The U.S. Government is closed. This site will not be updated; however NOAA websites and social media channels necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained. To learn more, visit www.commerce.gov. For the latest forecast and critical weather information, visit www.weather.gov. 

The U.S. government is closed. This site will not be updated; however, NOAA websites and social media channels necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained. To learn more, visit commerce.gov. 

For the latest forecasts and critical weather information, visit weather.gov.

Climate and Anthropogenic Impacts on Critical Reserve Habitats: The Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Sentinel Site Program (Gloucester Point, Virginia)

Summary / Description

The Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia (CBNERRVA; www.vims.edu/cbnerr) is engaged in understanding the vulnerability of critical emergent wetland habitats and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) within the York River estuary to anthropogenic and climate related stressors.  These habitat types are stressed by a number of factors, including elevated summer temperatures, nutrients and suspended sediments in the case of SAV, and elevated sea level rise rates and salt intrusion in the case of meso-polyhaline emergent wetlands.

The Reserve is also focused on critical “ecotones” (e.g., water-marsh edge and marsh-maritime forest interface) and the implications for either the loss or gain of ecosystem services in these transitional environments. Through implementation of a NERRS-approved Sentinel Site monitoring program combined with historical shoreline and wetland/SAV change analysis based on aerial imagery, CBNERRVA is attempting to understand the physical conditions driving changes in wetland/SAV habitat type and develop strategies to increase adaptive capacity of these vulnerable critical habitats.

In this project, there will be opportunities to contribute to the installation of and measurements from observational infrastructure which includes emergent marsh and underwater SAV transects to monitor changes in spatial distribution and community composition of vegetated habitats; Surface Elevation Tables (SETs) co-located with vegetation transects to monitor surface elevation changes over time; groundwater monitoring to evaluate salt intrusion and water table and flooding dynamics; multiple NERRS System-Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP) water quality stations, multiple local meteorological stations, and local  geodetic control networks tied to the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) and monitoring infrastructure so measurements are collected on the same vertical datum.

There will also be opportunities to contribute to Reserve efforts in habitat mapping.  The methods employ a combination of the use of uncrewed aerial systems, remote sensing, ground truthing with Global Positioning System (GPS), and mapping within an ArcGIS Online environment.

The work will take place on the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) campus with visits to all four components of our Reserve which are located along the York River and include: (1) Goodwin Islands which is approximately 22 km down the York River from VIMS in the region of highest salinity, (2) Catlett Islands located approximately 7 km upriver from VIMS, (3) Taskinas Creek which is approximately 24 km upriver from VIMS within the boundaries of York River State, and (4) Sweet Hall Marsh, which is located 65 km upriver from VIMS in the tidal freshwater-oligohaline transitional zone of the Pamunkey River, one of two major tributaries of the York River.

Skills Required

Enthusiastic team-oriented worker with comfort conducting field work in a variety of challenging coastal habitats and confidence in the water (swimming competence but no SCUBA diving experience required).  Much of the field work will be conducted using small boats with a range of different types of field equipment. Although a marine science background is not required, applicant must be dependable, willing to learn, and at times show the ability to work independently. (Driver’s license suggested). 

Type of Opportunity

  • Research and Monitoring (with maybe a little science communication)

Location

  • In-person. There is limited housing options on the VIMS campus, but there is a strong network of graduate and undergraduate students for potential housing options. The Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve of Virginia is located at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) of the College of William and Mary at Gloucester Point, Virginia. The campus is directly on the York River estuary, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. 

Other Information

  • Intern Supervisor:  Scott Lerberg
  • Number of Slots Available:  1