{"id":29631,"date":"2018-06-25T12:05:23","date_gmt":"2018-06-25T16:05:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fondriest.com\/news\/?p=29631"},"modified":"2024-10-28T11:25:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T15:25:14","slug":"dont-worry-mad-scientists-have-been-monitoring-and-restoring-ohios-wetlands-and-streams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fondriest.com\/news\/dont-worry-mad-scientists-have-been-monitoring-and-restoring-ohios-wetlands-and-streams.htm","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t Worry: MAD Scientists have been monitoring and restoring Ohio\u2019s wetlands and streams!"},"content":{"rendered":"

He doesn\u2019t have crazy hair. He doesn\u2019t walk around in broad daylight wearing a white lab coat. But Mark Dilley and his wife Chris Dilley are MAD Scientists all the way. And they\u2019re both working hard to track the health of Ohio\u2019s waters and even help to restore them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Their company, MAD Scientist Associates<\/a>, does not refer to experiments involving lightning, reanimation and a remote German castle. \u201cMAD originated with my initials,\u201d Mark explains. \u201cHowever, it also stands for Making A Difference, which we always try to do for our clients and the environment.\u201d MAD Scientist Associates is an ecological and wetland consulting firm, dealing with issues such as permits, ecological surveys, plant inventories, and site monitoring. It is a woman-owned business (a true \u201cMom and Pop Shop\u201d small business) that is in its 20<\/span>th<\/span> year of successfully serving a broad range of clients that need environmental services. Chris is the company\u2019s CEO, and Mark serves as Chief Scientist and Project Manager. Together, they have grown their staff to include a variety of specialists that bring many environmental certifications and extensive ecological and wetland experience to their team.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to his role as Chief Scientist, Mark is a Professional Wetland Scientist, Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner, Chair of the Ohio Biological Survey<\/a> and President of the Ohio Wetlands Association<\/a>. He holds a BS degree in natural resources (with a specialization in fisheries management) and an MS degree in environmental science from The Ohio State University. Chris, who is pursuing her MBA, is also an OSU graduate. She began her career at Battelle in Columbus, Ohio. In recent years, she has become a very active member of the North American Woman-owned Business Organization (NAWBO) and has obtained WBENC, WOSB, and EDGE certifications for MAD Scientist Associates. She has taken on her leadership role with vigor and is responsible for planning for the growth and sustainability of the company.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many facets of their business directly relate to water quality, including biological assessments in streams and the wide variety of wetland services they offer. The MAD Scientist Associates team uses a YSI ProQuatro Multi-Parameter Water Quality Meter<\/a> as their go-to piece of equipment. They monitor water for basic parameters, including dissolved oxygen, pH and conductivity. \u201cMeasuring conductivity and other biological water quality parameters is required when we do electrofishing,\u201d he notes. The team also monitors for turbidity and nitrates and may collect samples for laboratory analysis of dissolved reactive phosphorus, total phosphorus and other analytes.<\/span><\/p>\n

For performing biological assessments on rivers and streams, the MAD Scientist team follows Ohio EPA protocols. \u201cMost recently, we\u2019ve completed fish sampling on the Olentangy State Scenic River as part of my re-certification as a Level 3 Qualified Data Collector with Ohio EPA. As a Level 3 QDC, the data I submit to the agency is deemed to be suitable for inclusion in Ohio EPA\u2019s dataset,\u201d Mark mentions. \u201cWe\u2019ve also sampled fish and invertebrates in Big Darby Creek as part of an Ohio Department of Transportation environmental study for a bridge replacement over this State Scenic River.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough we offer a wide variety of services, a major focus for us is wetlands,\u201d he says. \u201cWe do delineation, assessment, permitting, monitoring and design as well as public education. And we are attracting more and more wetland restoration projects, which is work that we find particularly rewarding. On these types of projects, we\u2019re involved in site assessment and design and, if we\u2019re lucky, we also get the opportunity to oversee the construction and get involved in the planting of our wetlands.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"MAD

Jenna Odegard and Joe Bevan monitoring Highlands Park wetland. (Credit: Mark Dilley.)<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

