National Estuaries Restoration Project Entry Form Instructions |
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Estuary
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GENERAL
INFORMATION:
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This section is only required for projects receiving Estuary Restoration Act funds. NOTE: All fields are required**
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This section includes a detailed description of the restoration project. The project abstract will be used to generate a project profile available as part of a National Estuaries Restoration database available to the public.
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This section collects information on the primary project contacts for this project. Up to two contacts can be provided.
WARNING: Contact information may be displayed on-line in project queries and reports. If you do not wish to share your information, please leave the field blank. If you are adding another person to the contact list, make sure they are aware that his/her information may be available on-line.
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This section collects general location information on each restoration project.
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BENEFITS |
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This required section tracks the expected and realized species and ecosystem benefits of the project.
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This section requests information on the habitats and acreage restored for restoration projects.
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This section requests information regarding restoration techniques. The information obtained in this section will be used to determine the success of various restoration techniques.
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The purpose of this section is to obtain information on monitoring parameters and success criteria, to measure the success of restoration efforts.
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NOTE: Submit monitoring results and reports to the NOAA Estuary Habitat Restoration Program manager. Results should include the project objectives, how the project area changed after restoration, and a prediction of the ability of the project to continue its success trend. If the project was not successful in meeting its objectives, please describe what will be done to improve the success of the project.
This section requests information for each project partner. Information on all partners (federal, state, and local agencies and programs, non-profit organizations, businesses, community groups, or educational institution) involved in the project should be provided as well as details on their involvement, web site URL, and other relevant pieces of information.
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This section requests general budget information on the restoration project.
*** QUESTIONS FOR ERA-FUNDED PROJECTS ***
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For each project entry, the implementing partner may submit up to 5 photos and 5 videos from their restoration sites. These photos and videos may be displayed on project profiles on the web. These photos and videos might depict the restoration site before, during, and after restoration, and would be best understood if they tell a visual story of the restoration, using the captions to explain each photo.
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Question |
5. Child in Photo: __
yes |
Description of Field |
NOTE: Photos with children’s faces require release forms from their parents. If you submit a photo with a child in it, please check this box and the NOAA Program manager will send you a photo release form prior to using the photo in any outreach documents or web stories. |
Examples |
yes |
Appendix I: Habitat Types
Estuary Habitat includes the estuary and its associated ecosystems, such as: salt, brackish, and fresh water coastal marshes, coastal forested wetlands and other coastal wetlands, maritime forests, coastal grasslands, tidal flats, natural shoreline areas, shellfish beds, sea grass meadows, kelp beds, river deltas, and river and stream corridors under tidal influence.
Habitat |
Inundation |
Definition- Selection Guidance |
Beach |
Intertidal |
Unstable sediment (frequently sand) transported by waves along a shoreline.
Above tidal influence (or the littoral zone in freshwater) it becomes either dune or upland. Below wave influence it becomes soft bottom sand/mud. Unstable shell-based sediment should be recorded as oyster reef/shell bottom. Beach can be used for open ocean shorelines or nearshore/estuarine shorelines. |
Coral reef |
Inundated |
Areas where habitat function is expected to be strongly affected by coral colonies.
In most cases, this habitat will be in shallow, tropical and subtropical ocean environments. Reefs created to support sponges, or projects which change habitat conditions with the intent to enable coral to survive should also be recorded as coral reefs, regardless of the density of coral colonies. |
Dune |
Upland |
Unstable upland sediment transported by wind.
This is an upland habitat commonly adjacent to beach, but above tidal influence (or the littoral zone in freshwater). |
Freshwater wetland |
Inundated |
Wetlands without salt or tidal influence.
This includes forested, scrub-shrub and emergent wetlands. The exception is tidal freshwater wetlands should be classified as tidal wetland. Areas of un-vegetated fresh water will generally be recorded as pond or in-stream. |
Hard bottom |
Inundated |
Permanently inundated ocean or lake bottom composed of rock, but lacking vegetation.
