The Restoration Project launches its 2024-25 Brown Bag Science Speaker Series with a presentation on the latest research by Kevin Buffington of USGS on the potential sea level rise threat to South Bay tidal marshes and restoration sites.
Sea-level rise threatens tidal wetland ecosystems if sediment accretion in these areas is unable to keep pace with rising water. The future vulnerability of South Bay tidal wetlands to these threats has been understudied. To remedy this, Kevin Buffington at the U.S. Geological Survey and his team have focused their research and modeling efforts on marshes across the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which spans the South Bay from Fremont along San Jose to Menlo Park. Buffington discusses his preliminary modeling projections regarding sediment accretion and elevation change, soil organic carbon stocks, and future research directions. His work will help the Restoration Project understand sea level rise and how it is affecting South Bay tidal marsh and our restoring marsh sites, and help inform the public on potential sea level rise impacts more widely across the South Bay.
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Speaker Bio: Kevin Buffington is a biologist with the US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center. His research interests include using field observations, remote sensing, and numerical models to assess the vulnerability of tidal wetlands to climate change and especially sea-level rise. Over recent years he has continued development of the WARMER (Wetland Accretion Rate Model of Ecosystem Resilience) modeling framework. He has ongoing projects to apply WARMER across the country, including a country-wide tidal wetland vulnerability assessment and international work in Micronesia and New Zealand. He works remotely from Colorado and enjoys camping, hiking, and photography.
Scientific Question
This research will help the Restoration Project answer a central scientific question in its Adaptive Management Plan under the topic of Sediment Dynamics:
Is the accretion rate of the restored ponds sufficient to reach vegetation colonization elevations?
Brown Bag Science Speaker Series
This presentation is one in a series put forth by the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. The series will address science and adaptive management done in support of or in collaboration with our Restoration Project as well as relevant outside work. Speakers will discuss research, modeling, and monitoring efforts and how Restoration Project managers are using science to inform decisions about restoration, flood risk management, and public access.
