July 2021 Wetland Science & Practice by Society of Wetland Scientists

Wetland Science Practice published by the Society of Wetland Scientists

Vol. 38, No. 3 July 2021 ISSN: 1943-6254

INCLUDES THE PROCEEDINGS FROM THE 2021 VIRTUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF WETLAND SCIENTISTS HELD JUNE 1-10, 2021.

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK Summer has arrived and Covid-19 is on the downturn and things are returning to a near normal condition. I’m getting ready to spend a week on Cape Cod which involves more bike riding than beach time since I need to work off some of those Covid calories. The Cape has a number of excellent “rail trails” for enjoyable riding. I need the break after preparing and teaching a number of online wetland courses over the last two months…my eyes are bloodshot. While things are looking brighter for all of us given the waning of the pandemic, I am sad to say that we’ve lost a wonderRalph Tiner ful colleague – Dr. Rob Brooks WSP Editor of Penn State University (PSU). I was shocked to hear of his passing as it was so quick; I didn’t even know he was ill. Rob and I worked together early in our careers including co-editing a book with others - Wetlands Ecology and Conservation: Emphasis in Pennsylvania. Rob was one of the most likeable people you’d ever meet and was an inspiration to many wetlanders, especially in the Mid-Atlantic region. Dr. Denice Wardrop, one of Rob’s former students and colleagues at PSU, has written a touching tribute to Rob for this issue. Still hard to believe he is no longer with us. For the past couple of years, the July issue has been dedicated to presenting abstracts from our annual meeting – the proceedings. This issue continues that tradition even though the meeting was again a “virtual conference” conducted online. The presentations were taped and are available to registrants for two months. I wasn’t able to attend all the sessions but plan to view some during this timeframe. If you have questions about or would like to know more about the topics covered, please contact the presenters. Besides the proceedings this issue includes a couple of articles – one on Poplar Island (a Wetland of Distinction) and another on the results of a citizen science survey on the status of wetlands around the globe, plus notices on the reestablishment of the Wetland Concerns Committee in our Society, the announcement that Northern Macedonia has designated Lake Ohrid as its third Wetland of International Importance, and a collaboration of the Society’s Climate Change Initiative for an upcoming global conference. We also have a summary of the Europe chapter’s virtual (Continued on page 128)

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CONTENTS Vol. 38, No. 3 July 2021

ISSN: 1943-6254 126 / From the Editor’s Desk 127 / President’s Message 129 / SWS News 137 / Awards 139 / Chapter News 140 / SWS Webinars ARTICLES 141 / An Updated Citizen Science State of the World’s Wetlands Survey Matthew Simpson and others 150 / Wetlands of Distinction: Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration Project at Poplar Island Bill Morgante 155 / Lake Ohrid and Studenchishte Marsh now a Ramsar Wetland! Nadezda Apostolova and others PROCEEDINGS FROM THE 2021 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF WETLAND SCIENTISTS 157 / Biology & Ecology 178 / Education & Communication 184 / Global Climate Change 195 / Management & Applied Science 220 / Physical Science 226 / Policy 233 / Index to Proceedings, by Author 242/ Wetlands in the News 244 / Wetland Bookshelf 246 / What’s New in the SWS Journal - WETLANDS 248 / About WSP/Submission Guidelines COVER PHOTO: Rocky Mountain Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis thermalis) (Photo by Ralph Tiner)

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

Dear fellow SWS’ers, I hope all of you are healthy, happy, and able to apply yourselves effectively towards your goals (including wetlands!). I want to start my first message with a round of thanks to our Program Committee for an excellent Annual Meeting last month! With so many opportunities for innovation, sharing knowledge and learning to use Gregory B. Noe, Ph.D. new tools, I’m sure many of us are a mixture of exhilarated, Florence Bascom exhausted, and energized for Geoscience Center, whatever will come this year. U.S. Geological It certainly won’t be a repeat of Survey last year! Loretta Battaglia, our SWS President Immediate Past President, as well all of our leaders, have put an incredible energy and focus to ensure SWS weathered the worst of COVID impacts. We move now into a window of opportunity afforded by COVID-derived flexibility to reassess how our Society operates. I see three focus areas that I can help SWS achieve in the next year: improved Ethics, Operations, and Building the Future. These represent ongoing needs we’ve identified and begun to address. The solutions will be complex, int twined, and prepare us to move forward. This will require engaging with all parts of our organization, from committees, sections, chapters, to all of the willing. Like many of our long-standing institutions, it is clear that our Society needs to make substantive change on issues of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). (Continued on next page.)

SOCIETY OF WETLAND SCIENTISTS 1818 Parmenter St., Ste 300, Middleton, WI 53562 (608) 310-7855 www.sws.org

Wetland Science Practice PRESIDENT / Gregory Noe, Ph.D. PRESIDENT-ELECT / William Kleindle, Ph.D. IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT / Loretta Battaglia, Ph.D. SECRETARY GENERAL / Leandra Cleveland, PWS TREASURER / Lori Sutter, Ph.D. EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR / Suzanna Hogendorn CONSULTING DIRECTOR / Michelle Czosek, CAE WETLAND SCIENCE & PRACTICE EDITOR / Ralph Tiner, PWS Emeritus CHAPTERS ASIA / Wei-Ta Fang, Ph.D. CANADA / Susan Glasauer, Ph.D. CENTRAL / Tim Fobes, PWS CHINA / Xianguo Lyu EUROPE / Matthew Simpson, PWS INTERNATIONAL / Ian Bredlin, Msc; Pr.Sci.Nat and Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães, Ph.D., PWS MID-ATLANTIC / Jason Traband, PWS, PMP, CBLP NEW ENGLAND / Dwight Dunk, PWS NORTH CENTRAL / Casey Judge, WPIT OCEANIA / Phil Papas PACIFIC NORTHWEST / Josh Wozniak, PWS ROCKY MOUNTAIN / Rebecca Pierce SOUTH ATLANTIC / Brian Benscoter, Ph.D. SOUTH CENTRAL /Jodi Murray Burns, PWS, Med, MS WESTERN / Richard Beck, PWS, CPESC, CEP SECTIONS BIOGEOCHEMISTRY / Beth Lawrence, Ph.D. EDUCATION / Darold Batzer, Ph.D. GLOBAL CHANGE ECOLOGY / Wei Wu, Ph.D. PEATLANDS / Bin Xu, Ph.D. PUBLIC POLICY AND REGULATION / John Lowenthal, PWS RAMSAR / Nicholas Davidson, Ph.D. STUDENT / David Riera WETLAND RESTORATION / Andy Herb WILDLIFE / Andy Nyman, Ph.D. WOMEN IN WETLANDS /Jennifer Karberg, Ph.D. COMMITTEES AWARDS / Siobhan Fennessy, Ph.D. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH / Jeffrey Matthews, Ph.D. HUMAN DIVERSITY / Kwanza Johnson and Jacoby Carter, Ph.D. MEETINGS / Yvonne Vallette, PWS MEMBERSHIP / Leandra Cleveland, PWS PUBLICATIONS / Keith Edwards WAYS & MEANS / Lori Sutter, Ph.D. WETLANDS OF DISTINCTION / Roy Messaros, Ph.D. Bill Morgante, Steffanie Munguia and Jason Smith, PWS REPRESENTATIVES PCP / Scott Jecker, PWS WETLANDS / Marinus Otte, Ph.D. WETLAND SCIENCE & PRACTICE / Ralph Tiner, PWS Emeritus ASWM / Jill Aspinwall AIBS / Dennis Whigham, Ph.D.

Note to Readers: All State-of-the-Science reports are peer reviewed, with anonymity to reviewers. Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 127

We can and will do better to ensure a vibrant, fair, and sustained SWS. Last year has taught us to be more aware of our own unintentional biases and societal barriers and injustice; this year we will make an intentional commitment to be better. With this comes a commitment to institutionalize a Code of Ethics and ensure a visible, clearly articulated approach to let it be known that we will not stand by misogyny, racism, inequity or intolerance in SWS. This is a long journey that we will start – one that each President that follows me will need to continue to update. Operationally, the global pandemic has opened opportunities to discuss the best communication formats and schedules. Virtual meetings have benefits (easier global access, lower cost) and downsides (the social side is really hard to replicate, and video calls are tiring, but I did enjoy ‘bumping’ into folks at the student mixer). What should our Annual Meeting look like in the future? How do we keep the best aspects of virtual meetings? How do we ensure our newest members have the same access to networking and peers that I found invaluable as I was starting out? And how do we best enhance the services we provide that help build our newest wetland professionals. In 2022 for an one year pilot program, we will offer joint student memberships with our partner the Association of State Wetland Managers, to increase knowledge sharing, networking opportunities, and cross-pollination. What I’d really like to see are more opportunities to build more mentoring opportunities for students and early career professionals with established wetland professionals.

But one of our first action items is to find a new association management company. We will be parting ways with our current SWS Business Office run by AMPED, on 1 September 2021. I’d like to thank those employees of AMPED that have contributed to SWS’ success over the years and wish them well with their new opportunities. They have been essential to handling the minutia to the big, splashy needs of our Society. The Board has already requested bids from other association management companies. The Ways and Means Committee will be evaluating proposals for services and negotiating a new contract with the selected company. We’re working to ensure a smooth transition, but please have patience with any hummocks in our path that might slow us down. As we start a new relationship with an association management company, we also have the opportunity to consider alternative models of leadership including employing an Executive Director. In summary, forward together, but smarter, more intentional, and less bounded by the way we’ve always done it. Success on all these goals will require input, discussion, and dedicated effort by members and leaders in the Society. But our efforts will have direct and tangible benefits to both SWS and the members who choose to participate. I look forward to working with you towards these goals. Please reach out to me directly with any comments or suggestions for how to keep SWS impactful and making a real difference. n

EDITOR'S LETTER, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 126 meeting and a commentary on the concerns of some scientists on the EIS process and a copy of their letter to CEQ. Thanks to the contributors! This issue also recognizes 2021 award winners on page 137. Congratulations to the awardees...well deserved! Dr. Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães has been helping me pull together articles for a forthcoming issue

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dedicated to reporting on wetland research in Latin America. She’s doing a remarkable job! If someone is interested in coordinating articles on wetland research and activities in another region of the world, please contact me. WSP can serve as a vehicle to highlight wetland activities around the globe, so I invite your participation. Meanwhile best wishes to all and Happy Swamping. n

SWS NEWS

Establishment of a Society of Wetland Scientists’ Wetland Concerns Committee Mark Finlayson1

s signaled in the February 2021 meeting of the Board of Directors of the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS), the President of SWS, Dr. Loretta Battaglia, after consulting with the Executive Board, has re-established a Wetland Concerns Committee. The role and function of the new Committee differs from the previous version of this Committee, and takes into account the establishment and operation of SWS Sections and Chapters that in different ways may address wetland concerns. Details of the purpose, initial membership and processes to be adopted by the Committee are outlined below. SWS members are encouraged to consider this information and, where appropriate, contact the Committee members and draw their attention to issues that may form part of their activities on behalf of SWS, and also, engage with “Initiatives” established by the Committee, or propose and assist with the establishment of new Initiatives.

GENERAL PURPOSE:

The Wetland Concerns Committee is responsible for investigating issues of concern on both a strategic and a reactive basis and sharing this information, as appropriate, by advising the Executive Board where policy issues arise, or through seminars/webinar presentations, or publication in the wider literature, including both peer reviewed (such as Wetlands or other journals) or non-peer reviewed literature (Wetland Science and Practice), or through postings on the web or through social media.

GENERAL PROCESSES: 1. The committee will not issue policy statements or letters on behalf of SWS. Where policy issues of relevance to SWS arise or are recommended, the Committee will refer these to the Executive Board, and where agreed, discuss further with the Policy & Regulation Section, or other Committees, Sections, or Chapters. 2. The Executive Board can request the Committee to investigate specific issues, either strategically or reactively in response to issues that are raised by SWS members or others. This will include information on the form of the reporting and the type of paper that Chair, SWS ad hoc Committee for Wetland Concerns, Immediate Past President SWS; mfinlayson@csu.edu.au; Institute for Land, Water & Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW 3749, Australia; School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Australia; IHE Delft, Institute for Water Education, Delft, Netherlands 1

is required (e.g. whether a briefing or background paper, a position paper, or specific advice for a policy response). 3. The members of the Committee can also raise issues to be investigated through mechanisms such as through sub-committees or working groups, and where appropriate, in collaboration with other Committees, Sections, or Chapters, or partner organisations and other experts. 4. The Committee will normally report to the Board of Directors twice a year, as part of the existing reporting arrangements, and to the Executive Board as required in response to particular issues. 5. It is expected that the Committee will incorporate existing initiatives such as the Climate Change and Wetlands Initiative approved by the Executive Board in March 2020, and the Rights of Wetlands Initiative, approved in February 2021. When other issues are identified or initiatives proposed a suitable working arrangement will be agreed with interested parties (members and partner organizations). These activities will be time bound within the remit of the Committee and any successor. 6. It is expected that further issues could include responses to problems at specific sites, or more general issues, including emerging issues such as the wider problem of plastics in wetlands. For site specific issues contact will be made with the appropriate Chapter to determine if there is interest and suitable expertise or knowledge available, or Sections with relevant expertise, such as the Peatland or Global Change Ecology Sections. This may also include the Ramsar Section, or the Wetlands of Distinction Committee if wetland site designations are of relevance to the issues being raised. Strategic or thematic considerations will be raised with appropriate Sections in particular for the purpose of avoiding overlap as well as seeking collaboration. 7. The Committee may propose symposia for SWS annual meetings, or at Chapter meetings, usually in collaboration with others, in particular with Sections that are already required to hold an annual symposium. 8. The Committee will liaise with the Editor of Wetland Science and Practice to identify opportunities where written reports on specific issues could be submitted Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 129

for publication, including as information notes about plans for the Committee, as well as to report outcomes. 9. The committee will liaise with the Education and Outreach Standing Committee and Section to contribute to specific information sharing activities, and with SWS staff to share appropriate materials through news and social media mechanisms.

MEMBERSHIP:

The Committee comprises a coordinating group consisting of the Committee Chair, a Vice-Chair and an initial further 6 members, all of whom are in good standing as members of SWS and includes representatives from the USA and internationally. Other members may be added as agreed by the SWS President. A representative of agreed Initiatives undertaken through the Committee would normally be expected to join the Committee. This coordinating group will be responsible for reporting to the Executive Board and Board of Directors, and for managing the activities of the Committee, including determining the issues that will be considered, and how this can be done. The initial members have been appointed for a 2 year period, as per the standing rules for ad hoc committees. Additional members will be added for the duration of the Committee. The current members are: • Chair: Max Finlayson • Vice Chair: to be confirmed • International wetland policy: Nick Davidson • Restoration practice: Andy Herb • Biodiversity & ecosystem services assessment: Siobhan Fennessy • Rights of Wetlands Initiative representative: Gillian Davies • Climate Change and Wetlands Initiative representative: Bill Moomaw • Policy and Regulations representative – Richard Chinn

INITIATIVES:

As mentioned above, the Committee currently has carriage of two formal Initiatives that developed from activities, including symposia at SWS conferences, undertaken by SWS members. A description of each of these Initiatives is available in Wetland Science & Practice, as indicated below. SWS members with an interest in contributing to these Initiatives are encouraged to make contact with the coordinators. It is not expected that everything to do with the subject of the initiatives needs to be done through this mechanism. While members are invited to join these initia130 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

tives and to work with the teams that are being formed they are equally able to pursue their interests through other means as suits themselves. The two Initiatives in place at this time are briefly described below. i) Climate Change and Wetlands Initiative – the purpose of the Initiative is to extend the role of SWS in generating knowledge and sharing evidence-based information for addressing science, policy, and management of wetlands in a changing climate. It will build on recent activities largely undertaken through the Society’s annual meetings and involve a collective of Society members with common interests in global change, including climate change. Contact: Bill Moomaw Information on this Initiative is available in the July 2020 issue of WSP, pages 158-160. It is also supported by other articles in WSP that report on the invitation to members to sign the San Juan Statement, the Denver Declaration and the Baltimore Proclamation. ii) Rights of Wetlands Initiative – the purpose of this Initiative is to collaborate to further develop and promote a framework for recognizing the ethical and legal Rights of Wetlands and the fundamental realignment of the human-wetlands relationship that it implies. It builds on the publication and subsequent promotion of a paper entitled a Towards a Universal Declaration of the Rights of Wetlands (open access https://doi.org/10.1071/MF20219). Formalization of the Initiative creates a vehicle for future collaborations both within and beyond SWS, such as with individuals and organizations with whom we may wish to collaborate, including members of Indigenous and local communities and Rights of Nature non-governmental organizations. Contact: Gillian Davies Members with an interest in developing further Initiatives that could be included within the Wetland Concerns Committee are asked to contact the Chair or to discuss with other members of the Committee. We have had some initial interest in developing Initiatives around: i) plastics in wetlands; ii) basin or watershed approaches for managing wetlands and lakes; and iii) developing participatory processes for managing wetlands. If you have a specific interest in these topics please make contact to explore what opportunities may be possible. Feel free to raise further ideas, particularly if you also have thought about how to develop these. Keep in mind that the concept of a ‘wetland concern’ has been kept broad, and can be strategic or tactical, site based or thematic, and include basic science through to wetland practice and education. n

In Memoriam: Robert P. Brooks Denice Wardrop, Penn State University

here are those for whom the joy of science is in its ability to observe the smallest details of a problem; some who delight in its ability to untangle knotted threads of variables; some who use it to chase cures for something that threatens; some who use it to uncover patterns; some who use it to organize the world. And then there are some who use science to make the earth that they love a more beautiful place, and to help others to do the same. Robert P. Brooks was one of the latter. Rob’s professional love affair with the watery world began in graduate school at the University of Massachusetts with beavers, muskrats, and otters, those engineers and denizens of lakes, ponds, and streams (by his own account, he would have given the start date of 5 yrs of age, but we’ll consider that professional preparation). It led him to combine wildlife biology and wetlands science, and he was invited to volunteer on a local conservation commission and be in charge of wetland permitting. Those three early interests and experiences of animal populations, their aquatic habitat, and the policy and management that was applied to them, would weave together and give rise to three defining characteristics of his entire career: conservation, collaboration, and synthesis. Rob had a deep understanding of the difference between conservation and preservation: while preservation means protecting nature from human use, conservation is the care and protection of these resources so that they can persist for future generations. The highest form of conservation requires two foundational elements: the appreciation for, and willingness to participate in, multiple fronts from research to policy, and an ethical foundation in the belief that future generations deserve to have access to the same beauty and wonder that current generations do. The multiple fronts that Rob dove into included transformative research, environmental education, community outreach, legislation, and policy. That resulted in efforts that ranged from invasive species removal (mostly plants), native species reintroduction (otters), development of ecological indicators across all organism types, and rapid assessment approaches. Participation on multiple fronts required a trait that Rob had an abundance of: a natural openness and delight in engaging any kind of person into conversation and exploration. Whether agency regulator or undergraduate intern, he listened, he weighed, he truly tried to imagine what would make your task easier. That was an approach that was remarkable in an academic setting at the time, and Rob succeeded in blending his missions

of conservationist and educator. Thus, tools that were ready made for managers and policy makers emerged continuously, and he taught a generation of students how to do the same. He had the foresight to know what would have to serve as the basis of those tools. Riparia’s Reference Wetland Collection, composed of 222 wetland sites across Pennsylvania, was presciently begun in 1993 as an unfunded venture, and grown into a remarkable research resource that served as a platform for dozens of assessment tools, theses, and dissertations. Rob had begun with a paired watershed study in his early career, and had seen what could be learned from observation of landscapes impacted to varying degrees; he never forgot the power of comparison. He embraced the concept of sustainability long before it was in vogue, and was the perfect ancestor, with a long term view and a genuine hope for a better future for those he loved. And that love was obvious; you could have predicted his success as a grandfather by the way he viewed his students. The transdisciplinary approach that conservation required had another necessary element; the ability to gather people around a common goal that required collaboration, and there were few better than Rob at planting a flag and gathering a new tribe. Rob was an abundantly decent man, the kind of decency that is defined by treating all people with dignity and respect. The respect reached deep into personas, to your values and what you held dear in the world. As such, the tribes he gathered were composed of similarly decent people, and almost every group I watched him gather had a genuine affection, commitment, and regard for both one another and the cause that was being pursued. One great example was the research center that he founded in 1993, the Penn State Cooperative Wetlands Center (where science informs policy and practice in wetlands ecology, landscape hydrology, and watershed management), later given the new moniker of Riparia. The name change alone gives you insight into Rob’s desire to engage an ever-widening web of people understanding the connection between the health of the environment and their own; much to the chagrin of the Center’s staff at the time, Rob’s defense of the new name was that it was a “conversation starter”, versus a simple name that stated where we resided and what we did. It turned out to be exactly that. His success at obtaining research funds (he was senior principal investigator on over 116 grants funded between 1981-2018, over $31million) was a reflection of his ability to identify an important Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 131

obstacle to wise use of natural resources, to gather a group of people to characterize and dissolve the obstacle, and to charm us all into creating an atmosphere of that same sort of decency where we could do our best work. That charm arose from Rob’s compassion, ever-present sense of wonder, and love of fun. And did we have it. There were Wetlands and Wildlife Olympics, project meetings in beautiful places, poems dedicated to silly things, beautiful photographs, music everywhere, hijinks and laughter in the field. Rob knew that the best work arose out of love, wonder, and respect; the productivity of those collaborations is a testament to that. Last, but not least, Rob loved synthesis, the weaving and interplay of things, and showed a deep appreciation for it in all of its forms, whether in art, literature, or science. He often pointed to the E.O. Wilson quote, “We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom. The world henceforth will be run by synthesizers, people able to put together the right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make important choices wisely.” A wonderful example of that kind of synthesis was the stunning quilted landscapes that his wife, Becky, created out of pieces of fabric that seemed inconsequential on their own, but when artfully integrated provided a new and stunning picture of a part of the world. Rob loved those quiltings and what they accomplished, to see things in a new light, to create new beauty in the world. Professionally, that drive for synthesis showed up in the type of projects that he led, ones which required a wide and open view of factors and possibilities, such as the reintroduction of the river otter in Pennsylvania or the development

of a suite of ecological indicators for the Mid-Atlantic. He continually advocated for the integration of wetlands, streams, and floodplains, which were typically treated as discrete entities. Rob saw the sometimes crisp and sometimes blurry boundaries, and pushed for a dialogue that would understand them as interacting parts of an integrated system. Personally, it showed up in his photographs, which were always uncovering some fantastic detail that others might have missed, or in his musings and writings. During my time as his grad student, he once gave me a small book in which to record “grass clippings”, those small ideas and insights that come along. He always had such a book on his person, looking for new ways to make those grass clippings into a picture that was bigger than the sum of its parts. He succeeded very, very often. Rob once said in an interview, “I believe the dynamics of water fascinates most people —the flow of a river, the concentric rings of a water drop on a pond’s surface, or the patterns formed by water and aquatic plants— think Monet.” Rob realized that intrinsic beauty and would gently lead many people to that fascination, and then leverage that fascination into appreciation, and then regard, and then curiosity, and finally into action that mattered, using science to stitch together those pieces, much like Becky’s quilted landscapes. He shared that fascination widely and generously, in a number of community capacities such as planning commissions, nature centers, and professional workgroups. The world is truly a different place for his presence here: he taught so many of us to see things in a new light, to create new beauty in the world. May we continue in that spirit. n Rob was an active member of our Society. He participated in the Mid-Atlantic Chapter and regularly attended the Society's annual meetings. He served as an Associate Editor of our technical journal - WETLANDS - from 2003-2005. In 2017, Rob was honored as an SWS Fellow, the highest honor awarded to our members. (Photo credits: University of Massachusetts, left, and Penn State University, right.)

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Scientists Raise Concern about the Lack of Scientific Peer Review in EIS Process Prepared by Dave Chambers and Matt Schweisberg

he proposed Pebble Mine in southwest Alaska, approximately 200 air miles from Anchorage, has been highly controversial for over a decade. The Pebble deposit is potentially the largest copper-gold deposit in North America, but is located in the upper Bristol Bay watershed, which hosts the largest commercial runs of Sockeye salmon in the world. The area is remote, essentially roadless, and for all practical purposes pristine. The mineral deposit contains potentially acid rock, and dissolved copper is a contaminant of particular concern for salmonids. In 2014, during the Obama administration, the USEPA completed the peer-reviewed Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment, which concluded that a mine like the proposed Pebble Mine could pose unacceptable adverse effects to the salmon fishery in Bristol Bay, and should not be allowed.1 The mining company owning the deposit has continued to call the EPA science biased, despite an opinion from the EPA Inspector General which found, “… no evidence of bias in how the EPA conducted its assessment …”2 Under the Trump administration, the pending prohibition against the Pebble Mine was withdrawn, and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers was completed in just over two and a half years. The EIS found that the mine would, “… not be expected to have measurable effects...” on Bristol Bay fisheries.3 The mining company has described the EIS as, “… one of the greatest Final Environmental Impact Statements that you can imagine …”4 During the EIS review process, commenters on the EIS, including those signing the letter below, pointed to many fundamental and conspicuous flaws with the EIS analyses and conclusions. These criticisms were ignored in the Final EIS. An Assessment of Potential Mining Impacts on Salmon Ecosystems of Bristol Bay, Alaska. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 910-R14-001A, January 2014, https:// www.epa.gov/bristolbay/bristol-bay-assessmentfinal-report-2014 2 EPA’s Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment: Obtainable Records Show EPA Followed Required Procedures Without Bias or Predetermination, but a Possible Misuse of Position Noted, U.S. Environment Protection Agency, Office of Inspector General, Report No. 16-P-0082 January 13, 2016, https://www.epa.gov/bristolbay/ bristol-bay-assessment-final-report-2014 3 Pebble Project Final Environmental Impact Statement, US Army Corps of Engineers, July 2020, https://pebbleprojecteis.com 4 SmithWeekly Research Discussion with Ron Thiessen, Northern Dynasty Minerals, Part 1, June 22, 2021, available at: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=i8JcFccI04A 1

Environmental Impact Statements are typically assembled by consultants to the lead agency charged with the responsibility for conducting an EIS, with oversight from that lead agency’s professionals. There is no peer review required, or typically conducted, on the data collection methods, the literature utilized, or conclusions about the science in an EIS. This was the case for the Pebble Mine EIS. There is a significant, and glaring, fundamental difference between the conclusions of the EPA Watershed Assessment and the Corps of Engineers EIS. The EPA found that damage to the Bristol Bay fishery was likely, and the Corps found that impacts to the fishery were likely not be measurable. These documents were both conducted with significant science input, but they reach contradictory conclusions. Which one is more likely correct? Should the validity of the science be determined by scientists or by a court of law? At present, the only venue available is the latter. A group of scientists involved in reviewing the EIS sent the following letter to CEQ that proposes a science-based alternative to the EIS process.

