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Wetland Restoration in Typha -Dominated Braddock Bay of Lake Ontario
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Ecological Restoration Vol. 39, No. 4, 2021
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2021-12
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Abstract
The barrier beach at the Braddock Bay wetland on Lake Ontario was lost to erosion. Without the protective barrier, the
area of vegetated wetland was reduced by wave attack. Lake-level regulation implemented in 1960 resulted in cattail
(primarily hybrid Typha × glauca), invasion and loss of sedge-grass meadow habitat. As part of the Rochester Embayment
Great Lakes Area of Concern, Braddock Bay was targeted for restoration by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The
plan included reducing coverage by cattails, construction of channels and potholes to improve wildlife access to the
wetland, creation of spoil mounds along the channels to discourage growth of cattail while supporting the growth of
sedge-grass meadow species, re-creation of the barrier beach, and construction of new emergent marsh. We collected
vegetation data for three years following the 2016 construction activities. Post-restoration results showed that cattail
cover decreased greatly across years in the cattail treatment areas, decreased in lower elevation constructed habitats, and
gradually increased in higher elevation habitats. Opening of the canopy resulted in increased floating and submersed
species, and constructed mounds hosted wet meadow species. Site-level weighted mean C is recommended for future
data analyses, rather than FQAI or mean C, because it has no observed influence from species richness. Restoration results
were affected by high lake levels in 2017, identified problems in seeding and planting, and meeting construction plans
for some channel and pothole depths and mound elevations. Pre-restoration soil surveys are recommended to reduce
construction problems, and adaptive management should include invasive species control.