Wetlands are found on every Continent on earth except Antarctica

Transcription

1 Wetlands are found on every Continent on earth except Antarctica

2 Wetlands make up over 6% of the Earth s surface

3 Wetlands are among the most productive and diverse habitats on Earth

4 Recreation Kids and mud! Hunting Bird watching Boating Fishing Photography Ecotourism

5 Aesthetic appreciation

6 Research

7 Wastewater and polluted water treatment

8 Products Fish Wild rice Clams Hay Algae

9 The 2005 United Nations Millenium Ecosystem Assessment determined that: environmental degradation is more prominent within wetland systems than any other ecosystem on Earth.

10 However, historically we have placed little value on wetlands

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13 In fact, until the Food Security Act was passed in 1985, government programs encouraged draining and filling wetlands to be used for other purposes

14 In 1884, the Oregon State Legislature approved draining wetlands for agriculture. Lake Labish was drained in 1911.

15 Spatial Extent (Acres) Historic Changes in the Spatial Extent of Tidal Wetlands within The Coos River Estuary Tidal Wetlands Historic Assessment Year 86% Loss of Coos Bay Tidal Wetlands (1995)

16 Spatial Extent (Acres) Historic Changes in the Spatial Extent of Tidal Wetlands of Within The Coos Estuary Tidal Wetlands Wetlands Converted for Agriculture Wetlands Filled for Cities, Residences and Industry Historic Assessment Year

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21 Wetlands Introduction What are they? What do they do? How do I know it s a wetland? Estuarine wetlands Restoration???

22 Flow (CFS) Water Cycling Wetlands No Wetlands Days

23 Bank Stabilization Wetland plants have the root structure to hold soil and encourage sediment deposition Wetland plants are the prime contributors to stream bank diversity and therefore breakup laminar flow Absorb and dissipate wave and flood-water energy

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26 Carbon Storage Cool, oxygen depleted, waters results in buildup of organic matter on the bottom of wetlands (ex. peat bogs) Stored carbon can help reduce atmospheric greenhouse gasses

27 How do I know it s a wetland?

28 Wetlands have: Wetland Hydrology Wetland Plants Wetland Soils

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30 Prairie Wetland in Spring

31 Prairie Wetland in Late Summer

32 Interdunal Swale Wetland Highly seasonal hydrology Ponding is gone 13 days after first photo taken A - South Beach, Newport B - Same view,

33 Wetland (Hydric) Soils Reflect prolonged saturation Saturation results in anaerobic (oxygen-deficient) conditions Lack of oxygen leads to physical and color changes that persist, even when soils dry out Wetland scientists use these characteristics to identify hydric soils and evaluate hydrology

34 Wetland Plants Hydrophytes

35 National List of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands: Oregon List published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Available from the Oregon Division of State Lands

36 Plant Indicator Status Indicator Category Symbol Occurrence in Wetlands Obligate Wetland Plants OBL >99% Facultative Wetland Plants FACW 67-99% Facultative Plants FAC 34-67% Facultative Upland Plants FACU 1-33% Obligate Upland Plants UPL <1%

37 Obligate Wetland Plants (OBL) Skunk cabbage

38 Other Obligate Wetland Plants

39 Facultative Wetland Plants (FACW)

40 FACW Pacific willow

41 FACW Meadow Foxtail

42 FACW - FAC Red Alder

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44 Estuarine Wetlands

45 Estuarine wetlands provide a dynamic link between upland watersheds and the nearshore ocean.

46 Estuarine Habitats Salt marshes

47 Estuarine Habitats: Salt marshes Tidal channels:

48 Estuarine Habitats: Salt marshes Tidal channels: 1. Open Water- Subtidal Eelgrass beds

49 Estuarine Habitats: Salt marshes Tidal channels: 1. Open Water- Subtidal 2. Intertidal mudflat Eelgrass beds Intertidal mudflat

50 Estuarine Habitats: Salt marshes Tidal channels: 1. Open Water- Subtidal 2. Intertidal mudflat 3. Channel bank Channel bank

51 Estuarine Habitats: Salt marshes Tidal channels Sandy beaches

52 Estuarine Habitats: Salt marshes Tidal channels Sandy beaches Subtidal and intertidal hard substrate

53 Estuarine Habitats: Salt marshes Tidal channels Sandy beaches Subtidal and intertidal hard substrate Tidal fresh marshes

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55 Tidal Wetland Functions Fish and Wildlife Habitat

56 Tidal Wetland Functions Fish and Wildlife Habitat Juvenile Salmon rearing habitat

57 Tidal Wetland Functions Fish and Wildlife Habitat Juvenile Salmon rearing habitat Foraging Physiological transitions Refuge from predators

58 Tidal Wetland Functions Fish and Wildlife Habitat Juvenile Salmon rearing habitat ~65% of all commercial fish in the U.S. are dependent on estuarine habitats for at least part of their life cycle

59 Tidal Wetland Functions Fish and Wildlife Habitat Juvenile Salmon rearing habitat ~65% of all commercial fish in the U.S. are dependent on estuarine habitats for at least part of their life cycle ~100% of all inshore and nearshore sport fish in the U.S. are dependant on estuarine habitats for at least part of their life cycle

60 Tidal Wetland Functions Fish and Wildlife Habitat Juvenile Salmon rearing habitat Resident and migratory bird habitat

61 Tidal Wetland Functions Fish and Wildlife Habitat Juvenile Salmon rearing habitat Resident and migratory bird habitat *Detrital food web* Primary production Senescence Shredding Colonization/decomposition Defecation/Death Nutrient transformation

