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Ecological Monitoring Program At Vims Esl: Annual Report 2022, Paige G. Ross, Richard A. Snyder

Reports

An Ecological Monitoring Program (EMP) has been established at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory (VIMS ESL) for the coastal environment near the Wachapreague lab. The goals of the initiative are to 1) provide status and trends information to scientists who study and regulators who manage Virginia’s marine resources, 2) provide a scientific context for short-term research and grant proposals 3) provide pedagogical enrichment for educators to use in their classes, and 4) build capacity in staff expertise and training of interns and students at VIMS ESL.

The program formalizes and standardizes data collection for a long-term …

Ecological Monitoring Program At Vims Esl: Annual Report 2021, Paige G. Ross, Richard A. Snyder

Reports

An Ecological Monitoring Program (EMP) has been established at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory (VIMS ESL) for the coastal environment near the Wachapreague lab. The goals of the initiative are to 1) provide status and trends information to scientists who study and regulators who manage Virginia’s marine resources, 2) provide a scientific context for short-term research and grant proposals 3) provide pedagogical enrichment for educators to use in their classes, and 4) build capacity in staff expertise and training of interns and students at VIMS ESL.

The program formalizes and standardizes data collection for a long-term …

Fisheries Landings For The Eastern Shore Of Virginia (Esva) 2021, Richard A. Snyder

Reports

Virginia (VA) landings data were requested from VMRC (Table 1) and analyzed by Richard Snyder at VIMS ESL. Landings data reflect where seafood entered market systems, and so may have different origins that will blur categorizing economic activity ascribed to the act of harvest and the act of processing for market. For example, almost all menhaden are landed in Deltaville, VA, some of the conch/welks and dogfish recorded for Accomack may have originated elsewhere to be processed in Wachapreague, and visiting Maryland crabbers early in the season contribute to blue crab landings. Shellfish data (oysters and clams) are separated as …

Ecological Monitoring Program At Vims Esl : Annual Report 2020, Paige G. Ross, Richard A. Snyder

Reports

An Ecological Monitoring Program (EMP) has been established at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory (VIMS ESL) for the coastal environment near the Wachapreague lab. The goals of the initiative are to 1) provide status and trends information to scientists who study and regulators who manage Virginia’s marine resources, 2) provide a scientific context for short-term research and grant proposals 3) provide pedagogical enrichment to educators for their classes, and 4) build capacity in staff expertise and training of interns and students at VIMS ESL.

The program formalizes and standardizes data collection for a long-term status and …

Water Quality In Accomack County Freshwater Streams 2020, Richard A. Snyder, Paige G. Ross

Reports

Expansion of poultry house operations and use of litter as a soil amendment in Accomack County Virginia has raised concerns for water quality impacts on both seaside and bayside of the Eastern Shore of Virginia (ESVA). This ongoing investigation is examining freshwater stream water quality in Accomack Virginia to identify water quality impairments from poultry operation storm water runoff. Previous sampling data from 2019 has been integrated into this report. Sampling in 2020 followed an extended drought period (base flow) and two inch rainfall events (storm flow) in streams at road crossings in Accomack County Bayside and Seaside drainages. Dissolved …

Surface Water Nitrogen Attenuation From The Accomack County, Va Southern Landfill Groundwater Discharge - Final Report, Richard A. Snyder, Paige G. Ross

Reports

Previous sampling of the stream crossing Bobtown Road (Rt 178) near the intersection of Hollies Church Road (Rt. 620), had indicated high levels of nitrogen in the stream flow (Snyder and Ross, 2019a). The proximity of the retired Accomack County Landfill upstream of the site triggered a higher resolution sampling of the stream in an attempt to isolate a source of the nitrogen loading (Snyder and Ross, 2019b). Accomack County has requested repeated sampling of this stream segment to monitor nutrient attenuation trends from the site, and stations were established for that purpose. This Final Report provides a summary of …

Ecological Monitoring Program At Vims Esl - Annual Report 2018-2019, Paige G. Ross, Richard A. Snyder

Reports

An Ecological Monitoring Program (EMP) has been established at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory (VIMS ESL) for the coastal environment near the lab. The goals of the initiative are to 1) provide status and trends information to scientists who study and regulators who manage Virginia’s marine resources, 2) provide a scientific context for scientists’ research and grant proposals 3) provide pedagogical enrichment to educators for their classes, and 4) build capacity in staff expertise and training of interns and students at VIMS ESL.

