Introduction
Practitioners, the public, and regulatory agencies are concerned with the assurance of successful type-for-type forested wetland creation (or restoration) as compensatory mitigation for forested wetland impacts. The ability of a forested wetland to provide essential functions and values is strongly correlated with the quality/quantity/species diversity of the vegetation. So the overarching question to answer for this research effort was the determination of the best metric(s) to measure the ecological success of forested wetlands restoration.
Related questions include how does the choice of quality (or size)/ quantity/species diversity of woody species affect the ability of the created wetland to perform these functions and how do these functions change through time from initial planting to closed canopy cover? Since wetland mitigation is based on performance criteria, what is the ‘best recipe’ for establishing and ensuring a successfully created sustainable forested wetland in the Piedmont Region of Virginia? Finally, this project is looking at how the plant community can best be be designed and managed in order to provide the greatest diversity and quality of wetland functions and values (wildlife habitat, flood flow attenuation, nutrient uptake, sediment detention, etc.).
This research team, composed of faculty from the College of William & Mary (VIMS) and Christopher Newport University has developed a new metric for forested vegetation success that has been accepted by the Norfolk District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. A follow-up research award is using the data from this program to help develop a protocol for the most effective selection of species, stocktypes, and densities to meet the recommended state and federal agency success criteria.
Requests for Proposals
Original Request for Proposals: Sustainable Created Forested Wetlands, 2008
Amount awarded: $953,549
Final Research Report
Final Report to Piedmont Wetlands Research Program: Development of Woody Ecological Performance Standards for Created/Restored Forested Wetlands. Herman W. Hudson III² and James E. Perry², August 2018. This report supports establishment of an alternative woody ecological performance standard for forested compensatory mitigation sites based on analysis of planted and naturally colonizing woody vegetation from 17 created/restored forested wetland mitigation sites (ages 2 to 22 years).
- Appendix A: Sampling Protocol and Supporting Literature Review
- Recommendations for 2017 MBI Template Revisions for Vegetation Sampling Protocol Douglas A. DeBerry³, PhD, PWS, PWD
- Vegetation Sampling on Compensatory Mitigation Sites (Literature Review) Douglas A. DeBerry³, PhD, PWS, PWD
Annual Reports to the Piedmont Wetlands Research Program: Assessment of Woody Vegetation for Replacement of Ecological Functions in Created Forested Wetlands of the Piedmont Province of Virginia.
These reports provide 7 years of survival, morphological, and biomass data for more than 4,000 trees planted in hydrologically distinct experimental cells and wetland mitigation banks. Planting material recommendations and support for the development of an alternative woody ecological performance standard for compensatory mitigation sites are presented.
- 2015 Annual Report – year 7 data (report finalized in 2016). Herman W. Hudson III², Eli Wright¹, Robert B. Atkinson¹, and James E. Perry²
- 2014 Annual Report – year 6 data. Herman W. Hudson III², Eli Wright¹, Robert B. Atkinson¹, and James E. Perry²
- 2013 Annual Report – year 5 data. Herman W. Hudson III², Mellony Seidel¹, Robert B. Atkinson¹, and James E. Perry²
- 2012 Annual Report – year 4 data. Herman W. Hudson III², James E. Perry², Jackie Roquemore¹, and Robert B. Atkinson¹
- 2011 Annual Report – year 3 data. Herman W. Hudson III², James E. Perry², Jackie Roquemore¹, and Robert B. Atkinson¹
- 2010 Annual Report – year 2 data. James E. Perry², Robert B. Atkinson¹, Herman W. Hudson III², Jess Campo¹, Jackie Roquemore¹, Sean Charles², and Chris Hauser²
- 2008-2009 Annual Report – year 1 data. James E. Perry², Lori Sutter², Herman W. Hudson III¹, Robert Atkinson¹, Christian Hauser², and Sean Charles²
Journal Articles
- Survival and growth of seven tree species from three stocktypes planted in created wetlands in Loudoun County, Virginia. Jacqueline D. Roquemore¹, H.W. Hudson III², Robert B. Atkinson¹, and James E. Perry². Ecological Engineering 64 (2014): 408-414.
- Vegetation Sampling Concepts for Compensatory Mitigation Sites. Douglas A. DeBerry¹, Wetland Science & Practice, July 2020: 174-182.