PEER REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS

Dear Ms. Mallory; The science used to inform the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process is not currently required to be peer reviewed, but we feel strongly that they should be. Science is needed to inform the decision making process inherent in the EIS analysis, but at present science is not doing, or allowed to do, its job at accurately informing the decision making process and the decision makers. Science is routinely manipulated to come up with a politically driven result. We provide our reasoning and examples in the following paragraphs. We are a group of scientists recently involved in reviewing the EIS for the Pebble Mine in Alaska. Several of us have reviewed EISs for large mines and other projects for many years, observing the persistent failure of these documents to accurately predict impacts. We believe the EIS process is fundamentally flawed. Although we recognize that decision-making is ultimately driven by political realities, no one is served well when science is manipulated to yield results that are not backed by objective, peer reWetland Science & Practice July 2021 133

viewed science. In other words, political decisions should be clearly separated from science-based decisions in EISs. The EIS process is founded on the idea that a scientific assessment of the potential impacts of a decision can inform that decision. However, as they are presently being conducted these assessments are flawed, because the process fails a basic scientific standard. Good science depends on the critical review by other scientists. Approximately 70% of the references cited in a survey of 22 recent EISs were not subject to journal-level peer review.1 Peer review ensures transparency and improves the quality and validity of the science, and upholds the quality and validity of the sciencebased recommendations in the EIS and the decisions that flow from it. A recent example of a flawed EIS process is seen by comparing the conflicting findings of the Army Corp of Engineer’s Pebble Mine EIS2 with those of the USEPA’s peer-reviewed Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment.3 When a NEPA analysis is derailed on legal appeal because of shoddy or selectively biased science, all involved pay a high price for wasted effort and time. The resulting inefficiencies harm citizens, taxpayers, affected people and communities, agency personnel, industry, investors in industry, and working people dependent on sustainable use of natural resources. Poorly applied science has systemic consequences, and those include spectacularly expensive failed plans and project proposals, just as often as unanticipated or undisclosed harm to the environment and human health. Many issues present in EIS production and review have been described over the last three decades in the United States and in similar processes around the world. The baseline science and data handling are poor.4 The risk assessment mathematical models are not well justified,5 and then feed into later impact predictions without specifying the uncertainties and assumptions that were present in the initial model.6 As a consequence, there is a long history of EIS predictions that have been shown to be wrong after a project has been built. For example, the impacts of mining on water quality are well documented, as is the long history of failure of the EIS process to predict accurately those impacts.7 This is not surprising. Without peer review, there is little incentive for EIS authors to articulate uncertainties, risks, and likely impacts, and the process naturally becomes narrow-minded and driven by project proponent preferences. Georgetown University Law Center Professor Steve 1 Lubetkin 2020 2 ACOE 2020 3 EPA 2014 4 Fairweather 1994; Treweek 1996; Thompson et al. 1997; Benkendorff 1999; Ayles et al. 2004; Chang et al. 2013 5 Stern 2013; Sheaves et al., 2016 6 Ortolano and Shepherd 1995; Adelman 2004; Duncan 2008; Lees et al. 2016 7 Kuipers et al 2006 8 Elliott 2003

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Goldberg observes: “[R]egulatory agencies are regularly accused of being ‘captured’ by industry, consumer groups, members of Congress, or bureaucratic inertia. They are never accused, however, of being captured by scientists.”8 In an EIS, peer review could take many forms, which may or may not mimic the traditional peer review process. Regardless of the specific form, a truly independent review is critical. Without formal review by outside experts, no scientist can trust the results, and no decision maker should trust them either. Other countries have successfully implemented such reviews. For example, under the Canadian Impact Assessment Act of 2019, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change may determine that it is in the public interest to refer the assessment to an independent review panel. A review panel is a group of independent and impartial experts appointed by the Minister to conduct the environmental assessment and to make conclusions and recommendations to the Minister. The members of a review panel must have knowledge or experience relative to the anticipated environmental effects of a project. They must also be objective and free from any apparent conflict of interest relative to the project. It would be a major improvement if a review process like this were to be adopted by the CEQ for the NEPA/EIS process. Although this adds an additional step to the review process, rushing a decision is far more damaging than taking additional time to get it right. The Biden Administration has demonstrated its commitment to science in other areas that require scientific integrity, such as the coronavirus and global warming crises. We urge you to instill a similar commitment to science in the EIS process. The push to transition to a renewable energy economy will necessitate new mines and new energy projects, all of which can have potential environmental impacts. To move towards this future in a just and sustainable way we need to carefully assess what those social, physical, chemical, and biological impacts are most likely to be. The administration must take this opportunity to make necessary and fundamental changes to the EIS analysis process. We urge the CEQ to convene a formal review of how science is, and should be, used in the EIS process. The EIS process must be overhauled to incorporate scientific peer review. We stand ready to assist with formulating new guidance and a more formalized peer review process. The EIS process serves no one if the results cannot be trusted. Sincerely; David M. Chambers, PhD, P Geop Susan Lubetkin, PhD

Matt Schweisberg, SPWS Robert H. Prucha, PhD, PE Cameron Wobus, PhD Glenn Miller, PhD, Professor Emeritus, University of Nevada Reno Bretwood Higman, PhD Christopher Frissell, PhD, Salish Kootenai College Sarah O’Neal, MS Ann Maest, PhD Kendra Zamzow, PhD Thomas G. Yocom, Former EPA National Wetlands Expert Carol Ann Woody, PhD Robert M. Hughes, PhD, Fellow, American Fisheries Society; Fellow, Society for Freshwater Science Thomas M. Power, PhD, Research Professor and Professor Emeritus, University of Montana Jack A. Stanford, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana n

REFERENCES

ACOE 2020. Pebble Project Final Environmental Impact Statement, US Army Corps of Engineers, July 2020. Adelman, D.E., 2004. Scientific activism and restraint: the interplay of statistics, judgment, and procedure in environmental law. Notre Dame Law Rev. 79 (2), 497–584. Ayles, G.B., Dube, M., Roseberg, D., 2004. Oil Sands Regional Aquatic Monitoring Program (RAMP) Scientific Peer Review of the Five Year Report (1997-2001). Submitted to the RAMP Steering Committee, February 13, 2004.

ment: the role of consultants and predictive computer models in burying uncertainty. Impact Assess. Proj. Apprais. 26, 53–66. Elliott, E.D., 2003. Strengthening Science's Voice at EPA. Yale Faculty Scholarship Series Paper 2220. EPA 2014. An Assessment of Potential Mining Impacts on Salmon Ecosystems of Bristol Bay, Alaska. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 910-R-14-001A, January 2014 https://www.epa.gov/ bristolbay/bristol-bay-assessment-final-report-2014 Fairweather, P.G., 1994. Improving the use of science in environmental assessments. Aust. Zool. 29, 217–223. Kuipers et al 2006. Comparison of Predicted and Actual Water Quality at Hardrock Mines, The Reliability of Predictions in Environmental Impact Statements, James R. Kuipers Ann S. Maest, Kimberley A. MacHardy, Gregory Lawson, 2006. Lees, J., Jaeger, J.A.G., Gunn, J.A.E., Noble, B.F., 2016. Analysis of uncertainty consideration in environmental assessment: an empirical study of Canadian EA practice. J. Environ. Plan. Manag. 59, 2024– 2044 Lubetkin, S. C. 2020. The tip of the iceberg: Three case studies of spill risk assessments used in environmental impact statements. Marine Pollution Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110613 Ortolano, L., Shepherd, A., 1995. Environmental impact assessment: challenges and opportunities. Impact Assessment 13, 3–30. https://doi.or g/10.1080/07349165.1995.9726076. Sheaves, M., Coles, R., Dale, P., Grech, A., Pressey, R.L., Waltham, N.J., 2016. Enhancing the value and validity of EIA: serious science to protect Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Conservation Letters 9, 377–383. Stern, N., 2013. The structure of economic modeling of potential impacts of climate change: grafting gross underestimation of risk onto already narrow science models. J. Econ. Lit. 51, 838–859. Thompson, S., Treweek, J.R., Thurling, D.J., 1997. The ecological component of environmental impact assessment: a critical review of British environmental statements. J. Environ. Plan. Manag. 40, 157–171. Treweek, J., 1996. Ecology and environmental impact assessment. J. Appl. Ecol. 33, 191–199.

Benkendorff, K., 1999. The need for more stringent requirements in Environmental Impact Assessment: shell Cove Marina case study. Pac. Conserv. Biol. 5, 214–223. Chang, T., Nielsen, E., Auberle, W., Solop, F.I., 2013. A quantitative method to analyze the quality of EIA information in wind energy development and bat/avian developments. Environ. Impact Assess. Rev. 38, 142–150. Duncan, R., 2008. Problematic practice in integrated impact assess-

Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 135

SWS Climate Change Initiative Collaborates to Bring Global Leaders Together for Plenary Panel Discussion at the Society for Ecological Restoration

orld leaders in wetlands, peatlands and biodiversity conservation and restoration and climate change met (virtually) at the Society for Ecological Restoration’s (SER) 2021 World Conference Plenary Panel on June 22nd to discuss the importance of restoring and conserving wetlands including peatlands, and other ecosystems as a critical element in our response to the climate change and biodiversity emergencies. Members of the SWS Climate Change Initiative worked closely with SER’s leadership and others to organize the Plenary Panel, which was moderated by SWS member, Professor William Moomaw. Panelists included Elizabeth Mrema, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, Dianna Kopansky, Coordinator of UNEP-led Global Peatlands Initiative, Jane Madwick, CEO of Wetlands International, and Professor Brendan Mackey of Griffith University. The purpose of the panel was to bring these world leaders together to explore the intersections between climate change and biodiversity loss, and the critical

role that wetlands including peatlands, forests and other ecosystems play in supporting biodiversity and a stable climate. The panel discussed the joint report released on June 10th by the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPBES-IPCC), which identifies the need to address biodiversity loss and climate change as two parts of the same problem in order to succeed in addressing either one (see https://www.ipbes.net/sites/default/ files/2021-06/20210609_workshop_report_embargo_3pm_ CEST_10_june_0.pdf). The report states, “Restoring carbon- and species-rich ecosystems on land and in the ocean is also highly effective for both climate change mitigation and biodiversity, with large adaptation co-benefits.” Read the complete SER press release on the 2021 World Conference Plenary Panel here: https://www.ser.org/ news/570501/Leaders-Urge-Prioritization-of-Wetland-Restoration-to-Fight-Climate-Change-and-Biodiversity-Loss. htm n

Latin American wetlands issue planned for Wetland Science & Practice

he Society of Wetland Scientists' e-publication, Wetland Science & Practice (WSP), is planning an issue focused on Latin American wetlands. The purpose is to provide readers with an update of current research, restoration and conservation activities and concerns involving wetlands. Articles on the natural history of wetland fauna or flora are also of interest, as well as profiles of individual wetlands of national or local significance. For this special issue, we would also like to include photographs of Latin American wetlands in our "Notes from the Field" section. If

136 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

interested in submitting a photo please send it to the editor (ralphtiner83@gmail.com) along with a caption identifying the wetland type and location. We look forward to seeing these images that will further highlight LA wetlands. The deadline for submissions is October 1, 2021. Please review WSP publication guidelines. If you have any questions feel free to contact Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães, Special Issue Coordinator, or Ralph Tiner, WSP editor. n

AWARDS

SWS Slate of Awards 2021 PRESIDENT SERVICE AWARD:

PRESIDENT SERVICE AWARD:

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:

John Lowenthal, Senior PWS, PWD Cardno

Jeffrey Matthews, PhD University of Illinois

Mark T. Brown University of Florida

CHAPTER/ SECTION GRANT AWARDS • Asia Chapter

• Sophie Vincent Louisiana State University

• Education Section

• Stephanie Verhulst University of Florida

Doug Wilcox Award

• Morgan Morin Western Michigan University

• Dr. Junhong Bai Beijing Normal University Beijing, P.R. China Note from M. Otte: Junhong not only stands out because he has been on the board since, if I remember correctly 2014, and never turned down an assignment, but also because of his active role in attracting papers from China. He put together a special issue on ‘Coastal Wetlands in China’ (Supplement Issue 1, 2016), and now also an entire Topical Collection on ‘Degradation and Ecological Restoration of Estuarine Wetlands in China’.

SWS STUDENT RESEARCH GRANTS • Jacob Dybiec University of Alabama • Jessica Balerna University of South Florida

• Mary Farina Montana State University • Natalie Faron Florida Atlantic University • Clarisse Gösele University of Hamburg • Andrew Sample Mississippi State University • Sean Lee Tulane University

CHAPTER AND SECTION STUDENT RESEARCH AWARDS

Biogeochemistry Section • Clarisse Gösele University of Hamburg

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• Carla Lopez Lloreda Virginia Tech

Wetland Restoration Section

• Madeline Meadows-McDonnell University of Connecticut

• Emily Fromenthal The University of Alabama

• Anthony Mirabito University of Central Florida International Chapter - Africa

• Krista Noe West Virginia University Wildlife Section

• Folake Irewunmi Adelere Ogun State Institute of Technology International Chapter - Latin America

• Madelyn McFarland Mississippi State University

• Luis Enrique Olguín Chávez Autonomous University of Queretaro

• Samantha Garcia Northeastern Illinois University

New England Chapter

• Micaela Leandro Franklin Pierce University

• Clarice Perryman University of New Hampshire North Central Chapter • Isabel Dunn University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point • Morgan Morin Western Michigan University Peatlands Section • Mary Farina Montana State University • Marija Trencheva Ss. Cyril and Methodius University - Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics South Atlantic Chapter • Natalie Faron Florida Atlantic University

SWaMMP

• Lizette Gonzalez University of Texas at El Paso • Marcela Strane Arizona State University • Alexus Uchendu Houston Community college • Bryan Yu El Paso Community College • Jocelyn Bravo Bryn Mawr College • Sal Gutierrez California State University, Long Beach • DaRon Shavers University of Kentucky • Orlando Rios University of Puerto Rico

• Christopher Shipway Clemson University

• Nadia Bowles Auburn University Graduate Students

• Stephanie Verhulst University of Florida

• Kristina Morales University of North Carolina at Greensboro

South Central Chapter

• Anna Pina University of Texas at El Paso

• Jacob Dybiec University of Alabama • Andrew Sample Mississippi State University

138 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

• Latia Jackson Virginia State University

CHAPTER NEWS

Summary 16th Annual Meeting SWS Europe Chapter Prepared by Keith Edwards, Secretary SWS-Europe

he 16th annual meeting of the SWS Europe chapter, entitled “Connecting wetlands functioning and biodiversity: Towards nature-based solutions”, was a rousing success. Held as a virtual meeting due to the global situation, the conference was hosted by Patrick Grillas and the Tour du Valat from June 15-17, 2021. Special thanks to the SWS business office, and especially Suzanna Hogenborn (AMPED), who helped set up the Zoom meeting and was always available in case of any trouble. Because of the time difference of seven hours, this meant that Suzanna had to be at the office quite early in the morning to make sure everything was going smoothly. We greatly appreciate the work and effort that Suzanna put into this. Likewise, chapter President Matthew Simpson ran the meeting, making sure that the presentations went off smoothly and on time. Matt did a lot of work in this and greatly deserves a large amount of thanks as well. Great job to both Suzanna and Matt!!! There were 108 registered participants from 23 countries, mostly from Europe but also including the US, Tunisia and Morocco. A total of 20 oral presentations and 6 plenary talks were given over the three afternoons of the conference, with two plenary talks each day. On day 1, Thomas Galewski (Tour du Valat, France) spoke about the biodiversity, overall state and restoration of Mediterranean wetlands. He was followed by Liesbeth Bakker (Netherlands Institute of Ecology, The Netherlands) who gave an interesting overview of wetland rewilding activities as an extension of normal wetland restoration, with focuses on nature-based solutions and as a means of mitigating climate change. For the second day, Tobias Salathé (Ramsar Secretariat, Switzerland) talked about the need for encouraging young scientists and for all wetland scientists to engage in more practical aspects of their work. Gillian Davies (BSC Group, Massachusetts, USA) then gave a succinct summary of the Declaration of the Rights of Wetlands. The plenary speakers on Day 3 were Chris Joyce (Brighton University, UK) and Dominik Zak (Aarhus University, Denmark), long-time active members of our chapter and recipients of the SWS 40th anniversary awards. Chris gave a good summary of wet grasslands, focusing on their great diversity and the multiple functions and services they provide, while Dominik talked about the use of wetlands,

especially restored wetlands in agricultural settings, to trap nutrient exports from farm fields. On each day, the plenary talks were followed by 6-7 oral presentations, a majority of these by students. An aim of the meeting was to encourage presentations by students and young scientists, with an added incentive of a prize for the best student presentation. A very encouraging outcome of the meeting was the high level of all the presentations, thus it was difficult to choose a best one. But choose we did. This year’s winner was Stijn den Haan (Lund University, Sweden), who gave a very stimulating talk about the strategies used in previous wetland restoration projects to involve community members, in that local community support is deemed necessary to increase the chance for a successful restoration. The talk by Renske J.E. Vroom (Radboud University, The Netherlands), about methane emissions via ebullition from fish ponds in Brazil, took second place while Maria Cuenca-Cambronero (Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya, Spain) garnered third place honors with a clear and insightful summary of the new Ponderful project. Congratulations to Stijn, Renske and Maria!! And job well done to all the other student presenters! At the beginning of day 2, we held a very special event commemorating the designation of Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia as a new Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. Our chapter, especially past-President Jos Verhoeven, played an important role in helping this come about. Jos and the chapter worked with local organizers, including Ohrid SOS and chapter members Nadezda Apostolova and Dr. Slavcho Hristovski, as well as Dragana Velkovska and others in North Macedonia, to help stop a tourist development planned for Studenchiste Wetland, the last intact wetland on the shores of Lake Ohrid, and to aid in the application process to include Lake Ohrid as a Ramsar site. Holding our 2018 annual meeting in Ohrid not only gave support to Ohrid SOS and other local organizers but gave us a very clear picture of the wonders of Lake Ohrid. That our efforts helped to bring about such a positive outcome is very encouraging and uplifting. Now on to the next such project! n

Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 139

WEBINARS

SOCIETY WETLAND SCIENTISTS

Monthly webinars are offered by the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) as a benefit of membership. Once each quarter, in March, July, September and December (marked with an asterisk below), the monthly SWS webinar is open for non-members to attend, at no cost. Spanish language webinars are always free for both members and non-members, as well.

ENGLISH:

SPANISH:

7/15/2021 | 1:00 pm ET Floating wetlands in Pakistan * Presenter: Muhammad Afzal

6/23/2021 | 1:00 pm ET Macrophytes and invertebrate herbivores in subtropical wetlands * Presenter: Celeste Franceschini

8/19/2021 | 1:00 pm ET Integrating wetlands into wholistic nature based planning projects Presenter: Gillian Davies 9/16/2021 | 1:00 pm ET Crayfish frogs or reptile/amphibian assemblages in remnant wet prairies Presenter: J.D. Willson * 10/21/2021 | 1:00 pm ET Salt marsh adaptive management to sea level rise using runnels Presenter: Alice Besterman 11/18/2021 | 1:00 pm ET Peatland mapping from boreal to tropical zone in Americas Presenter: Laura Bourgeau-Chavez 12/23/2021 | 1:00 pm ET More info coming soon

9/22/2021 | 1:00 pm ET Climate-resilient environmental flows: Theory, practice and outlook on a changing climate in Mexico * Presenter: Sergio A. Salinas-Rodríguez 12/01/2021 | 1:00 pm ET The first 10 years of data of the Central American Waterbird Count, organized by Manomet/Wetlands International * Presenter: John van Dort, Arne Lesterhuis

ARCHIVES: Did you miss a webinar? All webinars are recorded and archived. To view member-only webinars, visit the calendar view of the SWS events page and navigate back to the applicable event date. Quarterly public webinars and Spanish language webinars are archived on our YouTube channel.

Thank you to our 2021 Webinar Series sponsors

2021 Webinar Series sponsorships available We are excited to announce sponsorship opportunities for our webinar series, as a means of partnering with other organizations in the wetland field, like you! Webinars are offered complimentary to all SWS members, and are offered FREE to the public on a quarterly basis, providing maximum exposure for your organization.

SWS WEBINAR SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS: Pre-Webinar • Recognition with company logo and link to organization website on SWS promotional items, including member emails and advertisement on SWS Webinars webpage

During Webinar • Verbal recognition of organization during introductory webinar slides, as well as presentation of organization logo • Contact slide at end of the webinar presentation featuring organization contact information

Post-Webinar • Additional exposure from on-demand webinars, which are viewed recordings (generally, 45 viewings per month)

Annual Sponsorship rate of $1,000 includes recognition during at least 10 SWS Webinars per year. Sponsorship is limited to only five (5) sponsors per subscription year. Contact Jordan Haag at jhaag@sws.org.

www.sws.org 140 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

#SWSWebinars

#SWS

#Wetlands

#WetlandScience

An Updated Citizen Science State of the World’s Wetlands Survey Matthew Simpson1,2,3, Robert J. McInnes2,4, Nick Davidson2,5, Connor Walsh6, Chris Rostron6, C. Max Finlayson2

BACKGROUND

n July 2020, we reported in Wetland Science and Practice (WSP) that a collaboration among the Ramsar Section of the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS), the World Wetland Network (WWN), the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Open University, the Institute for Land, Water and Society, (ILWS), Charles Sturt University, and the Cobra Collective was launching a second citizen science survey of the state of the world’s remaining wetlands (McInnes et al. 2020a). The 2020 survey was a follow up to a similar survey conducted in 2017 by a similar coalition (McInnes et al. 2020b). The 2017 survey generated 500 useable responses from across the world and from a great diversity of respondents. The analysis of the results provided an insight to the global status and trends of wetlands (McInnes et al. 2020b), sadly echoing the conclusions in other assessments, such as Ramsar Convention (2018) and Davidson et al. (2020), that many of the world’s remaining wetlands are in a deteriorating state. However, significant differences were reported from different parts of the world, and with large wetlands, in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, being reported to be in a worse, and increasingly deteriorating, state than smaller wetlands in North America, Europe and Oceania (McInnes et al. 2020b). The 2020 citizen science survey of the state of the world’s wetlands sought to replicate the 2017 survey through volunteer citizens completing a qualitative assessment of as many of the world’s wetlands as possible. The 2020 survey was conducted through a simple online questionnaire about the current state, and trends in that state, of wetlands. The questionnaire was available in seven different languages (French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese and English), so as to enhance acces35percent, Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, Australia 3 Cobra Collective, Egham, Surrey, UK 4 RM Wetlands & Environment Ltd, Littleworth, Oxfordshire, UK 5 Nick Davidson Environmental, Wigmore, Herefordshire, UK 6 Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, UK

sibility. The collaborating partners distributed information about the survey through a range of networks and online media to seek widespread contributions. This article provides a factual summary of the results of the 2020 survey, highlighting some of the key findings. A more detailed analysis of the results and trends derived from the two surveys will be published in due course in a peer-reviewed publication.

RESULTS

A total of 522 responses were received for the 2020 survey. After quality control and vetting, a total of 514 responses were considered to be of sufficient quality (with regards to content and comprehensiveness) for analysis. The number of responses is similar to the 541 received in the 2017 survey. The respondents were drawn from many different backgrounds. Approximately two fifths of respondents were from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and one fifth from academic or research institutes. Representatives from local, regional and national government accounted for approximately 15% of the responses. Consultants and students represented approximately 5% and 6% of the respondents respectively Some sites that were surveyed in 2017 were reassessed by several different people in 2020 (n=46). However, there

1 2

TABLE 1. Summary of responses to the question ‘how did you hear about this survey? Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 141

are 29 wetlands that were resurveyed by the same person for both surveys and which can be considered as a direct comparator. In total there are 75 responses in 2020 that relate to sites surveyed in 2017. However, because of multiple responses received for the same site, there are only 52 individual wetlands that have data for both 2017 and 2020. Approximately one half of all respondents heard about the survey through the World Wetland Network (25.4%),

via a personal introduction from a friend or colleague (24.2%) (Table 1), or from contact via SWS (13.5%). Geographical spread and wetland types In total, respondents reported on wetlands in 84 different countries, with Australia, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru and the United States all having respondents report on 20 or more wetlands (Table 2). In terms of Ramsar geopolitical Regions, respondents supplied information on 116 wetlands in Europe, 104 in Asia, 85 in North America,

TABLE 2. Number of wetland records received per country and per Ramsar region. 142 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

FIGURE 1. Current state of all wetlands in different Ramsar Regions reported on in 2020 based on citizen survey responses.