The program formalizes and standardizes data collection for a long-term status and trends …

Surface Water Nitrogen Attenuation From The Accomack County, Va Southern Landfill Groundwater Discharge, Richard A. Snyder, Paige G. Ross

Reports

Previous sampling of the stream crossing Bobtown Road (Rt 178) near the intersection of Hollies Church Road (Rt. 620), had indicated high levels of nitrogen in the stream flow (Snyder and Ross, 2019a). The proximity of the retired Accomack County Landfill upstream of the site triggered a higher resolution sampling of the stream in an attempt to isolate a source of the nitrogen loading (Snyder and Ross, 2019b). Accomack County has requested repeated sampling of this stream segment to monitor nutrient attenuation trends from the site, and stations were established for that purpose. This is the first report of that …

Water Quality In Accomack County Freshwater Streams, Richard A. Snyder, Paige G. Ross

Reports

Expansion of poultry house operations and use of litter as a soil amendment in Accomack County Virginia has raised concerns for water quality impacts both seaside and bayside of the Eastern Shore of Virginia (ESVA). This ongoing investigation is examining freshwater stream water quality in Accomack Virginia to identify water quality impairments from poultry operation storm water runoff. Sampling in 2019 followed two inch rainfall events covering 83 streams at road crossings in southern and northern Accomack County. Estimates of land cover in the drainages for these streams were used to determine correlations between stream water nutrient levels and the …

Water Quality In An Unnamed Branch Of Pungoteague Creek, Bobtown Road And Hollies Church Road, Va., Richard A. Snyder, Paige G. Ross

Reports

Previous sampling of the stream crossing Bobtown Road (Rt 178) near the intersection of Hollies Church Road (Rt. 620), had indicated high levels of nitrogen in the stream flow (Snyder and Ross, 2019). During a dry period, total nitrogen was determined as 21.932 mg/L, at the end of a rain event 9.56 mg/L was recovered, and during an extended wet period without major rainfall, a value of 18.26 mg/L was found. The lower value associated with the rain event suggested dilution of a ground water source. The proximity of the retired Accomack County Landfill upstream of the site triggered a …

Water Quality In Southern Accomack County Watersheds, Richard A. Snyder, Paige G. Ross

Reports

Expansion of poultry grow out houses in Accomack County, VA has raised concerns for water quality impacts both seaside and bayside where harvesting marine resources and aquaculture operations may be affected. The dust and litter from the poultry houses are potential sources of nitrogen, phosphorous, and fecal contamination to watersheds and receiving waters. Siting regulations, storm water controls, and management of litter storage and handling are designed to limit these impacts, yet no analysis has been implemented to verify the efficacy of these protective measures. This investigation sampled watersheds after a 2 week dry period prior to a storm event …

Leds To Replace Fluorescent Tubes For Growth Of Cultured Algae, Grace Alego, Christopher Bentley, Rebecca Smith, Darian Kelley, Richard Synder

Reports

Fluorescent bulbs are widely used for algal culture stocks and production in aquaculture operations. Metal halide lamps are also used for production tanks with significant electricity demand and heat production. LED technology promises lower operational costs with less energy waste as heat for equivalent light energy production. Re-tooling algal production facilities with new LED fixtures incurs significant expense that must be recaptured in savings over time. The initial cost, added to concerns over the unknown response of algae to LED light sources may both be factors inhibiting incorporation of this new technology. LED replacement tubes are available to retrofit fluorescent …

Recruitment, Substrate Quality And Standing Stock Monitoring In Support Of Noaa-Acoa Oyster Restoration Projects In The Great Wicomico, Rappahannock, Piankatank And Lynnhaven River Basins, 2004-2006 : Supplementary Materials, Mark Luckenbach, Paige G. Ross

Reports

Many factors affect the success of oyster restoration efforts. This supplemental report details the VIMS effort under this NOAA-funded program to monitor some of those factors in the Great Wicomico, Rappahannock, Piankatank and Lynnhaven Rivers. Specifically, it details monitoring of (1) oyster settlement at two reefs in each of those tributaries from May to November from 2004 – 2006, along with additional widespread recruitment monitoring in the Lynnhaven River in 2005 & 2006, (2) substrate condition on the same eight reefs during spring, summer and fall of 2004 – 2006, (3) oyster abundance on Shell Bar reef in the Great …

