Human Impact
Isabella Spano, Ashley Almonte- Bello, Elizabeth Jaworski, Brendan Peck, Iris Maldonado,
Jalen Fulton, Ryan Demers, Alexander Pierce, Greg Legare, Brent Francis, Ava Driscoll
Solution to the rising Sea Level
Thin L ayer Deposition for Proactive Coastal Marsh
The salt marshes that we have here in Rhode Island are resilient
and high yielding habitats. They protect the inland from the ocean
and produce more food per acre than any other habitat worldwide.
In healthy examples, salt marshes naturally regenerate and move
with the coastline accordingly to the sea level. However today, due
to global warming, the sea is rising at an exponential rate. The plant
communities that makeup these marshes are unable to build at a
fast enough rate to keep the tide at bay. Global warming i
s a human-made problem, it is our responsibility to take action in protecting the integrity of nature. Save
the Bay and The Nature Conservancy are working with United States Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS), the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Rhode Island Coastal Management
Council (RICRMC) on a solution. Their current solution is called thin layer deposition and it is a form of
proactive habitat remediation. This solution is done by dredging the sand from the floor of the salt pond,
and then sprayed onto the salt marsh. A boat with a powerful fire hose is used to collect the sand and then
spray evenly onto the marsh. This solution is described as proactive. Thin layer deposition has been
planned to not only return the health of the salt marshes back to normal but also to elevate them enough to
be permanently above the ocean level. Thin layer deposition has been done in the past, it’s first example
happened in 2013 at Delaware Dagsboro, Paper Creek. Therefore data on long term results are limited.
However it is predicted that this solution will be successful, and it is important to remember, if no action
is made the marshes will deteriorate.
Salt Marshes
Impacts on Salt Marshes and the Plans in Place to Protect
The problem that is occurring today is human activity impacting the salt marshes greatly. There's
many Salt marshes located in different places around the world. Yet they are all being affected by
human Impacts. In New England specifically there are vast areas of wetlands that were productive
salt marshes until roads or railroads severed their connection to the sea, affecting the way that they
would properly function. Salt marshes are important transitional habitat between the ocean and the
land. The problem here is if we allow human activity to keep affecting our salt marshes, the
organisms and plants there won't have a place to call home. Humans built transportation routes on
salt marshes because they were open and flat, without thinking about the actual damage it would
create. In the 20th century, humans continued to create and pave roadways on some of our most
valuable wetlands to accommodate automobiles. These roadbeds divided salt marshes into two
sections. One with direct unlimited tidal connection to the ocean, and one with restricted or in some
cases no access to the ocean. In our salt marshes today humans are off roading in them, dumping
their trash, and taking over the land to build beach houses in. Although many local, state, and
federal groups are working to restore and form healthy salt marshes for suitable living for plants
and animals.
The Importance of Salt Marshes and How They Are
Beneficial
This expedition has been focusing on on our place by the
sea. We have been focusing on the health of salt marshes
and how they are affected by the five abiotic factors. The
five abiotic factors are Biodiversity, Air Quality, Water
Quality, Animal And Plant Life, and Human Impacts. During this expedition we had to choose
on of these factors that we were interested about I was most interested in human impacts.
Each member in the group had to choose sub-topics that were based on our main topics. I
chose to do my sub-topic and research on on Salt Marshes, the importance and benefits of
them, and how humans affect them. Rhode Island alone has an estimated 84 acres of salt
marshes. For years, America's coastal wetlands have been underrated and overlooked,
dismissed as foul-smelling, bug-infested swamps that were best dredged for ship channels or
buried under sports stadiums, Yet salt marshes are invaluable to people and animals alike. Over
the past few decades, it has been no doubt that salt marshes have been disappearing from
ecosystems. According to Kevin Dennehys’ article What's Damaging Marshes On U.S Coast
And Why It Matters, “And it’s been said in some places that we lost 50, 60, 70 percent of all
salt marshes”. This is one reason I find salt topics interesting. How they are decreasing each
day but they are important and benefit ecosystems and plant and animals. Our grade as a whole
went and worked with save the bay in helping restore salt marshes. We collected data on water
quality, the types of animal and plant species, air quality, and the amount of trash. We also dug
a tunnel to drain some of the water in the marsh.
What is Human Impact?
Conclusion
anywhere from 15 to 51 trillion particles of floating micro plastic are in our oceans, weighing between
205-520 million pounds. This includes plastic microbeads (used as exfoliates in some personal care
Resources Management Council, embark on expeditions and restoration projects, that remove trash
collaboration with Save the Bay, almost 200 pounds worth of trash was collected, ranging from plastic
bags to a toilet. Rhode Island should establish serious penalties to those who illegally dump trash in
Industrial Effects
Oil Spills in the Rhode Island Coast
In 1989, there was an oil spill in the Narragansett Bay which covered about 50 square miles and
washed up on the shore. The Coast Guard estimated that the clean up cost about 2 Million dollars.
