Portsmouth, NH – The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the New Hampshire Coastal Program at the Department of Environmental Services are seeking volunteers to survey local salt marshes for Sudden Wetland Dieback, or SWD. SWD is the rapid death of salt marsh plants. Its cause is unknown, and this project will help researchers determine the extent of SWD in New Hampshire.
During the training, volunteers will learn the telltale signs of dieback, and then, armed with aerial photographs, maps and cameras, explore a Seacoast marsh for SWD. Salt marsh ecologists will make follow-up visits to each potential dieback location.
This field survey will help the US Fish & Wildlife Service document the occurrence of SWD in northern New England. SWD cannot be explained by any of the typical causes of vegetation loss in salt marshes, such as debris, ice, or grazing by birds or animals. Concern over this phenomenon has grown from Louisiana to Maine, but the extent of its existence in New Hampshire is unknown.
| What: | Sudden Wetland Dieback training and survey |
| When: | September 23, 2006; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
| Where: | DES Portsmouth Field Office, Pease Tradeport, 50 International Drive |
| Bring: | Drinking water, a bag lunch, knee-boots, and dress for the weather. Camera and GPS optional. |
The workshop is free but registration is recommended. To register and for more information, please call Beth Lambert, New Hampshire Coastal Program, at (603) 559-0022. To learn more about SWD in New England, visit http://wetland.neers.org.