Manager, Natural Resources:
Pete Stafford
The Project
In coordination with the NCDOT, RK&K developed a monitoring and mitigation plan to offset any adverse effects the construction of the new Rodanthe Bridge would have on Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV). The Pamlico Sound is home to the largest contiguous seagrass beds on the east coast north of Florida.
RK&K staff collected baseline data for multiple years pre-construction, during the growing season to determine SAV presence/absence, present cover, and species composition and distribution. We also collected aerial photography of the SAV beds using Unmanned Aerial Systems.
GIS was used to delineate changes to SAV beds as compared to pre-construction. Analysis included ground-truthing and species percent cover and composition/distribution.