84 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 81 in Oceania and 44 in Africa (Table 2). Over half of the responses received reported on inland wetlands (52.5%), with the remaining split between coastal wetlands (35.2%) and both inland and coastal wetland (12.3%). Current state of wetlands It is encouraging that of all wetlands reported on, one-third (32.5%) were reported to be in good state, with less than one-quarter (22.8%) being in poor state and with the other 44.7% being in fair state. By Ramsar geopolitical Regions, the most widespread reports of good state were from North America (49.4% of reports), Oceania (34.6%) and Europe (36.2%). Conversely, the most widespread reports of poor

FIGURE 2. Reported current state of wetlands partly or wholly designated as Ramsar Sites and of other wetlands based on citizen survey.

state were from Africa (38.6%), Latin America & the Caribbean (27.4%) and Asia (26.0%) (Figure 1). For wetlands not designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), reported current state was very similar to the overall reports: 32.7% in good state, 44.0% in fair state and 23.3% in poor state. Similarly, for wetlands wholly or partially designated as Ramsar Sites 32.2% were reported as in good state and 45.9% as in fair state, with over one-fifth (22.0%) being reported as in poor state (Figure 2). Change in wetland area Although almost half (44.9%) of all wetlands reported on have not changed in area over the time respondents have known it, over one-third of wetlands (36.6%) were re-

FIGURE 3. Reported change in the area of all wetlands since each respondent has known their wetland. Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 143

FIGURE 4. Reported change in the area of all wetlands since each respondent has known their wetland, by Ramsar Region.

ported to have decreased in area with only 13.8% having increased in area (Figure 3). By Ramsar Regions, the most widespread reports of decrease in area of wetlands over the time respondents have known them were in Latin America & the Caribbean (57.1%), North America (45.9%) and Africa (40.9%). Conversely, the most widespread reports of increase in wetland area were from Europe (20.7%), Asia (19.2%) and Oceania (12.3%) (Figure 4). For wetlands not designated as Ramsar Sites, reported trends in wetland area over the time respondents have known them was similar to the overall reports: 13.9% having increased in area and 33.0% having decreased in

area, with 48.5% having not changed in area. For designated Ramsar Sites, although 39.5% were reported as not having changed in area over the time respondents have known them and 13.7% as having increased in area, it is alarming that 39.5% were reported as having decreased in area (Figure 5). Not surprisingly, over the most recent three years (since last Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP13) to the Ramsar Convention in October 2018) a higher percentage (60.1%) of all wetlands were reported as not changing in area in comparison with no area change over the time respondents have known their wet-

FIGURE 5. Reported change in the area of wetlands partly or wholly designated as Ramsar Sites and of other wetlands since each respondent has known their wetland.

FIGURE 6. Reported change in the area of all wetlands since 2018.

144 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

FIGURE 7. Reported change in the area of all wetlands since 2018, by Ramsar Region.

land (44.9%). However, it is of considerable concern that even over this short time-period 21.0% of the wetlands reported have decreased in area and only 8.4% having increased in area (Figure 6). By Ramsar Regions, as for changes in wetland area since the time known by respondents, the most widespread reports of decrease in area of wetlands since 2018 were in Latin America & the Caribbean (38.1%) and Africa (25.0%). The most widespread reports of an increase in wetland area since 2018 were from Asia (11.5%), Africa (11.4%) and Oceania (9.9%) (Figure 7). For wetlands not designated as Ramsar Sites, report-

ed trends in wetland area since 2018 were very similar to the overall reports: 8.4% having increased in area and 21.4% having decreased in area, with 60.2% having not changed in area. There was also a very similar pattern reported for wetlands wholly or partly designated as Ramsar Sites: 8.3% having increased in area and 20.5% having decreased in area, with 60.0% having not changed in area (Figure 8).

FIGURE 8. Reported change in the area of wetlands partly or wholly designated as Ramsar Sites and of other wetlands since 2018.

FIGURE 9. Reported change in the state of all wetlands since each respondent has known their wetland.

Change in wetland state Over the time respondents have known the wetland they reported on, deterioration in state has been far more widespread (52.0%) than improvement (28.6%), with 17.1%

Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 145

FIGURE 10. Reported change in the state of all wetlands since 2018.

reported as not changing (Figure 9). Of considerable concern is that this pattern of widespread deterioration has continued over the most recent three years since Ramsar COP13 (2018): 38.9% of wetlands were reported as having deteriorated compared with only 19.8% improving and 34.6% having not changed (Figure 10). By Ramsar Regions, the most widespread reports of

deterioration in the state of wetlands over the time respondents have known them were in Latin America & the Caribbean (73.9%), Africa (70.5%) and North America (62.3%). Conversely, the most widespread reports of improvement in the state of wetlands were from Oceania (39.5%), Europe (38.0%) and Asia (37.5%) (Figure 11). Similarly, since 2018, the most widespread reports of deterioration in the state of all wetlands were in Latin America & the Caribbean (58.4%), Africa (54.5%) and Asia (39.4%). Conversely, the most widespread reports of improvement in the state of wetlands were from Oceania (38.3%), Europe (23.3%) and Asia (23.1%) (Figure 12). Given that Ramsar Contracting Parties (national governments) have, since 1971, committed to maintaining the ecological character of their designated Ramsar Sites (Article 3.1 of the Ramsar Convention text (Ramsar Convention 1971)), it is of major concern that respondents have reported that deterioration in the state of Ramsar Sites is widespread, that it is as or more widespread for wetlands partly or wholly Ramsar-designated than for other wetlands, and that this deterioration has continued in recent years. For change in the state over the time respondents have known their wetland, 56.1% of Ramsar Sites were reported

FIGURE 11. Reported change in the state of all wetlands since each respondent has known their wetland, by Ramsar Regions.

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FIGURE 12. Reported change in the state of all wetlands since 2018, by Ramsar Regions.

as having deteriorated compared with 49.2% of other wetlands. This deterioration is reported as continuing in recent years (since 2018): 39.5% of Ramsar Sites reported as deteriorating compared with 38.5% of other wetlands (Figures 13 and 14). It is also concerning that improvements in the state of Ramsar Sites were reported as less widespread than for other wetlands. For trends in the state over the time respondents have known their wetland, 23.9% of wetlands partly or wholly designated as Ramsar Sites were reported as having an improved state compared with 31.7% of

other wetlands (Figure 13). Similarly, for the most recent three years, since 2018, only 16.2% of wetlands partly or wholly designated as Ramsar Sites were reported as having an improved state compared with 22.4% of other wetlands (Figure 14).

FIGURE 13. Reported change in the state of wetlands partly or wholly designated as Ramsar Sites and of other wetlands since each respondent has known their wetland.

FIGURE 14. Reported change in the state of wetlands partly or wholly designated as Ramsar Sites and of other wetlands since 2018.

Drivers of wetland state The most positive direct drivers (causes) of the state of the wetland reported are local community awareness (66% of all sites reported) and implementation of conservation measures (65%). The maintenance of cultural or traditional values (40%) and tourism (38%) are also

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FIGURE 15. Negative and positive drivers of wetland state.

widely reported as being positive drivers of wetland state. Numerous other drivers are considered positive, but have been reported from less than 11% of all sites (Figure 15). Overall, negative drivers of wetland state are more frequently reported than positive drivers (Figure 15). Wildlife disease (52% of all sites) and damming or water regulation (51%) are reported from more than half of all sites. Tourism, which has been reported as a positive driver of wetland state (at 38% of all sites), is also reported as a negative driver at 43% of sites. Development and infrastructure (46%), drainage (43%), agricultural intensity (36%), introduced and invasive species (36%), and siltation (35%) are all occurring at more than a third of all the sites reported.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The results of the 2020 survey reported here are broadly similar to those reported from the 2017 survey by McInnes et al. (2020). This is despite most of the wetlands reported on, and the majority of respondents reporting, being different from those who contributed to the 2017 survey, suggesting that these citizen-science state of wetlands surveys are yielding robust and comparable results. Although it is encouraging that more wetlands were reported in 2020 as being in good state as in poor state, 148 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

over one-fifth were in poor state. However, it is far less encouraging that almost twice as many wetlands were reported as deteriorating as opposed to improving in state, and that over one-third of wetlands have decreased in area, which is over two-and-a-half times as many as the number reported as having increased in area. It is also a concern that this pattern of loss and deterioration is reported to have been continuing in the last three years since 2018. Regionally, wetlands in Africa and Latin America & the Caribbean were reported to have the smallest proportions of wetlands in good state, (the most widespread loss of wetland area, and the most widespread deterioration in wetland state. Conversely, the best state and change in state of wetlands was reported for Oceania and Europe. It is alarming that the current state, and changes in the area and state, of designated Ramsar Sites, some of the most important wetlands on the planet, was reported as no better, or even slightly worse, than for other, non-designated, wetlands. The reporting on positive and negative drivers of change in wetland state also broadly echoed the findings of McInnes et al. (2020). The results highlight the need to ensure local community awareness, to implement appropriate conservation measures, to maintain cultural or traditional values and to support sustainable tourism as important for maintaining wetlands in a good state. The frequency of reporting of negative drivers demonstrates the multiple pressures on wetlands at a global level, but also emphasises the point that some drivers can be both positive and negative depending on the local circumstance. This article provides an initial insight into the factual results of the survey. Further investigations are ongoing and will be reported in due course. The focus of the ongoing analysis is on evaluating the trend in state of wetlands between the 2017 and 2020 surveys, and a comparison of the reporting on sites that have been included in both surveys. The outcome of this analysis will be used to feed into wider wetland reporting mechanisms, such as through the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ramsar Convention and SWS, and to raise awareness on the challenges faced by the world’s remaining wetlands.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank Adil Boulahia for his help in setting up the online questionnaire and translation support in difficult circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, Minoru Kashiwagi, Josiane Barbosa, Rafaela Nicola, Debora Byrne and Felipe Velasco for helping with translations and IUCN, SWS and the WWN committee members, among others, for distributing the questionnaire. Finally, we would like to thank everyone that took the time to complete the survey as your responses have helped us add to the global evidence of the condition of wetlands and also highlighted the positive drivers that can halt and reverse this decline and deliver positive outcomes for wetlands. n

REFERENCES

Davidson, N.C., L. Dinesen, S. Fennessy, C.M. Finlayson, P. Grillas, A. Grobicki, R.J. McInnes, and D.A. Stroud. 2020. Trends in the ecological character of the world’s wetlands. Marine and Freshwater Research 71(1): 127-138. McInnes, R.J., Davidson, N.C., Simpson, M., Finlayson, C.M. 2020a. A second citizen science state of the world’s wetlands survey: SWS members’ help needed again. Wetland Science and Practice 37(3): 162-163. McInnes, R. J., Davidson, N. C., Rostron, C. P., Simpson, M., & Finlayson, C. M. 2020b. A citizen science state of the world’s wetlands survey. Wetlands 40(5): 1577-1593. Ramsar Convention. 1971. The Convention on Wetlands text, as originally adopted in 1971. https://www.ramsar.org/document/the-convention-on-wetlands-text-as-originally-adopted-in-1971 accessed 26 May 2021. Ramsar Convention. 2018. Global wetland outlook: state of the world’s wetlands and their services to people. Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Gland, Switzerland. https://www.global-wetland-outlook.ramsar.org accessed 3 June 2021.

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WETLANDS OF DISTINCTION

Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration Project at Poplar Island: Wetland of Distinction Bill Morgante1, Wetlands Administrator, Maryland Board of Public Works, Annapolis, MD

he Paul S. Sarbanes Restoration at Poplar Island (Poplar Island) in the Chesapeake Bay (Figure 1) gained acceptance as a Wetland of Distinction (WoD) early in 2021. Poplar Island is not a typical WoD. Its adoption as the 46th WoD is unique due to its status as a restoration project. This restoration is exceptional in providing remote island wildlife habitat, especially for resident and migratory birds, opportunities for outreach and public education, and the preservation of local heritage. One of Poplar Island’s main goals is to restore remote island habitat within the Chesapeake Bay, in part because of its importance as a safe resting spot along the Atlantic flyway. The island’s location, one mile from the mainland, and the wildlife management on Poplar Island, make it a relatively predator-free destination to rest and nest. To better understand the rationale for restoring this distinctive island habitat, let’s examine the island’s history. In 1847, Poplar Island comprised more than 1,100 acres. During the early 1900s, the island supported a thriving town, Valliant, with approximately 100 residents; yet by the 1920s, residents began leaving the island as its landmass eroded. Though still used as a retreat in the 1930s and 1940s, including visits by Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, by the early 1990s only 3–5 acres (1.2– 2 ha) of small islands and tidal mudflats remained. Poplar Island’s disappearance from sea-level rise, land subsidence, and erosion seemed imminent (Poplar Island Restoration website: http://www.poplarislandrestoration.com/). The 1975 Maryland General Assembly declared the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries a great natural asset and resource to the State and made open water placement of dredged material unlawful. Later in 1994, an interagency team from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District (USACE), Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA), and other federal and state environmental agencies penned an agreement committing to the beneficial use of clean, noncontaminated dredged material to restore Chesapeake Bay (Bay) island habitat. This included dredge material from the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and the approach chanCorrespondence author contact: bill.morgante@maryland.gov

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nels to Baltimore Harbor – material that is tested to meet standards set forth by EPA for beneficial use. Following the necessary environmental studies, stakeholders decided that restoring Poplar Island could create significant remote island habitat, especially significant since valuable regional island habitat was disappearing rapidly. Estimates show that in the mid-Chesapeake Bay region, over 10,500 acres of this unique habitat has been lost in the last 150 years (Poplar Island Restoration website: http://www.poplarislandrestoration.com/).

FIGURE 1. Context map for Poplar Island (MDOT MPA)

FIGURE 2. Aerial view of Poplar Island, October 2020 (MDOT MPA).

Construction started with perimeter containment dikes using sand, rock, and stone—adjacent to and encompassing the existing small remnant islands. The perimeter dikes were subdivided into interior “cells” allowing for directed dredged material placement and wetland development on a smaller scale (24-83 acres (9.7-33.6 ha)) with opportunities for “lessons learned” throughout the project. In 2001, restoration began with the first dredged material placement with project funding from the USACE (75%) and MDOT MPA (25%). Within the cells, dredged material was pumped in, effluent inside the cell was decanted, and once dry, graded into wetland features. These features include high and low marsh, hummocks, channels, ponds, and habitat islands serving as migratory resting and nesting habitat for the Bay’s waterfowl, shorebirds, and other wildlife. Shortly after the 2001 dredged material placement, a variety of birds, amphibians, fish, and other wildlife appeared. Fast forward to 2021—Poplar Island’s total area is 1,715 acres (694 ha) with a perimeter dike enclosing the majority of the site including upland and wetland cells still in development, completed wetland cells, open water embayment, and tidal marsh (Figure 2). Though some habitat features are not yet in place and may not be fully functional for years, Poplar Island currently meets a number of important wetland evaluation criteria that sustained its nomination as a Wetland of Distinction. These include:

1. Supporting a significant number of wetlanddependent fauna, such as water birds or fish, 2. Its status as a rare or unique wetland type as a remote island salt marsh within its biogeographical region, 3. Provisioning remote island wildlife habitat, especially for resident and migratory birds, 4. Providing opportunities for outreach and public education, and 5. Preserving local or cultural heritage. An extensive outreach program includes seasonal tours to the public, school groups, and birding groups on the history and ecology of the island. Tours include cultural history with references to Bay maritime history including the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Wars (BPW Wetlands blog: Maryland Oysters: Past Wars and Present Challenges), the War of 1812, and the island’s discovery during the era of John Smith. An island display showcases items found during archaeological surveys carried out prior to construction. Free tours typically run weekdays March through October, and roughly a dozen tours annually are focused on birding and target birding hotspots. Historical soils on the islands include the Mattapex and Matapeake series consisting of primarily deep, moderately well-drained, dark-brown level to gently sloping soils Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 151

developed on silty marine sediments. These consist mostly of silt loams that retain moisture and are well-suited for vegetative growth. Currently, imported soil from maintenance dredging of navigation channels is made up of finegrained material that can contain ample available nutrients, particularly nitrogen. Dredged material is placed within a containment cell during inflow, once the cell is at capac-

FIGURE 3. Aerial view of Cell 2 (MDOT MPA).

ity, the dredged material is allowed to dry out for one to two years forming a crust before being graded into typical marsh features (Figure 3). Once grading is complete, sediments are exposed to tidal inundation through tidal inlets to rehydrate the soils prior to planting and help ensure vegetative success. This sequence allows for the natural removal of sulfuric acid in the upper soil horizon and results in an adequate soil pH for marsh plant establishment (Cornwell et al. 2020). Dominant low marsh flora species include saltmarsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), with the dominant high marsh species including saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens). Other common marsh species include seashore saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), big saltmarsh cordgrass (Spartina cynosuroides), and tidalmarsh amaranth (Amaranthus cannabinus) (Figure 4). Fauna surveys during the 2020 monitoring recorded 28 bird nesting species. These included the northern shoveler (Spatula clypeata), American black duck (Anas rubripes), mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos), Virginia rail (Anas rubripes), double-breasted cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), snowy egret (Egretta thula), cattle egret (Bubulcus

FIGURE 4. Vegetation at Cell 1C includes (foreground to background) pokeweed (volunteer), saltmeadow cordgrass, saltmarsh cordgrass, groundseltree, and cottonwood (volunteer) (MDOT MPA).

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FIGURE 5. Common terns at monitored nests at cell 2C (MDOT MPA)

FIGURE 6. Birds at Cell 2C include American avocet, sanderlings, shortbilled dowitchers, and lesser yellowlegs (MDOT MPA)

ibis), black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), little blue heron (Egretta caerulea), glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), killdeer (Charadrius vociferus), common gallinule (Gallinula galeata), black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), willet (Tringa semipalmata), herring gull (Larus argentatus), great blackbacked gull (Larus marinus), common tern (Sterna hirundo), least tern (Sternula antillarum), purple martin (Progne subis), tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), bank swallow (Riparia riparia), barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus), red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), and Canada goose (Branta canadensis) (Figures 5 and 6; MDOT MPA). Nekton monitoring by NOAA from 2016–2019 noted the following species in abundance at Poplar Island’s marshes: mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus), sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus variegatus), inland silverside (Menidia beryllina), Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia), and grass shrimp (Palaemonetes). Other nekton observed in the marshes included blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), American eel (Anguilla rostrata), fourspine stickleback (Apeltes quadracus), brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus variegatus), banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanous), gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), striped killifish (Fundulus majalis), eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), naked goby (Gobiosoma bosc), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), spot (Leiostomus xanthurus), pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), rainwater killifish (Lucania parva), white perch (Morone americana), striped bass (Morone saxatilis), summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), black drum (Pogonias cromis), Atlantic needle-

fish (Strongylura marina), dusky pipefish (Syngnathus floridae), and white-fingered mud crab (Rhithropanopeus harrisii) (NOAA annual monitoring data: 2016, 2017). Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) (Figure 7) and monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) were observed during the monitoring operation, along with rare fauna - short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), and glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus). Poplar Island provides an opportunity to enhance understanding of restoration ecology through monitoring the restoration project’s sediment, vegetation, elevation changes, water quality, and wildlife. The project is restoring 1,715 acres (694 ha) including 829 acres (335.5 ha) of upland, 110 acres (44.5 ha) of open water embayment, and 776 acres (314 ha) of tidal marsh. Tidal marsh restoration includes small habitat islands abutting tidal creeks providing nesting habitat for colonial-nesting birds. Poplar Island will be maintained in perpetuity as an undeveloped

FIGURE 7. Diamondback Terrapin at Cell 3D (MDOT MPA).

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island for wildlife habitat. Baseline monitoring data, first published in 1996, provides adaptive management program data and will continue through 2044. The Poplar Island Project will be succeeded by the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Islands Ecosystem Restoration Project, using lessons learned from Poplar Island. Since the Chesapeake Bay is experiencing double the global rate of sea-level rise due to regional subsidence, Poplar Island marshes will serve as a test-bed for scientist’s ability to create tidal marshes resilient to sealevel rise (Poplar Island Restoration website). Poplar Island monitoring has generated useful information for other restoration projects. Below is a brief synopsis of selected monitoring studies. • In monitoring the carbon balance at Poplar Island, it appears the high nutrient status of the dredged material results in elevated rates of internal carbon cycling. Enhanced wetland plant production rates have led to high rates of vertical marsh accretion for this region, yet it does not appear that high rates of carbon export to adjacent tidal waters has • occurred. The retention of surface biomass in the marshes is thought to result from perimeter dikes and the restricted tidal exchange resulting from the dike inlets (Staver et al. In press). • In monitoring the effectiveness of using dredged material for newly created marsh soils, it appears the data suggest fine-grained dredged material from soils meeting EPA criteria are successful for tidal wetlands restoration when dredged soils are allowed to dry after placement and later exposed to tidal inundation for one to two years (Cornwell et al. 2020). • After soil tidal exposure during the wetland development process, nutrient-rich fine-grained dredged material exhibits a pH well-suited to plant success. These conditions favor the successful growth of wetland plants and have resulted in dense growth of Spartina alterniflora and Spartina patens (Staver et al. In review).

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• The examination of multiple wetland planting cells allows for a generalization of soil property transformation valid for wetland restoration using sediments dredged in the upper Chesapeake Bay. These results are best used as a guide to potential soil transformation, with different results likely under different conditions of sediment and soil physical character, salinity, and nutrient concentrations (Cornwell et al. 2020). The creation of this rare remote island salt marsh in the Chesapeake Bay serves an international model for the beneficial use of dredged material. Poplar Island supports a significant number of wetland-dependent wildlife, especially resident and migratory birds while providing ample opportunities for outreach and public education. n

REFERENCES

BPW Wetlands Blog 5/17/2017: Maryland Oysters: Past Wars and Present Challenges, Accessed May 2021. Cornwell, J., M. Owens, L. Staver, and J. Stevenson. 2020. Tidal marsh restoration at Poplar Island I: Transformation of estuarine sediments into marsh soils. Wetlands 40: 1673-1686. NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service. Annual Report on Nekton Surveys for the Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration Project at Poplar Island 2016, 2017, Beaufort, NC. 97 pp. Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration Project at Poplar island Annual Update January-December 2020. Page 5. Accessed May 2021. Poplar Island Restoration website: Accessed May 2021. Staver, L., J. Stevenson, J. Cornwell, N. Nidzieko, K. Staver, M. Owens, L. Logan, C. Kim, and S. Malkin. 2020. Tidal marsh restoration at Poplar Island II. Elevation trends, vegetation development, and carbon dynamics. Wetlands 40: 1687-1701. Taylor, R. 2020. Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration Project at Poplar Island Annual Update January-December 2020. Accessed May 2021. http://www.poplarislandrestoration.us/PDF/2020%20WG%20Annual%20Update.pdf

Lake Ohrid and Studenchishte Marsh now a Ramsar Wetland! Nadezda Apostolova1,2, Daniel Scarry1 and Jos T.A. Verhoeven3

n an earlier contribution to Wetland Science and Practice (Apostolova et al. 2016), we gave an overview of the characteristics and values of Studenchishte Marsh, the very last remaining wetland bordering the famous Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia (Figures 1 and 2), in the context of plans for developing tourism infrastructure along the lake’s shores. These plans have raised concerns among regional stakeholders and organizations promoting wetland protection. The SWS Europe chapter had been alarmed by people from North Macedonia in 2015 because Studenchishte Marsh was threatened to be drained for this tourist infrastructure development. After writing letters to the authori1OHRID SOS, Citizens’ Initiative, Republic of Macedonia 2University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain 3Utrecht University, Ecology and Biodiversity, Utrecht, The Netherlands 2Corresponding author: nadezda.apostolova@uv.es

ties on behalf of SWS, the Europe chapter organized its annual meeting in Ohrid in 2018 and called for the protection of the wetland and the Lake by a Ramsar designation. We are very glad to share the news that this designation has now been officially submitted and announced by Ramsar so that Studenchishte Marsh and Lake Ohrid are closer to protection and wise use. The local ‘Ohrid SOS group’ who has worked very hard to protect the site sent us the following message: “After 27 years on the Shadow List, 3 National Biodiversity Strategies, 1 Society of Wetland Scientists’ (SWS) Europe Chapter Meeting and a sustained campaign by local Citizen Initiative Ohrid SOS, ancient Lake Ohrid in the Republic of North Macedonia is finally set to become a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, passing all 9 criteria for proclamation. Stu-

FIGURE 1. Studenchishte Marsh. (Courtesy of Ohrid SOS)

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FIGURE 2. Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia. (Courtesy of Ohrid SOS)

denchishte Marsh, the last fully functioning wetland on the inland water’s coast and a focus of SWS engagement since 2015, has been included in the new Ramsar Site’s boundary, which may now offer some insulation against development pressures. The designation has been announced by Ramsar on May 9. https://www.ramsar.org/news/north-macedonianames-its-third-wetland-of-international-importance Europe’s oldest inland water containing over 200 world-unique flora and fauna species and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, Lake Ohrid has long been recognized for its extraordinary biological values, but it was only when an attempt was made to drain Studenchishte Marsh and replace it with a water-sports complex, apartments, and other facilities that a citizens movement to protect the location really galvanized. SWS has bolstered that movement, first by letters to relevant national authorities and later through a Europe Chapter conference in Ohrid City at which the Declaration on the Protection of the Lake Ohrid Ecosystem was released. Its scientists volunteered technical advice and consultation for the drafting of the Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS), which was undertaken by Ohrid SOS members and submitted directly to the Ramsar Secretariat for provisional acceptance in 2019, bypassing institutional obstacles. After receiving tacit approval from the Secretariat, the RIS has finally been re-submitted through official channels and formally accepted. A new Ramsar Site is born! 156 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

The whole process has not been entirely without difficulty. Reluctance from both the Macedonian Ramsar Committee and Ministry of Environment had first to be overcome. Moreover, the boundary for the site has been reduced from that advised by SWS experts, diminishing the prospect of terrestrial wetland restoration, at least in the short-term. Plans to establish a 400boat marina at Studenchishte Marsh have also not yet been abandoned and the latest draft General Urban Plan from the local municipality suggests that construction in the wetland could still occur. This will be a huge challenge for the Ramsar Convention’s efficacy, especially since the Convention is not yet fully integrated with national legislation and the UNESCO status has not so far delivered adequate protection. Nonetheless, the present moment is one to celebrate as the habitats of endemic species such as the iconic Salmo letnica (Ohrid trout), Gocea ohridana (a critically endangered gastropod) are now Ramsar-validated as globally important, alongside biogeographically significant populations of Mergus merganser (goosander), Netta rufina (red crested pochard) and Microcarbo pygmeus (pygmy cormorant), with a whole host of other birds, fish, invertebrate species across multiple categories, and, of course, Studenchishte’s 5,000-year old peatlands. Local activists from Ohrid SOS wish to express their gratitude to all SWS members who have contributed to the Ramsar nomination.” n

REFERENCES

Apostolova, Nadezda, Scarry, Daniel and Verhoeven, Jos T.A. (2016). Studenchishte Marsh as an Integral Part of Ancient Lake Ohrid: Current Status and Need for Protection. Wetland Science & Practice June 2016, 35-45.

