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15th annual conference on Wetlands restoration and creation
Conference reports Creating and restoring wetlands 15th Annual USA, 1S-20
Conference May 1988
on Wetlands
Approximately 230 participants from the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico and Taiwan attended this conference, which was sponsored by the Hillsborough Community College, Institute of Florida Studies. It is the purpose of this annual meeting to provide a forum for the exchange of research and information pertaining to the restoration, creation and management of freshwater and coastal wetland systems. Participants attending included wetland biologists, hydrologists, environmental engineers, environmental attorneys, planners and educators. The conference was organized around two days of papers, a keynote address, poster sessions and site visits. While most papers dealt with specific projects located in the north-eastern and south-eastern United States, the information contained in these papers had broad applicability. Papers on the first day of the conference dealt with such topics as mitigation, management, mosquito impoundments and saltwater wetlands restoration. Topics on the second day included aquascapfreshwater restoration/ ing and reclamation. Papers included in this review are intended to illustrate the variety and scope of topics of the 23 papers presented at this meeting.
Mitigation
design method
In their presentation. K.M. Berg and J.A. Prokes described a mitigation design method which was developed to expand the functional quality of created wetlands through diversification of habitat design. This method was introduced to offset the loss of 2.2 acres of emergent wetland which was being impacted as a result of a 150 acre development in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA. Because of a Michigan state 2: I mitigation ratio
84
Restoration
and Creation,
Tampa,
FL,
requirement, 4.4 acres of wetland habitat containing three individual vegetational communities were successfully designed and created. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is currently developing a comprehensive database which describes the area1 extent and distribution of coastal wetlands throughout the USA. Data are being developed using a systematic grid sampling procedure on wetland maps produced by the National Wetlands Inventory of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Fifteen habitat types are recorded by NOAA in 45 acre cells on each map, and the data are input to a microcomputer for proccssing and manipulation. Digitized study area boundaries can be intersected with the grid sampled to produce acreage summaries an d colour maps for specific units of interest. In his paper D.W. Field summarized the distribution and areal extent of coastal wetlands of 164 counties and 23 estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico region using the NOAA database. W. Lindeman and J. Wilt, Jr, rcported on a highway construction mitigation project in Florida, USA. They detailed the results of a six-year monitoring effort of a black rush (Jl4ncu.s roemtrif4nlr.s) revegetation project. It was their conclusion that the elevation was the critical factor in the SUCCESSof this marsh revegetation effort, The creation and restoration of wetlands through mitigation banking in association with the US Federal Section IO/404 regulatory process was discussed by C. Short. Section 404 provides federal agencies with greatly expanded permit authority over dredging, filling or other activities that may impact navigation of any waters. MS Short defined the characteristics of
a mitigation bank as mitigation activities which occur prior to the project impacts for which they serve as mitigation. A credit and debit procedure should be used to define the credits available from the mitigation bank and the project-related losses that will be charged against the credits within the bank. Although the use of mitigation and mitigation banks has met with some controversy, MS Short believes that they provide an opportunity to learn more about predicted v actual gains in habitat value with wetland creation and restoration projects. A paper by W. Miller discussed guidelines for the successful planting of aquatic plants in small lakes and ponds which are created for stormwater management. These guidelines would ensure that the installation of plants is ecologically functional, as required by regulatory agencies, and aesthetically appealing as d&red by land developers. Project success is dependent upon a number of factors including: plant size; planting density and depth; hydroperiod; and surrounding environmental and human impacts.
Reclamation
and revegetation
The results of a monitoring programme for six reclamationirevegetation projects were discussed by W.H. Hawkins and K.J. Ruesch. These projects resulted from phosphate mining activities in Central Florida, USA. Projects ranged from a I acre plot to a 74 acre floodplain with associated wetland system. Revegetation and monitoring techniques were discussed. Data collected were used to calculate tree survival, tree density, percent of crown cover, tree height, diversity indices and Morisita’s similarity indices. Current data indicate that the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation’s success criteria are being met. The keynote address was presented by Bill Kutash of the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation. Mr Kutash discussed the Florida Pollution Control Recovery Trust Fund. Monies for the Trust Fund are obtained from fines assessed to comindividuals. etc, who have panies,
LAND USE POLICY January
1989
violated Florida’s pollution laws. These monies are then used to fund restoration or reclamation projects. Specifically Mr Kutash addressed how the fund was set up: how it works; to what projects it applies; and how these projects might be implemented in other areas. ~ov~rilinenta~ agencies, corporations and ~ndi~ri~iuaIs participated in poster sessions during the first day of the conference. Topics presented during poster sessions included individual research/restoration projects, inFormation on available equipment used in restoration work and information on corporations and their services. On the final day of the conference
participants had the option of attending field trips which examined Tampa Bay, Florida area restoration sites. Participants could choose from freshwater projects which were restored by Biological Research Associates or coastal projects which were restored by Mangrove Systems. Inc.
