Tideflat compaction, Damon Pt, Grays Harbor, Washington, USA

What happens after a MarshMaster MM2LX is driven around an intertidal flat? This "compaction" was tested as a possible mechanical control technique for burrowing shrimp (Neotrypaea californiensis), which are a pest to shellfish aquaculture on tidelands. The project evaluated treatment efficacy and non-target effects on infauna, birds, eelgrass, and oysters. Over 2022-2023, we sampled large (~2.5 ha) areas at Damon Point (Grays Harbor, Washington, USA) before and after compaction on August 12-13 2022, which were re-compacted in May 2023. We tracked two compacted (beds 9, 11) and three interspersed reference beds (beds 8, 10, 12).