Oil spills in the ocean, cause the oil to spread on the surface of the water. Birds that float on the
water surface and dive to feed can be oiled if they happen to be in the same place as an oil slick.
Oil destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals, such as sea otters, and the water
repellency of a bird's feathers, thus exposing these creatures to the harsh elements. Why it’s
important? Knowing about the oil spills in oceans and bays are important, specifically in Rhode
Island, because it affects the animals in the area. It also important to be aware because it costs
millions of dollars to clean up and repair areas of the affected area.
Overfishing
Coastal Lagoons in Rhode Island - Ashley
Almonte-Bello
Lagoons are known as salt ponds that are used for high range of
fishing, clamming, boating and water tubing. With specifically
focusing on Rhode Island's beaches and salt marshes there needs to be
protection within the barriers of the Island. Most of the salt marshes
are required less of lower energy and a sheltered environment to form.
Throughout the areas of Rhode Island there are shoreline protections
How we are becoming ‘aware’?
The Laws and Repercussions of Trash Dumping in Rhode Island’s
Coastal Areas
Illegal trash dumping in Rhode Island’s coastal areas should have
serious penalties. This research will show the consequences of
human ignorance in coastal areas. Rhode Island has specific
penalties for illegal trash dumping. According to R.I. Gen. Laws
§37-15-6 et seq., it states that the first conviction results in a fine
between $85 and $500. In addition to or in lieu of the fine, violators
may be ordered to pick up litter for two to 25 hours. Subsequent
convictions: fine between $300 and $500. In addition to or in lieu of
the fine, violators may be ordered to pick up litter for four to 50 hours. Violators are also liable for
cleanup costs. Rubicon, a website based on environmental health states, “Research estimates
products) and synthetic fibers, both of which are too small to be filtered out by many wastewater
treatment plants”. Although there are laws to help protect our coastal areas, these fines are only
applicable if someone is caught in the act. Non-profits, such as Save the Bay! and the RI Coastal
and other harmful objects from Rhode Island’s coastal areas. Through three days of fieldwork in
our coastal areas.
Psychology of Pollution and Preventive Actions
With constant pollution filling the streets, air and pretty much all of life, there is always a big wonder,
“How did it get like this and why?” As well as “What can I do to fix it”. Now there are infinitely many
ways to answer the second question, But what about the first question? The main objective of this
research is to show us the psychological reasons for why people pollute. The idea for this topic came from
the fact that i see many people pollute everyday, whether is throwing trash on the ground or dumping their
drinks into a pond or puddle. I can even say that I've done it before. After seeing a person throw a
perfume bottle into a river i finally asked, “why do we do it?”. Upon finishing copious amounts of
information and data, the major findings that I have uncovered are that there 2 reasons for people to
pollute. The first is mainly from big companies, which is greed, they would rather spend 50 dollars to
dump chemical waste and other garbage into a field or pond than spend the extra money to properly
dispose of their waste.This is a big cause of chemical pollution in many ponds and certain areas, a good
example for this can be Mashapaug pond, which has strict no swimming or consumption of the fish pulled
from it due to the high chemical pollution found it. My second finding is that the populace is lazy, from
firsthand experience, it can be seen that people would rather dump their stuff on the ground than walk the
extra meters to toss it in the garbage. My main conclusions are that greed and laziness are the main
suspects of the worst pollution. Another conclusion that has come up is that we need to focus heavily on
clean up efforts so that we can save our planet.
How the C.O.A. Helps Sustain Coastal Health of RI
The Clean Ocean Access organization has done many things to improve the overall health of Rhode Island
shorelines. The organization has cleared 95,000 pounds of debris from Aquidneck Island shoreline. This
information was found in the “Rising Tide of Plastic Changing Southern N.E’s Landscape” on Ecori.org
written by Frank Carini on July 10, 2017. This is so important because without their assistants the RI
shoreline would be full of litter and would harm the living organisms both onshore and in the ocean. Initially
the COA’s mission was to clear trash from the coast of RI, but over time their motives changed leading them
into a different direction. Originally the COA was just a group of RI surfers concerned with the health of the
water, but today it is a non-profit organization that searches to find key contributors to RI’s pollution
problems. This information was gathered on newportri.com in an article called “Clean Ocean Access Says
Cleanups are Making a Noticeable Difference” written by Matt Sheley on August 23, 2017. The reason why
this is important to know about the COA is because it shows you how devoted the creators of the company
and representatives of the organization are devoted to the cause. The COA has three goals that they strive for
to make the RI shoreline healthier. The three goals are actually an acronym meaning Clean: Eliminate Marine
Debris Ocean: Improve Coastal Water Quality Access: Protect and Preserve Shoreline Access. These three
goals were found on the homepage of the organization’s cite called cleanoceanaccess.org. This is important
because it is the COA openly telling the people what they do to improve the coastal health of RI.