Version 3.0 June 2017

Welcome to Paddle for the Edge!

Thank you for volunteering to conduct a survey of the Barnegat Bay’s shorelines. As a citizen

scientist, you become part of a project to collect critical data about current shoreline conditions.

Land and water interact at the edge, sometimes dramatically (think Superstorm Sandy!). The bay’s

shorelines are dynamic habitats, sometimes growing and sometimes eroding. Each shoreline is

different, with the erosional (washing away) and accretional (trapping and accumulating) processes

affected by physical forces (such as storm waves and boat wakes) and even the presence of some living

species.

The data everyone collects will help us monitor the bay’s shorelines and assist planners and resource

managers in many ways — providing information about flooding and storm impacts, predicting how

shorelines may react to sea-level rise, identifying restoration areas, and appraising the recreational,

commercial, and habitat value of our estuaries.

This training manual provides step-by-step instructions about how to collect the data and sample

photos of conditions you might see along the edge. By following the procedures in the manual, you

will help us ensure the quality of the data and its usefulness.

Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have along the way or provide suggestions about

how to improve the training – we value your feedback. We hope you enjoy being a Paddle for the

Edge volunteer. Thanks again, and let’s get paddling!

Sincerely,

The Barnegat Bay Partnership

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Follow these safe practices when paddling in an estuary!

1. Follow all U.S. Coast Guard, N.J. State Police, and local rules and regulations.

2. Always paddle with a buddy! It’s more fun and much safer!

3. Check the weather and know the tide. Don’t go out if weather or current conditions make the

water more challenging than your skill level.

4. Wear your Personal Flotation Device (PFD). (U.S. Coast Guard regulations require all kayaks

to have a life jacket on board.)

5. Make sure you have shore support. Let someone know where you are going, what you will be

doing, how long you expect to be gone, and how many people are in your group. Make sure to

let them know when you come back safely, and what to do if they don’t hear from you by the

expected time.

6. Stay well-hydrated by bringing water or other beverages with you.

7. Have a first aid kit and all necessary safety gear with you and make sure it is easily accessible.

8. Wear clothing appropriate for the weather, temperature, and protection from insects.

9. Never mix alcohol or drugs with any kind of boating.

10. Stay within your skill limits. Make sure you always have enough energy to return to shore.

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How to download the Collector App:

1. Go to the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store;

2. Search for “Collector for ArcGIS” by ESRI;

3. This is a FREE app;

4. Click “Install” to download it to your phone.

ANDROID iPHONE

How to Sign in to the Collector App (Android and IPhone):

1. After registering for a training session, you will receive an e-mail from ESRI with your username

and a link to activate your account;

2. Click on the link to create a password;

3. Your username is included in the e-mail will be: FirstInitalLastName_BBP;

4. After creating your password, open the collector app;

5. For IPhone users, click on “ARCGIS ONLINE”/Android users click “continue” for www.arcgis.com;

6. It will ask you for the username and password that you just created, enter them and click “sign in;”

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How to complete an assigned area using the collector app.

Checklist:

Required safety equipment

Kayaking/boating gear

Smart Phone with Collector App installed

Map of assignment with GPS coordinates

Water

Sunscreen

Instructions:

1. Paddle to the starting point of your

assignment (Provided by BBP).

2. Open the Collector app.

3. It will ask you for the username

and password, enter them and

click “sign in”.

4. After you sign in the home screen will

say “All Maps” and you should see the

Paddle4theEdge2017, click it. “Allow

the app to use access your location if

asked.

5. Once the map is open, there is a +

symbol, click it. iPhone users then

click “Paddle for the Edge Citizen

Shoreline Assessment”

6. The form should appear.

a. Android: You should see a

paperclip symbol. Click this

and choose “camera” to take a

photo of your 10-ft section.

After taking the photo, “click

save”.

b. IPhone: You should see a

camera icon. Click this and

then click “Add” to take a

photo of your 10-ft section.

Click “Take a photo or video”,

then “use this photo” and

finally click “Done”

IPHONE

ANDROID

ANDROID IPHONE

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7. Android and IPHONE:

Click on the Cog symbol and set

location accuracy to 10m with a 5

second streaming interval and OK or

SAVE.

8. Android and IPHONE:

Click the symbol of a man with a

bull’s-eye. This will automatically

insert your GPS coordinates.