Theses and Dissertations
- Herbaceous Plant Tissue Nutrients as Indicators of Nutrient Limitation and Tree Establishment in Created Forested Wetlands of Virginia. Autumn Kendall Tilghman, M.S thesis, Christopher Newport University, 2017.
- Development of Forested Wetland Ecological Functions in a Hydrologically Controlled Field Experiment in Virginia, USA. Herman W. Hudson III, Ph.D dissertation, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, 2016.
- Environmental Variables that Affect Tree Survival of Seven Tree Species and Three Stocktypes within Created Wetlands in
Loudoun County, VA. Mellony A. Seidel, M.S. thesis, Christopher Newport University, 2015. - The Characterization and Influence of Vegetation Structure Surrounding Planted Trees in Created Forested Wetlands in the
Piedmont Province of Virginia. Daniel Jonathan David Wright, M.S. thesis, Christopher Newport University, 2015. - Modeling Tree Growth for Piedmont Created Wetlands with Biological and Physiochemical Parameters. Shawn James Wurst, M.S. thesis, Christopher Newport University, 2014.
Conference Proceedings
- Vegetation Sampling Concepts for Compensatory Mitigation Sites Douglas A. DeBerry³. Wetland Science and Practice, July 2020: 174-182
Conference, Symposium and Meeting Presentations
Posters, Abstracts, and Manuscripts
- Phosphorus content in Juncus effusus and growth of planted saplings in created wetlands in Virginia (poster). Hannah R. Leich¹, Autumn K. Tilghman¹, and Robert B. Atkinson¹. Virginia Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, 2016.
- Scirpus cyperinus tissue elemental nutrient concentrations and growth of saplings within created wetlands of Virginia (abstract). Autumn Tilghman¹ and Robert B. Atkinson¹. Virginia Association of Wetland Professionals Meeting, 2016.
- Survival of 21 tree species and planting type combinations in created wetlands in Loudoun County, VA: A 6-year study (poster). Robert Atkinson, PhD¹, Brittany Bowen¹, Kristina Kowalski¹, and Eli Wright¹. Annual Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists, 2015.
- Woody biomass development of seven Mid-Atlantic wetland species (unpublished manuscript). H.W. Hudson III² and James E. Perry², 2014.
- Survival and growth of seven tree species from three stocktypes planted in created wetlands in Loudoun County, Virginia (poster). H.W. Hudson III², Jacqueline D. Roquemore¹, Robert B. Atkinson¹, and James E. Perry², 2014.
- Survival and growth of seven tree species from three stocktypes planted in created wetlands in Loudoun County, Virginia (poster). Mellony Seidel¹, Jacqueline D. Roquemore¹, and Robert B. Atkinson¹, 2014.
- Effect of soil variables on an alternative method for measuring hydrology in created wetlands (abstract). James Priebe¹, Shawn Wurst¹, and Robert Atkinson, PhD¹, 2013.
- Two year survival and growth of seven wetland tree species in three hydrologically distinct habitats (poster). H.W. Hudson III² and James E. Perry². 9th Annual INTECOL/SWS International Wetlands Conference, 2012
- Survival and growth of seven tree species from three stocktypes planted in created wetlands in Loudoun County, Virginia (abstract). Seidel, M.¹, J. Roquemore¹, and R. B. Atkinson¹, 2012
- A characterization of soils in created wetlands in Loudoun County, Virginia (abstract). Wurst, S.¹ and R.B. Atkinson¹. 2011
- Growth and survival of woody wetland vascular plants: a large scale mesocosm study (poster). H.W. Hudson III² and Jim E. Perry², Virginia Association of Wetland Professionals Meeting, 2011
- Tree survival and growth in created wetland mitigation sites in Virginia (poster). Robert Atkinson¹, H.W. Hudson III², James E. Perry². April 2010, Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting, 2010.
Presentations
2017
- Development of forested wetland ecological functions in a hydrologically controlled field experiment in Virginia, USA. H.W. Hudson III² and Jim Perry. CNU Wetland Ecology.
- Development of woody ecological performance standards for created/restored forested wetlands. H.W. Hudson III², Robert Atkinson¹, Jim Perry². York/Poquoson Master Gardeners.
