Restoration Ecology

Ecological restoration

to reverse degradation and restore native ecosystem

- restoration to an original pristine condition is rarely possible

- involves compromise between ideal goals and pragmatic achievable goals

Example of sufficient prevention

Regrowth of Vermont's Forests

Superfund

US government program designed to fund the cleanup of sites contaminated w/ hazardous substances (act passed in 1980)

True or False: Richard Nixon was responsible for passing most of the environmental protection laws

True

Wetlands are difficult environments for many species due to

(1) water saturation

(2) in coastal zones, inconsistent water levels and mixing of freshwater and saltwater mixing

ex: Cypress Swamp

Why are wetlands important?

1) wetlands provide food and habitat for our seafood industries

2) Act as natural pollution filters

3) provide storm and flood protection

True or False: Until the 1970s, governments actively promoted the draining of wetlands

True

Clean Water Act of 1970

began protecting streams and wetlands from pollution discharge

Farm Bill (1985)

blocked agricultural subsidies to farmers who damaged wetlands

Wetland loss

involves the conversion of vegetated wetlands to open water

True or False: 90% of wetland loss occurred in Louisiana

True

Explanation: From 1932-2000, LA lost total land equivalent to the size of Delaware

What do hurricanes do to wetlands?

Strong waves break down soft marsh sediment resulting in an influx of salt-water forcing changes in biota

example: Upper Breton Sound and the Chandeleur Islands' landscape completely changed from 1973-2010 after Hurricane Ivan and Katrina

What did Hurricane Ida do to the Barataria Basin?

destroyed 106 mi. of wetland loss

Subsidence

sinking of land resulting from sediment compaction during burial

How does the river periodically switch course?

1. Breaks through a river upstream

2. Establishes a shorter, steeper path to the Gulf of Mexico

3. Abandoned delta lobes are sediment starved and sink

Human Reasons for Wetland Loss

1. Sea level Rise

2. Construction of artificial levees

3. Strip Canal Construction

4. Large Water Control Systems

Construction of artificial levee:

prevents rivers from adding sediment to floodplains during floods resulting in subsidence

Strip Canal construction

results in saltwater intrusion

Example of large river control structures

Old river structure which prevents Red River and Mississippi River from combining (actually helpful)

Nutria rat

brought in for fur trading, consumes wetlands

Costal Wetland Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA)

since 1990, it has authorized 210 projects benefitting over 109,000 acres of wetland habitat

Example of projects done by CWPPRA

Bayou LaBranche Wetlands (1990s): used 2.7 cubic yds of sediment to rebuild

Little Vermillion Bay: used sediment trapping to create terraces which diminished wave action, reducing shoreline erosion