Wetlands

Wetlands PDF

Author: Committee on Characterization of Wetlands

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1995-09-20

Total Pages: 329

ISBN-13: 0309587220

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"Wetlands" has become a hot word in the current environmental debate. But what does it signify? In 1991, proposed changes in the legal definities of wetlands stirred controversy and focused attention on the scientific and economic aspects of their management. This volume explores how to define wetlands. The committee--whose members were drawn from academia, government, business, and the environmental community--builds a rational, scientific basis for delineating wetlands in the landscape and offers recommendations for further action. Wetlands also discusses the diverse hydrological and ecological functions of wetlands, and makes recommendations concerning so-called controversial areas such as permafrost wetlands, riparian ecosystems, irregularly flooded sites, and agricultural wetlands. It presents criteria for identifying wetlands and explores the problems of applying those criteria when there are seasonal changes in water levels. This comprehensive and practical volume will be of interest to environmental scientists and advocates, hydrologists, policymakers, regulators, faculty, researchers, and students of environmental studies.

Tidal Marsh Restoration

Tidal Marsh Restoration PDF

Author: Charles T. Roman

Publisher: Island Press

Published: 2012-08-07

Total Pages: 432

ISBN-13: 9781597265751

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Many coastal tidal marshes have been significantly degraded by roadways and other projects that restrict tidal flows, limiting their ability to provide vital ecosystem services including support of fish and wildlife populations, flood protection, water quality maintenance, and open space. Tidal Marsh Restoration provides the scientific foundation and practical guidance necessary for coastal zone stewards to initiate salt marsh tidal restoration programs. The book compiles, synthesizes, and interprets the current state of knowledge on the science and practice of salt marsh restoration, bringing together leaders across a range of disciplines in the sciences (hydrology, soils, vegetation, zoology), engineering (hydraulics, modeling), and public policy, with coastal managers who offer an abundance of practical insight and guidance on the development of programs. The work presents in-depth information from New England and Atlantic Canada, where the practice of restoring tidal flow to salt marshes has been ongoing for decades, and shows how that experience can inform restoration efforts around the world. Students and researchers involved in restoration science will find the technical syntheses, presentation of new concepts, and identification of research needs to be especially useful as they formulate research and monitoring questions, and interpret research findings. Tidal Marsh Restoration is an essential work for managers, planners, regulators, environmental and engineering consultants, and others engaged in planning, designing, and implementing projects or programs aimed at restoring tidal flow to tide-restricted or diked salt marshes.

Soil Development in Created Salt Marshes; Its Spatial Patterns and Implication for Subsurface Water Flow

Soil Development in Created Salt Marshes; Its Spatial Patterns and Implication for Subsurface Water Flow PDF

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2001

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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We examined soil development trends in a 28-year chronosequence of created salt marshes. Our objective was to determine whether created marshes reach ecological equivalence with natural marshes. Therefore, we studied soil properties that are likely indicators for ecological function. Marsh age is a good predictor of soil carbon and nitrogen levels, bulk density, macro-organic matter dry weight and nitrogen content of the 0 to 10 cm soil depth. Levels equivalent to the average natural marsh are predicted to occur within 22 years. Soil textural changes occur more slowly and are less closely predicted by marsh age. The 10 to 30 cm soil depth of created marshes does not change much with time and does not become equivalent to natural marshes within the time frame of this study. We examined spatial patterns by comparing soil properties 1 m inland from the marsh edge with soil properties 15 m inland. There were no significant differences in the 4-year old marsh but the 11- and 29-year old marshes had higher levels of soil carbon and nitrogen, silt, clay, porosity at the 1 m position than at the 15 m position. Geomorphologic characteristics of created marshes appear to account for this trend. The 29-year old marsh has a gradient in soil morphology and classification from a weakly developed Typic Psammaquent soil 30 m from marsh edge to a Mollic Psammaquent at 15 m to a Mollic Endoaquent at 1 m. Reshaping created marshes to more closely resemble natural marshes would likely enhance soil development and ecological function of the inland part of these marshes. Water tables and hydraulic properties of created marshes were studied to determine if there was greater flushing of nutrients from the soils of created marshes relative to natural marshes. The amplitude of a tidal cycle relative to marsh elevation affects the hydraulic gradients and soil water flux across the marsh. Water tables in salt marshes contiguous with upland areas have higher flux than in marshes without associa.

Building Salt Marshes Along the Coasts of the Continental United States

Building Salt Marshes Along the Coasts of the Continental United States PDF

Author: William Walton Woodhouse (Jr.)

Publisher:

Published: 1979

Total Pages: 100

ISBN-13:

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This is the first comprehensive report on coastal marsh creation in the United States. It provides potential users with an analysis and interpretation of the available information on this subject. The role of marshes, the feasibility of marsh creation, and the effects of elevation, salinity, slope, exposure, and soils on marsh establishment are discussed. Plants suitable for marsh building are described by the major regions. Plant propagation, planting, fertilization, and management of the major plants are discussed. Labor and material requirements for marsh creation are summarized. Keywords: Coastal engineering; Gulf coast; Planting; East Coast; West Coast; Grasses; Wetland plants; Transplantation; Sediment accumulation; Marsh soils; Florida; Marsh building; Marsh vegetation; Stabilization. (EDC)