Browsing by Author "Smith, William"

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    Mapping and Assessing Tidal Marsh Condition Via Multispectral Imaging
    (Trenton, N.J. : Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science and Research, 2024-07) Wilburn, Brittany P.; Moody, Joshua; Enache, Mihaela; Raper, Kirk; Yepsen, Metthea; Lester, Lori; Smith, William; Jacobus, Steven; DuMont, David; Blythe, Kevin; VanWieren, Molly; Schutte, Charles
    Within New Jersey, there are approximately 66,000 hectares of tidal saltwater wetlands. These wetlands are integral to the health and well-being of the residents that live within these coastal areas, as they provide a number of invaluable ecosystem services, including: carbon sequestration (Were et al., 2019), coastal storm energy reduction (Rezaie et al., 2020), flood water storage (Rezaie et al., 2020), water quality enhancement (Fisher and Acreman, 2004), and traditional and cultural significance (Pedersen et al., 2019). However, New Jersey has lost a significant portion of its coastal habitat as a result of climate change and other anthropogenic factors, such as reduced hydrological function from agricultural ditching (Smith et al., 2022). A first step to intervene in these losses is to determine vulnerable habitat as quickly, accurately, and efficiently as possible, in order to prioritize areas of marsh for protection or enhancement.