METRICS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING MARSH AND LIVING SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJECTS
CORE ECOLOGICAL METRICS FOR EACH PRIORITY RESILIENCE ACTIVITY Marsh Restoration
›››› Plant species metrics ( e . g ., percent cover by plant species )
›››› Water level ( to calculate inundation )
›››› Elevation
›››› Shoreline position
Living Shoreline Restoration
›››› Plant species metrics ( e . g ., percent cover by plant species )
›››› Water level ( to calculate inundation )
›››› Elevation
›››› Shoreline position
›››› Acres of oyster reef restored ( if applicable )
The main purpose of monitoring restoration projects with the methodology in this section is to understand changes in plant community , water encroachment and elevation over time . This is conducted using permanent transects perpendicular from the shoreline with quadrat plots . The following are general guidelines for using transects and quadrats .
These guidelines are relevant for gathering metrics of the percent cover of biomass , elevation , and shoreline position . Initial placement of transects must be random and stratified along the permanent baseline . Quadrats are then placed along those transects to capture data , including areas along the edge of the study area .
METRICS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING MARSH AND LIVING SHORELINE RESTORATION PROECTS
Figure 51 . Layout of random , stratified transects and quadrats for vegetative monitoring , as adapted from illustration by NFWF ( 2019 )
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