SWS VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

PROCEEDINGS FROM THE 2021 VIRTUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF WETLAND SCIENTISTS Wetland Sciences 2021: Adaptation Drives Innovation

JUNE 1-10, 2021

Note: This year's conference was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Biology & Ecology Presented during CS1: Vegetation I, 6/3/2021 4:35PM - 6:25PM ET

Presented during CS1: Vegetation I

DEVELOPING A FRAMEWORK FOR MONITORING COASTAL WETLANDS WITH HIGH RESOLUTION SATELLITE IMAGERY IN 4D

EFFECTS OF IRIS PSEUDACORUS ON ABIOTIC CONDITIONS, PLANT AND INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES IN A SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ESTUARIES

Bourgeau-Chavez, Laura, Michigan Tech Research Institute A binational team is working on developing a framework for monitoring coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes in 4D using high resolution Digital Globe optical and Radarsat-2 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imagery. Five institutions are working together to acquire the data, develop automated algorithms, process the big data and serve up products. Acquisitions of Radarsat-2 occur every 24 days (May-Oct) and WorldView2 as frequently as cloud cover permits. Product development began with a focus on four study sites in 2016 with expansion to 12 sites in 2017-21. Semi-automated algorithms developed for Radarsat-2 allow monitoring changes in surface water extent and flooded vegetation for each of the study sites. SAR and WorldView2 imagery are used alone as well as in combination to produce wetland classifications including detecting invasive species. Dynamic digital surface models are produced from stereo WorldView2 data. Finally, water level changes are assessed through interferometric SAR. The goal is to develop radar and optical remote sensing semi-automated analysis methods to routinely monitor the dynamic nature of Great Lakes coastal wetlands to help wetland managers and decision makers assess wildlife habitat conditions, restoration activities and wetland health. Currently, the team is assessing the products for: 1) helping streamline the traditionally arduous process of updating of the National Wetland Inventory; 2) evaluating the breeding habitat of a threatened shorebird; and 3) to aid in monitoring wetland gain and loss while accounting for the naturally fluctuating lake levels. Small changes in hydrology can lead to large changes in surface water extent causing wetlands to change type or even disappear (at the wetland/ upland interface and shoreline). Monitoring coastal wetlands is necessary because their health is inextricably tied to the health of the Great Lakes and wetlands are particularly vulnerable to climatic and anthropogenic change. n

Arenas, Anita, California State University of Long Beach Whitcraft, Christine Wetlands are important ecosystems that provide habitat and human services such as filtering water, providing buffers during storms, and reducing erosion. Despite this recognized importance, about 90% of wetlands have been lost in California. Of the remaining wetlands, many are degraded by human activities, including the spread of invasive species. Iris pseudacorus is one such non-native species that has been introduced across a geographical range. Los Peñasquitos Lagoon (LPL), in north County San Diego, and the Delta in northern California are areas that have been invaded with Iris pseudacorus across a range of salinities in both of these estuaries. The objective of our study was to describe how Iris pseudacorus impacts abiotic conditions, plant community and macrofaunal invertebrate community across this salinity gradient using a paired design comparing iris to non-iris areas. Preliminary data show no significant differences in pore water salinity, sediment properties, or benthic invertebrate communities between iris and non-iris canopies within sites, at both LPL and the Delta. Aerial insect communities, sampled via sticky traps in LPL, showed higher abundance in iris plots compared to non-iris at the marine sites as well as altered community composition between plant types at all sites. This potentially indicates that the largest impacts of Iris pseudacorus are on the aerial insects due its showy flowers, not the benthic community. Not only will this study help gain more knowledge on how this invasive species affects invertebrate and plant communities, but will inform management strategies regarding how to control or remove this species. n

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Presented during CS1: Vegetation I

EFFECTS OF WETLAND MANAGEMENT AND ASSOCIATED ABIOTIC FACTORS TO RARE PLANT COMMUNITIES IN A MANAGED ARID WETLAND

IMPACTS OF FIRE AND CANOPY THINNING ON HELONIAS BULLATA, A FEDERALLY THREATENED WETLAND SPECIES

Cantu, Antonio, Interior Wetlands of Mexico: Status and Issues of Waterbird Habitats, Louisiana State University Beauchamp, Jeffrey King, Sammy

Brooks, Hope

Spring-fed wetlands within arid systems host numerous unique species of plants and wildlife, many of which are federally protected due to the vulnerability of these ecosystems. At Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, in southeastern New Mexico, marsh habitats were impounded in the 1940s to provide fishing and hunting opportunities. During the mid-1990s managers switched to moistsoil management to manipulate water levels and promote the growth of native vegetation as foraging habitat for migratory birds. Three rare wetland plants have since established: the Pecos sunflower (Helianthus paradoxus, federally Endangered), Leoncita false-foxglove (Agalinis calycina, Candidate species), and Wright’s marsh thistle (Cirsium wrightii, Candidate species). In general, little is known about the life history of the three species, other than their distribution is limited to spring-fed saline marshes of west Texas, New Mexico, and southeastern Arizona. In this study, we evaluate how current wetland management and associated abiotic factors affect the establishment of the three species. We established monitoring stations equipped with groundwater wells throughout the management units and evaluated the hydrologic and soil factors driving plant presence and abundance. Then, we used seed incubators to determine germination requirements of these species and evaluated their responses to field-derived salinity gradients. The endangered Pecos sunflower was the most abundant and widespread species, whereas Wright’s marsh thistle was highly associated with permanently high soil moisture conditions and Leoncita false-foxglove with high soil moisture and high soil salinities. Wright’s marsh thistle showed the highest germination rates and no significant effects to increasing salinities, while Pecos sunflower and Leoncita false-foxglove exhibited negative responses to increasing salinities. Our results support the formulation of management strategies to enhance the abundance and prevalence of these rare plants in the long term while still providing habitat for migratory birds. Additionally, the new plant life history information will guide restoration efforts in areas where their populations are unstable or have been extirpated throughout the Southwestern United States. n 158 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

Helonias bullata, swamp pink, is a federally threatened obligate wetland, evergreen, perennial herb with a historic distribution spanning the eastern U.S. Principle habitats include acidic sandy swamps, bogs, seeps, and areas within headwater drainages that are not subject to prolonged periods of inundation. The focus on this study has been to determine the impacts of man-made and spontaneous fires on Helonias populations at Fort A.P Hill, located near Bowling Green (VA) where there are about 50 unique occurrences (AKA “colonies”). As a Federally threatened species, the Fort A.P. Hill administration manages the species to assure long-term survival and implements management plans approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Fire is a common management tool at Fort A.P. Hill, and wildfires are frequent in training areas where Helonias populations are located. In 2014, a study was initiated to determine the effects of fire on Helonias populations and the growth and reproduction of individual plants. Results demonstrate Helonias colonies in frequently burned areas have more plants and were larger than those in less frequently burned areas. Individual plants survive fire and Helonias rosettes tend to be physically larger and have more leaves in plots with evidence of fire. On average, rosettes tended to have more leaves and there were more rosettes per clump at colonies experiencing wildland fires with medium to high frequency. An additional experiment to create higher light conditions by thinning shrubs and small trees resulted in a positive response in plant performance. Results of the study provide data that enable managers to develop strategies that benefit this Federally threatened species in an environment that experiences a high degree of human activity and a higher frequency of wildfire than non-Army habitats. n Presented during CS1: Vegetation I

REGIONAL GENETIC DIVERSITY IN SPARTINA AND JUNCUS WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE SALT MARSH RESTORATION SUCCESS Biber, Patrick The Gulf of Mexico is experiencing a dramatic increase in salt marsh restoration, resulting in unmet demand for nursery plants in Mississippi and Alabama. However, a lack of information on population genetics impedes knowing what is needed to maintain future diversity. This study characterizes genetic diversity, using modern molecular techniques,

among S. alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) and J. roemerianus (black needlerush) populations along the northern Gulf Coast between Lake Pontchartrain, LA and Pensacola, FL. Field collections of 25 discrete plugs of each species were made at 10 stations; these included marshes at 1 site in FL, 2 sites in AL, 6 sites in MS, and 1 site in LA. For each collection location, plants were analyzed for genetic characterization using microsatellite markers. We genotyped 21 microsatellite loci in Spartina and 18 in Juncus. In both species, allelic richness and heterozygosity varied significantly among the 10 populations examined, with sites in MS generally having higher genetic diversity than LA and AL. In contrast, linkage disequilibrium suggested variation in effective population sizes among sites. This finding is consistent with varying numbers of clonal lineages segregating in these populations, but geographic patterns differed between the two species. Knowing the genetic makeup of the various populations will allow appropriate selection to enhance diversity. Future restoration projects can be composed of appropriate germplasm lines that when planted together have a long-term benefit. This information will be provided to local restoration and plant nursery businesses to improve access to appropriately sourced plant material for improved restoration outcomes. n Presented during CS10: Hydrology and Sediment, 6/8/2021 10:55AM - 12:45PM ET

INTERACTIONS BETWEEN FE AND LIGHT STRONGLY AFFECT PHYTOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES IN A EUTROPHIC LAKE Yuan, Yuxiang, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Otte, Marinus Jiang, Ming Zhu, Xiaoyan The global increase in occurrence of harmful algae blooms in lakes has gained widespread attention. Although N and P are the main factors for primary productivity in lake ecosystems, dissolved iron (Fe) plays a crucial role as an essential micronutrient for phytoplankton growth. The interaction between Fe and light in phytoplankton growth is reasonably well studied in marine ecosystems, but there is a lack of understanding of this interaction in lakes. We conducted both a field study and an incubation experiment to identify the role of Fe and light in modulating phytoplankton growth and species composition in a eutrophic lake, Lake Xingkai, Northeast China. We found that the interactions between Fe bioavailability and light intensity impact phytoplankton community structure and Fe uptake. Phytoplankton composition and abundance varied greatly

in response to elevated light and Fe. Bacillariophyta are favored under light-Fe co-limitation, while the dominant taxa changed from Bacillariophyta to Cyanophyta and Chlorophyta under elevated Fe and light conditions. We unveil the competitive advantage of a common bloomforming and N2-fixing algae Anabaena azotica relative to other species under high light and high Fe conditions. Our findings expand the knowledge of Fe-light interactions on phytoplankton growth and provide fresh insight into phytoplankton community responses to variation in light and Fe in eutrophic lakes. This information is important for efficient eutrophication control and lake management. n Presented during CS11: Agricultural Wetlands, 6/8/2021 1:15PM 3:05PM ET

PLANT COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO WETLAND RESTORATION ON RETIRED AGRICULTURAL CRANBERRY BOGS Klionsky, Sarah, University of Connecticut Pulak, Anastasia Lawrence, Beth Neil, Christopher Miller, Haley Agricultural cranberry farms (bogs) are increasingly being retired in southern New England (USA), and there is great interest in restoring these former wetlands to re-establish native vegetation, attenuate nutrients, and promote flood resiliency. It is unclear, however, if restoring wetland hydrology alone is sufficient to establish targeted wetland vegetation, or if active seeding is required. To determine whether hydrologic restoration is adequate to promote diverse, species-rich, wetland plant communities, we conducted pre- and post-restoration vegetation surveys in three bog cells at one former cranberry bog complex. In one bog cell, we also established paired plots and seeded one of each pair with a native seed mix. Patterns of species richness before and after restoration were driven primarily by native, perennial species. In one bog cell, species richness increased significantly from 13.78 ± 0.57 (SE) species per plot before restoration to 29.45 ± 0.70 (SE) the first growing season after restoration and remained high in the following two growing seasons (36.85 ± 0.81 (SE) and 25.00 ± 1.84 (SE)). The number of wetland indicator species per plot also increased significantly following restoration from 7.23 ± 0.44 (SE) to 18.40 ± 0.42 (SE) species per plot (22.83 ± 0.58 (SE) and 17.37 ± 1.00 (SE) in the second and third years). While the coverage of wetland species increased more slowly, the per plot cover of upland species decreased from 76.54% ± 8.90 (SE) to 15.86% ± 2.72 (SE) after restoration. The other Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 159

two bog cells showed the same patterns in their first-year post-restoration. The bogs also contained fewer woody species and more wetland-associate forbs and graminoids after restoration. Further, our seeded and unseeded plots had similar species richness and composition, indicating that seeding may not be necessary to regain richness after restoration. These results suggest that restoration techniques in retired bogs that result in locally raised water tables and varied microtopography will promote revegetation of native wetland plants. n Presented during CS3: Wetland Chemistry, 6/3/21 4:35PM - 6:25PM ET

EFFECTS OF PLANT SPECIES ON METHANOGENS AND METHANOTROPHS Weisenhorn, Pamela O’Loughlin, Edward Koval, Jason Skinner, Kelly Kemner, Kenneth Szubryt, Marisa Owens, Sarah Greenwald, Stephanie Methane emissions are highly variable and differences in plant community composition can explain some of this variability, suggesting an influence of plant species on microbial communities and subsequent methane cycling. Since closely related plant species have similar morphological and biochemical features, we hypothesized that plant evolutionary history is related to differences in microbial community composition. We selected five monoculture-forming wetland plant species based on evolutionary distances among them. We detected significant differences in microbial communities between sample types (unvegetated soil, bulk soil, rhizosphere soil, internal root tissues, and internal leaf tissues) associated with these plant species using 16S relative abundances. We additionally found that differences in plant evolutionary history were correlated with variation in microbial communities across plant species within each sample type. Using qPCR, we observed substantial differences in overall methanogen and methanotroph population sizes between plant species and sample types. Interestingly, methanogens tended to be most abundant in rhizosphere soils while methanotrophs were the most abundant in roots. Thus, species specific plant effects on the size and spatial distribution of methanogen and methnotroph populations are likely a result of changes in both carbon and oxygen availability. n

160 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

Presented during CS3: Wetland Chemistry

NUTRIENT RECOVERY ACROSS TIME AND SPACE WITHIN RESTORED RIPARIAN WETLANDS Murdock, Justin, Tennessee Tech University Kalyanapu, Alfred Michael, Morgan Brown, Robert Duwadi, Shrijana Womble, Spencer Agricultural watersheds contribute a substantial proportion of nutrients exported by rivers in the Lower Mississippi River Basin (LMRB). Several anthropogenic factors in LMRB watersheds contribute to increased nutrient export, including channelization and levee construction that disconnects the river and its floodplain, and the conversion of riparian floodplain wetlands into agricultural production. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service established the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) more than 20 years ago to restore marginal agricultural land back to functional wetland ecosystems. The goal of our research is to quantify these restoration outcomes across 40 restored riparian wetlands in western Tennessee and Kentucky, focusing on events when floodplains reconnect to the river. We are measuring easement nutrient reduction as a function of time in the program (i.e. wetland successional stage) and restoration practices including hydrology and vegetation modifications. This presentation details results from the first two years of a four-year study. Key findings to date include high denitrification rates in soils across most habitat types regardless of initial soil moisture, and greater retention of nitrogen and phosphorus during the initial flooding stage in easements older the seven years. The ecosystem services provided by these restored wetlands appears to reach far beyond that of just the creation of wildlife habitat, and includes the potential for substantial water quality improvement in local and downstream agroecosystems. n Presented during CS3: Wetland Chemistry

VEGETATION AFFECTS TIMING BUT NOT NECESSARILY MAGNITUDE OF METHANE EMISSIONS FROM WETLANDS Johnson, Olivia, U.S. Geological Survey Tangen, Brian Meier, Jacob Bansal, Sheel Zhu, Xiaoyan Common assumptions about how vegetation influences wetland methane (CH4) fluxes include acting as stem conduits for CH4 release, providing substrate for metha-

nogenic activity, and supplying oxygen to support CH4 consumption. However, little is known about how hydrology interacts with vegetation to affect CH4 flux, especially in seasonal wetlands that experience drying and re-wetting during the year. In a mesocosm study, we assessed the impacts of Typha on CH4 fluxes using clear flux-chamber measurements directly over Typha (‘whole-plant’), adjacent to Typha (‘plant-adjacent’), and over plant-free soils (‘control’). Under flooded conditions, whole-plant mesocosms had ~5-times higher CH4 flux rates than plant-adjacent or control mesocosms, presumably due to transport via plant stems. However, high fluxes from whole-plant mesocosms caused depletion of porewater CH4 concentrations, while control mesocosms maintained a highly-concentrated reservoir of porewater CH4. Therefore, when water levels were drawn down, porewater CH4 from control mesocosms was released as a pulse, offsetting the higher CH4 emissions from flooded whole-plant mesocosms. Moreover, wholeplant mesocosms had negative CH4 fluxes (i.e., uptake) during drawdown and maintained CH4 uptake even following re-wetting, presumably due to relatively high porewater oxygen concentrations. Thus, our findings indicate that vegetation of seasonally-ponded wetlands may not impact total CH4 emissions as much as previously assumed, and instead may primarily affect the timing of CH4 release. In addition, plant-adjacent cumulative CH4 emissions were relatively low due to depletion of porewater CH4 via neighboring plant stems, which has important methodological implications for future studies on the role of plants on wetland CH4 flux. n

naturally occurring wetlands at varying levels of anthropogenic disturbance, and 2) 15 wetland restoration sites in the Wisconsin Glacial Habitat Restoration Area (GHRA) using the WDNR timed meander survey method. WFQA metrics were calculated including cover-weighted and unweighted mean coefficient of conservatism. Surface soils (0-15 cm) were sampled at each community and analyzed at the USDA-NRCS National Soil Lab for a suite of general physicochemistry, soil test P (Bray 1, Mehlich-3, Oxalate, Water Soluble), and related analytes for estimation of soil P retention metrics (i.e., Phosphorus Sorption Ratio [PSR]). Multivariate analysis of SSM and EM sites indicated that restored sites had overall lower floristic quality than natural sites, and that floristic quality was negatively associated with % exchangeable P and Mehlich-3 P for SSM sites. Restored sites were also more associated with invasive graminoid species, such as Phalaris arundinacea, reed canary grass, than the naturally occurring wetlands. From our linear models of WFQA metrics, we additionally found that the negative relationship between soil P and WFQA was stronger for organic soils than mineral soils in the SSM; however, EM floristic quality was not significantly related to any of the soil P variables. Our results indicate that wetland restoration projects with floristic quality goals would benefit from soil P and physicochemistry data to inform the design process and anticipated maintenance needs, especially in agricultural landscapes. Furthermore, natural wetlands with low % exchangeable P and low disturbance could be prioritized for ecosystem and watershed protection purposes. n

Presented during CS4: Vegetation, 6/3/2021 6:55PM - 8:45PM ET

Presented during CS4: Vegetation

ASSESSMENT OF FLORISTIC QUALITY, COMPOSITION, AND SOIL PHOSPHORUS DYNAMICS IN RESTORED AND NATURALLY OCCURRING WETLANDS IN SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN

SEED PRODUCTION OF A WETLAND SPECIES, SCHOENOPLECTUS AMERICANUS: RESPONSES TO DENSITY AND GLOBAL WARMING FACTORS

Schultz, Rachel, SUNY Brockport Marti, Aaron Previous Wisconsin DNR (WDNR) research has indicated that wetland floristic quality assessment metrics (WFQA; measures of wetland plant community condition) are inversely correlated with the proportion of redox-sensitive soil phosphorus (Fe- and Al- bound; % exchangeable P) when wetlands are grouped by broad cover type (i.e., herbaceous vs. woody). However, no known studies have explored whether this relationship occurs within individual wetland plant community types or in restored wetland sites in Wisconsin or elsewhere. To begin addressing this gap, we surveyed southern sedge meadows (SSM) and emergent marshes (EM) in southeastern Wisconsin within 1) 64

Kudoh, Aoi, Kyoto University Langley, Adam Whigham, Dennis Noyce, Genevieve Megonigal, Patrick Sexual reproductive effort in wetland plants is influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, photoperiod, and nutrient availability as well as within-populations factors such as shoot density. Environmental conditions in wetlands are rapidly changing, thus it is important to predict the effects of global change on reproduction of wetland plant species. The target species in this study is Schoenoplectus americanus (Cyperaceae), a common wetland species in brackish tidal wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. We evaluated density and reproduction Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 161

data from three experiments that range from 3 to +30 years in duration and were designed to assess the importance of temperature, CO2, and nitrogen on ecological and ecosystem processes. We compared the density of Schoenoplectus at the beginning of each experiment with 2019 data. We sampled reproductive plants in 2019 to test the hypothesis that, as a clonal species, reproductive effort would be positively related to shoot density. Shoot density changed temporally in the two longest running experiments and the increase was dramatic in plant communities originally dominated by Spartina patens and Distichlis spicata. Sexual reproduction was mainly affected by temperature with the percentage of flowering shoots and potential number of seeds produced increasing with increasing temperatures. Seed production responded less to CO₂ and N supply. There was a positive relationship between sexual reproductive effort and shoot density in all three experiments. The study demonstrates that wetland species response to factors related to climate change, i.e., increased temperatures, will impact ecological strategies. n Presented during CS4: Vegetation

SPATIAL STRUCTURE IN SPECIES COMPOSITION WITHIN THE EVERGLADES RIDGE AND SLOUGH LANDSCAPE: PRESENT CONDITION AND RESTORATION CHALLENGES Sah, Jay, Florida International University Isherwood, Ewan Heffernan, James Ross, Michael In a spatially structured landscape, large scale patterns in plant species composition usually result from environmental processes acting at different spatial scales and their feedbacks on community assembly. In the Everglades, where one of world’s largest wetland restoration projects is underway, the ridge and slough (R&S) landscape has historically contained spatially structured vegetation patterning that appears to have mostly been lost due to management-induced changes in hydrologic regimes. Our study describes spatial structure in species composition within the R&S landscape, and relates the derived structural measures to landscape condition. We sampled species composition in 62 5x2 km plots (PSUs; Probabilistic Sampling Units). To model the spatial structure in species composition, we plotted Bray-Curtis dissimilarities against distance, also called a “dissimogram”, and quantified spatial structure with nugget, sill and range, three commonly used parameters in semi-variance analysis. We reasoned that healthy R&S landscapes would exhibit strong anisotropy and a 162 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

low nugget to sill ratio (nugget:sill). A majority of PSUs exhibited a low nugget and high nugget:sill ratio, a sign of R&S degradation. In contrast, a few PSUs, in which longterm water depth ranged from 25-50 cm, displayed a higher nugget effect and low nugget:sill ratio, indicating relatively conserved R&S. The study indicated that more areas within the R&S landscape are in a degraded condition than are intact. While the current condition suggests that only active and adaptive management strategies targeting pre-development hydrologic regimes can restore the degraded R&S landscape, a number of ongoing restoration efforts are in place to improve the Everglades’ landscape conditions. n Presented during CS5: Worldly Wetlands II, 6/3/21 6:55PM - 8:45PM ET

EVALUATION OF CHANGES IN SELECTED RAMSAR SITES OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES Chan, Karen, Tsinghua University The Ramsar convention was created as a direct response to the large scale wetland loss in Europe and includes the designation and management of wetland sites, wise use of wetlands, and international cooperation as its central tenets. Despite its efforts, threats towards wetlands have not lessened regardless of the protection levels implemented. Furthermore, the convention lacks clear assessment indices. This study aims to identify the differences in the distribution of the changes in land cover, and their impact on fragmentation and habitat loss for Ramsar sites in China and their surrounding area. We analyzed the changes in land cover and global surface water and how these changes affect landscape metrics such as patch size, number of patches, patch boundary length and boundary to area ratio from 1992-2018 for the selected Ramsar sites. The distribution of the various changes in land cover, fragmentation and habitat loss are also analyzed through a series of nested internal buffer and an external buffer of equal area to the selected Ramsar site. The results indicated 16 combinations of land cover and ecoregion which experienced no change during the entire study period and these include Evergreen needle leaved tree cover with a closed to open canopy in a Cold-winter desert biome and Deciduous broad leaved tree cover with a closed to open canopy in a Tropical humid forest biome. The land cover and ecoregion combination that experienced the most change were Waterbodies in a Temperate broad leafed forest biome and Grasslands in a Cold desert biome. The Tibet Selincuo Wetlands Ramsar site also experience the greatest change in terms of both the land cover area and in the number of patches altered. Although the changes in number of patches decreased significantly from 2007 to 2017 for the Dalai Lake Na-

tional Nature Reserve in Inner Mongolia, there were also significant increase in the minimum patch perimeter-area ratio in the surrounding area in 2007 that was followed by similar findings in 2012 and 2017 for the Ramsar site itself. This study has showed that some land cover and ecoregions within Ramsar sites are more resilient to change (eg. Deciduous broad leaved tree cover in Tropical humid forest) while others are more susceptible (eg. Waterbodies in a Temperate broad leafed forest). Although there are positive signs such as the decrease in the number of patches altered, there are also worrying indicators of increased fragmentation or conversion. n

with differing levels of management for wintering black ducks and other waterfowl to meet their multitude of needs throughout the winter. n

