“Paddle for the Edge” is a community-science program developed by the Barnegat Bay Partnership to collect data on marsh edge conditions in the Barnegat Bay. The program involves trained volunteers kayaking (or paddle boarding) to assigned sections of the bay and using a smartphone app to take photos of various parameters that highlight the stability or vulnerability of the marsh edge. After reviewing the data, it is published on a web portal where restoration managers can filter the data according to their needs to help identify areas in need of restoration.

Samantha started out as a volunteer with the BBP after graduating from Unity College with a B.S. in Marine Biology. After assisting with eel monitoring and juvenile fish sampling, she soon returned to Unity to get her Master’s in Natural Resource Management. She officially joined the BBP team as a Field and Lab Technician in the spring of 2020, and has enjoyed working on a variety of projects, including stream crossing assessments, water-quality monitoring, and wetlands work. Sammie took her knowledge of water-quality instruments to the NJDEP lakes program in 2021, where she performed routine water-quality monitoring and physical habitat assessments. Shortly after returning to the BBP, she transitioned into her current position, where she continues to monitor both coastal and inland habitats as well as run the community science program, Paddle for the Edge.