Distribution, Habitat Characteristics, Prey Abundance And Diet Of Surf Scoters (Melanitta Perspicillata) And Long-Tailed Ducks (Clangula Hyemalis) In Polyhaline Wintering Habitats In The Mid-Atlantic Region: A Comparison Of Shallow Coastal Lagoons And Chesapeake Bay Environs, Paige G. Ross, Mark W. Luckenbach

Reports

To the best of our knowledge there are no published data on sea duck winter habitat use in the higher salinity portion of the lower Chesapeake Bay or in adjacent coastal bays along the Atlantic margin of the Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia) peninsula. Within these regions both SUSC and LTDU have been observed in shallow water environments (Ross, pers. obs.), yet little is known about their habitat use or feeding habits in these areas. Importantly, these two adjacent areas, which are separated by as little as 20 km, differ in several key environmental components.

In this study we documented the …

Population Assessment Of Eastern Oysters (Crassostrea Virginica) In The Seaside Coastal Bays, Paige G. Ross, Mark Luckenbach

Reports

Declines of oyster populations and commercial harvest from the Virginia seaside coastal bays have followed similar patterns, though not as severe, as those in Chesapeake Bay. High prevalence of Dermo disease (Perkinsus marinus) and MSX disease (Haplosporidium nelsoni) coupled with over harvest and habitat destruction have dramatically reduced populations. Nevertheless, there are several promising signs that significant enhancement of the population could be achieved with well conceived restoration efforts. Oyster habitat and population distribution were examined in the coastal bay system on the seaside of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. This system is composed of barrier islands, salt marshes, broad …

Evaluating The Relationship Between Impervious Surfaces Within Watersheds And Coastal Water Quality On Virginia’S Eastern Shore, Mark Luckenbach, Paige G. Ross, Alan Birch, Albert Curry Jr.

Reports

The overall objective of this research is to determine the relationship between the percent of a watershed covered by impervious surfaces and water quality in tidal creeks on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in an effort to provide local governments and citizens guidance in developing zoning plans. Our specific objectives were to:

(1) Determine the relationships between percent impervious surface in a watershed and concentrations of suspended sediments, nitrogen, phosphorus, chlorophyll a and fecal coliform bacteria in tidal creek headwaters;

(2) Examine these relationships with and without the inclusion of tomato cultivation to determine whether it should be included in …

Settlement And Survival Of The Oyster Crassostrea Virginica On Created Oyster Reef Habitats In Chesapeake Bay, Janet A. Nestlerode, Mark W. Luckenbach, Robert J. Diaz

Reports

Efforts to restore Crassostrea virginica oyster reef habitats in Chesapeake Bay typically begin with the placement of hard substrata, such as oyster shell, in the form ofthreedimensional mounds on the seabed to serve as a base for oyster recruitment and growth. A shortage of sufficient volumes of oyster shell for creating large-scale reefs has led to widespread use of other materials, such as surf clam (Spisula solidissima) shell, as a substitute for oyster shell. We monitored oyster recruitment, survival, and growth on intertidal and subtidal reefs constructed shucked oyster and surf clam shell. Results indicate that oyster settlement occurred on …

Annual Report Of The Virginia Institute Of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory 2002, Eastern Shore Laboratory

Reports

No abstract provided.

Comparative Study Of Seed From Northern And Southern Hatcheries, Joshua Merritt, Paige G. Ross

Reports

Seed from Northern and Southern (hereafter called local) hatcheries was procured in May 2000. Oysters delivered by the Northern hatchery were on time and of the desired size ~3mm). Seed from the local hatchery, however, arrived several days later and were too small to go into field nursery containers and were subsequently held in upwellers and then transferred to the field nursery gear. Figure 1 shows growth as measured by mean shell height (mm) for both strains. Note that the local seed took N20 days longer to reach grow-out size (indicated by first sieve).