The MAD Scientist team sees huge potential in wetland restoration to improve the health of our watersheds and water bodies, such as Grand Lake St. Marys, Buckeye Lake and the western basin of Lake Erie. Wetlands naturally sequester nutrients, reducing loading to streams, lakes and rivers that are being degraded by eutrophication and harmful algal blooms (HABs). The environmental monitoring they get to do on Ohio\u2019s waters is largely project dependent. \u201cFor the past few years, we did monitoring of a wetland we designed,\u201d Mark recalls. \u201cWe were especially interested in its ability to remove nutrients. Every week we collected a grab sample near the main inflow and outflow of the wetland. These same locations were also sampled during high-flow storm events. We tracked what happened with nutrient concentrations from inflow to outflow and were able to show our client that the wetland was improving water quality, particularly through the reduction of nitrates.\u201d While their team does not typically monitor for <\/span>E. coli<\/span><\/i> or <\/span>fecal coliform<\/span><\/i> bacteria, Mark indicated that studies have shown that wetlands can be an effective tool to reduce <\/span>E. coli<\/span><\/i> concentrations in some areas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mark and his crew routinely complete wetland assessments using Ohio EPA\u2019s Ohio Rapid Assessment Method (ORAM) to determine the appropriate wetland category for regulatory purposes. In certain situations where this rapid (level 2) assessment is insufficient or inconclusive, a more robust level 3 method, such as the Vegetation Index of Biotic Integrity (VIBI), may be necessary. Their company was among the first in the state to be trained in VIBI. This sampling methodology generally consists of establishing a large plot, one-tenth of a hectare (about a quarter acre) in size, across the characteristic plant community of the wetland being evaluated. This plot consists of ten square modules in a long rectangle – two rows of five modules each. Four of the centrally-located modules in the plot are designed as \u201cintensive modules,\u201d where data is collected from three nested quadrats in two corners each intensive module. Data are recorded regarding at what \u201cdepth level\u201d (<\/span>i.e<\/span><\/i>., in which size nested quadrat) each species is first observed and what the percent coverage of each species is within the module. For certain types of wetlands, biomass may be collected from the smallest nested quadrat, which will be dried and weighed back in their office lab.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although not used as frequently as the VIBI, the MAD Scientists will occasionally also complete an Amphibian Index of Biotic Integrity (AmphIBI) for Wetlands, which is another level 3 method. \u201cUsing this method, we would sample with funnel traps three times during the spring and early summer to document the frog, toad and salamander species present in the wetland\u201d he explains. This Ohio EPA methodology was developed primarily for the assessment of forested wetlands containing vernal pools. Vernal pools are small wetlands that are dry much of the year, but come alive each spring, when salamanders and other amphibians use them for breeding.<\/span><\/p>\n

After an evaluation (be it an ORAM, VIBI or AmphIBI), wetlands are assigned various categories based on their quality. A Category 1 wetland is of lower quality, and wetlands in this category are relatively easy to replicate. These are often younger systems, not as pristine or intact as the higher quality wetlands. These wetlands usually show signs of human impact and have minimal natural buffers to protect habitat and water quality. \u201cA good example of a Category 1 wetland is a roadside ditch full of cattails,\u201d Mark says. \u201cThese are common and there\u2019s not a lot of diversity there, though such wetlands still help to improve water quality and protect streams.\u201d At the other end of the spectrum, Category 3 wetlands represent those wetlands that are among the highest quality in Ohio. These tend to be mature forested wetlands with healthy buffers and a general lack of human-induced degradation. \u201cThose have high diversity and are complex systems. A wetland like that is precious. It would be very difficult if not impossible to replace if it were lost,\u201d Mark continues. Fortunately, our state regulations protect wetlands. If one acre of wetland is impacted by a construction project, it must be replaced by up to three acres of new wetland. The difficulty and expense of mitigating impacts to wetlands, particularly those that check out as Category 2 or 3 wetlands, may help to deter developers from disturbing these valuable wetlands in the first place.<\/span><\/p>\n

When wetland impacts do occur, and mitigation is required, the MAD Scientists use these same methods to evaluate wetland mitigation success. \u201cOhio EPA sets target performance goals for our mitigation projects, and we pride ourselves on meeting or exceeding these goals on our restored wetlands,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"MAD

Aaron Laver uses a YSI meter to collect water quality data on a pond in Dublin park. (Credit: Mark Dilley)<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Amphibians are closely associated with wetlands, and Mark and his fellow MAD Scientists have seen some interesting ones over the years. For Mark, one of his most notable encounters was finding marbled salamanders in a South Carolina floodplain when working for a former employer. This black and white patterned salamander occurs in Ohio, but Mark has not encountered one here. \u201cIn Ohio, the state amphibian is the spotted salamander, and it\u2019s fun to find those and observe them in the vernal pools \u2013 that\u2019s when I know spring has almost arrived.\u201d Although Mark missed out, several staff members recently joined in some exploration of the Audubon Society\u2019s Calamus Swamp. On this trip, the team found tiger salamanders, a species that had never been documented at the preserve. \u201cIt\u2019s rewarding when we discover a previously unknown salamander population like this,\u201d Mark adds.<\/span><\/p>\n

