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2001 Progress Report: Integrating Models of Citizens Perceptions, Metal Contaminants, and Wetlands Restoration in an Urbanizing Watershed
EPA Grant Number: R827288Title: Integrating Models of Citizens Perceptions, Metal Contaminants, and Wetlands Restoration in an Urbanizing Watershed
Investigators: Tucker, Robert K. , Hawkins, George S. , Jaffe, Peter R. , Johnson, Branden B. , PFlugh, Kerry K.
Current Investigators: Tucker, Robert K. , Altomari, Chris , Choi, Jung H. , Hajdusek, Julie , Hawkins, George S. , Jaffe, Peter R. , Johnson, Branden B. , MacKay, Noelle , PFlugh, Kerry K. , Rowan, Andrew , Sankalia, Pria , Yergeau, Steve
Institution: Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association , New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection , Princeton University
Current Institution: Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association , Princeton University , Rutgers University - New Brunswick
EPA Project Officer: Levinson, Barbara
Project Period: March 15, 1999 through March 14, 2002
Project Period Covered by this Report: March 15, 2001 through March 14, 2002
Project Amount: $749,954
RFA: Water and Watersheds (1998)
Research Category: Water and Watersheds
Description:
Objective:The overall objective of this research project is to use the scientific information from our research to increase public understanding and support for the vital role wetlands play in the integrity of watersheds. Our aim is to obtain a mechanistically based understanding of the dynamics of trace metals in wetland sediments, and to use scientific insights from modeling and research to educate the public and local officials, whose decisions impact the protection of wetlands. The social science component of the project aims to: (1) identify wetlands beliefs, attitudes, and behavioral intentions of residents and public officials; (2) provide information for the design of wetlands education and outreach modules; (3) and evaluate the impact of such education efforts. Progress Summary:
Our research combines metal uptake in wetland plants, education of citizens and public officials in wetland values and function, and includes measurement of the education's effectiveness, which has begun to provide information of substantial value in protecting wetlands in central New Jersey. Characterization of Beden Brook and Rocky Brook sub-watersheds has provided valuable information to citizen groups working to oppose wetlands loss from development. For example, citizens in Montgomery Township were able to persuade their Planning Commission to require a reevaluation of a major roadway extension through wetlands of exceptional quality.
In
January 2001, at Princeton University, we hosted a seminar for municipal officials
that included information on land-use planning, watershed management, and wetlands
protection. We have provided public testimony to the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection regarding their revisions to the Freshwater Wetlands
Protection Act Rules. New Jersey and Michigan currently are the only two states
with fully authorized wetland regulatory programs, thus our close involvement
in these states' wetland protection efforts are significant nationally. We were
recently notified that The Water Resources Association, an organization that
covers Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, has awarded us the Stony Brook-Millstone
Watershed Association 2002 Dr. Ruth Patrick Excellence in Environmental Education
Award for our accomplishments in the field of environmental education. The Stony
Brook-Millstone Watershed Association has been instrumental in the formation
of two organizations, which are additional vehicles for dissemination of information
from our research. One is the Natural Lands Network, which includes municipal
officials, citizens' groups, and nonprofit representatives from our region.
The other is The Watershed Institute, a multi-community, statewide organization
that can profit from both the experience and the resources of Stony Brook Millstone.
Evidence of increased environmental consciousness of citizens and public officials
in our area include the results of our social science surveys. Conducted as
part of the research, these surveys show an overwhelming support for wetlands
protection. The overall response rate for the "public" survey (February-April
2001) was 47 percent, and 57 percent for the "officials" survey (May-August
2001). One-way Analysis of Variance Applet (ANOVA) was used to determine whether
differences in observed means were statistically significant (at p < 0.05).
