Wetland Platform Observations

Seven wetland platforms were constructed in St. Bernard Parish, located 72 km SE of New Orleans in the Breton Sound Basin immediately south of Bayou Terre au Beouf. The area chosen for this study is characteristic of a salt marsh environment; a coastal grassy wetland. Each of the seven transects extends from the marsh channel into the marsh approximately 20 meters.

The following parameters are measured along each transect:

• Marsh Elevation
• Surface and subsurface water level recorders (includes temperature and salinity)
• A YSI probe in the channel measure temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen
• C, N and P (dissolved inorganic and organic) measured in pore waters
• Series of redox probes at 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm to correlate extent of soil reduction
• Measurements of above and below ground productivity and distribution
• Measurements of below ground decomposition (litter bags, cotton strip assays)

In addition, a nearby CRMS site will be used as a secondary check on measurements of channel flow.

This platform was built in collaboration with NGI-LSU Project 04 (Material Exchange).