Project Information

Title: Assessment of Bivalve Recovery on Treated Mixed-Soft Beaches in PWS 02574-BAA

Project Year and Number: 2002: 02574-BAA

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2010: 10100574, 2004: 040574, 2003: 030574

Principal Investigator (PI): Dennis Lees (Littoral Ecological & Environmental Services)

Managing Agency: NOAA

Assisting Personnel: None

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Clams, Mussels

Abstract: Studies from 1989 through 1997 suggest that bivalve assemblages on beaches in Prince William Sound with high-pressure hot-water washing remain severely damaged in terms of species composition and function. This project will assess the generality of this apparent injury to these assemblages. A finding that our conclusions are accurate will indicate that a considerable proportion of mixed-soft beaches in treated areas of the sound remains extremely disturbed and that these beaches are functionally impaired in terms of their ability to support foraging by damaged nearshore vertebrate predators such as sea otters and harlequin ducks. The study will also provide insight into the need for remediation of beaches to restore biodiversity and function on these assemblages.


Proposal: View (472 KB)

Reports:
Final Report: See Project 040574

Publications from this Project: None Available