Restoration of Lake Superior Coastal Wetlands in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula

Transcription

1 Restoration of Lake Superior Coastal Wetlands in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula By James Bess, PhD Candidate School of Forest Resources and Environmental Sciences Michigan Technological University Houghton, Michigan

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4 Marsin Center Sand Point

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7 Figure 1. Diagram of Experimental Design for Coastal Plantings PEAT PEAT PEAT 10 FEET WATERS EDGE NO PEAT NO PEAT NO PEAT UPLAND EDGE PEAT PEAT PEAT NO PEAT NO PEAT NO PEAT PEAT PEAT PEAT 100 FEET NO PEAT NO PEAT NO PEAT PEAT PEAT PEAT WATERS EDGE NO PEAT NO PEAT NO PEAT UPLAND EDGE PEAT PEAT PEAT NO PEAT NO PEAT NO PEAT

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9 Table 1. Seed Mixes Used in Coastal Restoration Project (Marsin and Sand Point). SEED MIXES SEED MIXES Emergent Logs Grams per Log Shrub Zone Logs Grams per Log 1 Acorus calamus 4.0 Aronia melanocarpa Asclepias incarnata 0.5 Cornus stolonifera Calamagrostis canadensis 0.5 Ilex verticillata Carex comosa 4.0 Larix laricina Carex crinita 4.0 Myrica gale Carex pseudocyperus 2.0 Physocarpus opulifolius Cladium mariscoides 5.0 Rosa palustris Eleocharis palustris 4.0 Sambucus canadensis Iris versicolor 5.0 Thuja occidentalis Juncus arcticus 0.5 Viburnum cassinoides Juncus effusus 3.0 Viburnum trifolium Juncus pelocarpus grams 13 Juncus spp. mix 0.5 (1 Ounce) 14 Pontederia cordata Sagittaria latifolia Scirpus acutus Scirpus cyperinus Sparganium americanum Sparganium eurycarpum 5.0 Totals: 54 grams (2 ounces) Wet Meadow Plots Grams per Plot 1 Asclepias incarnata Aster umbellatus Bidens mix Calamagrostis canadensis Carex comosa Carex crinita Carex magellanica Carex projecta Carex pseudocyperus Carex retrorsa Carex scoparia Carex vesicariae Cladium mariscoides Eleocharis palustris Eriocaulon aquaticum Eupatorium perfoliatum Eupatorium purpureum Euthamia gramnifolia Iris versicolor Juncus arcticus Juncus effusus Juncus ensifolius Juncus pelocarpus Juncus spp. mix Lycopus mix Pontederia cordata Sagittaria latifolia Scirpus acutus Scirpus atrovirens Scirpus cyperinus Solidago uliginosa Sparganium americanum Sparganium eurycarpum Thalictrum dasycarpum Triadenum frasieri grams (3.2 ounces)

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20 Figure 2. Percent Cover of Wetland Plant Species at Marsin (2011) Percent Cover of Wetland Vegetation peat no peat Lakeside Middle Upper

21 Figure 3. Diversity of Wetland Plant Species at Marsin (2011). 25 Diversity of Wetland Plant Species peat no peat Lakeside Middle Upper

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31 Figure 4. Percent Cover of Wetland Plant Species at Marsin (2013) Percent Cover Wetland Vegetation peat no peat Lakeside Middle Upper

32 Figure 5. Diversity of Wetland Plant Species at Marsin (2013) Diversity of Wetland Plant Species peat no peat Lakeside Middle Upper

33 Sand Point

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44 Figure 6. Percent Cover of Wetland Plant Species at Sand Point (2011) Percent Cover of Wetland Vegetation peat no peat Lakeside Middle Upper

45 Figure 7. Diversity of Wetland Plant Species at Sand Point (2011) Diversity of Wetland Plant Species peat no peat Lakeside Middle Upper

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49 Figure 8. Percent Cover of Wetland Plant Species at Sand Point (2013) Percent Cover Wetland Vegetation peat no peat Lakeside Middle Upper

50 Diversity of Wetland Plant Species peat no peat Lakeside Middle Upper

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53 Things We Learned Seeds Can Be Used for Coastal Restorations, Even in High Wave Action Areas Certain Plant Species Work Better than Others in Establishing Vegetation Coir and Jute Matting Materials Work Well in Holding Seeds, Peat and Soil in Place Coir Logs are Especially Useful in Lessening Wave Action and Reducing Erosion Cyclical Lake Level Variation Has Strong Effect on Success of Restoration

54 Acknowledgements Michigan Technological University for Providing Starting Funds for this Project; U. S. Environmental Protection Agency: Great lakes Initiative for Providing Additional Funds for My Research; Dr. Rodney Chimner for all of His Help and Advice; Laura Kangas for all of Her Invaluable Help with Collecting and Preparing Seeds, Sorting and Weighing Seed Mixes, and Installing the Restoration; Jennifer Bush, Ellen Beller, Arvo Aljaste, Margus Pessalu and Erin Grupido for their Invaluable Assistance In Moving and Placing Erosion Matting and Collecting Vegetation Data.

55 Questions?