Restoring Texas Coastal Wetlands: Decision Support for the Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Active
Coastal wetland loss is a serious concern along the northern Gulf of Mexico, especially in Texas and Louisiana where rates of wetland loss and relative sea-level rise are among the highest in the world, extreme storms are becoming more frequent, and flooding events are intensifying. Because coastal wetlands of the northern Gulf of Mexico provide numerous ecosystem services, including providing critical habitat for species of concern such as the whooping crane and the mottled duck, federal, state, and local agencies have made significant efforts to restore habitats to increase their resilience to sea-level rise and extreme storm events.
One way to help wetlands adapt to sea-level rise and extreme flooding events is to increase marsh elevation by adding sediment layers using dredged material. Adding dredge material to the wetland surface can immediately increase elevation, improve drainage, and generate conditions that are optimal for plant growth. Although this technique is widely applied, decision makers have identified two key questions to improve the success of these initiatives: how high should marshes be raised, and how long will the effects of restoration last?
This project will address these information needs through a collaborative partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Ducks Unlimited, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Results from this effort will provide restoration practitioners with the information needed to achieve optimal elevation ranges for wetland flooding and improve the likelihood of restoration success. Further, this research will identify the lifespan of these restored wetlands to help managers identify the timeline for adaptive management; for example, when to apply additional sediment in the future as sea levels continue to rise. Together, this information will allow coastal wetland resource managers plan for and implement restoration activities that will result in high functioning coastal wetlands.
- Source: USGS Sciencebase (id: 642481f6d34e370832fe1225)
Coastal wetland loss is a serious concern along the northern Gulf of Mexico, especially in Texas and Louisiana where rates of wetland loss and relative sea-level rise are among the highest in the world, extreme storms are becoming more frequent, and flooding events are intensifying. Because coastal wetlands of the northern Gulf of Mexico provide numerous ecosystem services, including providing critical habitat for species of concern such as the whooping crane and the mottled duck, federal, state, and local agencies have made significant efforts to restore habitats to increase their resilience to sea-level rise and extreme storm events.
One way to help wetlands adapt to sea-level rise and extreme flooding events is to increase marsh elevation by adding sediment layers using dredged material. Adding dredge material to the wetland surface can immediately increase elevation, improve drainage, and generate conditions that are optimal for plant growth. Although this technique is widely applied, decision makers have identified two key questions to improve the success of these initiatives: how high should marshes be raised, and how long will the effects of restoration last?
This project will address these information needs through a collaborative partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Ducks Unlimited, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Results from this effort will provide restoration practitioners with the information needed to achieve optimal elevation ranges for wetland flooding and improve the likelihood of restoration success. Further, this research will identify the lifespan of these restored wetlands to help managers identify the timeline for adaptive management; for example, when to apply additional sediment in the future as sea levels continue to rise. Together, this information will allow coastal wetland resource managers plan for and implement restoration activities that will result in high functioning coastal wetlands.
- Source: USGS Sciencebase (id: 642481f6d34e370832fe1225)