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SESSION 25
Wetland Management Monitoring, Part 2
Chair(s): Nancy Read
#1 - 10:45 AMIMPLICATIONS OF THE CLEVELAND METROPARKS WETLAND CONDITION ASSESSMENT FOR URBAN WETLAND CONSERVATION AND RESTORATIONDurkalec M., Division of Natural Resources, Cleveland Metroparks, 4500 Valley Parkway, Fairview Park, Ohio 44126 USA
; Weldon C., Division of Natural Resources, Cleveland Metroparks, 4500 Valley Parkway, Fairview Park, Ohio 44126 USA; Mack J.*, Division of Natural Resources, Cleveland Metroparks, 4500 Valley Parkway, Fairview Park, Ohio 44126 USA; Bishop J., Penn State Cooperative Wetlands Center, 302 Walker Bldg., University Park, PA 16802 USA
Abstract: Cleveland Metroparks is a 90 year old park district with over 21,000 acres of land in five counties surrounding greater Cleveland, Ohio. Wetlands were assessed with a probabilistic study design in 2005 and 2006 and used the Landscape Development Index (LDI) and the Ohio Rapid Assessment Method for Wetlands v. 5.0 (ORAM) as assessment tools. The results confirmed conclusions of prior studies in Ohio that ORAM is a useful tool for assessing wetland condition that is unbiased by hydrogeomorphic class or dominant vegetation. Similarly, the LDI was useful at evaluating wetlands at the population level but was a poor predictor of individual wetland condition. Across Cleveland Metroparks land holdings, 15.9% of wetland were in poor condition, 23.0% were in fair condition, 46.7% were in good condition, and 14.4% were in very good condition. Similar proportions of poor, fair, good and very good wetlands were obtained using the LDI. Shape of park (long v. square) and size (big v. small) was a significant factor in explaining proportions of high quality wetlands with big square parks > big long parks > small square parks > small long parks, in terms of numbers and acreage of high quality wetlands. Land use trends showed that if land use intensity was high with 100 m of the wetland, no very good quality and only a few good quality wetlands were observed. But, when land use intensity was very high within 4000 m of the wetland, but low closer to the wetland, many good and some very good wetlands were persisting. With 30% of its wetlands in poor to fair condition (10% of wetland acreage in park), substantial restoration potential exists within the generally urbanized region of the park system. Data collected here confirms that large blocks of land (>400 ha) have higher proportions of high quality wetlands, but that even within developed landscapes, a significant wetland resource can persist in smaller urban wildlands.
#2 - 11:00 AMASSESSING THE SUCCESS OF WETLAND CONSTRUCTION IN ALBERTA?S OIL SANDS: MARSH VEGETATION AS A RECLAMATION TARGETRaab D.*, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
; Bayley S. E., University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
Abstract: Oil sands mining in Alberta destroys vast tracts of pristine boreal forest which must be reclaimed after the mining is completed. The undisturbed landscape prior to mining is composed of 30-60% wetlands, mostly peatlands. Thus far, wetland reclamation efforts have constructed a few small shallow subsaline marshes; however, future constructed wetlands are projected to cover 450 km2 of the post-mining landscape. Regulators require a way to assess the health of these extensive areas of constructed wetlands. Wet meadow and emergent plant communities are often good indicators of marsh health, thus we undertook a comparison of the plant community in oil sands constructed marshes and natural reference marshes ranging in salinity from fresh to subsaline. Understanding changes in vegetation across a range of salinity is essential to determining whether the communities assembled in constructed marshes are impaired. We surveyed vegetation in 45 wetlands: 25 boreal marshes unaffected by development and 20 reclaimed marshes (half physically disturbed, half physically/chemically disturbed with pollutants from the mining process). Aboveground biomass was significantly higher in reference wetlands (ANOVA, p<0.01), and community composition in the wet meadow was significantly different among the three pond types (MRPP, p<0.001). NMS ordination of wet meadow percent-cover revealed that reference sites had greater density of the sedge Carex atherodes, whereas physically and chemically disturbed oil sands sites had higher densities of invasive terrestrial species. Such aspects of the marsh vegetation community show promise in indicating reclamation success in the oil sands.
