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A STRATEGY FOR INTEGRATED ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF RIPARIAN BUFFERS IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION
Citation:
Kutz, F W. AND K. W. Thornton. A STRATEGY FOR INTEGRATED ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF RIPARIAN BUFFERS IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION. Presented at Annual meeting of the MD Water Monitoring Council, Linthicum, MD, December 1, 2000.
Impact/Purpose:
The primary objectives of this research are to:
Develop methodologies so that landscape indicator values generated from different sensors on different dates (but in the same areas) are comparable; differences in metric values result from landscape changes and not differences in the sensors;
Quantify relationships between landscape metrics generated from wall-to-wall spatial data and (1) specific parameters related to water resource conditions in different environmental settings across the US, including but not limited to nutrients, sediment, and benthic communities, and (2) multi-species habitat suitability;
Develop and validate multivariate models based on quantification studies;
Develop GIS/model assessment protocols and tools to characterize risk of nutrient and sediment TMDL exceedence;
Complete an initial draft (potentially web based) of a national landscape condition assessment.
This research directly supports long-term goals established in ORDs multiyear plans related to GPRA Goal 2 (Water) and GPRA Goal 4 (Healthy Communities and Ecosystems), although funding for this task comes from Goal 4. Relative to the GRPA Goal 2 multiyear plan, this research is intended to "provide tools to assess and diagnose impairment in aquatic systems and the sources of associated stressors." Relative to the Goal 4 Multiyear Plan this research is intended to (1) provide states and tribes with an ability to assess the condition of waterbodies in a scientifically defensible and representative way, while allowing for aggregation and assessment of trends at multiple scales, (2) assist Federal, State and Local managers in diagnosing the probable cause and forecasting future conditions in a scientifically defensible manner to protect and restore ecosystems, and (3) provide Federal, State and Local managers with a scientifically defensible way to assess current and future ecological conditions, and probable causes of impairments, and a way to evaluate alternative future management scenarios.
Description:
Increased sediments, nutrients, and other contaminants in the Mid-Atlantic region contribute to environmental problems ranging from stream degradation to possibly Pfiesteria attacks in Chesapeake Bay. Restoring riparian areas - the filters between terrestrial watersheds and aquatic ecosystems - represents a cost-effective, environmentally sound approach for reducing these contaminants loads.
This presentation describes a strategic approach to riparian buffer restoration. The goal of this strategy is to better understand from a holistic perspective how riparian areas function, particularly when placed at different locations in the watershed, build on existing restoration efforts, develop predictive tools and provide design guidance that can be used to implement watershed management and protection programs. The objectives of this initiative are to monitor, to understand, to predict and to manage riparian buffer restoration, including the myriad of scientific elements associated with this endeavor (illustrated at right).
There are three interacting elements forming the foundation for this strategy: (1) Alliance Formation - It is our belief that no one Federal or State agency has all of the resources and expertise needed to accomplish the study, evaluation, and restoration of riparian buffers. Therefore, partnerships among interested Federal, State and Local agencies must be made. These partnerships should also include corporate and non- governmental organizations. (2) Research Framework-The strategy is be built around the EPA Ecological Risk Assessment Framework to ensure ecological risks from various management activities occurring within the watershed and the Region can be estimated and incorporated in the decision making process. (3) Research Studies - Five research categories will contribute to riparian area restoration:
Targeting/characterization research will identify specific, high priority sites for intensive research, nested within a greater number of sites to characterize conditions within watersheds throughout the Mid- Atlantic region. Landscape assessment approaches may argument more traditional targeting models. Riparian configuration research, integrating surface/subsurface hydrologic, physicochemical and biological processes, will determine the extent of the area, physical-chemical characteristics, and the species composition needed to reduce contaminant loads. Configuration monitoring, including ground-level and remotely-sensed monitoring data will initially establish the baseline conditions and subsequently document the performance of different riparian area configurations. Evaluation and predictive tools will. be developed both for diagnosing problems and for predicting possible future conditions under different watershed management activities. It is absolutely imperative that programs be established to insure that restoration activities are having the desired effects. Management guidance will be provided to design the riparian area, evaluate its performance, and estimate the economic benefits of riparian area restoration at the watershed and regional scales.