2. Restoration, Creation, & Habitat Wetlands

Question 1

Define Restoration

Answer 1

Returned from a disturbed or totally altered condition to a previously existing condition by some kind of human action. Does not need to know or be returned to exact previous state, just need to know it was a wetland

Question 2

Define passive restoration

Answer 2

Natural processes are able to return to pre-disturbance state without direct human interference

Question 3

Define active restoration

Answer 3

Human influences are required to return the wetland to some pre-existing state

Question 4

Define Creation

Answer 4

Conversion of a non-wetland area into a wetland through human action. Assuming the site has never been a wetland, thus not restoration

Question 5

Define Artificial Creation

Answer 5

Exists only as long as there is continuous and persistent action by humans; without it would revert back to its original state

Question 6

Define Human-Induced Creation

Answer 6

Results by one time action by humans and persists on its own. Intentionally or not

Question 7

Define enhancement

Answer 7

The increase in one or more wetland values of all it a portion of the wetland by human activities, sometimes at the expense of other wetland values. Intentional alteration of an existing wetland to provide conditions which previously did not exist. Example : dyking of marshes to create more open water

Question 8

Define Mitigation

Answer 8

The actual restoration, creation, or enhancement of wetlands

Question 9

Define mitigation banking

Answer 9

The restoration, creation, enhancement undertaken expressly for the purpose of providing compensation for wetland loss

Question 10

Habitat wetlands

Answer 10

• restoration & creation
• required to reverse historical losses through conversion to other land uses
• Canada has lost as much as 70% in key regions such as Southern Ontario
• Aims to hold water on the land surface
• wetland restoration & creation for wildlife habitat probably the easiest to do

Question 11

What are the 3 designs for habitat wetlands?

Answer 11

1. Full construction using dykes, barriers
2. Partial construction of dykes, barriers next to natural landscape features, extended existing wetlands
3. Enhance or modify existing wetland to make suitable for wildlife

Question 12

What are important characteristics for waterfowl

Answer 12

• about 50:50 open water : vegetation cover - “hemimarsh” condition
• new nutrients, mostly P and N, for plant growth and food
• water depths, around 0.5-1M

Question 13

What are 4 things that need to be managed in wetlands?

Answer 13

1. Too much water : more open water than needed, coloured water, too deep for tipping ducks
2. Too little water : won’t have enough to support vegetation.
3. Low-Nutrients : management options is to allow your water levels to drop. This helps because if site is overgrown, all nutrients are taken up by vegetation. You’re oxidizing the soil by allowing everything to dry out, breaking down organic matter and releasing nutrients that are in the biomass.
4. Disturbance : surrounding land-scape; water, food, and cover hemimarsh, other animals (ie beavers), wild rice planting, best boxes