Summary of Restoration Elements

Plant Materials

Basic Questions What species? What forms? What mix? When needed?

General Requirements Native Appropriate for restoration goal (to restore wetland, prairie, etc.) Will survive site conditions Will be competitive with invasive species Affordable Available when needed Meet requirements for local genotype

Site Modification

7 Site Modification can include a number of different treatments Invasive plant removal Grading Removal of unacceptable materials –Weed seedbanks, toxic substances, non-soil Seedbed preparation Placement of aboveground obstructions

8 Creation of wildlife habitat structures Engineered elements –Weirs, dams, dikes, infiltratration systems, swales Plugging ditches and removing tiles Installing liners Structurally repairing eroded areas

9

10

Site Conditioning

12 What differentiates site modification from site conditioning? –Site modification usually entails a structural solution to providing a desired condition, service, etc. –Site conditioning depends more on the autogenic capabilities of a biological community.

13 Site conditioning can include Seedbed improvement Preparatory crops/stubble Mulch Creation of shade Addition of topsoil on stripped sites Building of soil OM by growing vegetation that can tolerate a degraded site

14 Techniques to ameliorate salinity problems Bioremediation Methods for creating more complex soil biota Flooding/draining –To add biomass –To accommodate wildlife –To decrease targeted species

15 No-till planting

16 Live-staked willows

17 Live-staked willows, one year old

Installation

Plants…collection, propagation, salvage, purchase Planting plans…polygons, elevations Transport and storage Planting day Herbivory Irrigation

20

21

22

23

24

25