This habitat should be used for projects that create reef which is not intended to support shellfish or corals (which have their own habitats), including reefs created to enhance recreational fishing or fish spawning. Where floating kelp is present use that class. Where influenced by wave energy, use rocky shoreline. Where non-kelp vegetation is present, use submerged aquatic vegetation. |
In-stream |
Inundated |
Area associated with an active stream or river channel.
This habitat is primarily used to record stream miles opened to fish passage, or projects which increase riverine habitat quality/quantity, such as additions of large wood, or creation of fish habitat adjacent to the main channel, or reconnection to a historic channel. ALL stream miles should be counted under this habitat, as well as freshwater habitat enhancement actions In tidal or saltwater areas, habitat enhancement in stream channels is considered part of tidal wetland. Habitats above ordinary high water should be recorded as riparian zone, freshwater wetland, or upland. Where neither velocity nor vegetation are present, record habitat as pond. |
Kelp |
Inundated |
Areas where habitat functions are expected to be strongly affected by floating kelp.
Where kelp restoration is not the intent these typically become either rocky shoreline or hard bottom. |
Mangrove |
Intertidal |
Areas where habitat functions are expected to be strongly affected by mangrove species.
Typically, mangrove restoration occurs in saline, intertidal areas. |
Oyster reef/shell bottom |
Intertidal/ Inundated |
Areas where habitat functions are strongly affected by presence of shell.
This biogenic habitat typically occurs in areas that would otherwise be classed as beach, tidal wetland, or soft bottom mud/sand. If non-reef forming shellfish are added to the habitat, record the area restored as soft bottom mud/sand. |
Pond |
Inundated |
Open, freshwater, non-tidal wetlands with or without emergent vegetation.
Pond habitat is frequently recorded under projects which increase access to fish spawning and rearing habitat. With emergent vegetation present and dominated by shallow water, these become freshwater wetlands. In the presence of tidal or salinity effects (such as New England coastal salt ponds) record acres restored under tidal wetlands. Ponds with SAV will typically be recorded as SAV if that was the purpose of the project. |
Riparian zone (non-wetland) |
Upland |
Non-wetland habitats, adjacent to rivers or coastal shorelines, that either influence or are influenced by aquatic ecosystems.
Riparian is frequently used when the restored area is a shoreline “buffer” and the upland area has some influence by aquatic ecosystems, or the restoration activity is designed to enhance the functions of adjacent aquatic ecosystems. |
Rocky shoreline |
Intertidal |
Stable intertidal (or littoral in freshwater) rocky shorelines.
Below tidal influence (or below the littoral zone in freshwater), this habitat should be recorded as hard bottom. In riverine freshwater systems use riparian. WhereSAV or kelp are present use those classes. |
Soft bottom mud/sand |
Inundated |
Submerged (marine, brackish, or freshwater), unvegetated soft bottom composed of silts, clays, or sands.
This habitat should be recorded when non-reef forming shellfish are added to the habitat. It is also used when re-flooding areas completely cut off from tidal influence, and where emergent vegetation could eventually form. Where influenced by wave energy, use beach. Use SAV when it is present. |
Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)
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Inundated/ Intertidal |
Vegetated, mostly sub-tidal wetlands, commonly called sea grasses.
This captures a range of vegetated low intertidal to sub-tidal vegetation including sea grasses and macroalgae. The exception is kelp which has its own classification. This can also include freshwater vegetated habitats within and below the littoral zone. |
Tidal wetland |
Intertidal |
Vegetated or sediment flats subject to tidal inundation.
Tidal wetlands may include channels. Where mangrove, shellfish, or SAV species are important use those classes. |
Upland |
Upland |
Any habitat that is not flooded during part of the year/ does not show the characteristics of wetland habitat.
The only upland habitats that are characterized separately are dune and riparian. |
Water column |
Inundated |
Any habitat where the quality or quantity of habitat services gained through restoration does not depend on substrate, but rather the condition of the water column.
