RISING visits Milford Neck Nature Preserve in Delaware

The RISING team recently visited Milford Neck Nature Preserve in Milford, Delaware to test and refine tools for assessing saltwater intrusion across coastal landscapes. The tools have users compare an area’s easily observable vegetation, soil, and hydrology characteristics against rubric-style guidelines to categorize intrusion severity into one of five categories.

Across several agricultural fields and forests exhibiting different levels of intrusion effects, the team tested the tool’s guidelines in terms of comprehension, ability to characterize site intrusion severity, and agreement with subjective field observations.

The visit provided valuable feedback for improving the guidelines, including the importance of where observations are made within an affected area, clearer photos and plant identification resources, and consideration of recent weather conditions. The group also discussed adaptation strategies that may be appropriate as coastal conditions change.

Thank you to our TNC hosts and everyone who joined us and shared their expertise! These field visits help ensure that the tools developed through RISING reflect the conditions landowners and land managers are seeing on the ground.