Techniques for restoration of disturbed coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes
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Published source details
Wilcox D.A. & Whillans T.H. (1999) Techniques for restoration of disturbed coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes. Wetlands, 19, 835-857.
Published source details Wilcox D.A. & Whillans T.H. (1999) Techniques for restoration of disturbed coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes. Wetlands, 19, 835-857.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Lower water level to restore degraded freshwater marshes Action Link |
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Lower water level to restore degraded freshwater marshes
A before-and-after study in 1993–1996 of a lakeshore marsh in Ohio, USA (Wilcox & Whillans 1999) reported that over a year of drawdown, the area of emergent vegetation increased. In 1993, two years before drawdown, the marsh was mostly open water with only 10% covered by emergent vegetation stands. In 1996, after approximately one year of drawdown but before any other interventions were carried out, 73% of the marsh was covered by emergent vegetation stands. Colonizing vegetation included several herbaceous wetland species, wind-dispersed woody species, and some upland herbs (not quantified). Methods: In 1995, an embankment was constructed across the mouth of Metzger Marsh to replace a natural barrier beach that had disappeared in the 1970s. The embankment separated the marsh from Lake Erie and caused a decline (drawdown) of the water level in the marsh. Vegetation was surveyed before (1993) and after (1996) drawdown (further details not reported).
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
