Ecosystem Restoration Presented by John Small, PLA, ASLA September - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: Ecosystem Restoration Presented by John Small, PLA, ASLA September 30, 2014 Environmental Science Center Public Education Series Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 0 Ecosystem Restoration

Presentation Overview 1. Introduction to Landscapes and Ecosystems 2. Plant Communities of Seahurst Park 3. Restoration Design and Construction 4. Maintenance and Sustainability Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 1 Ecosystem Restoration

1. Introduction to Landscapes and Ecosystems o Landscapes o Ecosystems o Communities o Habitats Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 2 Ecosystem Restoration

Ecosystem Restoration Goals Before • Preserve existing high-functioning nearshore habitats • Restore and protect the natural bluff- to-beach sediment process • Restore beach slopes and substrates • Restore forage-fish spawning, juvenile salmon rearing, and migration After intertidal habitats • Restore upland and shallow intertidal habitat connectivity • Diversify habitat in the freshwater/saltwater interface Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 3 Ecosystem Restoration

Detritus-based Food Web The entire food web is based • largely on nutrients from land Vegetation broken down by • bacteria, fungi, zoo plankton and insects Occurs on land and in • nearshore, out to the edges of the photic zone Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 4 Ecosystem Restoration

Process-based Restoration Approach Conceptual Model: The role of Puget Sound nearshore beaches in sustaining Wave energy Process forage fish Sediment delivery Sediment transport Beach profile Forage fish spawning Structure Function Sediment grain size and production Beach temperature Food web support Source, Conceptual Model: PSNERP and Simenstad et al. 2006; Penttila 2007 Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 5 Ecosystem Restoration

Supporting Habitat-forming Processes Source: King County WRIA 9 Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 6 Ecosystem Restoration

Bluff-to-beach Sediment Supply Processes Accretion zone Accretion zone Net Shore Drift Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 7 Ecosystem Restoration

Habitat Preservation and Restoration Zones Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 8 Ecosystem Restoration

Reconnecting Terrestrial/Riparian and Aquatic/Intertidal Habitats Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 9 Ecosystem Restoration

Reconnecting Freshwater Streams and Marine Habitats Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 10 Ecosystem Restoration

Balancing Habitat, Access, and Shoreline Stability Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 11 Ecosystem Restoration

Terrestrial Communities Madrone/Salal Madrone • Salal • Big Leaf Maple • Indian Plum • Sword Fern • Sandy, Drier Soils Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 12 Ecosystem Restoration

Terrestrial Communities Hemlock/Douglas fir Vine Maple • Salal • Salmonberry • Indian Plum • Sword Fern • Less Disturbed, Second-growth, Drier Soils Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 13 Ecosystem Restoration

Terrestrial Communities Western Red Cedar Salmonberry • Lady Fern • Skunk Cabbage • Devil’s Club • Less Disturbed, Second-growth, Wetter Soils Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 14 Ecosystem Restoration

Terrestrial Communities Alder/Salmonberry Horsetails • Salal • Piggyback Plant • Lady Fern • Blackberry • Disturbed Areas, Wetter Soils Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 15 Ecosystem Restoration

On-site Unstable Hillsides Map Source: Shannon & Wilson 2002 Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 16 Ecosystem Restoration

Aquatic Communities Source: King County WRIA 9 Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 17 Ecosystem Restoration

Accretion Zones are Hot-spots in a Detritus- based Food Web Accretion zone Accretion zone Net Shore Drift Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 18 Ecosystem Restoration

South Shoreline After Re-vegetation Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 19 Ecosystem Restoration

Beach Communities Dune Grass ( Elymus mollis ) Gumweed • Vetch • Coastal Strawberry • Salt Grass ( Distichilis spicata ) • Pickleweed Fat Hen • Jaumea • Silverweed ( Potentilla Pac. ) • Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 20 Ecosystem Restoration

Marsh Communities Dune Grass ( Elymus mollis ) Gumweed • Vetch • Coastal Strawberry • Salt Grass ( Distichilis spicata ) • Pickleweed Fat Hen • Jaumea • Silverweed ( Potentilla Pac. ) • Carex • Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 21 Ecosystem Restoration

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Eelgrass • Kelp • Algae • Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 22 Ecosystem Restoration

North Shoreline – Completed Beach Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 23 Ecosystem Restoration

Is It Working? Source: Armbrust, Toft, and Cordell 2009 Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 24 Ecosystem Restoration

Is It Working? Source: Armbrust, Toft, and Cordell 2009 Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 25 Ecosystem Restoration

Is It Working? What juvenile chinook eat at Seahurst Park: Source: Brennan, Higgins, Cordell, and Stamatiou 2004 Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 26 Ecosystem Restoration

Summary 1. Introduction to Landscapes and Ecosystems 2. Plant Communities of Seahurst Park 3. Restoration Design and Construction 4. Maintenance and Sustainability Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 27 Ecosystem Restoration

North Shoreline – Completed Beach Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 28 Ecosystem Restoration

North Shoreline – Pre-project Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 29 Ecosystem Restoration

North Shoreline – Path and Beach Construction Seahurst Park – Wetland and Riparian Restoration: 30 Ecosystem Restoration