Marsh Modeling Community of Practice
About the Project
Coastal marshes provide critical ecological, economic, and social benefits, but they face increasing pressures from sea-level rise, changing sediment dynamics, land use, and other environmental stressors. Marsh models are valuable tools for exploring how these ecosystems may respond under different future conditions, helping researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers evaluate restoration strategies, assess vulnerability, and support long-term coastal planning.
As the use of marsh models continue to expand, so does the need for stronger collaboration among the people who develop, apply, and rely on these tools. The Marsh Modeling Community of Practice (CoP) was established to foster that collaboration by bringing together model developers, scientists, natural resource managers, restoration practitioners, and other coastal professionals to share knowledge, identify research needs, and improve the accessibility and application of marsh models.
Led collaboratively by NOAA’s National Center for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), The Water Institute, and the Mississippi State University’s Program for Local Adaptation to Climate Effects (PLACE), the CoP advances the use of marsh models for coastal decision-making by providing a nationwide network for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and resource development. The CoP also directly supports the Coastal Ecosystem Prediction System (CEPS) by connecting model developers and end users to co-develop standardized data resources, tools, and modeling approaches that improve how marsh change is predicted, communicated, and applied in coastal planning and management.
Through webinars, working groups, newsletters, collaborative tools, and shared resources, the CoP provides opportunities for members to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and strengthen the science and practice of marsh modeling across disciplines and regions.
Connect with the Community
Whether you’re looking to stay informed, explore marsh modeling tools, or contribute your own expertise, these resources will help you get started.
Join our Listserv
Stay up to date on webinars, newsletters, funding opportunities, and Community of Practice activities
Explore the Coastal Ecosystem Prediction System
View the Project Explorer for the data library, models, and tool
View the NOAA NCCOS Project Page to Learn more about the framework and approach
Build Better Tools Together
Share your work, datasets, and management perspectives to help inform marsh modeling products and applications.
Working Groups
The Marsh Modeling Community of Practice is built around collaboration and shared learning. Working groups provide opportunities for community members to engage more deeply on specific topics, contribute their expertise, and help advance priorities identified by the broader marsh modeling community.
Each working group brings together researchers, model developers, resource managers, and other coastal professionals to address key challenges in marsh modeling. Members of the CEPS Project Team actively participate across groups, helping ensure that community needs and user perspectives inform the development of data resources, tools, and modeling approaches.
Participation in working groups is open to all members of the Community of Practice. Complete the online interest form to join one of our working groups. As community priorities evolve, additional groups may be developed to address emerging needs.
Marsh Model Application Working Group
Understanding how marsh models are used in practice
This group focuses on the connection between model developers and end user by exploring how marsh models are currently being applied in research, management, and restoration. Current efforts include a community survey to better understand user needs, applications, challenges, and opportunities to improve model accessibility and communication.
Help Inform the Future of Marsh Modeling:
[Take the Marsh Model Applications Survey]
Want to share this opportunity with your colleagues?
State of science working group
Advancing understanding of marsh modeling approaches
This group synthesizes current marsh modeling science, identifies emerging trends and research gaps, and works collaboratively to improve understanding of available modeling approaches and opportunities for future development.
retrospective working group
Learning from past applications of marsh models
This group examines previous applications of marsh models to identify lessons learned, best practices, and opportunities to strengthen future use of models in coastal decision-making.
Meet the Steering Committee
Jacob Boyd
Salt Marsh Program Director | North Carolina Coastal Federation
Mary Schoell
Coastal Scientist | Woods Hole Group
Ian Miller
Coastal Hazards Specialist | Washington Sea Grant; University of Washington
Karinna Nunez
Senior research scientist and geospatial modeling | manager center for coastal resources management; Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary
Kristen Goodrich
Coastal Training and Engagement Program Coordinator | Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
Nina Davis
Habitat Resilience Specialist and Extension Associate | Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center, PLACE
Resources
Community of Practice Kick-Off Webinar
Meet the Team: Coastal Ecosystem Prediction System
By the Numbers: Measuring our Impact
read our newsletters!
Partners
