Research on ribbed mussel habitat restoration to be presented at next meeting of the Center for the Inland Bays Science Committee
The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays invites the public to attend the next Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) meeting on Friday, July 27, 2018, from 9:00am – noon at the DNREC Lewes Field Facility on 901 Pilottown Road in Lewes, DE.
At this meeting, Dr. Joshua Moody of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary will present his work on ecosystem services provided by the ribbed mussels found in tidal salt marshes throughout the Inland Bays. Among these important services is removal of excess nitrogen that pollutes bay waters and can cause algae blooms and low oxygen levels that harm fish and shellfish.
“High concentrations of the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus is the biggest problem currently facing the Inland Bays,” says Dr. Marianne Walch, the Center’s Science & Restoration Coordinator. “Dr. Moody’s research will help us understand how enhancement of mussel populations in living shoreline and wetland restoration projects can help maximize their water quality benefits.”
The agenda also includes a presentation by Dr. William Ritter of the University of Delaware about technologies for treating food processing wastewater, and discussion of a report released by the Center for the Inland Bays board that includes data regarding pollution at the Mountaire facility in Millsboro.
STAC meetings are a great opportunity to hear presentations about the local environment, and a chance to ask questions about the latest research being conducted on the Inland Bays. This Committee provides objective advice and guidance to the Center’s Board of Directors and other cooperating agencies that have interests in Delaware’s Inland Bays. A draft agenda and additional information about the Committee and past meetings can be found on the CIB website and at www.inlandbays.org/stac.
The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays is a non-profit organization established in 1994, and is one of 28 National Estuary Programs. With its many partners, the CIB works to preserve, protect and restore Delaware’s Inland Bays–the water that flows into them, and the watershed around them.