Inventorying and Monitoring Wetland Condition and Restoration Potential on a Watershed Basis with Examples from Spring Creek Watershed, Pennsylvania, USA |
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Authors: | Robert P Brooks Denice Heller Wardrop Charles Andrew Cole |
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Institution: | (1) Penn State Cooperative Wetlands Center, Department of Geography, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA;(2) Center for Watershed Stewardship, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA |
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Abstract: | We developed an approach for inventorying wetland resources, assessing their condition, and determining restoration potential
in a watershed context. This article outlines how this approach can be developed into a Wetland Monitoring Matrix (WMM) that
can help resource management agencies make regulatory and nonregulatory decisions. The WMM can be embedded in a standard planning
process (Wetlands, Wildlife, and Watershed Assessment Techniques for Evaluation and Restoration, or W3ATER) involving the setting of objectives, assessing the condition of the resource, prioritizing watersheds or sites, implementing
projects, and evaluating progress. To that process we have added the concepts of reference, hydrogeomorphic (HGM) classification,
and prioritization for protection and restoration by triage or adaptive management. Three levels of effort are possible, increasing
in detail and diagnostic reliability as data collection shifts from remote sensing to intensive sampling on the ground. Of
key importance is the use of a consistent set of monitoring protocols for conducting condition assessments, designing restoration
and creation projects, and evaluating the performance of mitigation projects; the same variables are measured regardless of
the intended use of the data. This approach can be tailored to any region by establishing a reference set of wetlands organized
by HGM subclasses, prioritizing watersheds and individual wetlands, and implementing consistent monitoring protocols. Application
of the approach is illustrated with examples from wetlands and streams of the Spring Creek Watershed in central Pennsylvania,
USA. |
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Keywords: | Wetlands Reference wetlands Watershed Restoration Hydrogeomorphic Functional Assessment Pennsylvania |
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