NAREI researching mud and silt along the coastline

Data to inform future investments in infrastructure development

THE National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) awarded a $2.7M contract to Surveying and Project Management Inc. to install Graduated Measuring Gauges along the foreshores of Columbia to Aberdeen and Anna Regina to Henrietta, Region Two and Lusignan, Region Four. The project commenced in November and has a two-month duration.

This is part of NAREI’s Mangrove Management Programme, which requires the continuous monitoring of erosion and accretion along the foreshore. To date, NAREI has incorporated periodic topographic surveys in the form of low-cost rapid assessment surveys as part of the Mangrove Department’s annual monitoring of the coastline. Topographic surveys have been completed in Regions Two, Four, and Six at potential and restored mangroves sites.
According to Kene Moseley, Project Coordinator, “The monitoring of mud and silt along the coastline is part of the department’s research programme that supports the identification of foreshore changes, and provides critical information to inform the design of the most appropriate restoration approach.”

Moseley emphasised that it is costly to complete systematic topographic surveys of all restored and potential restoration sites. Hence, the Mangrove Department is pursuing a low-cost solution to aid in the continuous monitoring of mud elevation along the coast in the form of installation of graduated measuring gauges along selected foreshores.
In order to implement this new elevation monitoring programme, NAREI engaged the contractor to construct and establish the monitoring gauges, as well as conduct training of monitoring officers and rangers.

She noted that permanent monitoring gauges will be constructed and installed at Henrietta to Anna Regina, Columbia to Aberdeen in Region Two. Works have commenced at Lusignan, in Region Four, as a pilot to monitor changes in elevation at these locations.
The gauges have been designed to be simple and user-friendly and will allow rangers to accurately read, interpret and record mud elevation points on graduated rods located throughout the sites on a monthly basis.
The objective of the survey is to obtain foreshore and beach level in the vicinity of the sea defences in order to provide a baseline for future monitoring activities.