Restoration of Woody Tidal Swamp on River Deltas

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Over 90% of freshwater and oligohaline tidal swamps have been extirpated in Puget Sound. River Delta Restoration to date has resulted in mud flat and marsh restoration. The combination of low woody debris recruitment, low seed source, and introduced species may prevent the development of tidal swamp similar to reference conditions, without extensive intervention.

Notes[edit]

  • The traits, tolerances and natural community structures of freshwater tidal species have been poorly described by Hood (pers. coms.), and so even horticultural introduction of more diverse communities is largely experimental.
  • Guthrie 2012 observed effects of environmental variables on survival of shrub plantings at the Nisqually Refuge Restoration on the Nisqually Delta.
  • Tanner et al 2002 south spencer restoration indicates that revegetation in freshwater tidal settings may be challenged by a number of very competitive introduced species (e.g. reed canarygrass and purple loosestrife) that have been observed to persist following restoration of tidal inundation.
  • Hood 2007 wood and skagit delta shrub swamp suggests that woody species recruitment may depend on woody debris platforms, that wood budgets in rivers has been reduced, and that levees liekly reduce wood movement over the delta plain.