Proceedings, which contain complete papers presented at this meeting, should be published in March 1989. These proceedings, written in English, are available from Hillsborough Community College, Institute of Florida Studies, 1206 N Park Road, Plant City, Florida, USA, price $18.00.
Shaping the countryside transport network Transport in the Countryside: A workshop for those concerned to ensure efficient transport provision for rural communities and tourists, Salford, UK, 27 June 1988 County Community Councils, British Rail, National Parks and the Rural Development Commission were represented at a workshop on 27 June 1988, organized at the University of Sal ford by the ~n~~~ronrnent~~l Resources Unit and Countryside Leisure Associates. Colin Speakman, who heads Transport for Leisure and who is a national authority on atl matters transportational, set the scene. We ~rnph~si~ed how the pattern of transport provision had changed over the generations. The same needs continued but could only be satisfied if recreational transport schemes were well planned, well designed and effectively promoted. unfortunately. the 1986 Transport Act has created uncertainty in transport provision through competiton that discourages operators from p~~blishing bus timetables to prevent the opposition from finding out! This accentuates the issues. It also emphasizes the need for ~~~ntir~uing campaigns for publicity, rural transport services and readily accessible information that began in the 1950s. Recreational transport is something apart from that required on a regular,
LAND
POLICY
January
reliable
basis rural communities. British Rail lacking a response that permit it solve some difficulties. Beeching there are enough railways to permit and useful if c~~nlbined coach or services. ~nf~~rt~~nately, ruling passion for costand unless arc local and political it seems that British will he a position change the quo.
BR
Conference May 1988
on Wetlands
Approximately 230 participants from the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico and Taiwan attended this conference, which was sponsored by the Hillsborough Community College, Institute of Florida Studies. It is the purpose of this annual meeting to provide a forum for the exchange of research and information pertaining to the restoration, creation and management of freshwater and coastal wetland systems. Participants attending included wetland biologists, hydrologists, environmental engineers, environmental attorneys, planners and educators. The conference was organized around two days of papers, a keynote address, poster sessions and site visits. While most papers dealt with specific projects located in the north-eastern and south-eastern United States, the information contained in these papers had broad applicability. Papers on the first day of the conference dealt with such topics as mitigation, management, mosquito impoundments and saltwater wetlands restoration. Topics on the second day included aquascapfreshwater restoration/ ing and reclamation. Papers included in this review are intended to illustrate the variety and scope of topics of the 23 papers presented at this meeting.