- Development of new ecological performance standards for forested compensatory wetlands. H.W. Hudson III² and Jim Perry². Mid-Atlantic Stream Restoration Conference.
2016
- Development of forested wetland ecological functions in a hydrologically controlled field experiment in Virginia, USA. Herman W. Hudson III². Dissertation defense seminar.
- Development of woody ecological performance standards for created/restored forested wetlands. H.W. Hudson III², Robert Atkinson¹, Jim Perry².
- Development of forested wetland ecological functions in a hydrologically controlled field experiment in Virginia, USA. H.W. Hudson III² and Jim Perry².
- Replacement of ecological functions in created forested wetlands in the Piedmont and upper Coastal Plain of Virginia. H.W. Hudson III², Eli Wright¹, Jim Perry², and Robert Atkinson¹.
2015
- Sapling response to beaver predation in a created forested wetland in Loudoun County, VA. Bridget Gerovac¹, Eli Wright¹, and Robert Atkinson, PhD¹.
- Response of wetland woody species to planting method and soil wetness. Jim Perry, PhD², Robert Atkinson, PhD¹, H.W. Hudson III², and Eli Wright¹.
- Restoring woody biomass and carbon storage through tree planting under varying hydrologic regimes. J.E. Perry² and H.W. Hudson III². SWS SAC Annual Meeting.
- Restoring woody biomass and carbon storage through tree planting under varying hydrologic regimes. H.W. Hudson III² and Jim Perry². Society for Ecological Restoration, 6th World Conference.
- Determining sapling woody biomass and carbon content for forested wetland restoration. H.W. Hudson III² and Jim Perry, PhD². Society for Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting.
- Forested wetland restoration: Development of structure, biomass and carbon storage through tree planting. H.W. Hudson III² and Jim Perry, PhD². Virginia Master Naturalist, Peninsula Chapter meeting.
- Forested wetland restoration: development of structure, biomass and carbon storage through tree planting. H.W. Hudson III² and Jim Perry, PhD². Friends of Dragon Run general meeting.
2014
- Environmental variables that affect tree survival of seven tree species and three stocktypes within created wetlands in Loudoun County, VA. Mellony Seidel¹.
- Improving forested wetland restoration: survival and growth of 2,772 trees over five years. Wes Hudson² and Jim Perry, PhD². Virginia Association of Wetland Professionals’ Spring Meeting.
2013
- Analyzing soil parameters to enhance tree growth and design plans for created wetlands in the Piedmont Province. Shawn Wurst¹, Jackie Roquemore¹, Greg Noe⁴, and Rob Atkinson¹. Wetland Studies/Peterson Foundation Mitigation Research Symposium.
- Determining physiochemical parameters to enhance tree growth and design plans for Piedmont created wetlands. Rob Atkinson¹ and Shawn Wurst¹. Wetland Studies/Peterson Foundation Wetland Mitigation Research Symposium.
- Development of wetland structure and ecological functions in created palustrine forested wetlands: A large scale field experiment in Virginia, USA. H.W. Hudson III², S. Charles², and J.E. Perry². Wetland Studies/Peterson Foundation Mitigation Research Symposium.
- Sustainable wetland reforestation practices. Jim Perry² and H.W. Hudson III². Wetland Studies/Peterson Foundation Mitigation Research Symposium.
- Restoration of forested wetland structure and function through tree planting: a large scale field experiment in Virginia. H. W. Hudson III² and James E. Perry². Wetland Studies/Peterson Foundation Mitigation Research Symposium.
- Development of wetland structure, functions and services through tree planting: a large scale field experiment in Virginia, USA. H.W. Hudson III². VIMS Spring Biological Science Seminar.
2011
- Tree survival and growth in created wetland mitigation sites in Virginia: a field validation study. Wurst, S.J.¹, J.D. Roquemore¹, H.W. Hudson, III², J.M. Campo¹, and R.B. Atkinson¹.
- Modeling growth rates of woody wetland plants common to the Piedmont region of the Mid-Atlantic States. H.W. Hudson III², Sean P. Charles², James E. Perry², and Robert B. Atkinson¹.
- Growth and survival of seven wetland tree species in three hydrologically distinct habitats. H.W. Hudson III² and James E. Perry²
¹ Center for Wetland Conservation, Christopher Newport University
² Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary
³ College of William & Mary
⁴ U.S. Geological Survey