#3 - 11:15 AMWETLAND DEFICIT IN THE CANADIAN TAR SANDS: ARE RECLAIMED WETLANDS GOOD ENOUGH?Rooney R.C.*, University of Alberta, Biological Sciences, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9
; Bayley S.E., University of Alberta, Biological Sciences, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9
Abstract: Extensive wetland loss (~150 000 acres) is occurring in the Athabasca oil sands region of boreal Alberta, where the landscape consists of 30-60% wetland, primarily peatland. As of 2006, 413 km2 of land were destroyed, and another 932 km2 were slated for destruction. Reclamation materials (overburden and tailings) used to build the post-mining landscape are salty, thus industry is creating sub-saline shallow water marshes to meet its legislated obligations. This is one of the world’s largest wetland reclamation projects, yet no method for assessing the health of reclaimed wetlands is in place. Certification of reclaimed areas must be based on sound methods, thus an evaluation tool is urgently needed. We examined submersed aquatic macrophyte communities (SAV) in 45 wetlands ranging in conductivity from ~200 to >6000 μS cm-1 to identify Performance Indicators suitable for inclusion in a plant-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI). Ten of the wetlands were constructed using materials contaminated by the oil extraction process, ten were constructed, but free of hydrocarbon contaminants, and the remaining 25 were naturally occurring sub-saline boreal wetlands from within protected areas. SAV community composition within these categories differed significantly with NMS ordination indicating that Chara spp. has a higher relative abundance in constructed wetlands, while Certaophyllum demersum has a higher relative abundance in natural wetlands. Community changes are correlated with environmental variables including salinity, nutrient content, and turbidity. Preliminary results suggest SAV will be useful in developing a plant-based IBI for the oil sands area.
#4 - 11:30 AMPRELIMINARY STUDIES ON INVASIVE ISLAND APPLESNAILS (POMACEA INSULARUM) IN SOUTHERN LOUISIANA.Carter J*, U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, LA, 7006
; Jenkins J, U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, LA, 7006; Broussard L, U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, LA, 7006; Wells C, U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, LA, 7006; Merino S, IAP Inc. Lafayette, LA, 70506, USA; Theall E, IAP Inc. Lafayette, LA, 70506, USA; Olivier H, IAP Inc. Lafayette, LA, 70506, USA
Abstract: The island applesnail (Pomacea insularum) is an aquatic snail indigenous to South America. Recently they have been found in the vicinity of Gretna, Mandeville, and Shriver, Louisiana, and we expect their range to expand. Applesnails can have profoundly negative impacts on freshwater ecosystems by removing vegetation and out-competing native snails. Our objectives are (1) predict spread and (2) investigate mechanisms for snail control in natural communities, such as marshes and swamps. To predict which refuges, parks, and management areas are at risk to invasion, we are combining a cold-hardiness map and GAP Analysis map. To provide information useful for management, we are conducting experiments on physical, chemical, and biological control methods. Below are our preliminary results.
Physical Control: Knocking egg masses from where they are laid into water is an often used control method. Our experiments show many eggs hatch after this treatment; hence this method may be ineffective. Crushing may be more effective.
Chemical Control: Two commercial molluscicide formulations, one a saponin and the other a niclosamide, were effective against adults but didn’t harm red swamp crayfish, (Procambarus clarkii) at concentrations effective against the snails. Spraying the mollusicides on the egg masses did not kill them.
Biological Control: In experiments, newly hatched applesnails were consumed by crayfish establishing crayfish as a potential biological control agent.
These preliminary results suggest that an integrated pest-management approach may help control island applesnails; however, additional laboratory studies and field-testing are needed.
#5 - 11:45 AMMOSQUITOES AND WETLANDS - RESOURCES AVAILABLERead N*, MMCD, 2099 University Ave W, St. Paul, MN 55104 USA
Abstract: Issues about mosquitoes and wetlands have been around for hundreds of years, but the 1999 arrival of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the US renewed interest in this area. This presentation gives a brief overview of basic ecology of various types of mosquitoes and how that relates to natural and constructed habitats. For WNV, differences in vector species habitat preferences have been reflected in different disease dynamics. For example, in the Chicago area, dry conditions favor standing water in concrete stormwater structures, providing habitat for Culex pipiens, an efficient WNV vector. In contrast, Colorado and surrounding areas had high disease transmission from Culex tarsalis produced in large shallow irrigated areas or natural wetlands. Abandoned swimming pools from foreclosed homes provided a vector habitat source in southern CA and AZ.
Wetland professionals dealing with restoration projects may need to consider how mosquito-related concerns factor in to overall plans. Design choices can affect likelihood of providing habitat for vector species. Modification of hydroperiod or vegetation may be considered, or biological or other control options (described in this talk) could be included in a maintenance plan.
The SWS ad hoc West Nile Virus committee worked 4 years to describe issues and options for wetland professionals and list resources available, and the resulting White Paper was distributed to the membership for comment in April 2008. Other resources include the recent EPA Stormwater Wet Pond and Wetland Management Guidebook, as well as local guides such as the Minnesota PCA Stormwater Manual.
