Functional Requirements and Design Parameters for Restocking Coarse Woody Features in Restored and Enhanced Wetlands

Abstract 

For many years landowners, biologists, engineers and others removed large woody materials such as logs, rootwads and stumps from wetlands, floodplains, and streams of the western United States and Canada. By the early 1970’s scientists and engineers began to recognize the critical roles that wood plays in the life cycle of fish, amphibian, small mammal and bird species. Removal of wood greatly decreases the carrying capacity of wetlands and streams for many of the species currently protected under the Endangered Species Act. In recent years, creation, restoration and enhancement of wetlands has become common practice. Little consideration has been given to woody debris and other structural habitat in wetlands. This paper discusses functional objectives, common constraints, and design parameters for restocking woody habitat features in wetlands. Examples of completed projects from ELWd Systems are used to illustrate design parameters.

About the Publication 

Maschhoff, J.T. and J.H. Dooley. 2003. Functional Requirements and Design Parameters for Restocking Coarse Woody Features in Restored and Enhanced Wetlands. Presented at the 2003 Joint Regional Conference of the Society for Ecological Restoration, Northwest Chapter and the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Society of Wetland Scientists, Portland, OR. March 27, 2003.