2.0 METHODS 



2.1 Description of Study Area 



Jonesport, Maine is located 80 km (50 miles) southeast of the Canadian border. The 

 coastline is typified by broad embayments and numerous granite islands (Kelley, 1987). 

 Intertidal flats have formed on the leeward side of most islands (e.g., Beals, Great Wass, 

 and Head Harbor) and other sites protected from oceanic swells (e.g., Machias Bay). The 

 climate is northern temperate with a mean annual air temperature of 43°C and mean annual 

 precipitation of 107 cm (Fefer and Schettig, 1980). Jonesport and the surrounding area lies 

 midway between two esmarine drainage areas, Englishman and Narraguagus Bays, but not 

 within the esmarine mixing zones (0.5 - 25 ppt) of either (NOAA, 1985). It is unlikely that 

 waters surrounding the islands experience salinities lower than 25 ppt even during peak 

 river flows. However, local salinity dilution undoubtedly occurs during periods of high 

 runoff. The principal namral threat to intertidal flats is erosion by storms and ice scouring. 

 Hurricanes and severe storms are infrequent but can result in substantial erosion (Yeo and 

 Risk, 1979). Ice scouring, the chief source of erosion, occurs when ice blocks are pushed 

 across flats by strong onshore winds, by the movement of tides, or during the spring 

 breakup of shorefast ice (Dione, 1969; Gordon and Desplanque, 1983). 



The primary smdy area, Sheep Island, is a 3.9 hectare granite island located 2.3 km 

 southeast of Jonesport (Figure 1-1). Topped with a small copse of trees, it has extensive 

 rocky intertidal habitat with a gravelly sand intertidal flat at its base (Figure 1-2; Figure 1- 

 3). Sheep Island is unpopulated and accessible only by boat. The second study area, Beals 

 Island, is a much larger island (approximately 300 hectares) located 2 km due south of 

 Jonesport (Figure 1-1). It is connected to the mainland by a bridge and to Great Wass 

 Island to the east by a small causeway. The eastern connecting point was obviously once a 

 tidal charmel but has since been filled. The area between Beals and Great Wass Islands, 

 Alley Bay, is now a sand and mud flat (Figure 1-4). The perimeter of the bay is rimmed by 

 riprap on the west and south and by a small pocket marsh, granite outcrops and sand flats 

 on the east. A water treatment facility is present at the northeastern tip of the bay. Easily 

 accessible by car. Alley Bay is a popular spot for digging soft-shell clams and bait- worms. 

 Species of concern in the area include soft-clams, bait-worms, harbor seals, and shorebirds 

 (USFWS, 1980). 



2.2 Project History 



The primary study site is an intertidal mud flat constructed with dredged materials 

 on the west side of Sheep Island (Figure 1-2). The constructed flat and an adjacent area of 

 gravelly intertidal sands (reference area) have been sampled to characterize changes in 



Ecological Monitoring of a Constructed Intertidal Flat at Jonesport, Maine 



