Volunteer for Community Science Salt Marsh Restoration
About Salt Marsh Restoration
The salt marsh benefits Charleston County in a variety of ways, from being wildlife habitat, to helping keep the water clean, and more. The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium’s Community Science Salt Marsh Restoration and Monitoring Project is designed to engage communities in helping to restore this vital ecosystem.
Volunteers can participate in salt marsh restoration by creating oyster reefs and cultivating and transplanting smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora).
Volunteers also become trained community scientists in data collection methods, including use of the Anecdata© web-based and smartphone app. Through Anecdata©, community members can record, view, and access salt marsh restoration data, such as the number of Spartina seeds collected or number of plants transplanted. Long-term monitoring of the restoration sites is also conducted by community scientists.
Volunteer for Planting
Volunteers will plant germinated Spartina seeds in greenhouses located at both the College of Charleston and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. These events will occur during February and March 2023 in two-hour shifts.
To receive updates about the Community Science Salt Marsh Restoration and Monitoring Project and notifications about upcoming volunteer opportunities, join our email list by contacting E.V. Bell (ev.bell@scseagrant.org).
About the Project
This project is a four-year initiative (2019–2023) supported through a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) grant awarded to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. Partners on this project include the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, South Carolina Aquarium, and Clemson University Cooperative Extension.
Learn About the Salt Marsh Ecosystem
Learn more about the salt marsh ecosystem with this free online course, developed by Clemson University in partnership with the Consortium and SCDNR.