Mitigation
design method
In their presentation. K.M. Berg and J.A. Prokes described a mitigation design method which was developed to expand the functional quality of created wetlands through diversification of habitat design. This method was introduced to offset the loss of 2.2 acres of emergent wetland which was being impacted as a result of a 150 acre development in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA. Because of a Michigan state 2: I mitigation ratio
84
Restoration
and Creation,
Tampa,
FL,
requirement, 4.4 acres of wetland habitat containing three individual vegetational communities were successfully designed and created. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is currently developing a comprehensive database which describes the area1 extent and distribution of coastal wetlands throughout the USA. Data are being developed using a systematic grid sampling procedure on wetland maps produced by the National Wetlands Inventory of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Fifteen habitat types are recorded by NOAA in 45 acre cells on each map, and the data are input to a microcomputer for proccssing and manipulation. Digitized study area boundaries can be intersected with the grid sampled to produce acreage summaries an d colour maps for specific units of interest. In his paper D.W. Field summarized the distribution and areal extent of coastal wetlands of 164 counties and 23 estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico region using the NOAA database. W. Lindeman and J. Wilt, Jr, rcported on a highway construction mitigation project in Florida, USA. They detailed the results of a six-year monitoring effort of a black rush (Jl4ncu.s roemtrif4nlr.s) revegetation project. It was their conclusion that the elevation was the critical factor in the SUCCESSof this marsh revegetation effort, The creation and restoration of wetlands through mitigation banking in association with the US Federal Section IO/404 regulatory process was discussed by C. Short. Section 404 provides federal agencies with greatly expanded permit authority over dredging, filling or other activities that may impact navigation of any waters. MS Short defined the characteristics of
a mitigation bank as mitigation activities which occur prior to the project impacts for which they serve as mitigation. A credit and debit procedure should be used to define the credits available from the mitigation bank and the project-related losses that will be charged against the credits within the bank. Although the use of mitigation and mitigation banks has met with some controversy, MS Short believes that they provide an opportunity to learn more about predicted v actual gains in habitat value with wetland creation and restoration projects. A paper by W. Miller discussed guidelines for the successful planting of aquatic plants in small lakes and ponds which are created for stormwater management. These guidelines would ensure that the installation of plants is ecologically functional, as required by regulatory agencies, and aesthetically appealing as d&red by land developers. Project success is dependent upon a number of factors including: plant size; planting density and depth; hydroperiod; and surrounding environmental and human impacts.
Reclamation
and revegetation
The results of a monitoring programme for six reclamationirevegetation projects were discussed by W.H. Hawkins and K.J. Ruesch. These projects resulted from phosphate mining activities in Central Florida, USA. Projects ranged from a I acre plot to a 74 acre floodplain with associated wetland system. Revegetation and monitoring techniques were discussed. Data collected were used to calculate tree survival, tree density, percent of crown cover, tree height, diversity indices and Morisita’s similarity indices. Current data indicate that the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation’s success criteria are being met. The keynote address was presented by Bill Kutash of the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation. Mr Kutash discussed the Florida Pollution Control Recovery Trust Fund. Monies for the Trust Fund are obtained from fines assessed to comindividuals. etc, who have panies,
LAND USE POLICY January
1989
violated Florida’s pollution laws. These monies are then used to fund restoration or reclamation projects. Specifically Mr Kutash addressed how the fund was set up: how it works; to what projects it applies; and how these projects might be implemented in other areas. ~ov~rilinenta~ agencies, corporations and ~ndi~ri~iuaIs participated in poster sessions during the first day of the conference. Topics presented during poster sessions included individual research/restoration projects, inFormation on available equipment used in restoration work and information on corporations and their services. On the final day of the conference
participants had the option of attending field trips which examined Tampa Bay, Florida area restoration sites. Participants could choose from freshwater projects which were restored by Biological Research Associates or coastal projects which were restored by Mangrove Systems. Inc.
Proceedings, which contain complete papers presented at this meeting, should be published in March 1989. These proceedings, written in English, are available from Hillsborough Community College, Institute of Florida Studies, 1206 N Park Road, Plant City, Florida, USA, price $18.00.
Shaping the countryside transport network Transport in the Countryside: A workshop for those concerned to ensure efficient transport provision for rural communities and tourists, Salford, UK, 27 June 1988 County Community Councils, British Rail, National Parks and the Rural Development Commission were represented at a workshop on 27 June 1988, organized at the University of Sal ford by the ~n~~~ronrnent~~l Resources Unit and Countryside Leisure Associates. Colin Speakman, who heads Transport for Leisure and who is a national authority on atl matters transportational, set the scene. We ~rnph~si~ed how the pattern of transport provision had changed over the generations. The same needs continued but could only be satisfied if recreational transport schemes were well planned, well designed and effectively promoted. unfortunately. the 1986 Transport Act has created uncertainty in transport provision through competiton that discourages operators from p~~blishing bus timetables to prevent the opposition from finding out! This accentuates the issues. It also emphasizes the need for ~~~ntir~uing campaigns for publicity, rural transport services and readily accessible information that began in the 1950s. Recreational transport is something apart from that required on a regular,
LAND
POLICY
January
reliable
basis rural communities. British Rail lacking a response that permit it solve some difficulties. Beeching there are enough railways to permit and useful if c~~nlbined coach or services. ~nf~~rt~~nately, ruling passion for costand unless arc local and political it seems that British will he a position change the quo.
BR