Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
19.7 WETLAND RESTORATION AND CONSTRUCTION
A national goal for wetlands has been “no net loss” and achieving that goal has involved both
wetland construction and wetland restoration (national policy for “no net loss of wetlands” estab-
lished in 1989 by President George H.W. Bush). Restoration activities are deined by the Society of
Wetland Scientists (2000) as “actions taken in a converted or degraded natural wetland that result
in the reestablishment of ecological processes, functions, and biotic/abiotic linkages and lead to a
persistent, resilient system integrated within its landscape.” The focus is on the return of a degraded
wetland or a former wetland to its preexisting, naturally functioning condition, or a condition as
close to that as possible. (Interagency Workgroup 2003) Wetland construction for mitigation com-
monly has the goal of providing the same ecological function as the wetland that is being replaced.
As introduced previously, wetland mitigation has resulted in an industry in the United States that
revolves around the construction of wetlands for mitigation.
In addition to wetlands constructed solely for mitigation, constructed wetlands have evolved as a
commonly used BMP for stormwater runoff and for the treatment of wastewater. As a result, there
are a wide variety of topics and manuals for the construction of wetlands and a wide number of
organizations and private companies involved in their construction. One difference from “natural”
wetlands is that, since they are considered artiicial systems, nonnative plants such as those more
tolerant of high nutrient loads are often used in their design.
Constructed wetlands are popular BMPs for stormwater treatment and most stormwater manu-
als include their design criteria. Stormwater wetland construction guidance is provided not only
by environmental agencies but also by Departments of Transportation and local and county gov-
ernments (see, e.g., ASCE 1992; USEPA 2000). Figure 19.13 illustrates an example of a design
schematic from the Federal Highway Administrations web-based “Stormwater best management
practices in an ultra-urban setting: Selection and monitoring.”
Stormwater wetlands have the advantage that in addition to reducing peak lows and remov-
ing/storing pollutants, they can be aesthetically pleasing and support healthy populations of plants
and wildlife. Stormwater wetlands, also commonly called stormwater treatment areas (STAs),
have become particularly popular in the southeastern United States and often these systems have
become so successful at attracting wildlife that they are often very popular birding and photography
destinations.
REFERENCES
ASCE. 1992. Design and construction of urban stormwater management systems. The Urban Water Resources
Research Council of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Water Environment
Federation. American Society of Civil Engineers, New York.
ASWM. 2011. Clean Water Act Section 404 program assumption: A handbook for states and tribes. Association
of State Wetland Managers Inc. and the Environmental Council of the States. Windham, ME.
Beardsley, S. 2006. The end of the Everglades? Scientiic American , May 22.
Brown, L.J. and R.E. Jung. 2005. An introduction to mid-Atlantic seasonal pools, EPA-903-B-05-001. U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
Bueschen, E. 1997. Comment: Do isolated wetlands substantially affect interstate commerce? The American
University Law Review 46, 931.
Burwell, R.W. and L.G. Sugden. 1964. Potholes—Going, going … In J.P. Linduska (ed.), Waterfowl Tomorrow .
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC, pp. 369-380.
Copeland, C. 2010. Wetlands: An overview of issues. Congressional Research Service, 7-5700, www.crs.gov,
RL33483.
Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe. 1979. Classiication of wetlands and deepwater habitats
of the United States. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC.
Dahl, T.E. 1990. Wetlands losses in the United States 1780s to 1980s. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and
Wildlife Service, Washington, DC.
Dahl, T.E. 2000. Status and trends of wetlands in the conterminous United States 1986 to 1997. U.S. Department
of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC.
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