Research & Preservation on Bay Point Island
Current Research Goals
Coastal Field Station
Researchers, faculty, and students, along with citizen scientists and volunteers, based at our Coastal Field Station will collect data and collaborate to better understand the natural processes, habitats, and science of the Island.
The BPIF Coastal Field Station will provide the opportunity of an outdoor laboratory to further research and learn through first-hand experiences, immersing the student in their environment.
Once built, the BPIF Coastal Field Station will foster collaborations with other field stations, state and federal agencies, college and universities, and other organizations, to support critical research, education, and outreach programs. This is a tenet of the Bay Point Island Foundation's mission, to pursue this goal in a manner that supports diversity, inclusiveness, sustainability, and transparency.
Vegetation Monitoring
The vegetation of an ecosystem is an indicator of the health of the habitat, which directly supports the animals that inhabit that area. In support of the preservation plan for Bay Point Island, vegetative assessments are being conducted using a combination of transects and quadrats as sampling methods to document the plant diversity. In addition, observational monitoring is being conducted to continuously add to the Plant Species List for the Island. Representative specimens are being collected, pressed, properly documented, and housed in a herbarium for documentation. A special Invasive Species Watch program is being implemented to document the occurrence and monitor the spread of invasive plants on the Island.
Bird Population Monitoring
Bay Point Island offers a diversity of habitats including the shoreline, wetlands, marsh, and forested areas which host a diversity of bird species. Resident, as well as migratory bird populations depend on Bay Point Island for habitat. A portion of the island’s shoreline has been designated as an Important Bird Habitat; however the Foundation believes that the entire Island is important bird habitat, and therefore is working to develop a strategic plan for bird monitoring and habitat preservation.
Preliminary monitoring has already revealed numerous species of birds that depend on Bay Point Island for habitat, including the threatened Red Knot (Calidris canutus) and Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus). The land that is being utilized by these bird populations is being donated to the Foundation to preserve in perpetuity.
Water Quality Monitoring
Water quality is critical to the ecological health of the Island. Water quality represents the health of the entire watershed. Therefore, it is important to routinely monitor our part of the watershed at Bay Point Island. Water is tested for various pollutants, including bacteria and nutrients, which enter the water through runoff from the land in the region. The Bay Point Island Foundation recognizes the importance of water quality to habitat health and is supporting the development of an on-site lab to test water for same day results. This information will be used to better understand the impacts of upstream runoff from storm events and support the management of the island.
Erosion & Shoreline Monitoring
Barrier islands, including Bay Point Island, are dynamic environments impacted by wind and wave events. Sediment transport and deposition result in the erosion of some areas of shoreline and the accretion of other areas. A robust monitoring project was implemented in November 2021 to track the change in the Bay Point Island shoreline. A series of missions conducted by a licensed drone pilot (in accordance with FAA Part 107 regulations) collected data which was processed and mosaiced using GIS software to analyze and document the growing shoreline in the region of the Important Bird Area.
Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Program
Marine debris is defined by NOAA as any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment. Marine debris routinely encountered along shorelines include plastics, microplastics, metals, rubber, paper, textiles, and derelict fishing gear. All marine debris comes from people. Although there are currently no people on Bay Point Island, the island is significantly impacted by marine debris every day. The debris washing ashore and the litter left by boaters along the beach directly impact the wildlife on the island. The Bay Point Island Foundation has made it a priority to prevent and remove marine debris. In April 2022, the Foundation launched its volunteer Beach Cleanup program tracking the type and amount of debris collected. The Foundation is developing a management plan for the future micro-community members which will prevent the spread of litter and marine debris, and limit the use of single-use plastics.