With their work in plant inventories and restoration, Mark and staff sometimes get to find rare plants, too. One interesting find developed out of a project MAD Scientists completed to expand a wetland in Westerville, Ohio. \u201cIt was a wetland restoration project where we needed to excavate the site and add water storage capacity to reduce flooding onto an adjacent property,\u201d Mark recalls. \u201cWhile completing the excavation, we unearthed seeds of the (then) endangered Pale Umbrella Sedge (<\/span>Cyperus acuminatus<\/span><\/i><\/a>), which soon germinated and grew on the newly-shaped wetland edge. It was an exciting and unexpected find.\u201d The story of the Pale Umbrella Sedge has a happy ending: it has since been delisted, as more populations have been found across Ohio.<\/span><\/p>\n

Doing the hard work of restoring wetlands is easier for Mark these days as the MAD Scientist staff has been gradually increasing. \u00a0Chris and Mark now employ six full-time staff, one part-time staff, and four seasonal staff. \u201cWe have paid internships, which we usually fill with undergraduate Juniors or Seniors from Ohio schools like OSU, U. of Cincinnati, Ohio Wesleyan and Otterbein,\u201d Mark adds. MAD Scientist Associates\u2019 office is located in Westerville, Ohio, close to OSU and Otterbein.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the 20 years since MAD Scientist Associates was formed, Mark has seen changes over time in area wetlands. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen increasing variability in wetland hydrology, driven by changing rain patterns with more intense and frequent storms. Due to climate change and \u2018hardening of the watershed\u2019 with increasing development, runoff rates area increased, and the hydrology of wetlands and streams has become more \u2018flashy\u2019 and unpredictable. It makes us think about what we can do to make wetlands more resilient in the face of climate change,\u201d he says. \u201cThe rate of change with temperatures and rainfall patterns is concerning. We worry that species may not be able to adapt to the changes fast enough.\u201d Other wetland professionals share Mark\u2019s concerns: \u201cI watched a webinar put on by the Society of Wetland Scientists in which one of the presenters pitched the idea of wildlife species conservation through what he referred to as \u2018facilitated migration.\u2019 The speaker\u2019s point was that certain vulnerable groups of wildlife, such as amphibians, will be unable to migrate quickly enough to avoid succumbing to extinction in the face of climate-change-induced alterations to their habitats. Therefore, he advocated for capturing and transporting salamanders and frogs in trucks to relocate them northward into zones that will present conditions that are tolerable and necessary to their survival. We hope it\u2019s not going to get that bad, but this is one of the ambitious ideas being discussed as a possibility to maintain species diversity,\u201d Mark muses. \u201cRestoring forests and natural wildlife corridors will also be key to helping out these species so they can move where they need to go to survive. We\u2019re really at a point where we need to get serious about solutions, and we think nature-based solutions are best.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While considering solutions for wetlands and wetland creatures faced with climate change, Mark emphasizes it\u2019s not just the salamanders and frogs that would benefit from a solution. \u201cInvesting in wetlands is really in everyone\u2019s best interest, not just the wildlife. Wetland investment benefits people, too. Whether we are aware of it or not, wetlands make our planet more livable and can improve our health, safety and general quality of life,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

The impact of wetlands was something Mark discovered during the course of his education. \u201cI pursued a fisheries management major for the simple reason that when I was in high school, I enjoyed fishing,\u201d he admits. \u201cWhile in college, I became involved in the Stream Quality Monitoring Program<\/a> through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Through this activity, I became increasingly interested in water quality and soon learned that wetlands were essential for river and stream health. However, over 90% of Ohio wetlands are gone. They have been lost to agriculture and development. That means nature\u2019s filtration system is almost completely gone as well.\u201d Wetlands have been referred to as \u201cnature\u2019s kidneys,\u201d as they excel at removing contaminants from waterways.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wetlands have a profound impact on water quality, and they support an unusually high level of diversity of wildlife compared to other environments. \u201cWetlands are the ecotone between aquatic and terrestrial environments, and they support species from both environments and therefore can be incredibly species-rich,\u201d Mark explains.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"MAD