While there is a gray area between soft bottom mud/sand and water column, use this habitat primarily when improvements to water quality will be measured as an indicator of project success, and soft bottom when increases in benthic productivity or vegetation are to be measured. Use SAV when it is present. |
Appendix II: Restoration Techniques
Technique - Category |
Definition - Guidance |
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Fish and Wildlife Management |
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coral reattachment |
Reattachment of corals which they have been damaged, dislodged, or fractured, at the same site as the injury. Note that projects which harvest coral for use in a nursery should include the “coral nursery” technique, and that coral transplant to another location is considered “species enhancement.” |
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disease control: fauna |
Actions taken to eradicate or prevent the spread of disease in fauna. |
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invasives removal: fauna |
Physical removal or eradication of organisms from the habitat, which are non-native or native but overabundant This can also be used for preventive measures such as biological controls. Note that fencing to restrict access is a separate technique (“fencing/netting”). |
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oyster gardening |
Growing oysters to mature size in floating structures. Oyster gardening is frequently implemented as an educational activity at private residences. Projects that use shells from oyster gardening in a reef or bed structure should also include “oyster reef construction.” Note that oyster planting (such as “spat on shell” placement) is considered “species enhancement.” |
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species enhancement |
Addition of native animals to a restoration site. This can be used for oyster planting (such as “spat on shell” placement), coral transplant, other species reintroduction, or stock enhancement. Note that support for the actual facilities used to raise native animals are considered separate techniques (i.e. “oyster gardening,” “coral nursery,” “native plant nursery,” or “fish hatchery”), as are techniques involving the introduction of substrates (e.g. “oyster reef construction” or “coral reef construction”). |
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Hard Structural Techniques |
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fish exclusion devices |
Installation of structures or other devices (e.g. audio or electrical) to exclude fish from a target area. |
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fishway |
Building or maintenance of a structure to enhance fish passage. This may be a concrete or metal fish ladder, or be a "nature-like" fishway made of rock and other natural bottom substrate. This project type may include modifying the dam during installation. |
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berm/dike
modification |
Modification of a man-made earthen water retention structure. This can include partial removal, adding to an existing structure, or building a new structure to restrict water at a setback location. |
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berm/dike removal |
Permanent removal of a man-made earthen water retention structure. |
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bulkhead removal |
Permanent removal of a man-made structure, typically made of wood or metal, directly adjacent to a water body. |
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culvert
modification |
Modification of a culvert to increase the size, decrease the slope, or otherwise enhance the flow of water and fish through the culvert. |
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culvert removal |
Permanent removal of a culvert. Culvert removal may sometimes include the installation of a bridge structure. This also includes daylighting culverts. |
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dam
modification |
Modification of a dam without actual dam removal, or by recreating the dam in a different location. Do not use this for fish ladders (which fall under “fishways”). Use this only for projects where the primary activity is to make changes to the dam itself. |
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dam removal |
Permanent removal of a dam. |
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tide gate installation |
Installation of new structures to regulate the tidal flow regime. This includes manually-operated tide gates (using flash boards), or those that are self-regulating. |
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tide gate
modification |
Modification of tide gates to alter the current flow regime, or replacing the existing tide gate with a new gate. |
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tide gate removal |
Permanent removal of an existing tide gate. |
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weir construction |
Creation of a low structure for the purpose of creating greater ease of fish passage, enhancing grade control or habitat enhancement such as pool creation. |
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weir removal |
Permanent removal of a low structure that is impairing fish passage or stream function. Weir removal may be used to create greater ease of fish passage, enhance grade control, or enhance habitat (e.g. through pool creation). |
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Other Habitat Modifications |
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bird habitat enhancement |
Creation, restoration, and/or enhancement of nesting and roosting habitat for birds. |
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contaminant removal/remediation |
Removal of contaminants from soil, sediment, waste, or water. |
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debris removal |
Removal of on-shore or off-shore debris such as trash, fishing gear, vessels, or other man-made objects. |
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fencing/netting |
Erection of permanent or temporary fences, nets, or strings to prevent or reduce herbivory, predation, or other forms of habitat degradation. |
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large woody debris/ structure placement |
