PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Environmental Management was awarded a $500,000 federal research grant to lead a nationwide study to examine strategies to enhance salt marsh resilience against the effects of climate change, the department announced Thursday.
The project is funded by the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Science Collaborative, a state-federal partnership program between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and coastal states.
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In the two-year study, the Narragansett Bay NERR, which is managed by R.I. DEM, will evaluate thin-layer sediment placement as an adaptation strategy to improve marsh resilience against rising sea levels.
“Our marshlands are beautiful, important places that need to be protected,” said R.I. DEM Director Janet Coit in prepared remarks. “Given their location at the intersection of the land and sea, marshes are invaluable to our environment and economy: nurturing wildlife, contributing to cleaner waters and helping to protect our infrastructure. They are also vulnerable to a changing climate and rising waters.”
The study will involve eight other NERR sites across the country.
“Through our Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, we are pleased to join partners from across the nation in studying ways to safeguard these precious resources,” said Coit. “Rhode Island continues to be at the forefront of climate action and research – a credit to the consequential work of the reserve and many other partners. We must remain vigilant.”
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor.
