LIS Eelgrass Collaborative Workshop

LIS Eelgrass Collaborative Workshop

June 12, 2024
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Location:
UConn Avery Point Campus
1080 Shennecossett Rd., Groton, CT 06340
Lowell Weicker/Marine Sciences Building, Room 103

Registration is required: 

The Long Island Sound Eelgrass Collaborative June workshop will advance elements of the LIS Eelgrass Management and Restoration Strategy. Dr. Bradley Peterson from Stony Brook University will kick off the day with a keynote address on eelgrass and shellfish interactions, followed by two breakout sessions with three tracks: 1) restoration, 2) water quality, and 3) management (see agenda below). The goal of these breakouts is to hear from 2-3 speakers on each topic followed by discussion. Each breakout group will then identify ~2 priorities to advance eelgrass management and restoration for full group consideration during workshop wrap-up. Contact katie.lund@uconn.edu with questions.

Please note:

Lunch and coffee will be provided to participants - please bring your own mug 🙂

Travel support (mileage, ferry, tolls, etc.) is available and can be indicated on the registration form

Parking at Avery Point costs $6/day.  To receive complimentary parking, please fill out this simple parking request form and enter passcode 0612AP (type this passcode in – a copy/paste won’t work in the form)

Directions to Avery Point and Meeting Room

Keynote Address

Bradley Peterson

Associate Professor, Stony Brook University

Dr. Peterson's research focuses on understanding the role of organisms in changing nutrient availability within their communities and how these interactions might affect community development and stability. Most of his work is with plant-animal interactions within seagrass ecosystems along the east coast. His June 12th workshop presentation will focus on eelgrass and shellfish interactions.  

Full Bio

 

Agenda

9:30 am Registration and Check-In
10:00 am Welcome and Workshop Overview – Katie Lund, CT NERR
10:10 am Keynote Speaker Focus: Eelgrass and Shellfish Interactions Bradley Peterson - Associate Professor, Stony Brook University
10:55 am Keynote Questions & Discussion
11:10 am EPA - LISS Eelgrass Project Updates – Cayla Sullivan, U.S. EPA Region 2-LIS Office
11:25 am Breakout Session Overview and Directions – Breakout Facilitators
11:45 am Lunch
12:30 – 1:40 pm Breakout Session A
- Track 1 – Restoration: research & projects for seed (or plant) movement
- Track 2 – Water Quality: LIS monitoring at different scales and next steps for eelgrass
- Track 3 – Management: bi-state updates, regulatory & nonregulatory assessment
1:40 pm Break
1:50 – 3:00 pm Breakout Session B
- Track 1 – Restoration: seed based restoration – what do we need to know?
- Track 2 – Water Quality: bi-state nitrogen reduction strategies
- Track 3 – Management: eelgrass & aquaculture interactions
3:00 pm Break
3:10 pm Breakout Summary (20 mins) + Impact/Effort Grid (20 mins) + Next Steps (10 mins) Adjourn at 4:00 pm
4:15 – 5:15 pm Optional skiff trip (participation based on pre-registration)

Breakout Session A

Track 1, Restoration: research & projects for seed (or plant) movement

Facilitator: Torrie Hanley, Sacred Heart University

Topics
• Seed genetics as related to thermal tolerance, transport, and choosing source populations.
• Common garden experiments in National Parks from ME to NC and how this project can inform broader coordination and advance restoration in LIS. Topics include choosing appropriate seed locations and donor beds for restoration.

Speakers
• Randall Hughes, Professor of Marine and Environmental Sciences - Northeastern University
• Holly Plaisted, Biologist and NCBN Estuarine Water Quality and Seagrass Monitoring Project Lead – National Park Service

Track 2, Water Quality: LIS monitoring at different scales and next steps for eelgrass

Facilitator: Jamie Vaudrey, UConn & CT NERR

Topics
• Water quality monitoring at different scales (USGS, Unified Water Study multi-station, and Millstone local monitoring).
• Presentations, followed by panel Q&A, and feedback on next steps.

Speakers
• Jon Morrison, Chief of Applied Hydrology Branch/New England Water Science Center – USGS
• Peter Linderoth, Director of Water Quality - Save The Sound • Athena Ryan, Biologist, Millstone Environmental Laboratory – Dominion Energy

Track 3, Management: bi-state updates, regulatory & nonregulatory assessment

Facilitator: Katie Lund, CT NERR

Topics
• LIS Eelgrass Collaborative assessment to-date; regulatory and non-regulatory case studies.
• CGA Eelgrass Working Group update and outcomes of CT legislation.
• NY Seagrass Task Force update and next steps. • Facilitated panel discussion and Q&A.

Speakers
• Emily Watling, Master’s Student and Research Assistant – UConn & CT NERR
• Bill Lucey, Long Island Soundkeeper – Save the Sound • Della Campbell, NY Seagrass Coordinator – NYDEC

Breakout Session B

Track 1, Restoration: seed based restoration – what do we need to know?

Facilitator: Cayla Sullivan, U.S. EPA – LIS Office

Topics
• Protocols and/or best management practices for seed collection, storage, and movement.
• Logistics of scaling up - what’s needed to accomplish eelgrass restoration at regional scale.

Speakers
 • Steve Schott, Marine Botany and Habitat Restoration Specialist – Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Stephen Heck, Ph.D. Student – Stony Brook University (invited)

Track 2, Water Quality: bi-state nitrogen reduction strategies

Facilitator: Jamie Vaudrey, UConn & CT NERR

Topic
NY & CT 2nd generation nitrogen strategy – overview and next steps needed for restoration.

Speakers
• Michele Golden, Environmental Program Specialist – NYDEC
• Traci Iott, Supervising Environmental Analyst – CT DEEP
• Kelly Streich, TMDL and Technical Support Lead – CT DEEP

Track 3, Management: eelgrass & aquaculture interactions

Facilitator: Katie Lund, CT NERR

Topics
• Regional perspective on the federal regulatory framework.
• Research project overview: interactions between oyster aquaculture and eelgrass in Beebe Cove – how can research inform policy?

Speakers
 • Christopher Schillaci, Marine Ecologist – NOAA
• Craig Tobias, Professor of Marine Sciences and CT NERR Director – UConn