Project Title: Revegetation after runneling
Duration: July – August 2026
Funding Source(s): Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Principal Investigator and contact info: Eleanor Handler, Northeastern University
Email: handler.e@northeastern.edu
Project Description: Runnels, shallow narrow ditches that reconnect tidal hydrology to inundated areas, are increasingly used to restore salt marshes across Massachusetts, with over 150 already dug and many more in planning stages. Unfortunately, not all runnels are equally successful at restoring vegetation to formerly bare areas. In a recent study, runneled sites with limited vegetation recovery had lower redox potential, which typically correlates with elevation. Because elevation was not directly measured in that study, the question remains: Does marsh elevation and associated redox chemistry predict the success of revegetation after runnel installation?
In this project, we’re aiming to test the potential for marsh elevation to predict redox chemistry, sediment organic carbon, and runnel revegetation success. We will combine remote sensing with field sampling of runnel restorations across MA, and we have identified over 100 runneled pools that fit these criteria, including 5 in the Waquoit Bay NERR. We hope our results will provide guidance on site selection for future runnels as their use continues to expand across MA.