Overall, there was no statistically significant difference between "treatment"
(Bedens Brook, Millstone subwatersheds) and "control" areas, or across
all three areas among citizens. Approximately 98 percent of officials and 66
percent of citizens believed there were wetlands in their town. When asked:
"What do you believe should be done with wetlands in your municipality?",
44 percent of citizens and 63 percent of officials said wetlands "should
be preserved in all cases", while only 2 percent thought they should be
developed in all cases. Overall, 85-88 percent leaned toward preservation. Citizens
appeared to base this preference largely on wetlands' benefits for habitat (50
percent gave this as a reason in response to an open-ended question), "contact
with nature" (30 percent), and various concerns about congestion and need
for open space. Water quality and flooding benefits were much less salient and
known. Officials were much more knowledgeable (half gave water quality and habitat
as reasons for their wetlands management preference, a third cited flooding
and contact with nature). Officials also found the topic much more salient:
65 percent said that what was done with local wetlands was very important to
them, while only 31 percent of the public thought this way.
The research, carried out by Dr. Jaffé and his students at Princeton, aims to obtain a mechanistically based understanding of the dynamics of trace metals in wetland sediments. The long-term goal is to assess changes in water quality or trace metals in wetland sediments. Mobility of trace metals in wetland sediment is controlled by the vertical redox profile that develops in these sediments. This profile is determined by the transport of different electron acceptors into the sediments via diffusion, advection, and oxygen. The transport through the roots of wetland plants also is determined. Reactions affecting the electron acceptors include their utilization by bacteria during the degradation of organic matter. We have developed and implemented a numerical model to relate many processes that affect the redox profile in wetland sediments to the fate of contaminant metals in wetland sediments. This reactive transport model consists of a set of coupled, steady-state mass balance equations, accounting for advection, diffusion, bioturbation, and reaction of an organic substrate, electron acceptors, corresponding reduced species, and contaminant metals of interest. The model accounts for release of oxygen and uptake of nitrogen by plant roots, as well as flow induced by evapotranspiration. At present, we are conducting a greenhouse microcosm, where we are measuring the redox dynamics as well as distribution of chromium in water saturated sediments. Three microcosms are being run in parallel: (1) with plants and an organic load (acetate); (2) with plants and no external organic load; and (3) without plants and an external organic load. Differences between microcosms (1) and (2) will show the effect of root exudates, and differences between microcosms (1) and (3) will show the effects of roots on the redox dynamics. The key chemical species profiles are being monitored using gold-amalgam microelectrodes and voltametric techniques.
Future Activities:Having received a no-cost extension, we intend to devote the additional year of the project to obtaining appropriate experimental data for verification and/or improvement of the model, and to gaining further insights into the immobilization of trace metals in the rhizosphere of wetland sediments. The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association will complete the characterization and assessment of the Rocky Brook sub-watershed. They plan to intensify education and outreach efforts to disseminate research results and information about wetland function and values. Interviews with the public and local officials, along with additional surveys are planned as part of the social science research to measure results of the education and outreach efforts. Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 38 publications for this project
Supplemental Keywords:sediments, river, stream, lake, riparian wetlands, groundwater, soil, chemical transport, ecological effects, stressor, heavy metals, nitrogen, phosphorus, decision making, community-based, environmental chemistry, biology, northeast, Atlantic coast, New Jersey, NJ, EPA Region 2. , Water, Scientific Discipline, RFA, ECOSYSTEMS, Water & Watershed, Social Science, Ecology, Ecological Risk Assessment, Terrestrial Ecosystems, Wet Weather Flows, Watersheds, Environmental Chemistry, runoff, water quality, stakeholders, human activities, fate and transport, public policy, active control, wetlands, surface water, land management, man-made wetlands, outreach and education, municipal policy, wetland restoration, citizen perceptions, GIS, transport containment, urban development, wetlands restoration, metals, non-point sources, ecosystem evaluation, urbanizing watersheds
Relevant Websites:
http://www.thewatershed.org 
http://www.beesinc.org
Progress and Final Reports:
1999 Progress Report
2000 Progress Report
Original Abstract
Final Report