Specialist, continue to monitor the marsh’ s response.“ The use of these nature-based practices is best because they allow the ecosystem to breathe with the added benefit of being more adaptable to environmental changes,” Lee says.
“ Analyzing conditions before and after can help us better understand their effectiveness and fine-tune our strategies,” Autum adds.“ Prior to our spartina planting, we took elevation measurements so that we could track the rate of sediment accretion along the point. We’ re hopeful that as we continue to monitor this area, we’ ll be able to apply this model elsewhere within the watershed. Any chance we have to implement nature-based solutions within our coastal communities is a win!”
Nick Plaisted, a SCDNR wildlife biologist, led the living shoreline project as part of the South
Carolina Oyster Recycling and Enhancement Program( SCORE).“ It ' s definitely doing what it ' s supposed to,” he says, echoing Sean and Buddy’ s excitement.“ We saw sediment building up behind MWRs very quickly. The spartina is really taking off now, with rhizomatic roots holding the newly accreted mud in place and helping to slow and mitigate erosion. The oysters are also recruiting well, creating hiding places for small invertebrates like shrimp and crabs— an entire ecosystem." At Mingo Point, the proof is in the pluff mud. Oysters are recruiting, sediment is building, and the spartina is recovering. What began as an experiment is now a testament to the power of working with nature to address man-made ecological problems.“ The Kiawah Conservancy was wonderful to work with,” Nick adds.
18 • KIAWAH CONSERVANCY