Population Structure Of The Arkshell Clams Noetia Ponderosa And Anadara Ovalis In The Oceanside Lagoons And Tidal Creeks Of Virginia And Implications For Fisheries Management, Kay A. Mcgraw, Michael Castagna, Sally D. Dennis

Reports

Two species of arkshell (blood) clams, Noetia ponderosa and Anadara ovalis, have · recently been targeted by watermen on the Eastern Shore of Virginia for sale to east coast markets. Until 1991 fishermen caught both species in conjunction with the harvest of oysters and hard clams and considered them of little value. Very little is known about either species, and preliminary data from our pilot study in 1993 indicated that blood clams were being overfished. In September, 1994 we conducted a survey in the oceanside lagoon system along the Eastern Shore and collected data on density, abundance, habitat preference, and …

Preliminary Evaluation Of Water Quality In Tidal Creeks Of Virginia's Eastern Shore In Relation To Vegetable Cultivation, Mark W. Luckenbach, Morris H. Roberts Jr., Keith Boyd

Reports

In response to concerns raised about the impacts of vegetable cultivation using plastic ground covers on water quality, we have initiated a broad-scale, systematic study of water quality in seaside tidal creeks of Virginia' s Eastern Shore. Our objective was to determine if acute toxicity associated with heavy metals or pesticides was more prevalent in tidal creeks with drainage areas which include this agricultural practice than in those which do not. Though such correlations do not confirm cause and effect, they may serve as the basis for future, more targeted investigations and for some immediate changes in land management practices …

Evaluation Of Dredge Fishing Activity On The Seaside Of Virginia's Eastern Shore, December 1994 - November 1995, Mark W. Luckenbach, James E. Wesson

Reports

Dredging has a long history in Virginia's commercial fisheries. In general, dredges are scraping or digging apparatuses that harvest as they are towed behind boats under power. Mechanical dredges have been used with sail power to harvest oysters since the mid- l 800's. Crabs have been harvested by power dredges since at least 1900, while dredge fishing of clams, which reside deeper in the substrate, began somewhat later. Individual crab dredges in Virginia can be a maximum of 8 ft wide and are usually pulled in pairs for a maximum total width of 16 ft. The dredge has a scraping …

Some Observations On Arkshell Clams, Noetia Ponderosa And Anadara Ovalis, And Implications For Fisheries Management, Katherine A. Mcgraw, Michael Castagna

Reports

Two species of arkshell or "blood" clams, "Noetia ponderosa" (ponderous ark) and "Anadara ovalis" (blood ark), have been harvested by watermen on the Eastern shore in Virginia since 1991. There is little information on the life history of these species in Virginia waters. The intensive harvesting of blood clams and paucity of data on important factors such as distribution, densities, growth rates, and size-age relationships present a problem for management of the fishery. The primary purpose of this study is to provide some basic information on blood clams for management of the fishery. We focused on age-size relationships and growth …

Vims Hatchery Operations Manual, Mary Gibbons, Kenneth Kurkowski, Michael Castagna

Reports

No abstract provided.

Manual For Growing The Hard Clam Mercenaria, Michael Castagna, John N. Kraeuter

Reports

No abstract provided.

A Study Of The Commercial And Recreational Fisheries Of The Eastern Shore Of Virginia, Accomack, And Northampton Counties: History Review And Recommendations For Improvements, V. G. Burrell Jr., M. Castagna, R. K. Dias

Reports

No abstract provided.

Economic Potential Of Clam Operation, Michael Castagna

Reports

The following estimates are based on the premise that the clam operation will be in an area where clam culture techniques will work. This means the seawater available t_o the hatchery is of suitable quality for this operation at least during the period that the clam larvae and juveniles are in that system. The food growing method (Glancy method) has been successfully used from Canada to Florida so should not be a problem.

Spawning And Rearing The Bay Scallop Vims Laboratory Methods, Michael A. Castagna, William P. Duggan, David Garten

Reports

No abstract provided.

The Economic History Of The Fisheries Of The Eastern Shore Of Virginia, John B. Pleasants

Reports

The economic history of the Eastern Shore has been greatly affected by both its natural characteristics and its location. Each has had both good and bad effects, with the very advantages carrying with them serious disadvantages in a bewildering juxtaposition. For instance, the sea and bay provide a boundless resource of commercially desirable species, yet lead to isolation from major markets of the area. The very isolation 0£ the Eastern Shore and its low population density lessens the possibility of pollution, thus preserving the environment on which estuarine animals are dependent. (...)

Hard Clam Culture Method Developed At Vims, Michael A. Castagna, Lawrence W. Mason, Fred C. Biggs

Reports

No abstract provided.