Addition of large wood or rock structures to increase habitat diversity, including pool creation, for fish and wildlife within streams and other waterways, including their banks. |
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storm water/runoff controls |
Decommissioning of roads or implementation of road upgrades, swales, storm drains, etc. for either roads or trails. In general, any project meant to control stormwater/sediment runoff in order to protect marine, estuarine, aquatic, or diadromous habitat. |
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stream channel reconnection/creation |
Any project that increases the length of a stream channel, but NOT one that increases the habitat quality within the channel. Project types include re-connecting oxbows or side channels or otherwise adding off-channel habitat as well as main-stem channel. If improving the habitat quality, use “weir construction,” “large woody debris/structure placement” or “stream flow modification.” |
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stream flow modification |
Modification of stream flow through physical (not legal) measures to reduce water usage permanently, or provide water storage for later availability. This includes projects that install water catchment systems and/or tanks for water storage, etc. |
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Protection |
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land acquisition |
Acquisition of fee simple ownership or permanent conservation easements. |
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signage |
Placement of signage on-site to inform the public regarding restoration and ecologically appropriate activities. This technique may include projects that develop or install educational/interpretive signage or signage to delineate restricted access zones, no-motor zones, etc. |
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water rights acquisition |
Acquisition of permanent water rights or establishment of temporary forbearance agreements to enhance stream flow. |
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Restoration Infrastructure |
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coral nursery
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Growing corals to a size suitable for transplant at restoration sites. Note that coral transplant back to reef locations is considered “species enhancement” and should be added as an additional technique if necessary. |
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fish hatchery |
Building or maintaining facilities to spawn and rear aquatic organisms such as finfish or shellfish, including the installation of piping and tanks for fish hatcheries or shellfish setting. This technique also includes rearing organisms in previously built facilities. |
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native plant nursery |
Building or maintaining a structure to grow native plants. The structure may be wood, glass, metal, plastic or other construction materials. This technique also includes raising plants at the facility. |
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Sediment/Substrate Modification |
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artificial fish
habitat |
Creation of man-made durable structure(s) to enhance fish habitat. Note that coral and oyster reef construction have their own techniques. |
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coral reef construction |
Recreation of the structure of coral reef habitat following groundings or other destruction. |
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oyster reef construction |
Placement of durable structure(s) to enhance the potential for oyster spat settlement. This can include shell, rock, or man-made materials such as “Baycrete”. Projects that utilize shells collected from oyster gardening should also include the “oyster gardening” technique, and those that include supplementation through spat on shell should also include “species enhancement”. |
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terracing |
Creation of linear marshes in open-water areas for the purpose of slowing water velocity to create additional marsh habitat over time. |
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erosion control |
Use of soft erosion control methods, such as installing coconut fiber, rock, large wood, breakwaters etc. This technique should be used for shorelines or banks, including living shoreline or bioengineering projects. |
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fill removal |
Removal of sediment to reach the desired project elevation. |
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placement of fill/dredge material |
Placement of sediment to reach the desired project elevation. |
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beach nourishment |
Addition of sand to sandy shorelines, regardless of whether the shoreline is in-shore or open ocean (beach) shoreline |
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Vegetation Management |
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disease control: vegetation |
Actions taken to eradicate or prevent the spread of a disease. |
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invasives removal: vegetation |
Removal of non-native or nuisance plant species from the restoration site. This can be used for any prevention methods, such as biological controls. |
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planting |
Addition of native plants to a restoration site. |
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prescribed burn |
Use of managed fire(s) to restore site ecology. |
Appendix III: Monitoring Parameters
Physical Characteristics |
Birds |
Mammals |
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Water Column Characteristics |
Fish |
Mixed Assemblage |
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Soil and Substrate Characteristics |
Invasive Species (Fauna) |
Reptiles |
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Vegetation |
Invasive Species (Vegetation) |
Other |
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Amphibians |
Invertebrates |
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File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
Author | Julia_Royster |
File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
File Created | 2021-01-14 |