IPHONE

ANDROID

IPHONE

ANDROID

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9. Answer all of the questions on the

form as discussed in training making

sure the date is set to the current day.

The last question asks for additional

comments.

10. If you have answered all questions

and have attached your photo, click

the checkmark on Android devices or

“Submit” on IPHONES to save your

point!

a. Android: Check to see if your

photo is attached at the

bottom. IPHONE users can

check by clicking the camera

icon and making sure the

photo is there.

11. Paddle 100ft (approximately 9 kayak

lengths) and repeat steps 5 – 10.

12. Repeat step 11 until you have covered

your assigned area.

13. Paddle home, or enjoy the rest of your

day out on the water!

IPHONE

ANDROID

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How to complete an assigned area using the paper form:

Checklist:

Required safety equipment

Kayaking/boating gear

Clipboard with plenty of paper forms

GPS device (OR camera that uses GPS)

Pen or pencils

Map of assignment with GPS

coordinates

Digital Camera

Water

Sunscreen

Instructions:

1. Paddle to the starting point of your assignment (Provided by BBP).

2. Start to fill out the datasheet.

3. Use your GPS to give you the coordinates of your point.

4. Take a photo of your 10 ft. (3m) survey area. Note down the photo number.

5. Answer all of the questions on the form, each sheet of paper can record 4 points.

6. When you are done, paddle 100ft (approximately 9 kayak lengths), and repeat steps 2 – 6.

7. Repeat step 6 until you have covered your assigned area. Please make sure you take a point

at the beginning and end of your assigned area.

8. Paddle home, or enjoy the rest of your day out on the water!

9. When you get home, e-mail your photos to Paddlefortheedge@gmail.com

10. Then place all of your datasheets into the envelope provided for you.

11. Drop the envelope in the mail or drop it off at the Barnegat Bay Partnership Offices –

Ocean County College, Building #10

PO Box 2001, Toms River, NJ 08754

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Terms and Definitions:

Tidal Cycles - Winds and freshwater input can make determining the tidal cycle in the field deceptive. We suggest using NOAA’s tide charts before you go out. They can be found here: http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.html?gid=82

EDGE PLANTS/TYPES OF VEGITATION:

We are interested in the types of plants that dominate the edge of the marsh.

Trees and bushes are rigid woody plants. Short grasses are less than 6 inches tall. Tall grasses are greater than 6 inches tall. Reedy plants are tall slender leaved plants with rigid stalks. Phragmites is a common reedy

plant.

Ebb Tide - Water

level is receding

Flood Tide - Water

level is increasing

Low Tide

High Tide High Tide

Mean Low Water

REEDY PLANTS

TREES/BUSHES

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EDGE PLANTS/ VEGITATION PERCENTAGE:

Estimate what percentage of the edge is covered with plants.

>75% Vegetated

TALL GRASS (>6in)

SHORT GRASS (<6 in)

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50-75% Vegetated

Mostly bare soil/sand

Mostly Hardened- Has structure at the edge

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SOIL TYPES:

Determine what type of soil dominates the edge.

Sandy- grainy Mucky- smooth, mushy and clay like

BANK HEIGHT:

Estimate the height from the top of the water to the top of the soil on the edge. See image below:

MUSSEL (Geukensia demissa) DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS:

Singles

Bank Height

Bank Height

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Fiddler Crab burrows/Holes in the Marsh:

Crabs you might see:

Clumped

Continuous

Green Crab – (Carcinus maenas) invasive

Spider Crab – (Libinia emarginata)

Luis A. SolÃrzano www.californiabiota.com Joo0ey/flickr

Fiddler Crab (Uca pugnax)

Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus)

Chesapeake Bay Program

MattTillet/flikr

BrianHenderson/flikr

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DITCHES:

Along the edge that you are sampling, have you passed a ditch since your last point?

Bank Shapes:

Undercutting Gradual Slope Perpendicular

SIGNS OF EROSION AND ACCRETION:

Exposed roots of edge plants

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Cantilevered (Undercut) Banks

Chunks or pieces of marsh in the water

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Tiered or Steplike

TYPES OF STRUCTURES:

Riprap

Bulkhead Pier/ Dock

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Gravel/ Cobblestone Unidentifiable/ Remnant

Groin/ Jetty Pilings

Marina Boat Ramp

RobertPittman/flickr

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Other Resources

Weather:

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/home.htm

Tides:

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.html?gid=82