Presented during CS8: Animal Biodiversity, 6/8/2021 8:35AM 10:25AM ET

The near extirpation of beavers from the North American landscape has had dramatic, negative effects on water quantity and quality and ecosystem function and resilience in our watersheds. Better understanding of stream processes and the need for landscape scale restoration actions to address hydrologic degradation has led to an effort to reestablish these ecosystem-engineering mammals. A beaver’s evolutionary inclination is to impound water, providing unparalleled benefits to these invaluable ecosystems such as increasing overall biodiversity and mitigating the effects of climate change. However, current beaver numbers are a fraction of historic density in the majority of their historic range owing to human development and conflict that limit or prevent their natural dispersal. Relocating beavers from areas of perceived conflict, where lethal management was formerly the only solution, to areas deficient of beaver and owned by beaver-tolerant entities, is a practical strategy to increase process-based watershed function, disturbance resilience and climate adaptation. The Tulalip Beaver Project and Methow Beaver Project will share 12 years of exploration into the techniques of beaver relocation on ecologically differing sides of the North Cascades. We will provide insight into initiating a relocation project and offer further considerations for seasoned relocation practitioners. Topics include beaver trapping, transport, housing and handling, sexing and pairing, disease/invasive species concerns, release site assessment and relocation, behavior and life history, and monitoring for and challenges to establishment success. We will share ideas on partnering with agencies, organizations and community members to foster support and engagement for beaver relocation. Additionally, we will share evolving research and strategies for partnering with beavers for wildfire abatement and impact restoration. n

DAILY ENERGY EXPENDITURE AND TIME ACTIVITY BUDGETS OF WINTERING AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS IN THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS Anderson, James Yannuzzi, Sally American black ducks (Anas rubripes) have declined in abundance due to habitat loss, hybridization with mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), and historic overhunting. Although the overall population of black ducks has stabilized and even increased in portions of its range, important wintering areas in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia have continued to see a decrease. Our objectives were to determine wintering black duck daily energy expenditure (DEE) in Central Appalachia through time-activity budgets, and calculate behavioral differences among wetland systems, levels of naturalness, management schemes, flock composition, year, date, and time of day. Between November and March 2015‒2016 and 2016‒2017, we conducted waterfowl surveys twice a month and recorded diurnal time-activity budgets when black ducks were encountered. We calculated DEE using a simple cost of thermoregulation model (684.94 kJ/bird/ day) and a complex (1,542.95 kJ/bird/day) cost of thermoregulation model incorporating site-level wind speeds and temperatures. The most dominant behavior overall was swimming (35.2%), followed by foraging (26.2%), and sleeping (16.4%). Black ducks foraged the most in natural wetlands (56%) and riverine systems (34%) and swam the most in modified (43%) and created (26%) wetlands. Black duck behavior varied greatly within wetland systems, management schemes, and levels of naturalness. We recommend wetland and waterfowl managers incorporate the complex cost of thermoregulation DEE model for more accurate estimations of duck use days, and provide a diversity of nearby habitat types

Presented during S10: Ecological Restoration through Policy Change: Restoring and Managing Beaver in Washington State, 6/8/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

BEAVER RELOCATION STRATEGIES FOR STREAM RESTORATION, CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND WILDFIRE ABATEMENT Alves, Molly, The Tulalip Tribes Whipple, Alexa

Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 163

Presented during S10: Ecological Restoration through Policy Change: Restoring and Managing Beaver in Washington State

EXPERIMENTS IN SUSTAINABLE RESTORATION PLANTING FOR BEAVERS AND FISH Vanderhoof, Jennifer, Experiments in Sustainable Restoration Planting for Beavers and Fish, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Planting trees and shrubs along streams is a common element of restoration projects aimed at salmon recovery in King County and much of the Pacific Northwest. In lowland Puget Sound, it is common for beavers to show up at restoration sites within 3-5 years after installing the plants. A challenge for restoration practitioners has been to retain the trees and shrubs they planted for shade and large wood for salmon when faced with beaver herbivory. Restoration practitioners also appreciate the value beavers bring to these ecosystems. In this talk I’ll discuss a small restoration site with heavy beaver herbivory that King County recently replanted to research different methods of planting that might be sustainable in the longer term for both beavers and salmon. In one experiment, we will examine different densities of black cottonwood stakes. In the second experiment, we will examine the difference between planting willow stakes versus willow fascines. n Presented during S11: Microbes: Small Players with Big Impacts on Invasive Species Management and Wetland Restoration I, 6/10/2021 3:35PM - 5:25PM ET

BEHAVIOR OF PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS LEAF ENDOPHYTES IN NORTH AMERICA: IMPLICATIONS FOR HABITAT RESTORATION Devries, Aaron, USGS Great Lakes Research Center Kowalski, Kurt Bickford, Wesley In North America, Phragmites australis spp. australis is a large invasive grass that is capable of displacing entire wetland plant communities, unlike the closely related native Phragmites australis spp. americanus that occurs in the same environment. To test the hypothesis that members of the Phragmites australis microbiome regulate plant growth at the subspecies level and thus contribute to invasiveness, 162 microbes were isolated from plants representing these two lineages and used to perform seedling, mature leaf, and saprophyte bioassays. Based on a literature survey of the North American Phragmites microbiome, the collection of microbes represents 50% of the fungi and 65% of the bacteria known to occur on the two lineages in North America. Our bioassays revealed that two of these microbes (1%) were strong pathogens, 20 (12%) were weakly 164 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

pathogenic, and the remaining 87% were non-pathogenic. None of the microbes could clearly discriminate between the two plant lineages, and the cuticle of mature leaves was found to be a strong and non-specific barrier to infection. These results are consistent with a broad body of literature on phyllosphere microbes and suggest that the Phragmites leaf microbiome does not play a significant role in regulating plant growth. The development of microbial pathogenbased treatments to manage Phragmites will need overcome the challenge of getting the pathogens through the plant’s thick leaf cuticle or find alternative ways to get microbial pathogens into the plant. Additional research is needed to determine how the microbes pathogenic to Phragmites affect other native plant species and how they may be considered in broader habitat restoration efforts. n Presented during S11: Microbes: Small Players with Big Impacts on Invasive Species Management and Wetland Restoration I

RHIZOPHAGY CYCLE AS A TARGET FOR REDUCING INVASIVENESS OF PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS White, James Almaliki, Hadeel Kingsley, Kathryn Kowalski, Kurt Chiaranunt, Peerapol Zhang, Qiuwei Chang, Xiaoqian Plants establish symbioses with soil microbes that are important for nutrient extraction from soils and plant development. One such symbiosis is the rhizophagy cycle, where bacteria alternate between a free-living phase in soil where they acquire nutrients and a plant-dependent protoplast phase inside plant root cells where root cells oxidatively extract nutrients from bacteria. In the rhizophagy cycle, roots attract bacteria to root tips by secretion of exudates (e.g., sugars, organic acids). Invasive Phragmites australis is a plant that is notoriously difficult to control. We hypothesize that rhizophagy cycle activity in Phragmites australis may be inhibited through applications of organic acids and sugars to soils to interfere with or confuse exudate signaling between plant and soil microbes, resulting in reduced growth and invasiveness of Phragmites australis. We conducted in vitro (Petri dish) and greenhouse experiments where plants were treated with organic salts (calcium propionate, calcium butyrate) and sugars (sucrose and mannose). In Petri dish experiments, we found that organic salts and sugars suppressed entry of bacteria into Poa annua roots, resulting in failure of roots to form root hairs and root length suppression. In six-week greenhouse experiments using

Phragmites australis plants, organic salt treatments at 50mM in combination with sugars (50 mM) were particularly effective at inhibiting root and shoot development. Plants treated with organic salts and sugars showed high levels of soil CO2 that also may contribute to rhizophagy cycle suppression in roots through inhibition of root cell produced superoxide. Reduced rhizophagy cycle activity is expected to result in plants with reduced stress tolerance. Reduced stress tolerance may leave plants more susceptible to biotic stresses such as mowing, reducing the time for effective control of Phragmites australis. n Presented during S11: Microbes: Small Players with Big Impacts on Invasive Species Management and Wetland Restoration I

THE INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF PHRAGMITES GROWTH FORM, MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES, AND PLANT INVASIVENESS: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE LINEAGES. Bickford, Wesley Goldberg, Deborah Zak, Donald Kowalski, Kurt Plant-associated microbes play an extremely important role in plant growth, nutrient acquisition, and tolerance to stressors. A growing body of literature suggests that invasive plants may either be benefited more strongly or harmed less by surrounding microbes than native plants. We examined the microbiomes of the non-native, invasive Phragmites australis ssp. australis and the native, non-invasive Phragmites australis ssp. americanus to determine if their microbiomes differ in ways that could explain the vast performance differences between the two lineages. We synthesized multiple studies that examined microbes inhabiting leaves, roots, and rhizosphere soils of each Phragmites lineage to determine where differences do and do not occur and how Phragmites-associated microbes may affect plant performance and invasiveness. We found that soil nutrients and Phragmites stand density impact microbial community composition and degree of differentiation between lineages. This differentiation becomes more pronounced as the Phragmites stands mature and the non-native form grows denser than native over time. The resulting differences may in turn disproportionately benefit the non-native variety by providing access to vital nutrients to maintain its high growth rate. Understanding the differences in microbial community composition between native and non-native forms of Phragmites will improve the accuracy and specificity of control technologies targeting microbes. Additionally, recognizing the mechanisms driving microbial community compositional changes and

how those feed back to plant performance will improve conventional Phragmites management efforts. n Presented during S11: Microbes: Small Players with Big Impacts on Invasive Species Management and Wetland Restoration II, 6/10/2021 5:55PM - 7:45PM ET

CONTROLS OF WETLAND MICROBIAL METHANE PRODUCTION AND OXIDATION; LESSONS FOR WETLAND RESTORATION Hamovit, Nora Globally, wetlands are responsible for one third of annual methane (CH4) emissions from natural sources. Methane is a potent greenhouse with a growing atmospheric concentration. As such, understanding the factors that influence wetland CH4 emissions is essential for modeling and predicting the effects of global climate change. Wetland CH4 emissions are a result of two microbial processes, CH4 production (methanogenesis) and CH4 oxidation (methanotrophy), both of which are responsive to numerous interacting environmental and edaphic conditions. The main driver of CH4 production in all wetland systems is the presence of saturated, anoxic, soils, as it allows the anaerobic process of methanogenesis. As soil flooding, and the re-creation of saturated soil conditions, is an essential component of wetland restoration, CH4 production, and subsequent emissions, can often be observed post restoration. The presence of CH4 emissions post restoration indicates that other functions, such as carbon sequestration and nutrient reduction, may also be restored, but can threaten the role of wetlands as a net sink for greenhouse gases in the short term. Implementing restoration practices that limit CH4 production and subsequent emissions can thus help reduce the role of wetlands as greenhouse gas sources post-restoration. The goal of this talk is to highlight environmental and edaphic conditions influencing microbial CH4 production and oxidation. This includes discussion of the environmental factors shaping methanogen and methanotroph communities, and their activity as well as examples of restoration practices that have been implemented to mitigate CH4 emissions post restoration. Overall, this talk should serve as a foundation of understanding regarding the environmental controls of wetland CH4 biogeochemistry, and the implications for restoration. n Presented during S11: Microbes: Small Players with Big Impacts on Invasive Species Management and Wetland Restoration II

INTERSECTION OF MICROBIAL ECOLOGY AND TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE IN SUPPORT OF MANOOMIN RESTORATION Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 165

Lan Chun, Chan, University of Minnesota Duluth Reschke, Carol Vogt, Darren Pavlovic, Noel Howes, Thomas Manoomin (wild rice, Zizania palustris) is a culturally significant food plant for Great Lakes indigenous peoples. The Ojibwe people regard manoomin as sacred because it is the “food that grows on water” that was part of the traditional migration story explaining the historical movement of Anishinaabe people from the northeastern U.S. and Canada to the Great Lakes region. We present a cultural perspective on manoomin, and how we used with insights from traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) to inform this study’s western scientific method. TEK informed where we could sample and ensured our sampling to be culturally appropriate. This study compares the composition of microbial (bacterial and fungal) communities and their nutrients in healthy, self-sustaining stands of manoomin to wetlands where invasive cattails or pickerel weed have displaced manoomin. Microbial communities were examined in water, sediment, and plant roots at seven wetland sites in rivers and lakes in northern Minnesota during June-September 2017-2019. Manoomin density, plant community composition, and water chemistry data were also collected at each study site. Three of the seven sites are wetlands where manoomin restoration efforts are underway. Results include phylogenetic and functional analyses of microbiome characterized by a high-throughput DNA sequencing and their correlation with the geochemical conditions and manoomin density. Finally, we discuss how this work will inform manoomin restoration and wetland restoration science. n Presented during S11: Microbes: Small Players with Big Impacts on Invasive Species Management and Wetland Restoration II

LAND USE CONSEQUENCES AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR RESTORING WETLAND MICROBIAL FUNCTIONS Peralta, Ariane, East Carolina University Human and climate-induced environmental changes can affect microbial ecosystem functions in unexpected ways that can complicate restoration efforts. The occurrence of interacting environmental stressors (e.g., flooding, drought, salinization) is expected to increase in frequency, duration, and intensity. In most engineered and restored wetland ecosystems, the contribution of microbial communities is often ignored even though microorganisms determine the types and rates of ecosystem functions. To make sure that restoration activities result in expected outcomes, considerations of land use legacies are necessary. Legacy effects are the contribution of past land use (or lack of land use) that leave 166 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

behind long-term changes to chemical, physical or biological factors that interact with current conditions and the resident microbes. These land use legacies interact with wetland management. Despite microbes being able to rapidly respond and even adapt to environmental change, the scale at which this happens varies. In addition, the time it takes for microbes to respond and adapt in ways that restore ecosystem functions could take much longer than is assumed to occur. Here, we present three case studies to highlight how prior land use interacts with ongoing restoration to result in mixed restoration outcomes. We will evaluate how, when, and to what degree land use legacies interact with contemporary environmental changes to influence wetland functions. Case studies focus on hydrologic changes to floodplain wetlands, constructed wetlands, and coastal plain wetlands. Accounting for variability associated with the microbial response to environmental change can reduce uncertainty in restoration ecosystem functions. n Presented during S11: Microbes: Small Players with Big Impacts on Invasive Species Management and Wetland Restoration II

THE INFLUENCE OF SOIL AMENDMENTS ON THE SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA MICROBIOME AND PLANT GROWTH IN AN OILED ENVIRONMENT Formel, Stephen, Tulane University Pardue, John Van Bael, Sunshine Elango, Vijaikrishnah Much of the work following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill focused on whether microbial communities enhanced biodegradation of oil in coastal and marine environments. In the salt marshes of the northern Gulf Coast, a natural extension of previous work is to ask how changes in microbial communities of the salt marshes influenced the resilience and functionality of salt-marsh plants and whether plant-microbe relationships can be manipulated to enhance restoration success. The foundational salt-marsh grass Spartina alterniflora was found to be fairly resilient to the oiling it received in 2010, yet it is unclear if the plant microbiome contributed to this resilience. Several research groups have surveyed salt marshes affected by the oil spill for correspondence between oil decay rates and soil microbial community composition, but no work has investigated how feedback between microbial communities and S. alterniflora influence one another. It is thought that the relationship between a plant and its microbiome is a reciprocal feedback in which the internal and external microbial communities are shaped by plant chemistry and the plant genetic expression is modulated by microbial processes. The stress-gradient hypothesis posits that during times of stress, interac-

tions will shift to favor mutually beneficial results for the host and microbiome. Recent research has demonstrated that many organisms can be dependent on interactions with their microbiome during times of stress and that the microbiome can be successfully manipulated with soil amendments to mitigate stress. We hypothesized: (1) S. alterniflora and its microbiome interact in an oiled environment to enhance each other’s survival; (2) plant productivity in an oiled environment is enhanced by amending the soil of the developing plant with a microbial community from an oiled salt marsh. We tested these hypotheses through a two-year greenhouse experiment in which we specifically examined how S. alterniflora and its soil, root, and leaf microbiomes influenced one another and how those relationships changed when the plant was introduced into an oiled environment. We found that the interaction of the oil and soil amendment treatments influenced aboveground productivity of the plant, although these effects attenuated over time. We discuss results from this work and the implications for restoration efforts. n Presented during S12: Landward migration of tidal wetlands II, 6/10/2021 5:55PM - 7:45PM ET

NORTH CAROLINA SALT MARSHES: THREATS AND CONSERVATION OPPORTUNITIES Currin, Carolyn, NOAA NCCOS Hilting, Anna Davis, Jenny Dynamic models of marsh vulnerability to RSLR suggest that marshes that occur in microtidal (≤ 1 m tide range) systems with low suspended sediment concentrations (<20 mg/l) are most at risk of falling behind predicted increases in the rate of RSLR. We analyze data from 32 Surface Elevation Tables (SETs) installed in coastal marshes across the central coast of North Carolina and compare rates of marsh surface elevation change with changes in local water level (RSLR). The SETs in this study have data records that are 8 -14 years in duration, and include both fringing marshes and meadow marshes. During the period spanned by the SET data records, the study region experienced an acceleration in RSLR with a SLR of 7.6 mm yr-1, about twice the the long-term (1952 – 2018) rate of 3.1 mm yr-1. Contemporaneous rates of RSLR were determined by determining change in mean local water level for each study site over the same time period as the SET record. None of the SET sites kept pace with contemporaneous RSLR and only a few kept pace with long-term RSLR. Fringing marshes below Mean Sea Level (MSL) at the beginning of the data record fared the worst, with 8 out of 9 sites experiencing a net loss in elevation over the course of the observation pe-

riod. Vertical accretion in meadow marshes, as measured by marker horizons, was often greater than sediment elevation change, but in only two instances supported marsh elevation change equivalent to contemporaneous RSLR. The results presented here confirm the vulnerability of microtidal marshes, particularly to short-term accelerations in RRSLR, and confirm that the long-term persistence of marshes in these settings will require the ability to migrate upslope. n Presented during S12: Landward migration of tidal wetlands II

WETLAND PLANT ZONATION ALONG AN EXPERIMENTAL FLOODING GRADIENT: A TEST FOR COMPETITION AND FACILITATION AMONG EMERGENT MARSH PLANTS Campbell, Daniel, Birchbark Environmental Research Keddy, Paul The zonation of plants along flooding gradients is a conspicuous feature of wetlands. Controls of zonation are often attributed to physical factors alone, such as the tolerance of wetland plants to flooding or drought. Current theory of stress gradients suggests that biological factors contribute to these patterns: competition should be prevalent in less flooded (less stressful) environments and pushes some species toward more flooded environments, while facilitation should be prevalent in more flooded (more stressful) environments allowing species to survive more flooding than they would if grown alone. The principal evidence for this effect comes from saltmarsh, but it is difficult in these ecosystems to separate gradients of flooding stress from salinity stress or wave energy stress. We conducted a large manipulative experiment with the objective to test how competition and facilitation control plant zonation along just a flooding gradient, without other confounding stress gradients. We selected ten species of obligate emergent macrophytes with wide distributions in North America and grew them alone and in mixture in an experimental pond along a carefully controlled gradient of flood duration for three years. Across all species, competition significantly reduced the upper limits of emergent macrophytes, pushing them toward more flooded conditions. But there was no evidence that facilitation among species extended their lower limits toward more flooded conditions. When we analyzed the data by species and by year, competition still reduced the upper limits for every species under low flooding conditions, and, for a few species, competition also reduced the lower limit under more flooded conditions. We found no evidence of facilitation. We suggest that one-sided competition is the most appropriate model explaining zonation along the flooding gradient among freshwater emergent macrophytes, with competition controlling the upper limit of species under conditions of low flooding, but physical tolerances of species mainly operating at their lower flooding Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 167

limit. Facilitation among emergent macrophytes does not appear to operate along a gradient of just flooding stress. n

Rock, Danielle Freeland, Joanna Dorkenn, Marcel

Presented during S15: Typha: Current science on genetics to management, 6/10/2021 5:55PM - 7:45PM ET

In regions around the Laurentian Great Lakes, the two cattail species Typha latifolia and T. angustifolia regularly hybridize to form the hybrid cattail T. × glauca. Hybrid vigour in first-generation (F1) T. × glauca has made this hybrid invasive in wetlands around the Great Lakes, although the longer-term impacts of T. × glauca will also depend on the fitness of advanced-generation hybrids relative to F1 hybrids and progenitor species. Reproduction may be key to the evolutionary trajectories of this hybrid complex: all Typha spp. can reproduce both sexually and clonally. Typha spp. are wind-pollinated, and sexual reproduction includes both outcrossing and self-fertilization. Self-fertilization can lead to inbreeding depression, however, the magnitude of inbreeding depression among cattail taxa has not been studied. Earlier studies have confirmed that F1 hybrids have higher heterozygosity than either parental taxon, and we hypothesized that this might reduce the expression of inbreeding depression in the progeny of F1 hybrids. We tested this hypothesis using controlled hand-pollinations of hybrids and their parental species to generate both selfed and outcrossed seed families. We measured fitness as seed set and seed germination rate, and used these measurements to estimate the magnitude of (early-acting) inbreeding depression T. × glauca, T. latifolia, and T. angustifolia. Our results provide insights into the fitness of hybrids and progenitors under different reproductive scenarios, and thus will help to predict the longer-term impacts of Typha spp. in wetlands around the Laurentian Great Lakes. n

EVIDENCE FOR HYBRID BREAKDOWN IN THE CATTAIL (TYPHA) HYBRID SWARM IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO Bhargav, Vikram, Trent University Freeland, Joanna Dorken, Marcel Hybridization leads to the mixing of genetically distinct lineages, and in some cases produces hybrids that are successful invaders. Hybrid success can be driven by heterosis, which is increased hybrid fitness arising from heterozygosity and novel gene combinations. Heterosis typically peaks in first-generation hybrids (F1s), and in some hybrid zones advanced-generation hybrids (F2+) can exhibit lower fitness than F1s. This decrease in fitness is called hybrid breakdown, which can occur from the uncoupling of co-adapted gene complexes. The overall incidence of hybrid breakdown remains poorly understood, particularly in plant hybrid zones. The Laurentian Great Lakes region of South Ontario is the site of a widespread cattail (Typha spp.) hybrid zone that comprises three taxa: Typha latifolia, which is native; T. angustifolia, which was introduced centuries ago; and their hybrid offspring Typha × glauca, which is invasive and negatively impacts wetlands by altering abiotic characteristics and reducing biodiversity. In this hybrid zone, F1 hybrids display heterosis and displace parental species via competition and introgression. However, surveys of molecular-genetic variation indicate a paucity of advanced-generation hybrids and backcrosses relative to parental species, a pattern consistent with hybrid breakdown. To better understand these patterns, we conducted a hand-crossing experiment to compare the fitness of backcrossed and advanced-generation (F2) hybrids to the fitness of F1 hybrids and native T. latifolia. We assessed fitness by measuring and comparing seed set, germination rate, plant height, and biomass. Collectively our data supported the hypothesis of hybrid breakdown, particularly in the advanced-generation hybrids compared to the F1s. These data can help us to understand heterosis, hybrid breakdown, and the long-term maintenance of hybrid Typha in regions around the Laurentian Great Lakes. n Presented during S15: Typha: Current science on genetics to management

INBREEDING AND INBREEDING DEPRESSION IN INVASIVE CATTAIL HYBRIDS (TYPHA × GLAUCA) AND THEIR PROGENITORS (T. LATIFOLIA AND T. ANGUSTIFOLIA) 168 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

Presented during S15: Typha: Current science on genetics to management

IS NATIVE CATTAIL AT RISK OF EXTINCTION BY HYBRIDIZATION IN THE US MIDWEST? Geddes, Pamela, Northeastern Illinois University In North American wetlands, two cattail species -native Typha latifolia and exotic T. angustifolia- hybridize generating T. x glauca. Typha angustifolia and the hybrid spread invasively, negatively affecting wetlands. Due to high trait variability and hybridization, Typha species are difficult to identify morphologically. Building on previous work that relied on microsatellite markers to differentiate Typha species (including hybrids, parental backcrosses, and advanced-generation hybrids) in southern Canada and in the US upper Midwest and northeast, our goals were to 1) estimate relative frequencies of additional Midwestern cattail populations, and 2) quantify their hybridization. We also assessed level

of agreement between morphological identification based on leaf width and gap between inflorescences and molecular identification. Using 6 microsatellites markers (4 used previously in other populations and 2 novel ones), we identified ~25% of the samples as native T. latifolia, while ~6% were exotic T. angustifolia. Furthermore, 19% of the samples were first-generation hybrids (T. x glauca) and 50% were advanced-generation hybrids, with backcrosses to native T. latifolia being almost twice as high as those to exotic T. angustifolia, rates that are much larger than previously reported. Agreement between morphological and molecular identification was lower than expected highlighting the fact that these morphological traits can be misleading when used alone in cattail identification. We caution that the seemingly asymmetric hybridization towards the native Typha latifolia could potentially lead to its extinction in the Midwest. Cattail management may thus require efforts to preserve the native cattail through seed banking and/or other approaches. n Presented during S3: Coastal Wetland Science in a Changing World: Driving Innovation in Coastal Research I, 6/1/2021 8:35-10:25AM ET

