustaining reefs r
which
h stabilize the t
shorelin
ne, promotte sediment accretion, and foster saltt marsh expaansion. The T project is i located within w
the AC
CE Basin Naational Estu
uarine Reseaarch Reservee (N
NERR) along
g the AIWW
W, between R
Rock Creek and Ashepo
oo River, and
d drains into
o St. Helena So
ound. The p
project will expand a succcessful dem
monstration s
site that wass co
onstructed ffrom 2007‐0
09 with statee revenue funds. Recycled R
oysster shells will w be bagg
ged and dep
ployed along
g the AIWW
W in the Acee Basin B
NERR by volunteeers in conjun
nction with the South Carolina C
Department of Natural N
Ressources’ (SC
CDNR) com
mmunity‐baased oysterr restoratio
on program
m (S
SCORE). US
S Fish and Wildlife W
Servvice funds will w be used to pay for a portion of SCDNR employee salariees and use o
of SCDNR veessels to transport volun
nteers, shelll, fu
uel, and sup
pplies. The Coastal Con
nservation Association A
is also a paartner to thee project. Prroject text and pho
oto provided by SCDNR. For more
e informatio
on on the Pa
artnership v
visit us at: www.atlanticfishha
abitat.org