Assessing Runnel Effectiveness - Time Series Surface and Groundwater Elevations

In New England, runnels have been implemented in Rhode Island and Massachusetts with the intent to restore tidal hydrology to the marsh platform, stop the expansion of shallow water pools, and create sufficient growing conditions for high marsh graminoids (e.g., Spartina patens, Distichlis spicata, and Juncus gerardii). Long-term restoration goals of these projects include enhancing salt marsh resiliency to sea level rise and preserving high marsh habitat for specialized fauna such as the saltmarsh sparrow. Monitoring efforts of previous runnel and ditch plug removal projects have generally been tailored to one or several sites and the broader applicability and success rate of the technique has not been evaluated on a regional basis (although see Sullivan et al. 2024). To evaluate the effectiveness of runneling as a restoration tool, comprehensive monitoring of hydrology, vegetation, surface elevation, and the avian community was completed for two growing season over three years at 20 restoration sites in a modified after - control – impact (ACI) experimental design. Runnels were created between 2011 – 2022 across Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, which allowed for a space for time substitution to draw conclusions of their impact in the short (< 5 years) and medium-term (5 – 10 years). The project asked one fundamental research question pertaining to marsh platform conservation and restoration: How do the hydrology, vegetation, and avian community respond to drainage enhancement efforts over time.The dataset contains the time series of water elevations from water level recorders (Onset Hobo Water Pressure Transducers) installed in creeks for surface hydrology and groundwater wells for groundwater elevations. Time series of water elevations were used to calculate tidal datums and flooding metrics to assess runnel restoration. Questions about the dataset can be directed to Grant McKown, University of New Hampshire, at [e-mail]

在美国新英格兰地区，研究团队已在罗德岛州与马萨诸塞州布设潮渠（runnel），旨在恢复潮滩平台的潮汐水文过程、遏制浅水池扩张，并为高沼生境的禾草类植物（例如：Spartina patens、Distichlis spicata及Juncus gerardii）创造适宜的生长条件。
此类项目的长期恢复目标包括提升盐沼对海平面上升的抗干扰恢复力，以及为盐沼麻雀（saltmarsh sparrow）这类特化动物类群保留高沼生境。
以往潮渠与沟道堵头移除项目的监测工作通常仅针对单个或少数站点开展，该技术的区域适用性与整体成功率尚未得到系统性评估（参见Sullivan等2024年研究）。
为评估潮渠开挖作为修复手段的有效性，研究采用改进型后-对照-影响（ACI, After-Control-Impact）实验设计，在20个恢复站点开展了为期3年、覆盖2个生长季的综合监测，监测内容涵盖水文、植被、地表高程与鸟类群落。
2011至2022年间，研究团队在缅因州、马萨诸塞州及罗德岛州全域布设了潮渠，借此通过空间替代时间的研究范式，推断该技术在短期（<5年）与中期（5-10年）尺度上的生态影响。
本研究提出一项与潮滩平台保护及修复相关的核心科学问题：随时间推移，水文、植被与鸟类群落将如何响应排水强化修复措施？
本数据集包含两类水位时序数据：一是安装于溪沟中用于地表水文监测的水位记录仪（Onset Hobo水压式传感器，Onset Hobo Water Pressure Transducers）的观测数据，二是地下水井的地下水位观测数据。
研究人员利用水位时序数据计算潮汐基准面与淹没指标，以此评估潮渠修复项目的实施成效。
本数据集相关疑问可联系新罕布什尔大学的Grant McKown，电子邮箱：[e-mail]