A COLLABORATIVE SCIENCE APPROACH TO FILLING PACIFIC NORTHWEST BLUE CARBON DATA GAPS Cornu, Craig, Institute for Applied Ecology Since the completion of the Verified Carbon Standard’s “Methodology for Tidal Wetland and Seagrass Restoration” in 2015, the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Blue Carbon Working Group has been working collaboratively to fill blue carbon data gaps for PNW tidal wetland habitats and associated land uses. The Working Group is a partnership of blue carbon information users comprising biophysical scientists, coastal policy makers and planners, land managers, restoration scientists and practitioners, and others from state and federal agencies, academic institutions, consulting firms, and non-profit organizations primarily, but not exclusively, based on the US West Coast. Several regionally scaled Working Group research projects have been completed or are currently under way, including the PNW Carbon Stocks and Blue Carbon Database Project (2016-19), Feasibility Planning for PNW Blue Carbon Finance Projects (2018-19), Sea Level Rise Impacts on PNW Tidal Wetlands’ Flood Protection and Carbon Sequestration Services (2019-22), and the PNW Phase 2 GHG Emissions, C Sequestration, and Database Expansion Project (2020-23). The Working Group’s collaborative approach demonstrates a logical, stepwise approach for filling what originally seemed like an overwhelming set of regional data gaps in which each

project builds on the results and lessons learned from the previous project, and each project from start to finish is guided by end users representing a wide range of Blue Carbon information consumers. n Presented during S3: Coastal Wetland Science in a Changing World: Driving Innovation in Coastal Research I

FORMATION OF A MID-ATLANTIC GHOST FOREST Gedan, Keryn, George Washington University Kirwan, Matthew Fagherazzi, Sergio When sea level rise and saltwater intrusion kill trees at the coastal interface, creating a ghost forest. In the MidAtlantic, ghost forests are rapidly expanding to become a substantial part of the coastal landscape, and more information is needed on the ecological and hydrological changes that occur during forest retreat and marsh migration to inform conservation and predictive efforts for both habitats. This study used a space-for-time substitution to understand the turnover of plant species during ghost forest formation at the Virginia Coast Reserve, a Long-Term Ecological Research site. We surveyed vegetation in eight large plots in each of three forest types: healthy, intact forest; stressed, dying forest; and ghost forest. Across this transition, we observed shifts in tree species composition, tree seedling composition, shrub and grass cover, and understory vegetation. Specifically, the invasive common reed Phragmites australis established in healthy forest and became more prevalent across the gradient to ghost forest. Other salt marsh grasses were present in the understory of the ghost forest, but not healthy or stressed forest. Shrub cover peaked in the middle of the gradient, within stressed forest, but was replaced in the subcanopy by Phragmites in ghost forest. Study plots spanned a steep salinity gradient but a very narrow elevation gradient, suggesting that salinity is the stronger driver in community change relative to inundation. Tropical Storm Melissa occurred during the study period. Storm surge briefly inundated plots at all levels and steepened the salinity gradient across the study area. These observed changes are used to describe expectations for species turnover during the ecosystem state change from maritime forest to marsh. n Presented during S3: Coastal Wetland Science in a Changing World: Driving Innovation in Coastal Research I

UNDERSTANDING THE RESPONSE OF COASTAL FOREST CARBON CYCLING TO CHANGING SALINITY AND MOISTURE CONTENT: A SOIL TRANSPLANT EXPERIMENT Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 169

Hopple, Anya, Pacific Northwest National Lab Bond-Lamberty, Ben Brzostek, Edward Raczka, Nanette Ward, Nicholas Megonigal, Patrick Pennington, Stephanie Bailey, Vanessa Coastal terrestrial-aquatic interface ecosystems may exhibit particular sensitivity to changes in climate and sea level, but how changes in water availability and salinity may affect soil and ecosystem carbon cycling is poorly understood. As a part of a broader effort to understand coastal ecosystem resilience and responses to future change, this experiment took advantage of a natural salinity gradient in a tidal creek at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in eastern Maryland, U.S.A., to examine how soil processes and structure may change under novel hydrologic regimes. Large (40 cm wide, 20 cm deep) soil cores were transplanted in a reciprocal design between plots varying in seawater exposure and elevation above the creek; we monitored the cores’ greenhouse gas fluxes for two years and performed chemical, structural, and biological analyses on the cores. The balance between carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) production shifted strongly with soil drainage, with lower, water cores exhibiting higher CH4 fluxes; cores transplanted from more stressful (more saline and/or drier) conditions exhibited significantly lower fluxes relative to both undisturbed and same-plot transplant controls. Transplanted core exhibited significant changes in microbial communities that impacted key traits, with those moved to stressful conditions exhibiting reduced carbon use efficiency, turnover, and enzyme activities. We also compare these results to observations take in a west coast watershed with higher salinity and a stronger tidal cycle. In the context of ongoing climate change, manipulative transplant experiments such as this provide a crucial inferential link between purely observational experiments, data synthesis efforts, and largescale ecosystem manipulations. n Presented during S3: Coastal Wetland Science in a Changing World: Driving Innovation in Coastal Research II, 6/1/2021 10:55AM- 12:45PM ET

DEVELOPING A REDOX NETWORK FOR COASTAL SALTMARSH SYSTEMS IN PFLOTRAN O’Meara, Teri, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center The Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) simulates fully coupled processes and interactions between 170 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

water, energy, carbon and nutrient cycles. However, E3SM connects terrestrial and open ocean ecosystems using a single unidirectional transport term, ignoring coastal dynamics. As a first step to incorporating estuarine habitats, we modified the land component of E3SM (ELM) to mimic both vegetation dynamics and coastal hydrology and updated biogeochemical representations. Biogeochemical reactions currently represented via the coupled ELM-PFLOTRAN interface are limited to carbon and nitrogen cycling. However, PFLOTRAN is an open-source, massively parallel, subsurface, reactive flow and transport model which can be used to incorporate additional redox reactions and track more chemical species that are important for coastal ecosystems. Our goal was to update the current reaction networks within PFLOTRAN to incorporate oxygen flux, salinity, pH, sulfur and iron cycling, and methane production. Using porewater profile and incubation data, we were able to create depth-resolved biogeochemical soil profiles for saltmarsh habitat which mimicked the shallow oxic zone and demonstrated the balance between opposing redox reactions (e.g methane production – methane oxidation) and how this balance shifts with depth. Additionally, we designed our input files to be easily adapted to suit other ecosystems. Preliminary results demonstrate the increasing importance of iron and diminishing role of sulfur dynamics with decreasing salinity. n Presented during S3: Coastal Wetland Science in a Changing World: Driving Innovation in Coastal Research II

HISTORICAL CHANGE IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST ESTUARIES: WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR SALMON, PEOPLE, AND CLIMATE? Brophy, Laura, Estuary Technical Group, Institute for Applied Ecology In a recent study, we used accurate elevation-based estuary mapping methods to document the historical extent, current extent, and losses of tidal forested wetlands on the Oregon coast, compared to emergent tidal marsh and tidal scrub-shrub wetlands. We found that historically, forested and scrub-shrub tidal wetlands (collectively called “tidal swamp”) formed a majority (57.8%) of the Oregon coast’s tidal wetland area, with forested wetlands strongly predominating (54.4%). Emergent tidal wetlands (“tidal marsh”) occupied a smaller area (42.2%). However, diking and vegetation conversion have resulted in the loss of 95% of historical tidal forested wetlands and 96% of historical scrub-shrub tidal wetlands, compared to 59% of historical tidal marsh. Other studies in the Columbia River estuary and Puget Sound have shown similar disproportionate losses of tidal swamps. Based on recent studies, forested

tidal wetlands provide important salmonid habitat, and the historical diversity of tidal wetland habitat types likely contributed to the resilience of salmon populations. Forested tidal wetlands also have particularly high potential for carbon sequestration functions, and likely contribute a broad range of other tidal wetland functions such as bird habitat, sediment detention, pollutant processing and flood mitigation. In combination, these studies highlight the importance of protecting remaining tidal forested wetlands, and restoring a diverse array of tidal wetland habitats across the landscape. The presentation includes information on approaches and methods for tidal swamp restoration, and emphasizes the need for further field monitoring and research to support these efforts. n Presented during S3: Coastal Wetland Science in a Changing World: Driving Innovation in Coastal Research III, 6/1/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

ECOLOGICAL, HYDROLOGICAL, AND BIOGEOCHEMICAL INTERACTIONS IN COASTAL FLOODPLAINS Ward, Nicholas Sengupta, Aditi Myers-Pigg, Allison Bond-Lamberty, Ben Norwood, Matthew McDowell, Nate Megonigal, Patrick Regier, Peter Pennington, Stephanie Yabusaki, Steve Bailey, Vanessa Wang, Wenzhi Hydrologic flows drive terrestrial plant productivity and the transport and transformation of biogeochemical components through the terrestrial landscape and along the terrestrial-aquatic continuum. These dynamics become increasingly complex along the coast, where two-way exchange of water brings with it a diversity of geochemical constituents and biological communities. The aim of this presentation is to discuss how coupled plant, soil, and aquatic processes modulate the cycling of carbon along the terrestrial -aquatic continuum of coastal watersheds. Observational, experimental, and modeling results will be synthesized from a variety of field sites in the Pacific Northwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Two coastal field sites, Beaver Creek in Washington state and Rhode River in Maryland state, have been equipped with a variety of high-resolution sensors (e.g., dissolved O2, salinity, water level, pH, redox potential, sap flow) for several years to monitor surface water, soil, groundwater, and plant dy-

namics. Sensor data was complemented by less frequent measurements of parameters such as porewater chemistry (e.g., pCH4, pCO2, organic matter composition), soil and surface water CH4 and CO2 fluxes, soil and porewater organic matter composition, and plant physiology (e.g., health status, water potential, stem gas exchange, etc.). We observed a consistent link between tidal amplitude and biogeochemical parameters both within the river and in soil porewaters near the river bank and floodplain overlain on seasonal trends (e.g., pCO2 increased during the summer, but has a daily maximum at low tide). Carbon cycling parameters also varied linearly along the aquatic continuum. For example, surface water pCO2 and pCH4 both decreased from the river’s headwaters to its mouth. A similar suite of point measurements were made across a broader suite of sites during regional surveys to further evaluate how plant growth rates and mortality interact with biogeochemistry along longitudinal gradients in coastal water exposure. Together, these observational results were used to develop a mechanistic understanding of the complex hydrobiogeochemical feedbacks in the system and also validate and evaluate reactive transport models developed for coastal ecosystems. n Presented during S3: Coastal Wetland Science in a Changing World: Driving Innovation in Coastal Research III

FATE OF MANGROVE-DERIVED DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER IN COASTAL WATERS: A MICROCOSM APPROACH Morrison, Elise, University of Florida Rivers-Ubach, Albert Shields, Michael Ward, Nicholas Bianchi, Thomas Osborne, Todd Liu, Yina Coastal systems, such as marshes, mangroves, and seagrasses, serve as critical reservoirs of blue carbon. These systems are vulnerable to numerous stressors, including higher temperatures, extreme storms, ecological regime shifts, sea level rise, eutrophication, and land use change. These vulnerable systems frequently export dissolved organic matter (DOM) into coastal waters, which plays an important role in global carbon cycling and coastal biogeochemistry. However, it is still unclear whether this DOM is susceptible to aquatic priming effects when exported to coastal waters. Priming, or the non-additive effects on organic matter degradation when in the presence of mixed substrate, has been well described in soils, but there is not yet consensus as to the prevalence of priming in coastal Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 171

systems. Here, we conducted a laboratory experiment to investigate the fate of mangrove-derived DOM when exported to coastal waters by incubating mangrove peatderived DOM with 13C-labled algal DOM and evaluating changes in bulk measures, DOM composition (via FT-ICRMS and LC-MS), and microbial transcripts. Our treatments included: (1) algal DOM substrate; (2) peat DOM substrate; (3) peat and algae substrates (primed); (4) control (no substrates added). We found that the primed treatment had the greatest increase in CO2 over the course of the experiment, and that members of the Gammaproteobacteria were dominant within the incubations, supporting previous work that has highlighted their role in DOM turnover in coastal waters. Overall, this work suggests that mangrove-derived DOM is susceptible to microbial turnover, with important implications for coastal carbon cycling. n Presented during S3: Coastal Wetland Science in a Changing World: Driving Innovation in Coastal Research III

HOW DO TIDAL RESTRICTION LEGACIES AFFECT SOIL ORGANIC MATTER SIGNATURES IN A SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND SALT MARSH? Meadows-McDonnell, Madeleine, University of Connecticut Madeleine Lawrence, Beth Hren, Michael Salt marshes are blue carbon ecosystems threatened by coastal development (i.e., bridges, roadways) that restricts tidal flow, reducing inundation frequency and salinity, which leads to shifts in plant species dominance. Tidal restoration reverses these shifts, but it is unclear how tidal marsh management alters soil organic matter (SOM) persistence. Leveraging the isotopic (δ13C) signatures of dominant salt marsh species (C3 Phragmites australis vs. C4 Spartina alterniflora), we are quantifying carbon legacies of plant community shifts associated with tidal restrictions over the last century in a tidally restored marsh in Stonington, Connecticut (USA). We measured monthly in situ soil respiration (CO2, CH4, δ13C) rates using a Picarro G2201i from July through October 2020 to estimate contemporary effects of plant species on soil respiration. Interestingly, our preliminary analyses indicate no differences in soil carbon fluxes (CO2, CH4) in areas dominated by P. australis and S. alterniflora, though we observed strong seasonal signals in CO2 (July > October) and expect δ13CO2 signatures will differ between species zones. To determine the legacy of plant dominance on SOM, we collected peat cores in August 2020 and are using gas chromatographic-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS) to quantify bulk δ13C signatures, total carbon and nitrogen content, and 172 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

δ13C values of specific organic compounds (i.e., leaf wax n-alkanes, n-alkyl lipids) to differentiate plant-contributed SOM from algal inputs. Quantifying isotopic signatures of SOM is an innovative approach that will inform how native and introduced species contribute to salt marsh blue carbon pools and may provide a tool for understanding how plant community shifts caused by tidal restrictions affect SOM contributions. Understanding how S. alterniflora and P. australis differentially contribute to SOM could improve land management decisions about tidal restoration and maximizing blue carbon. n Presented during S3: Coastal Wetland Science in a Changing World: Driving Innovation in Coastal Research III

SOIL REDOX AND METABOLOMIC SIGNATURES OF A FRESHWATER WETLAND RoyChowdhury, Taniya, Crop Genetics and Plant Pathology Unit, ARS-USDA Clendinen, Chaevian Hoyt, David Hamovit, Nora Yarwood, Stephanie Wetland restoration efforts are critical to enhance carbon sequestration in biomass and reestablish ecosystem vitality and functions. The success of such restoration efforts are frequently assessed in terms of microbial processes like slow decomposition of soil organic matter, and development of chemically reduced soil environment resulting in iron reduction and methane production. The mechanistic understanding of how the complex dynamics of microbial community development, metabolic expression and activity co-occur or compete in their local redox environment can greatly impact our predictive understanding of these processes, generally in submerged environments, and specifically in ecosystems undergoing rapid changes in historic hydrologic conditions. Wetlands are among the largest natural contributors to the global emission of methane. Methane producing microorganisms or methanogens have a very limited substrate range and their in situ activities are often linked to intermediary ecosystem metabolism, i.e., a complex food web of interconnected microorganisms that catalyze essential intermediary processes that ultimately drive methanogenesis. For example, fermentation products like short-chain fatty acids and alcohols can be utilized by both iron reducers and methanogens. Thus, methane production may be competing for intermediary substrates formed as a result of microbial metabolism located higher up in the redox ladder, a concept rarely tested in natural soils. We approach this scarcely studied paradox in the context of microbial community stability (insensitivity to

disturbance, i.e. altered redox state) and resilience (a community’s return to a pre-disturbance condition) and test its relevance to wetland restoration goals. The energetic favorability of processes associated with alternative terminal electron acceptors (nitrate, sulfate, iron) govern wetland carbon flux and methane biogeochemistry. This study seeks to establish mechanistic links between microbial metabolism to trace gas fluxes to landscape-scale changes in physical (water-level, temperature) and geochemical (redox potential, pH, electron acceptor profiles) properties. Since, organic substrates or metabolites form the primary currency of exchange for microbial growth and activity, understanding how redox potential impacts the net accumulation/consumption of these compounds might be key to quantitatively link process rates. By taking advantage of the high-resolution NMR quantification of soil metabolites, we hope to provide a proof-of-principle for how redox chemistry affects the soil metabolome in natural soils. n Presented during S4: Novel approaches to quantifying synergistic interactions between climate and land-use change on prairie-pothole wetlands II, 6/1/2021 10:55AM- 12:45PM ET

ONE WETLAND IS NOT ENOUGH - AN INTERDISCIPLINARY EVALUATION OF PRAIRIE WETLANDS Vacek, Sara, US Fish and Wildlife Service Gruetzman, Jennifer Eash, Josh The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) holds the most productive waterfowl habitat in North America. The US Fish and Wildlife Service puts forth resources to protect wetlands and grasslands in this region, providing key habitat for breeding and migrating waterfowl. Ducks use a variety of wetland types throughout their life cycle; temporary and seasonal wetlands provide key pair-bonding habitat, while semi-permanent wetlands are important for brood rearing. Often, wetland evaluations focus on individual basins. However, in the PPR the wetland complex is seen as the functional ecological unit. Recognizing the paucity of long-term wetland monitoring in the PPR, in 2009 we established a cooperative hydrologic and biological monitoring program. It includes data from fourteen wetlands across two wetland complexes in western Minnesota. Using continuous stage data, baseline volume hydrographs were developed to better understand changing storage potential between wetlands. By providing the baseline hydrographs for defining wetland types on the landscape, we can better identify how the wetlands are responding across the complex unit. Collecting continuous wetland hydrology

data is not enough to completely evaluate the health of the ecosystem. Therefore, we also implemented a vegetation assessment on these same wetlands to evaluate their ecological condition, including waterfowl habitat quality. With interdisciplinary collaboration between hydrologists and biologists, the US Fish and Wildlife Service can better meet its mission of enhancing habitats in the PPR. This comprehensive picture of wetland complex functionality will help managers respond to uncertainties introduced by land use and climate change in the future. n Presented during S4: Novel approaches to quantifying synergistic interactions between climate and land-use change on prairie-pothole wetlands II

TRACKING CHANGES IN WETLANDS WITHIN THE LAKE WINNIPEG WATERSHED OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES (1984-2020) Fendereski, Forough, University of Saskatchewan Creed, Irena Mohammady, Sassan Ma, Shizhou Current wetland management strategies are based on individual wetland’s roles at local scales, overlooking their landscape-scale functions. The result is the exclusion of many small, low order, and geographically-isolated wetlands from management practices despite their invaluable functions in controlling nutrients loading to downgradient waters. Landscape-scale wetland management is now possible with the advancements in data acquisition, -analysis, and -processing in cloud-computing platforms, allowing us to track wetland gain and loss over broad spatial and temporal scales. For our study, we applied the U.S. Geological Survey’s Dynamic Surface Water Extent algorithm on Landsat data in Google Earth Engine to map dynamics in inundation extent (as an indicator of wetlands extent dynamics) over the Lake Winnipeg Watershed during the last 36 years (1984-2020). We used temperature and precipitation rates (as indicators of climate change) to explain changes in inundation extent over the study period. Beyond climate, the preferential loss of small, low order, and geographicallyisolated wetlands was attributed to agricultural intensification and the drainage of these important wetlands. Understanding the loss of these types of wetlands and the risk that this loss can have for specific hydrological and biogeochemical functions of the watershed can help wetland and watershed managers to prioritize individual wetland’s protection, conservation, and restoration based on their overall functions on the landscape. n Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 173

Presented during S4: Novel approaches to quantifying synergistic interactions between climate and land-use change on prairie-pothole wetlands III, 6/1/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

TRACKING PATTERNS OF INUNDATION EXTENT, SEASONALITY, AND DURATION ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST AND PRAIRIE POTHOLE REGION USING SENTINEL-1 Vanderhoof, Melanie, U.S. Geological Survey Christensen, Jay Alexannder, Laurie Wetland and river hydrology across the Prairie Pothole Region depend on not just patterns of precipitation but also surface storage capacity and the agricultural redirecting of water through tile drainage and ditching, among other drivers. A critical precursor to analyzing the relative role of climate and land use on wetland hydrology is a robust dataset representing inundation dynamics at a spatial and temporal scale relevant to a landscape dominated by small, dynamic wetlands. We present preliminary results of inundation frequency and duration across the Prairie Pothole Region derived from time series analysis of Sentinel-1 image collection. Our approach takes advantage of cloud-based computing platforms including Google Earth Engine and Jupyter Notebook to produce inundation extent at 20 m resolution. While a reliance on only multi-spectral data can underestimate the response of landscapes to precipitation and flood events, due to cloud interference, time series analysis of SAR imagery can help strengthen estimates of inundation timing and duration. Deriving multi-source inundation datasets are therefore critical to characterize the episodic, seasonal and interannual response of inundation to both climate and land use activities. n Presented during S6: Wetland Wildlife in Natural, Managed, Reclaimed and Restored Wetlands I, Tuesday, June 8, 2021 8:35AM - 10:25AM ET

ON BAIT BUCKETS AND BOREAL DUCKS: ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN MIGRANT DUCK PHYSIOLOGY AND A WETLAND-ECOSYSTEM ENGINEER Stafford, Joshua, USGS - South Dakota State Univ. Janke, Adam Anteau, Michael The capacity of a migrating bird to accumulate and maintain sufficient lipid reserves to fuel migration and facilitate subsequent reproduction is the ideal currency for gauging the contribution and quality of individual migration stopover habitats. We used concentrations of lipid metabolites circulating in plasma of spring-migrating female lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) and blue-winged teal (Anas discors) 174 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

to evaluate the consequences of variation in biotic and abiotic attributes of stopover wetland habitats on their lipid dynamics, or refueling performance. Indexed refueling performance of both species was negatively correlated with high densities of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Lesser scaup refueling performance was also positively associated with density of Chironomidae in foraging locations, density of submersed aquatic vegetation in wetlands, relative density of conspecifics using the wetland during migration, and size and shape of surrounding wetlands. Taken collectively, the biotic factors associated with improved refueling performance of lesser scaup are known from previous work to respond negatively to high densities of fathead minnows, suggesting changes in wetland trophic structure coincident with the introduction and proliferation of fathead minnows were the primary attribute affecting lipid dynamics of lesser scaup, and to a reduced extent blue-winged teal, during migration. Such impairments to lipid accumulation during migration could manifest in cross seasonal and cross ecosystem effects as breeding ducks recoup lipid deficits accrued during migration on the breeding grounds. Accordingly, restoration and management actions aimed at reducing the impacts of fathead minnows on stopover habitats used by springmigration ducks may have positive impacts on migration performance and ultimately population productivity of these species. Accordingly, restoration and management actions aimed at reducing the impacts of fathead minnows on stopover habitats used by spring-migrating ducks may have positive impacts on migration and ultimately population productivity of these species. n Presented during S6: Wetland Wildlife in Natural, Managed, Reclaimed and Restored Wetlands I

SEARCHING FOR A TINY BIGFOOT: DO BLACK RAILS EXIST IN COASTAL LOUISIANA WETLANDS? Johnson, Erik Lehman, Justin The enigmatic Eastern Black Rail (Laterallus j. jamaicensis) has been proposed for Endangered Species Act listing because of apparent low population sizes and rapid declines in part of its range. Little is known about its occurrence or status in Louisiana, where over 2,000 km2 of coastal wetlands, important to wildlife and the national economy, have been lost since the 1930s. Between May 2017 and April 2019, we conducted the first focused survey effort in the state for this species, utilizing two survey methods: A) point counts (at 33 sites) and B) drag-line surveys (at 16 sites), the former during breeding season (April-July) and both during the non-breeding season (November-March).

We tallied a total of 38 detections at 21 of 152 point count locations (at 33% of sites) during both the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Occupancy analyses from 1,239 point count surveys indicated a strong positive relationship with Spartina spartinae cover. Among 61 drag-line surveys, we tallied 36 detections, including 28 captures of 25 individuals at 43.8% of survey sites. We deployed 0.9-g VHF radio transmitters on 16 birds, and among 13 with sufficient data, we estimated the 95% minimum convex polygon home range size to be 0.71 ha (± 0.13 ha; range 0.22 – 1.59 ha). Our surveys efforts have demonstrated that the Black Rail is part of the core Louisiana avifauna, which has important implications for coastal restoration, wetland mitigation, and land management activities in a landscape threatened by sea level rise, subsidence, and coastal wetland loss. n Presented during S7: Floating Treatment Wetlands, 6/8/2021 8:35AM - 10:25AM ET

GREEN LAKE FLOATING WETLANDS PROJECT Zisette, Rob, Herrera Environmental Consultants Friends of Green Lake has assembled a leadership team of experts for the design, purchase, planting, installation, and maintenance of constructed floating wetlands for improvement of native bird habitat, fish habitat, water quality, aesthetic value, and wetland education for Seattle’s most precious and used resource. Our team includes environmental education experts who would design signage explaining how floating wetlands cost-effectively improve the habitat and function of urban waters. This project would demonstrate a unique restoration approach at a highly visible location for many Seattle residents. Our team has developed a project work plan and preliminary design to maximize the function and benefit of the floating wetlands. We are in the process of obtaining permits before we submit a $50,000 grant application in September 2021 to finalize the design with public input and purchase the wetlands for installation by volunteers in April 2022, and to include educational signage in a public viewing area. This presentation will describe the project work plan, design, and permitting process, and seek input from wetland scientists on how to improve its environmental function and educational value. n Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation Scientific advancements and innovative tools I, 6/8/2021 8:35AM - 10:25AM ET

DEGRADED MANGROVE STRUCTURE: WHAT TO RESTORE?

