RESTORATION AND CREATION OF COASTAL WETLANDS AND ASSOCIATED ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

Coastal wetlands are productive ecosystems that contribute to the estuarine food web,sequester carbon, and are effective filters that that improve water quality by removing sediments, nutrients, and other pollutants. The loss and degradation of tidal marshes due to farming and urban development, led to an interest in restoring or creating new wetlands to replace lost ecosystem services. Farmland that was wetland before being drained, cleared, and used for growing crops is being converted back to wetland to mitigate wetland losses and reduce nutrient inputs to adjacent estuaries. North Carolina State University has evaluated techniques for restoring and creating wetlands. Research indicates that created and restored wetlands provide many of the functions and values of natural wetlands. Tidal brackish-water creeks designed to drain a restored wetland, were constructed at North River Farms in Carteret County. The riparian areas associated with this drainage system were graded to the elevations required to support intertidal marshes. Native vegetation adapted to each elevation and salinity zone was planted to create new fish and wildlife habitat, and to filter water draining from Open Grounds Farm. Effects of elevation, hydrology, and salinity on growth of planted marsh vegetation (Spartina alterniflora, Spartina patens, and Juncus roemerianus) are being studied. Vegetation and soil in the restored wetlands improves water quality by removing and accumulating sediments, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Successful wetland restoration has positive environmental and economic benefits. Wetland restoration is an environmentally sound method of increasing natural habitat, improving water quality, and increasing productivity of estuaries.