Mark Dilley explores the Highlands Park wetland with children attending the Westerville Wetland Workshop. (Credit: Jenny Adkins)<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cOne of our most popular projects, one that has had a very high community impact, was our Westerville Wetlands restoration project,\u201d Mark says. \u201cThe City of Westerville received a water quality grant from the Ohio EPA to restore the Highlands Park wetland in Westerville. It was a low, previously farmed area that, due to the failure of the subsurface drainage tiles, was becoming increasing flooded and choked with invasive cattails. When the park and community pool were to be renovated, we recommended moving the soccer fields and new pool back from the wetland to expand and enhance this degraded wetland and make it a central feature within the park. The project was completed in 2013, and the return of the wildlife since then has surprised us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlands Park wetland, which used to have little if any amphibian use, now supports seven species of frogs and toads. \u201cThere is now so much amphibian activity that we have started a program for the City we call \u2018Frog Fridays,\u2019 where local kids come out to the park to learn about the value of wetlands and look for frogs and tadpoles, which they can catch with nets and release after we get a look at them. They had never been able to do that before in the area.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to work the miracle of wetlands restoration at Highlands Park, Mark and his team designed the wetland to take advantage of the pulsing hydrology resulting from the influence of storm drains that flow into the wetland. They also attempted to optimize the water quality treatment function by increasing water storage and extending the residence time of water moving through the wetland. \u201cThe stormwater flows, historically, passed straight across the site and into another pipe at the opposite end, and the residence time just wasn\u2019t long enough. So we excavated the area to form a wide \u2018meandering river,\u2019 which gave the water a longer residence time and created more opportunity for particles to drop out of the water, lowering turbidity. We also took out the invasive cattails, which tend to create an undesirable monoculture that limits diversity. The results speak for themselves: The human community is very happy with the changes, and so is the wildlife.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to monitoring Ohio waters and restoring wetlands, MAD Scientist Associates also provides education services and public outreach. They offer hands-on STEM learning programs with an environmental focus for students, as well as teacher training and curriculum development. Through his role with the Ohio Wetlands Association (OWA), Mark is also helping to develop training materials for the Ohio Vernal Pool Network, a collaboration of OWA and the Midwest Biodiversity Institute. \u201cWe have a goal of developing training materials to help citizen scientists better monitor, protect and advocate for vernal pools in Ohio,\u201d says Mark. \u201cFormal and non-formal educators will be encouraged to join as affiliates and get these materials. We\u2019re hoping to attract a wide variety of educators to enhance this important statewide training project.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The dedicated staff at MAD Scientist Associates truly enjoy their work, and they hope to draw more people to wetlands and wetland education events. Residents near the Highlands Park wetland restored by Mark and his team, for example, have been thoroughly enjoying the return of their wetland. \u201cA local photographer in Westerville told us wading birds were his favorite subject, and that now that the Highlands Park wetland has been restored, he\u2019s seeing these unique and beautiful birds on a regular basis! He has seen great blue herons, green herons and great egrets – often all in the wetland at the same time – and has been just completely delighted that these birds are now showing up near his neighborhood. That\u2019s been very gratifying for our team,\u201d Mark says. \u201cIt\u2019s great to see the public fall in love with wetlands just like we have.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MAD Scientist Associates have been working hard to analyze, protect and\/or restore Ohio\u2019s waters for 20 years and counting. The YSI Pro Plus Multi-Parameter Water Quality Meter has been instrumental in helping them collect quality data.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":29615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,59,5,7,8,510],"tags":[746,744,60,740,109,743,742,745,748,176,747,503,741,749],"class_list":["post-29631","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aquatic_species-htm","category-estuaries-wetlands","category-featured-articles","category-news","category-newsfeed","category-water-quality","tag-amphibian-index-of-biotic-integrity","tag-big-darby-creek","tag-featured","tag-mad-scientist-associates","tag-news-ticker","tag-ohio-biological-survey","tag-ohio-epa","tag-olentangy-state-scenic-river","tag-osu","tag-top-story","tag-vegetation-index-of-biotic-integrity","tag-water-quality","tag-wetland-restoration","tag-ysi-proplus"],"remote_post_permalink":false,"remote_post_featured_image":false,"yoast_head":"\nDon\u2019t Worry: MAD Scientists have been monitoring and restoring Ohio\u2019s wetlands and streams!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"MAD Scientist Associates have been working hard to analyze, protect and\/or restore Ohio\u2019s waters for 20 years and counting. 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