Ardhani, Trialaksita, CIFOR Kusmana, Cecep Murdiyarso, Daniel Mangrove forest structure characterized by its ecological (richness, diversity and evenness) indices were observed in two contrasting restoration practices in Central Java, Indonesia. Large scale, laborious, and capital-intensive restoration program should consider the lesson from specific and controlled cases, where assessments have been made. Restoration with wave barrier took an effect depending on the age of the installation. We found that species richness index is increasing with the age of barriers of 0.20, 0.41 and 0,56 for 0, 1 year and 4 years old of barriers respectively. Likewise, species diversity increase from 0.58, 0.91 an 0.98 with increasing age of barriers. However, evenness index tends to decrease with increasing age of 0.83, 0.83 and 0.71 respectively. These figures signify the importance of restoration planning in terms of maintaining species diversity. Further evaluation may be based on the forest structure, indicated by tree density and basal area. While no significant difference was demonstrated in relatively short restoration period, protecting restored area would enhance the development of the structure. Keywords: density, basal area, richness, diversity, evenness. n Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools I

INCORPORATING WETLANDS IN FOREST REFERENCE EMISSION LEVELS Murdiyarso, Daniel, CIFOR Bhomia, Rupesh Sasmito, Sigit Forest reference emissions level (FREL) is one of the decisions adopted in the Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC to allow countries to attract payment based on the results of mitigation measures implemented nationally. Two main components required and frequently revised are emission factor (EF) and activity data (AD). Following the Supplement of IPCC Guidelines that assists countries to incorporate wetlands including peatlands and mangroves in greenhouse gas inventories, here we propose a high tier of EF for mangroves, widely called coastal blue carbon. The total ecosystem carbon stocks (TECS) of different management regimes, which ranged between 431 and 936 Mg C ha-1 are dominated by soil carbon. Around 20-30% of biomass carbon remain important to deposit organic carbon eventually stored in the soil pools. The stock-difference approach is suggested to develop FREL contributed by mangrove blue carbon. Considering land-use trajectories and activity data Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 175

observed in the coastal zone, a standardized top meter soil carbon is recommended. Keywords: FREL, IPCC, TECS, EF, AD, top meter. n Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools I

SOURCES OF DEGRADATION IN VIETNAM MANGROVES AND THEIR IMPACT ON FUNCTION Hong Tinh, Pham Hung Tran, Dang Nguyen, Hoang Hanh Manh, Quy Do Mackenzie, Richard A. Tuan Mai, Sy Ha Hoang, Thi Hong Hanh Nguyen, Thi Vietnangam has approximately 165,000 ha of mangrove forest distributed along its 3,260 km long coastline from the far north to the south end of the country. Vietnam mangrove forests have long been recognized to play important roles in coastal protection against soil erosion and from storms/ strong waves, supplying seafood, land reclamation, and carbon accumulation. Analyses of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index values extracted from time-series Landsat/Sentinel images indicated that in the period from 1995-2019, Vietnam lost about 33,000 ha of mangroves (equivalent to about 18.7% of the country’s mangrove area). However, during this period, Vietnam gained about 22,000 ha of mangroves due to mangrove restoration efforts. The mangrove losses occurred mainly in the Northeast, the Southeast and the Mekong River Delta regions where the mangrove loss was 2 times greater than the gain. In terms of quality, Vietnam has about 40,000 hectares of degraded mangrove forest (equivalent to about 28% of the total mangrove area) where tree density, structure or species composition were decreased. Degraded mangrove forests were mainly in the Northeast and Mekong River Delta regions. The decline in the quantity and quality of mangrove forest has negative impacts on its ecological functions and services. Conversion of mangroves to aquaculture/agriculture/infrastructure was the primary driver of anthropogenic mangrove loss, resulting in the loss of 9.7% of total mangrove area. Soil erosion was also an important cause of mangrove loss, especially in the Mekong River Delta. The impact of storms, strong wind, pests, fisheries, sand inclusions, depletion of sediment, nutrients or altered hydrology from dikes/roads and other structures, etc. were the causes of the mangrove degradation. n

176 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools III, 6/8/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

MOUNTAIN PEATLANDS IN THE TROPICAL ANDES CONTAIN HIGH CARBON STOCKS Chimner, Rodney, Michigan Technological University Lilleskov, Erik Suárez, Esteban Hribljan, John Peatlands are numerous across tropical, temperate, and boreal mountains due to higher annual precipitation, cooler temperatures, and higher available water compared to the surrounding lowlands, however, little is known about the carbon stocks of mountain peatlands. We cored peatlands over a large latitudinal gradient including the countries of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia and over an elevation gradient from 3,400 to 4,800 (m.a.s.l.). In all four countries we sampled, the peatlands displayed a large potential for carbon sequestration in their soils with an average thickness across all sites of 4.5 m and total C stocks averaging 1,730 Mg C ha-1. However, all countries were represented with peatlands that were 10-12 m thick with C stocks greater than 4,500 Mg C ha-1. Total carbon tended to increase with elevation. We also found that many peatlands contained a high amount of ash and mineral sediment (from volcanoes and sediment washing in from steep slopes) that lead to low C content (avg. 25%) and high bulk densities (avg. 0.26 g cm-3). The mean age of basal peat was 8,000 yrs B.P and was correlated with elevation with younger peatlands generally occurring at higher elevations. Our study shows the importance of high elevation mountain peatlands in South American carbon accounting initiatives. We have shown that these peatlands contain thick peats and have an exceptional ability to sequester large amounts of carbon in their soils. When current country wide peatland mapping efforts are finished, we hypothesize that Andean peatlands will be a very large pool of carbon that has been overlooked in global wetland carbon accounting. n Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools III

TROPICAL ALPINE AND LOWLAND PEATLAND MAPPING CHALLENGES AND ADVANCES Bourgeau-Chavez, Laura, Michigan Tech Research Institute Although peatlands cover a small amount of land globally, they are estimated to store more than 30% of the Earth’s

soil carbon (C) and are at risk from land use and climate change. Knowledge of peatland type and distribution is crucial to balancing the global C cycle, understanding their vulnerability to change and for planning conservation and restoration activities. Peatlands are difficult to detect and map, and as such, certain peat-dense areas have only recently been identified. Although there are some geospatial products which show generalized peatland distribution on a global scale, few spatially-explicit maps of peatland location and extent exist. An approach which utilizes multisource radar and optical imagery from multiple dates has demonstrated to be of high value in accurately mapping peatlands from boreal, temperate and tropical regions. The approach integrates field data collected from plot sizes that are commensurate with the resolution of the imagery and interpretation of high resolution aerial or satellite imagery to create suitable training and testing data. Next these training data are used in a machine learning algorithm with multiple dates of L- and/or C-band satellite SAR data combined with optical imagery (e.g. Landsat or Sentinel-2) and DEM derivatives. The multi-date SAR data allows for inclusion of hydrological conditions (wet soil, low to high inundation) from different seasons while the multidate optical imagery captures the vegetation phenology. These remote and often inaccessible areas make collection of training and validation data challenging. This results in subsequent challenges in producing an accurate map from often geographically constrained field data. Methods for normalization between adjacent images improves capability with these limited field datasets. Further, cloud computing platforms have become particularly important for leveraging the large number of images now available for this often cloud-covered region (Sentinel-1, 2). These techniques are aiding in improving the efficiency, capability and accuracy of maps. Results of these efforts for both alpine and lowland South American study sites will be presented. n Presented during S9: SWS Career Narratives: 2) Navigating a wetland scientist career: Lessons for the next generation (organized by Gary Ervin, Excerpts by Doug Wilcox), 6/8/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

POCKET GOPHERS TO MANGROVE SWAMPS: FINDING OPPORTUNITIES Ewel, Katherine, University of Florida Career pathways are seldom smooth. I describe here my own odyssey in order to help graduate students and even advanced professionals accept and even capitalize on unexpected changes that may at first seem disastrous. At Cornell University, I pursued a standard zoology major intended for pre-med students. Fortunately, I discovered the vertebrate zoology major in another part of the university, and

so in graduate school at the University of Florida, I studied reproduction in the pocket gopher, a fossorial rodent. BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS: I learned multivariate statistics to incorporate environmental influences in my dissertation. My first professional job was helping teach an introductory biology course at Duke University. During this time, I was exposed to physical and mathematical models, which introduced me to larger systems. Two years later, I was a “trailing spouse,” back at the University of Florida, trying to find a niche for myself. COLLABORATE AND VOLUNTEER: Mentors helped me grow into an ecosystem ecologist. I modelled processes in all kinds of ecosystems and even landscapes. I also entered the emerging field of wetland ecology, focusing primarily on cypress swamps. ENRICH YOUR TOOLBOX: I was introduced to redox potential which helped me understand the interactions among water, plants, and oxygen. After seven years on “soft” money, I was appointed to a tenure-track position that combined ecosystem modeling, vertebrate ecology, and cypress swamp ecology and management. TRY SOMETHING NEW: Seventeen years later, I joined the US Forest Service in Honolulu, Hawaii, where I abandoned modelling and vertebrates and instead focused on mangrove forests, freshwater swamp forests, and mangrove crabs in Micronesia. I thought I had died and gone to heaven as I was able to draw not only on other ecologists as colleagues but on social scientists as well. May you all encounter serendipity as you experience disruption and look for new challenges. n Presented during S10: Ecological Restoration through Policy Change: Restoring and Managing Beaver in Washington State, 6/8/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

A BRIEF HISTORY OF BEAVER-HUMAN RELATIONS Goldfarb, Ben Beavers are increasingly accepted as a stream and wetland restoration tool with significant benefits to biodiversity, hydrology, and geomorphology. Beaver relocation, coexistence techniques, and Beaver Dam Analogues have been used in many states by nonprofits, state agencies, and Native tribes. However, beaver-based projects are occasionally impacted by insufficient attention to beaver biology and ecology (e.g., beavers being relocated into unsuitable habitat or the separation of family units). Therefore, a strong understanding of beaver behavior, evolutionary history, and ecology is crucial to successfully working with this valuable but challenging keystone species. In this talk, part of the larger beaver symposium, we will review beaver biology, dietary requirements, family structures, preferred Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 177

habitat, and other vital but often overlooked life history parameters; discuss the historical conditions that led to their extirpation and subsequent recovery; and explore the ecological services provided by beaver engineering. This presentation will build a fundamental base of knowledge, thus laying the groundwork for subsequent talks about beaver-based restoration from the Tulalip Tribe, King County, Beavers Northwest, and the Methow Beaver Project. n

the enormous opportunity to be harnessed by more effectively including students in Society leadership. n

Education & Communication

Duffie, Laura, HDR

Presented during S1: Working in Wetlands I - Leveraging Non-traditional Experiences as a Student & Early Careers in Private Sector, GIS & Academia (Co-Sponsored by South Central Chapter and Student Section), 6/1/2021 8:35-10:25AM ET

BRIDGING THE GAPS: BUILDING A PEER-MENTORING AND LEADERSHIP NETWORK FOR STUDENTS IN SWS Munguia, Steffanie, Florida International University Scientific societies like the Society of Wetland Scientists are critical to building and maintaining robust professional networks, especially for students. Yet they often fall short on delivering on a key component of this: opportunities for leadership. Academic juniors are invited into these spaces to learn the dominant culture, a process of academic assimilation, with little consideration for the bidirectional nature of relationships. This leads to vast disparity in the demographic makeup of leadership and can contribute to organizational stagnation. One opportunity to bridge these gaps is through peer-mentoring of students to develop deeper organizational knowledge and leadership capacities. In 2020, the Student Section launched the Delegates Program, a unique year-long community building and training program for SWS student members to extend their relationships and impact within the Society through service. Program participants are expected to contribute to content creation for the Student Section, support the work of a chapter, section, or committee, and design a project of their choice to advance the mission of SWS. In return, they receive monthly trainings in leadership, project management tools, and professional development, as well as monthly informal community-building events. By engaging them in structured micro-volunteering opportunities, and providing support for a project they’re passionate about, these students have a unique opportunity to take ownership of their SWS experience. This year’s diverse cohort supported a variety of initiatives, including organizing World Wetlands Day events, contributing to the Section’s strategic realignment, and designing novel engagement opportunities for students worldwide. These eight students are a testament to 178 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

CLEAR AS MUD: NAVIGATE PRIVATE SECTOR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND UNLOCK THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET Many university degree plans funnel environmental students toward traditional academic or government career paths. As a result, new professionals face heightened competition when they utilize the same job boards and apply for the same positions as their peers. If your job hunting methods have proven ineffective, then you may need to update your approach. Consider the numerous, diverse career paths available within the private sector. Geared toward students and new professionals, this presentation provides the framework needed to accelerate your career development. Learn how to navigate private sector environmental career opportunities by unlocking the hidden job market! What are private sector environmental positions and where do you find them? Start with company name recognition. Can you recognize potential private sector employers in our industry? Better yet, which private sector employers provide high-caliber professional development for their employees? By leveraging a targeted approach and differentiating yourself from the competition, you can invigorate your career outlook and professional network simultaneously. n Presented during S1: Working in Wetlands I - Leveraging Non-traditional Experiences as a Student & Early Careers in Private Sector, GIS & Academia (Co-Sponsored by South Central Chapter and Student Section)

TRANSITIONING FROM STUDENT TO PROFESSOR: DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT Shoemaker, Cory, Slippery Rock University Many students in wetland science have traditionally aspired to 1) gain a tenure-track faculty position at 2) a university in an area where they want to live and to 3) be able to conduct research that better increases our ability to reclaim, restore, and rewild wetlands. The pathway to this goal is deceptively simple: Go to graduate school, do good research, get an offer, is in reality anything but simple. Extrinsic and intrinsic obstacles such a tight job market, declining college enrollment and concurrent tightening of university budgets, and reaching a work/life balance in a competitive environment face the aspiring faculty mem-

ber. After obtaining this seemingly illusive position, a new faculty member must maintain a research lab while excelling in teaching and pursuing various university and scholarly service, all the while adapting to a new environment. The divide between formal academic training and becoming a professor can be daunting. I am just off the job market and have had a chance to reflect on lessons learned during this divide, such as how to successfully target applications, navigate the interview process, and deal frequent rejection. As a first-year faculty member at a primarily undergraduate institution, I also needed to figure out how to reach an equilibrium between researcher and teacher. My path to my present position has been serpentine, from military service to parenthood to moving across the country, but I hope my hard-won experience can help other wetland scientists get positions to which they have worked for their entire lives. n Presented during S1: Working in Wetlands II - How to Transition Your Career into Non-Traditional Wetland Work through Mentorship, Drones, Advocacy and Ecopreneurship (Co-Sponsored by South Central Chapter and Student Section), 6/1/2021 10:55AM- 12:45PM ET

HOW TO BUILD A FULFILLING CAREER OUTSIDE ACADEMIA Sen, Shilpa, HDR Wetlands are unique so are the professionals who find joy working there. Wetland science has attracted researchers for a long time, and since the 1980s, its popularity has increased in universities, government agencies, and consulting firms. However, the researchers who pursue higher studies often get stuck in academia. Research shows that less than 1% of STEM PhDs will end up as tenured professors, while the rest of these STEM PhDs will have careers outside scientific research. Despite this harsh reality, the academic environment does not prepare these early career researchers to navigate a new career landscape. With ever-increasing risks of climate change and the fleeting acres of wetlands, the need for wetland professionals who understand the science and are proficient in analyzing the data will always be in demand. This presentation will provide the early career researchers some guidance on their exit plan from academia. Mainly, how to leverage their academic background to stand out, where to find help, what job titles to look out for, what to expect from an industry position, and lastly, what skill sets are necessary to survive and thrive outside of academia - all while still keeping their passion and interest for the wetlands. n

Presented during S1: Working in Wetlands II - How to Transition Your Career into Non-Traditional Wetland Work through Mentorship, Drones, Advocacy and Ecopreneurship (Co-Sponsored by South Central Chapter and Student Section)

MY 3-D TRAJECTORY: HOW TO LEVERAGE YOUR DRIVE, DEVELOPMENT, AND DREAM ACROSS THE WETLAND SCIENCES Riera, David, Florida International University Students of all ages locally and internationally have experienced inequities and diminishing justice across their trajectories to graduate with a degree or to move up the hierarchy of their fields, disciplines, or institutions. Many caught in this wave turn to family, friends, or other professionals as a support network where they build a safe space and place to develop comprehension, efficacy, and agency in order to overcome the sometimes insidious social, economical, and environmental injustices which prevent the individual from developing and growing into a professional with a career and not just a job. Through this account, we will illustrate the fundamental differences between coaches, sponsors, and mentors, then we will focus on the aspects of social versus professional networking in physical and professional spaces, and lastly, the author will provide his qualitative experiences in wetland sciences as a reflective exercise to explore the application of a method called the Hero’s Journey. Navigating through our own preconceptions, distortions, and dissonance is challenging alone but not impossible. Through this process, we will attempt to learn and unlearn knowledge that hinders our ability to connect honestly, openly, and transparently with one another as well as discover the passion, innovation, and vision that we all possess to succeed and support others success. We all represent various academic institutions, businesses, agencies, and our communities but as stakeholders in international society, it is up to us to cultivate a culture of success while dismantling the systems which restrict access, erect glass ceilings, and oppress talent instead of celebrating it. n Presented during S1: Working in Wetlands III - Pearls of Wisdom from Recent Post-Doc’s, Hiring Managers, and Seasoned Professionals (CoSponsored by South Central Chapter and Student Section), 6/1/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

BEYOND RAMEN: BUDGETING DURING THE GRADUATE AND EARLY CAREER YEARS Faust, Derek, Clover Park Technical College Brumley, Jessica Within the scientific community, it is well known that the financial situation of most graduate students is constrained. Graduate students are typically paid a stipend intended to Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 179

cover living expenses, but it may not even be sufficient to cover those expenses. Even after earning a graduate degree(s) and landing a better paying job, early career scientists may still be taxed by student loan debts and less pay than expected. Given financial constraints, graduate students and even some early career scientists must decide between taking on more student loan debt or utilizing budgeting techniques to adapt to their financial situation. While financial situations are unique to each person, students and early career scientists must adapt to operating within a limited budget. Focusing on the similar financial constraints experienced by graduate students and early career scientists, this presentation will emphasize techniques that may be used to survive within a small budget. Stories and budgeting techniques successfully used by the authors will be shared. Expert-recommended budgeting techniques (e.g., zero-based budgets, 50/30/20 rule, 80/20 rule) will also be discussed. This will include tips such as thinking about the budget, reducing unnecessary expenses, and accepting financial assistance (e.g., scholarships, help from parents/family, government assistance program). Sharing budget techniques and experiences will hopefully allow graduate student to reduce their consumption of Ramen noodles. n Presented during S1: Working in Wetlands III - Pearls of Wisdom from Recent Post-Doc’s, Hiring Managers, and Seasoned Professionals (CoSponsored by South Central Chapter and Student Section)

GETTING A FOOT IN THE DOOR: OPPORTUNITIES Schweisberg, Matt, Wetland Strategies and Solutions, LLC Myers, Robbyn Vallette, Yvonne It can be difficult for college graduates to find an initial position in any field that can develop into a promising and enjoyable career. To find a position in the field of wetland science or a related line of environmental work can be especially challenging. Competition can be particularly intense in the area of wetland science and related professions. Distinguishing yourself and standing out from others should be a goal in this endeavor. However, once you are confident that you do stand out, how do you develop or expand contacts, find solid opportunities, “open doors,” and secure entry to the position that will launch your career? This presentation offers suggested actions or measures that an undergraduate student or recent college graduate can undertake to help achieve that entry level job that will set you off on your own yellow brick road. n

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Presented during S1: Working in Wetlands III - Pearls of Wisdom from Recent Post-Doc’s, Hiring Managers, and Seasoned Professionals (CoSponsored by South Central Chapter and Student Section)

REALIZING A REWARDING CAREER IN WETLANDS – BALANCING EDUCATION, WORK AND PERSONAL LIFE Ponzio, Kimberli, St. Johns River Water Management District While the career paths for wetland scientists may be circuitous, the twists and turns we take on that path helps to foster the immense diversity of people who work in wetlands. But once we’ve made the decision that slogging around in the marsh or swamp is our passion, what do we do? How do we navigate from college, to our first job, to our “dream” job, and finally to retirement? And how do we balance all the other dreams and aspirations we have in life? By relating my personal story, I hope to inspire future wetland scientists to reflect on what they did in their formative years that is gently, or forcefully, nudging them in the direction of wetland science. I will attempt to relay the “real deal” about the challenges and opportunities that lie in store for them as they travel through the transitions in their careers, especially as we navigate an unplanned pandemic and its impacts on our career paths. I hope to offer sound advice, and perhaps a few pearls of wisdom, that will help participants chart out their path to realizing a rewarding career in the wonderful world of wetlands. n Presented during S2: Building Tribal Wetland Program Capacity and a National Framework for Advancement within the United States I, 6/1/2021 8:35-10:25AM ET

PYRAMID LAKE PAIUTE TRIBE WETLANDS PROGRAM: EFFORTS TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE WETLANDS ON THE RESERVATION Mercer, Robyn, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe (PLPT) is located 35 miles northeast of Reno, NV, at the bottom of the Truckee River Watershed, where the Truckee River empties into the desert-terminal Pyramid Lake. With approximately 477,000 acres of land, the Reservation has a wide range of habitats, wetland types and natural resources. Within the PLPT Natural Resources Department there are various programs that support and work towards the protection of natural resources on the Reservation. The Wetlands Program, within the Water Quality Program, continues its efforts of preserving wetlands and wetland resources on the Reservation, through innovative restoration, monitoring and outreach activities. Innovation is necessary to continue building program capacity, and

requires adaptation in doing so. Innovative adaptations within the program include the incorporation of technology, which has significantly increased the capabilities of the Wetlands Program. Along with technological enhancements, the program has continued its annual program work and has updated various components of this work to ensure the proper management of wetland resources. The program also continues work on collaborations and public outreach education to build community support and assist in wetlands conservation efforts across agencies and the state. Sharing knowledge and experiences allows for the spread of wetland management techniques, increasing wetland management and conservation locally, regionally, and beyond. n S2: Building Tribal Wetland Program Capacity and a National Framework for Advancement within the United States I

WORKING WITH TRIBES TO BUILD WETLAND PROGRAM CAPACITY AND A NATIONWIDE FRAMEWORK FOR ADVANCEMENT Stelk, Marla, Association of State Wetland Managers Robertson, Andrew The Association of State Wetlands Managers (ASWM), through partnership with Geospatial Services (GSS) at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and U.S. EPA Region 10, has been performing outreach to tribal wetland program staff across the nation to better understand their unique wetland program development needs. This effort has led to the development of a series of tribally specific wetland program webinars (with the help of an advisory group from the Pacific Northwest Tribal Wetland Working Group, aka “TWIG”) and a project proposal by ASWM and GSS to increase the capacity of tribes to protect, restore and mitigate impacts to tribal wetlands by providing training on innovative tools, wetland science, grant writing, outreach, and communication. This symposium was developed specifically to introduce this national effort, foster a framework for peer-to-peer sharing by tribal wetland program staff, and learn from tribes about ways in which ASWM can become a better resource for tribes in their wetland protection and restoration efforts. Relationships developed through this symposium will be fostered through the proposed project activities and will serve as a foundation for further tribal engagement. Information shared by tribes will be used to develop appropriate and culturally relevant training materials to benefit tribal wetland programs nationwide. These efforts are being performed in concert with EPA’s development of a Tribal Wetland Program Plan Handbook. n

Presented during S2: Building Tribal Wetland Program Capacity and a National Framework for Advancement within the United States III, 6/1/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRIBAL WETLANDS WORKING GROUP: SUPPORTING EPA R10 TRIBES IN PROTECTING WETLANDS AND THEIR CULTURAL USES Baerwalde, Matt, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe Taylor, Kelsey Self-governance, tribal heritage, and cultural identity are directly dependent upon high water quality and associated Traditional resources, as guaranteed by treaty. However, the geographic isolation of Tribal wetland and aquatic resource management professionals hampers the cohesiveness of an important professional support network. For the past 11 years, TWIG has facilitated collaborative, science-based decision making while encouraging peer relationships and creating opportunities that facilitate natural resource management policies and methods consistent with Tribal values. This presentation will provide an overview of the TWIG, discuss recent successes, and highlight future opportunities for the group as well as for interested PNW Tribal wetland and aquatic resource managers. n Presented during S9: SWS Career Narratives: 1) Smooth transitions at any career stage (organized by Women in Wetlands), Tuesday, June 8, 2021 10:55AM - 12:45PM ET