62 Tidal Wetland Functions Fish and Wildlife Habitat Floodwater storage

63 Tidal Wetland Functions Fish and Wildlife Habitat Floodwater storage Sediment sink

64 Tidal Wetland Functions Fish and Wildlife Habitat Floodwater storage Sediment sink Shoreline protection

65 Tidal Wetland Functions Fish and Wildlife Habitat Floodwater storage Sediment sink Shoreline protection Water Quality

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68 Converted Salt Marshes Constructed Earth Levees Constructed Earth Levees Converted Salt Marshes

69 Constructed Ditches Constructed Ditches

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71 Undisturbed Salt Marsh Attributes Low Tide MLLW Salt Marsh Mainstem Tidal Channel

72 Undisturbed Salt Marsh Attributes High Tide MHHW Salt Marsh Mainstem Tidal Channel

73 Undisturbed Salt Marsh Attributes High Tide MHHW Extreme High Tide Salt Marsh Mainstem Tidal Channel

74 Undisturbed Salt Marsh Zonation Transitional Zone Mudflat Low and Mid Salt Marsh Mature High Salt Marsh Tidal Inundation Period: High Marsh- Short Mainstem Tidal Channel Low Marsh- Long

75 Undisturbed Salt Marsh Zonation Lower Limit of Emergent Salt Marsh Vegetation Mudflat Low and Mid Salt Marsh Mature High Salt Marsh Transitional Zone Mainstem Tidal Channel

76 Salt Marsh Conversion Low Tide MLLW Grazed Salt Marsh Mainstem Tidal Channel

77 Salt Marsh Conversion High Tide MHHW Extreme High Tide Mainstem Tidal Channel

78 Salt Marsh Conversion High Tide MHHW Extreme High Tide Constructed Earth Levee Converted Seasonally Wet Pasture Dredged Mainstem Tidal Channel

79 Salt Marsh Conversion Low Tide MLLW Constructed Earth Levee Converted Seasonally Wet Pasture Drainage Culvert with Tidegate Open Dredged Mainstem Tidal Channel

80 Salt Marsh Conversion High Tide MHHW Extreme High Tide Constructed Earth Levee Converted Seasonally Wet Pasture Drainage Culvert with Tidegate Closed Dredged Mainstem Tidal Channel

81 Marsh Surface Subsidence Converted Seasonally Wet Pasture (Subsided) Drainage Culvert (re-positioned)

82 Marsh Surface Subsidence Converted Seasonally Wet Pasture (Subsided) Diked Wetland Subsidence: 1. Decomposition of organic peat in soil horizon 2. Loss of sediment inputs from tidal flooding 3. Removal of vegetation by haying or grazing (loss of peat source) 4. Physical compaction (i.e. grazing animals, farm equipment) 5. Soil shrinking from drying of soils

83 Constricted Circulation Subsided Diked Wetland Low Tide MLLW Subsided Marsh Surface w/fresh/brackish vegetation community Leaking or Missing Tidegate

84 Constricted Circulation Subsided Diked Wetland High Tide MHHW Muted Tidal Flooding Subsided Marsh Surface w/fresh/brackish vegetation community Leaking or Missing Tidegate

85 PASSIVE RESTORATION: Subsided Marsh With Levee Removed Low Tide MLLW High Tide MHHW Constructed Earth Levee and Tidegate/Culvert Removed

86 PASSIVE RESTORATION: Subsided Marsh With Levee Removed Low Tide MLLW High Tide MHHW Constructed Earth Levee and Tidegate/Culvert Removed

87 PASSIVE RESTORATION: Subsided Marsh With Levee Removed Low Tide MLLW High Tide MHHW Lower Limit of Emergent Salt Marsh Vegetation Emergent Vegetation Converted to Mudflat

88 PASSIVE RESTORATION: Subsided Marsh With Levee Removed Low Tide MLLW High Tide MHHW Vertical Accretion Over Time Accumulation of Sediment + Organic Material

89 Low Tide MLLW High Tide MHHW ACTIVE RESTORATION: Subsided Marsh With Levee Removed And Sediments Added Dredge Material Fill

90 Undisturbed Salt Marsh Attributes High Tide MHHW Low Tide MLLW Salt Marsh Mainstem Tidal Channel?

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92 South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve South Slough NERR Admin. Boundary Winchester Creek South Slough Watershed

93 Kunz Marsh Dalton Creek Marsh Frederickson Marsh Cox Creek Marsh Anderson Creek Marsh Winchester Creek

94 Kunz Marsh 1996 Kunz Marsh 1997 Kunz High Kunz Mid Kunz Low 1 Kunz Low

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99 Dalton Creek Marsh 1991 Dalton Creek Marsh 2003

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101 Fork Length (mm) Dalton Creek Salt Marsh Coho Growth Rate = 0.44 mm/day Winchester Creek Upland Coho Growth Rate = 0.25 mm/day Winchester Creek Head of Tide Coho /8 3/15 3/22 3/29 4/5 4/12 4/19 4/27 5/4 5/11 5/18 6/2 6/10 6/23 Growth of 0+ coho salmon populations in salt marsh and freshwater stream environments in Error Bars represent 95% confidence intervals for fork length. Juvenile coho salmon growth rates in the constructed Dalton tidal creek and Winchester Creek

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103 N Anderson Creek Marsh 1991 Anderson Creek Marsh 2003

104 South Slough Salmon Rearing Habitat Enhancement Project

105 A1 A1 A2 A3 A4 6 Trees Bottom 29 Bottom 27 Top Top N

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