Event Title

Session C7 - Beaver Island Wetland Restoration Project

Location

UMass Amherst

Event Website

http://fishpassage.ecs.umass.edu/Conference2012/

Start Date

7-6-2012 10:30 AM

End Date

7-6-2012 10:50 AM

Description

In 2011, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) completed construction of the Beaver Island Habitat Improvement Project (HIP) on Grand Island on the Niagara River. The project restored 8.3 acres of hemi-marsh (emergent marsh and shallow open water habitat interspersed in roughly equal parts in a complex pattern), which historically (before 1960) occurred at the site. Around 1960, the area was filled and the hemi"marsh was replaced with mowed lawn.The improvement project consisted of the removal of fill material that was placed at the historic emergent river marsh, site grading to create wetland contours, planting of wetland and riparian botanical species and invasive species-control. The restoration of the wetland has created a new viable habitat, providing food and cover for wildlife and aquatic species. Since the project is located within Beaver Island State Park, the NYPA engaged in a collaborative design process with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation the owners of the site and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation which was interested in restoring a historic emergent wetland in a highly developed urban river corridor. While the primary goal of the project was wetland restoration, other features were added through the collaborative process for recreation and as a means to dispose of 70,000 CY excavated fill from the wetland restoration. These features include a canoe/kayak launch, an osprey pole, shallow breakwaters and shoreline stabilization, a walking trail and overlook, and conversion of a paved parking lot to a "green" parking lot. Multiple project features posed permitting challenges with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since their Nationwide Permit Program focus is on projects with a single purpose. The overall success of the HIP depended on the establishment of native wetland vegetation and the corresponding lack of extensive stands of invasive species. In order to successfully achieve these habitat goals, designers used data for "reference condition" areas (i.e. areas of existing habitat with desired and undesired characteristics that can be used as a reference for restoration design including water depths, substrate texture, bathymetry, plant species, etc.) to design conditions for the wetland restoration project. In additions to selecting the right species and elevation to restore native wetland vegetation, a wildlife deterrence system was constructed to keep out species like geese and carp from overgrazing on the newly planted vegetation. The newly constructed wetland will be monitored for 5 years to ensure the ecosystem is functioning as intended and will be viable into the future.

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Jun 7th, 10:30 AM Jun 7th, 10:50 AM

Session C7 - Beaver Island Wetland Restoration Project

UMass Amherst

In 2011, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) completed construction of the Beaver Island Habitat Improvement Project (HIP) on Grand Island on the Niagara River. The project restored 8.3 acres of hemi-marsh (emergent marsh and shallow open water habitat interspersed in roughly equal parts in a complex pattern), which historically (before 1960) occurred at the site. Around 1960, the area was filled and the hemi"marsh was replaced with mowed lawn.The improvement project consisted of the removal of fill material that was placed at the historic emergent river marsh, site grading to create wetland contours, planting of wetland and riparian botanical species and invasive species-control. The restoration of the wetland has created a new viable habitat, providing food and cover for wildlife and aquatic species. Since the project is located within Beaver Island State Park, the NYPA engaged in a collaborative design process with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation the owners of the site and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation which was interested in restoring a historic emergent wetland in a highly developed urban river corridor. While the primary goal of the project was wetland restoration, other features were added through the collaborative process for recreation and as a means to dispose of 70,000 CY excavated fill from the wetland restoration. These features include a canoe/kayak launch, an osprey pole, shallow breakwaters and shoreline stabilization, a walking trail and overlook, and conversion of a paved parking lot to a "green" parking lot. Multiple project features posed permitting challenges with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since their Nationwide Permit Program focus is on projects with a single purpose. The overall success of the HIP depended on the establishment of native wetland vegetation and the corresponding lack of extensive stands of invasive species. In order to successfully achieve these habitat goals, designers used data for "reference condition" areas (i.e. areas of existing habitat with desired and undesired characteristics that can be used as a reference for restoration design including water depths, substrate texture, bathymetry, plant species, etc.) to design conditions for the wetland restoration project. In additions to selecting the right species and elevation to restore native wetland vegetation, a wildlife deterrence system was constructed to keep out species like geese and carp from overgrazing on the newly planted vegetation. The newly constructed wetland will be monitored for 5 years to ensure the ecosystem is functioning as intended and will be viable into the future.

https://scholarworks.umass.edu/fishpassage_conference/2012/June7/3