FROM GRADUATE STUDENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST IN THE FIELD Downard, Becka, Utah Division of Water Quality In October of 2016 I made the transition from graduate research assistant to environmental scientist with the State of Utah. Since then I’ve seen how my time at university created optimal circumstances for working in the environmental field. The most important thing I did as a student was develop an interdisciplinary science background. Being interdisciplinary is useful for environmental scientists because it allows you to understand the policies that guide our work, do good science, and foresee the implications of science on policy. Networking as a student and a scientist continues to be helpful in doing effective work. During my graduate research I was able to interact with wetland scientists and managers frequently, which created opportunities to hear about new jobs, built my reputation, and helped me understand social-ecological systems. Since transitioning to my new position I have also worked to maintain bridges with the university, which creates synergies between my new work and my old work. However, my transition was Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 181

far from smooth and I’ve learned hard lessons on time management, embracing transitions, and feeling out the limits and opportunities of new jobs. Ultimately, the chance to work in and positively impact wetlands in the state has been very rewarding. n Presented during S9: SWS Career Narratives: 1) Smooth transitions at any career stage (organized by Women in Wetlands)

MOVING FROM MULTITASKING TO MISSION: GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY IN THE WORKPLACE Doss, Terry, NJ Sports & Exposition Authority Growing old gracefully in the workplace is becoming more difficult given the growth of the “gig” economy and changing cultural standards and principles. People with many years of experience often command higher salaries and more benefits, which conflicts with company directives to lower direct costs and increase productivity. And right about the time that our minds and bodies are slowing down, the speed of change in the workplace keeps getting faster, demands for overtime and weekend work are growing, and new technologies that require more training keep popping up. Retiring from the one firm that you worked for over a career seems to be more and more of a myth these days. After watching older employees with higher salaries and higher resultant project rates get let go from mega-consulting firms, and watching employees of smaller firms work longer hours to try and compete, I set out to find a way to contend with my gently decelerating body and mind while still being able to utilize my many years of experience. I’ll share my journey to find a position where I could sharpen my focus on singular tasks rather than continuing to try to multi-task, adopting a slower pace that allows me to be more engaged with specific issues and with other people, and celebrating my passion for restoring the earth. I no longer fear being pushed out due to my age and truly love what I do. n Presented during S9: SWS Career Narratives: 1) Smooth transitions at any career stage (organized by Women in Wetlands)

PLANNING FOR THE 85%: ADVICE TO HELP TRANSITION TO SCIENCE POLICY AND THE WORLD OF “ALTERNATIVE” CAREERS. Sutton-Grier, Ariana, University of Maryland It is a fact that the U.S. is producing many more PhDs each year than there are academic positions to accommodate. This includes academic positions in research institutions as well as academic positions in liberal arts institutions, community colleges, and other academic institutions. This means students need to be preparing for many career 182 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

options, starting as early as possible. This presentation will focus on my personal career journey as an ecosystem ecologist. I have worked at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, been an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy fellow, been a contractor for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), been an Assistant Research Scientist and an Associate Research Professor at the University of Maryland, and been the Director of Science for the MD/DC Chapter of the Nature Conservancy before getting a position with the federal government. I will provide advice based on my experience and examples from discussions with other colleagues. For those still in school or in a postdoc, it is useful to consider options for additional training beyond research skills that will facilitate finding a job such as policy fellowships, on camera training, and additional communications training. There are lots of fellowship opportunities including the AAAS one, the Sea Grant fellowship, and ORISE fellowships, to name a few. There are also opportunities to do research in a government agency such as NOAA. In addition, there are opportunities to do important research or apply scientific research skills in other positions in non-profits, think tanks, and industry. In order to be successful in these opportunities, it is critical to develop skills beyond the traditional research skills acquired in grad school and this presentation will cover some of these opportunities and suggest ways to build these additional skills. n Presented during S9: SWS Career Narratives: 1) Smooth transitions at any career stage (organized by Women in Wetlands)

PUBLIC SERVANT TO GRADUATE STUDENT: SHARING TOOLS BETWEEN ROLES Puchkoff, Anna Professional experience is crucial to advancing your career and skillset in the field of wetland science and management. In particular, jobs with U.S. federal land management agencies operate in a seniority-based position advancement structure. Land managers and researchers recognize the importance of science-based decisions in the success of ecological restoration projects. In order for managers to advance science-based land management, certain technical skills such as statistical analysis, scientific writing, and discipline specific knowledge may be necessary. Returning to school after years spent in the work force can seem daunting, but drawing on skill sets learned in the work force can make the transition smoother. As an early career scientist, I present strategies and highlight specific examples of how I transitioned from years of working as a field technician to life as a graduate student. Transferable skills such as com-

munication, organization, data management, leadership, and teamwork are integral in both agency and academic settings. By applying existing skillsets to the new environment, it makes the unfamiliar challenges of graduate school slightly less tumultuous. n Presented during S9: SWS Career Narratives: 1) Smooth transitions at any career stage (organized by Women in Wetlands)

TRANSITING FROM FUNDAMENTAL TO INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH Awwad, Fatima, Université du Québec À Trois-Rivières In a perfect word, funds would always be available for researchers to pursue their fundamental or applied research subjects. Early in my career, it was obvious that scientists in some fields tend to suffer more than others only because their research does not concern directly human health. After working on the feasibility of an artificial wetland in Lebanon, middle east, I transited from environmental to plant science. In France, finding a master thesis funded on plant biology is easy, but finding a financed doctoral thesis was another subject. Because of the fundamental aspects of the topic I was interested in, I was asked to work for free! So, I hesitated and then found the perfect subject to be passionate about for another five year, but this time in Canada. Once again, after completing my Ph.D., finding funds for a postdoctoral fellowship was not easy... Until I met my current employer for an industrial project. It was scary at the beginning, I felt betraying my believes as a scientist, but then the transition went smoother than imagined, with the money the company was pumping in the project, the stress about the durability of the project disappeared and I had more time to carry more experiments and reach new goals and achievements. n Presented during S9: SWS Career Narratives: 2) Navigating a wetland scientist career: Lessons for the next generation (organized by Gary Ervin, Excerpts by Doug Wilcox), 6/8/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

ADVICE FOR FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS Middleton, Beth, US Geological Survey Ervin, Gary A first-generation college student is a student whose father and mother do not have college degrees. Like ourselves, students in this group may not get solid advice about what to expect in college. For example, a first-generation college student may not understand the full complement of careers and associated degrees that are available. Their families may push them into careers in medicine and law, or even advise against college. Fortunately for us, we were intent in our desire to study wetlands, despite personal challenges.

Some of the common struggles we faced included objections from family who thought college was a waste of time and money, a lack of family funds to attend college, and a general unfamiliarity with what is required to attend and succeed in college. To finance our undergraduate educations, we either had to work through school, while carrying year-round full course loads, or reduce our workloads and extend the process of completing our degrees. We both struggled to find our ways, but we both eventually encountered people who helped guide us and reduce the burden of navigating college without the benefit of close family members to share their experiences. One of the most important things we learned during our process was that there are always people who are willing to help students who are willing to work hard to help themselves. Because of the generosity shown to us during those difficult years, we believe we owe it to our discipline to share our experiences with others and motivate them to continue to pursue their goals. Our hope is that by sharing some of the difficulties we overcame, other first-generation students may be better able to identify (and avoid) some of the potential pitfalls in making the transition from first-generation college student to first-generation college graduate. n Presented during S9: SWS Career Narratives: 2) Navigating a wetland scientist career: Lessons for the next generation (organized by Gary Ervin, Excerpts by Doug Wilcox) 6/8/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

EMBRACING CHALLENGES AND “RIDING THE TIGER” Kentula, Mary, US EPA Office of Research and Development My career has been filled with expected and unexpected opportunities that broadened my perspective, taught me new skills, and enriched my way of thinking and being. Key to those experiences were the people who were my mentors and collaborators and the teams of talented and dedicated people who worked together to conduct critical research that addressed significant questions on wetland ecology and management. For example, the assessment of wetland condition in the Upper Juniata and the Nanticoke watersheds in the Mid-Atlantic involved multiple teams and was instrumental in the decision to include wetlands in the US Environmental Protection Agency’s National Aquatic Resource Surveys. I encourage you, especially those beginning their careers, to take advantage of opportunities that offer a chance to work with a mentor who can provide hands-on experience in an area of science that interests you and on how to manage an overall research effort. Try things that are totally new and challenging. Exploring different careers and subject areas is an excellent way to discover what you’re passionate about. Most of all, don’t shy away from deWetland Science & Practice July 2021 183

manding opportunities, realizing there will be successes and disappointments along the way. Take a deep breath and don’t be afraid to “ride the tiger.” n Presented during S7: Floating Treatment Wetlands, 6/8/2021 8:35AM - 10:25AM ET

THE DUWAMISH RIVER FLOATING WETLANDS PROJECT: COMMUNITY SCIENCE AND PUBLIC OUTREACH Andrews, Leann, Penn State Hampton, Adrienne Mocorro Powell, Ashley Engelke, Jen Bowles, Mason Rottle, Nancy The Duwamish River Floating Wetlands project deployed and monitored constructed floating wetlands (CFWs) during the 2019 and 2020 seasons of outmigrating juvenile salmon runs on the urban Duwamish River in Seattle, Washington. Embedded in the project was a highly integrated community science and public outreach program developed using best practices as described in Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies, Principles of Environmental Justice, and Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing. The goals of the community science and outreach program were 1) to include and employ populations historically underrepresented in science, infusing equity and access at the forefront of the research, 2) to add local perspective and diverse viewpoints to the design and research approach, 3) to inform and educate the residents, workers and sustenance fishers in the Duwamish Valley neighborhoods on CFWs’ potential in the Duwamish River, 4) to inform and educate the general public on CFWs, building public support in the region which may have implications towards supportive policy changes in the future. Over two years, the design and research of the CFWs involved 44 community members, 50 students, 3 Doris Duke Conservation Scholars, and outreached to dozens of organizations inperson, and hundreds of individuals via a website and social media presence. Participants ranged from 12 to 75 years of age, with a high percentage of minority groups and Duwamish Valley residents. All participants in the project were compensated for their contribution, including community scientists, in cash and/or academic credits and youth community scientists were invited to participate in a complementary career exploration program. This session will outline the methods, approach, outcomes and lessons learned of the community science program. In particular, we will discuss how local community members were critical to completing the project in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and how their perspective shaped the design, management, research and stewardship of the floating wetland systems. n 184 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

Global Climate Change Presented during CS12: Restoration, Tuesday, June 8, 2021 1:15PM 3:05PM ET

HUMANS PREDATORS DRIVE RESTORATION OF SALT MARSH DIEBACK ON NANTUCKET, MA Karberg, Jennifer, Nantucket Conservation Foundation Extensive salt marsh dieback is driven by intense herbivory by the native purple marsh crab (Sesarma reticulata) and results in a complete loss of stabilizing low marsh vegetation, particularly smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). Salt marsh dieback dramatically reduces marsh resilience; leading to increases in soil erosion, sediment softening/subsidence and increased impacts of climate change and sea level rise. After over a decade of salt marsh dieback throughout mainland New England, marshes appear to be recovering although they have experienced significant erosion and subsidence. Purple marsh crab populations explode due to a lack of predators. On Nantucket Island, MA salt marsh dieback began about a decade later than other areas, meaning that loss of salt marsh elevation and area is not as extreme compared to mainland salt marshes. This gives us a unique opportunity to control the purple marsh crab and facilitate salt marsh revegetation before losing valuable soil sediments. In 2019, the Nantucket Conservation Foundation initiated a research project using humans as predators of the purple marsh crab with active trapping and removal during the field season. During both the 2019 and 2020 field seasons, significant numbers of purple marsh crabs were trapped and removed from two marshes in Polpis Harbor, Nantucket MA. Over this two-year project, NCF has observed significant recolonization of bare soil by smooth cordgrass and documented a reduction in crab grazing effort. In 2020, NCF out-planted plots of smooth cordgrass within the dieback areas and monitored a successful establishment of 50% survival. The success of this management effort as well as the documented low field work effort make the innovative use of humans as crab predators a successful response to salt marsh dieback. n Presented during CS3: Wetland Chemistry, 6/3/2021 4:35PM 6:25PM ET

DIURNAL VARIATION IN WETLAND METHANE FLUXES: GLOBAL PATTERNS Bansal, Sheel, USGS Valach, Alex McNicol, Gavin

Methane emissions from wetlands is the largest source of uncertainty in the global methane budget. The high level of uncertainty is due, in part, to high temporal variability in methane flux rates over diurnal time scales. A better understanding of how methane flux rates change throughout diel cycles could help elucidate short-term, mechanistic drivers of flux, improve methane flux estimates from wetlands, and improve prediction of how future conditions could affect methane flux dynamics. However, developing generalized theories of diurnal variation in wetland methane fluxes is challenging due to the suite of interacting mechanisms and site-specific conditions that control diel patterns. We addressed this challenge using a unique methane flux dataset collection from >70 eddy covariance (EC) towers distributed around the world in diverse biomes and wetland classes. Diurnal patterns were highly variable among sites. The majority of sites had maximum flux (i.e., highest flux of the day) in the afternoon (~15:00), while about 20% had nighttime maxima. The timing of maximum and minimum flux was unrelated to wetland class, biome, or site conditions. In some cases, nighttime maxima may be attributable to artifacts associated with EC measurements, such as invalid flux measurements or changes in wind direction and associated EC footprint. The amplitude of daily flux (i.e., the difference between the highest and lowest flux of the day) varied by wetland class, mean annual temperature (MAT), dominant vegetation, and season. Tundra sites had the lowest amplitude, bogs and fens were intermediate, and swamps and marshes had the highest amplitude. Sites with higher MAT and aerenchymatous vegetation had greater amplitude, especially in the latter part of the growing season (i.e., autumn). Models indicated that gross primary productivity and latent heat of evaporation were near synchronously correlated to diurnal methane flux at many of the sites. n Presented during CS4: Vegetation II, 6/3/2021 6:55PM - 8:45PM ET

SALT MARSH DOMINANT JUNCUS ROEMERIANUS MORPHOPHYSIOLOGY VARIES WITH TIDAL CREEK SPATIAL PATTERN AND MARSH SYSTEM IN THE BIG BEND REGION OF FLORIDA Verhulst, Stephanie, University of Florida Reinhardt, Carrie Halophytes are specially adapted plants capable of tolerating high stress salt marshes environments where daily tidal flooding creates anoxic and highly saline soils. Sea-level rise and changing environmental conditions (e.g. drought, herbivory, sedimentation rates, and sudden vegetation die-off) have increased pressure on marsh vegetation adaptations resulting in marsh die-off. Modeling provides

promising tools for predicting areas of potential die-off; however, salt marsh conditions are highly variable within and between marsh systems limiting broad landscape scale applicability. This project aims to identify potential linkages between vegetation stress indicators and drivers of marsh die-off (herbivore density, soil characteristics, and flooding) and their patterns within a marsh as another tool for predicting areas prone to marsh die-off. Twelve salt marshes spanning over 70 kms of Florida’s Gulf coast were selected based on similar dominant vegetation (Juncus roemerianus) and geomorphic characteristics. Vegetation and soil samples were collected in May-July 2019 at 3 distinct distances from the tidal creek mouth (coastal, mid-creek, and inland) and each distance had paired sampling locations at the creek bank and 40 meters into the marsh platform. Juncus roemerianus had significantly higher stress levels at the creek bank where soil salinity was higher and soil nutrients were lower indicated by 1) lower belowground biomass production and 2) higher proline concentrations, K+ ion levels, Na+ ion levels, and stem water content. Juncus closest to the coast had significantly higher belowground biomass and proline concentrations possibly confounding signs of stress. Other morphophysiological stress indicators (stomate density, aboveground biomass, and stem height) were elevated throughout the marsh system regardless of spatial location. Additionally, creek systems and proximity to large freshwater inputs played significant roles in the degree of stress exhibited by J. roemerianus. Marshes in the Big Bend region of Florida are at risk of die-off beginning at the margins, and this corresponds with increased salinity, suggesting that potential management strategies (e.g. thinsediment placement to increase marsh elevations, hydrological alterations to increase freshwater inputs, etc.) may reduce stress levels and increase marsh persistence. n Presented during CS6: Climate Disruption, 6/3/2021 6:55PM 8:45PM ET

ASSESSING THE ADAPTIVE CAPACITY OF LAURENTIAN GREAT LAKES WETLANDS TO CLIMATE CHANGE USING A COMPOSITE INDICATOR METHODOLOGY Hrynyk, Morgan, Landscape Science and Technology Branch - Environment and Climate Change Canada Grabas, Greg Duffe, Jason Rivers, Patrick Quesnelle, Pauline Climate change is predicted to negatively impact the biodiversity, productivity and functionality of wetlands in the Laurentian Great Lakes Region. However, the ability for these wetlands to mitigate climate change remains poorly Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 185

understood and unquantified. Therefore, there is an immediate need to characterize the adaptive capacity of wetlands in order to inform the development and implementation of measures that promote climate change resilience. Adaptive capacity is defined here as the latent ability of a wetland to cope with climatic changes and maintain its current ecological regime. To operationalize this concept, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has developed a composite indicator methodology that aggregates contemporary ecological variables hypothesized to affect the climatic response of wetlands into a simplified score. To determine adaptive capacity, ECCC selected 20 coastal wetlands with varying physical and biological characteristics along the Canadian shorelines of lakes Ontario, Erie, St. Clair, and Huron. Eight variables were measured at these sites through direct observation, remote sensing products, and geospatial analyses. Variables measured included; vegetation species richness, invasive Phragmites australis cover, wetland migration potential, protected areas, and surrounding land cover. Variables were then aggregated into four subindicator groupings (biological, landscape, protection, and migration potential) based on their influence on adaptive capacity. Composite indicator aggregation methodology accounted for variable correlation, and addressed independent and compensatory contributions to adaptive capacity using geometric and linear aggregation, respectively. Wetlands that received a high adaptive capacity score had three to four high-scoring sub-indicator groupings. These included wetlands along Lake Huron and Ontario with high biological and landscape conditions. However, it was common for at least one sub-indicator to receive a low score, suggesting that the adaptive capacity of high-scoring wetlands can be enhanced through management. Wetlands with a low adaptive capacity score had three or more sub-indicator groupings score poorly and were often clustered on the Huron-Erie Corridor and Lake Erie, where existing developmental pressure is high. The results of this analysis allow for a comparison of the 20 wetlands studied, and the scores of sub-indicator groups can be used to identify wetland resilience strategies. n Presented during CS6: Climate Disruption, 6/3/2021 6:55PM - 8:45PM ET

SCALING-UP BEAVER POWERED RESTORATION IN THE UPPER COLUMBIA FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE: A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS APPROACH Elliot-Perez, Crystal, Trout Unlimited Fesenmyer, Kurt In the aftermath of Washington’s mega-fires and in the context of climate change resilience in the Upper Columbia 186 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

both for water availability and for fish species, Trout Unlimited realized the critical need to really scale-up beaverpowered restoration work to create impactful ecological benefits at a watershed level. We wanted to think beyond individual projects and look at a landscape perspective in terms of prioritizing sites for improving habitat for ESAlisted salmonids, increasing water storage capacity, and buffering fire effects. We needed a mechanism that could help us identify the sites that were both feasible and appropriate for beaver-powered restoration AND provide maximum ecosystem benefit in the context of local landscape conditions and limiting factors. In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), University of Washington (UW), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (CTCR), and the Drinking Water Providers Partnership (DWPP), we set about building a Decision Support System (DSS) tool that would do just that. TU’s Upper Columbia Beaver-Powered Restoration DSS tool helps practitioners and agency staff identify beaver-powered restoration opportunities across the Upper Columbia, including beaver dam analog (BDA) installation, beaver relocation, and low-tech wood placement, such as post-assisted log structures (PALS). This tool enables us to target specific locations that provide the maximum combined benefits for ESA-listed salmonids, post-fire recovery areas, and water storage for climate resilience. In a nutshell, we now have a powerful landscape-level analysis that serves as a first-order filter for identifying the most impactful areas for beaver-powered restoration work in a critical basin for salmon and agriculture that is on the front lines of mega fires and climate change – a place where beaverpowered restoration is needed most. n Presented during S12: Landward migration of tidal wetlands I, 6/10/2021 3:35PM - 5:25PM ET

ELEVATION AS A CONTROL ON SALT-MARSH UPLAND ECOTONES ON THE MISSISSIPPI COAST Anderson, Carlton, University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast Geospatial Center Anderson, Carlton Waldron, Margaret Salt marshes are unique shallow-gradient landscapes that are highly susceptible to the combined effects of altered sediment supply, sea level rise, and other environmental factors. Changes in elevation on the order of centimeters to decimeters can alter the spatial arrangement and composition of plant species. As a result, vertical zones of plant communities exist within narrow ranges of elevation marked by sharp changes in vegetation composition and

diversity. The ecotone zone, situated between the lowerintermediate marsh and upland plant communities, consists of specialized plant species adapted to tolerate certain extreme edaphic conditions. The spatial locations of ecotones in estuaries are highly dynamic and respond via migration as certain edaphic conditions change , such as soil salinity. Thus, marsh ecotones could potentially be used to quantify and predict marsh transgression. The goal of this study was to use field surveys to examine and quantify the precise elevation of plant community and ecotone transitions in marshes on the Mississippi coast. High precision survey grade integrated GNSS and traditional style surveying methods were used to measure elevation along parallel line transects extending from the intermediate marsh through the marsh-upland ecotone. Elevation and vegetation were documented at ~1 m intervals at 12 different study sites among 5 coastal preserves. The lower and upper elevation thresholds for ecotones sampled occurred in narrow elevation ranges across all combined sites (lower = 0.427 m, upper = 0.526 m) and among the individual coastal preserve sites: Hancock County, Wolf River, Biloxi River, Pascagoula River, and Grand Bay. The elevation thresholds determined by this study may facilitate precise spatial modeling of marsh transgression as coastal plant communities along the Mississippi Sound respond to sea level rise, subsidence, changes to sediment flux, and coastal squeeze. n Presented during S12: Landward migration of tidal wetlands I

those that contributed to the replacement of upland forests and marshes in a marine dominated estuary (Grand Bay National Estuary Research Reserve – GBNERR) and a riverine dominated estuary (Pascagoula delta). Additionally, we will compare the landcover change at GBNERR (19551988 and 1988-2015) to that of the Pascagoula delta over similar timeframes (1955-1996 and 1996-2015). We applied the Land Change Modeler in TerrSet 2020 to evaluate land cover change based on the National Wetland Inventory (1955 and 1988) and WorldView-2 based classification (2015) for GBNERR. For the Pascagoula delta, image data was obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey (1955), the National Aerial Photography Program (1996), and the National Agricultural Imagery Program (2014). We found that (1) forest experienced the greatest net change followed by agricultural land and coastal marsh from 1955-1988 while coastal marsh experienced the largest net change, followed by non-vegetated type and forest from 1988-2015 at the GBNERR, while in the Pascagoula delta, coastal marsh experienced the greatest net change in both timeframes followed by woodland from 1955-1996 and water from 1996-2014; (2) forest-marsh dynamics were dominated by forests replacing marshes and the replacement rate declined while the rate of marshes replacing forests increased in the second 30-year time window; and (3) upland forests were replaced by marshes mainly between mean tidal level and mean high tide. This research improves our understanding of how wetlands in Mississippi may respond to SLR, and will contribute to more informed ecosystem management. n

HISTORICAL LAND COVER CHANGES AT RIVERINE VS. MARINE DOMINATED COASTAL ESTUARIES IN SOUTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI – FOREST-MARSH DYNAMICS

Presented during S12: Landward migration of tidal wetlands I

Jen, Devin, University of Southern Mississippi Carter, Gregory Battaglia, Loretta Waldron, Margaret Biber, Patrick Wu, Wei

Smith, Alexander, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary Kirwan, Matthew

Coastal marshes, which provide a number of ecosystem services including flood control, nutrient regulation, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat, have been experiencing extensive loss due to sea level rise (SLR) in addition to other natural and anthropogenic factors. One way in which coastal marshes can respond to SLR is through landward migration when suitable habitat is available to mitigate overall loss. The objective of this research is to assess whether the landward migration of coastal marshes was occurring in southeastern Mississippi over two ~30-year intervals since 1955. More specifically, we aim to identify land cover types with the greatest change over time and

Sea level rise is leading to the migration of coastal ecosystems and the replacement of terrestrial forests with tidal wetlands. Wetland soils are well known to accumulate carbon at faster rates than terrestrial soils, implying that sea level rise may lead to enhanced carbon accumulation. Here, we quantify biomass and soil carbon stocks across four rapidly migrating forest-to-marsh ecotones in the Chesapeake Bay (USA), a hotspot for sea level rise and coastal forest retreat. We find that despite increases in the amount of carbon stored in marsh soils, herbaceous vegetation, and shrubs across the forest-marsh ecotone, sea-level driven marsh migration results in an approximately 50% reduction

SHIFTING ALLOCATIONS BETWEEN BIOMASS AND SOIL CARBON POOLS DRIVE NET LOSS OF CARBON IN RETREATING COASTAL FORESTS

Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 187

of stored carbon. Because carbon stored in tree biomass of the upland forests greatly exceeds carbon stored in adjacent marsh soils, tree mortality greatly reduces total carbon stocks. Continued marsh soil carbon accumulation in the newly formed, young marsh may eventually offset forest carbon loss, but we estimate that the time to replacement is similar to estimates of marsh survival (i.e. centuries), suggesting that forest carbon may never be replaced. These findings reveal a new carbon source in coastal carbon budgets, driven by migrating ecosystems and shifting allocations between carbon stored in soils and biomass. n Presented during S12: Landward migration of tidal wetlands II, 6/10/2021 5:55PM - 7:45PM ET

COASTAL ECOSYSTEM VULNERABILITY AND SEA LEVEL RISE IN SOUTH FLORIDA: A MANGROVE TRANSITION PROJECTION Sklar, Fred, SFWMD Coroinado-Molina, Carlos Carlson, Christine We used static, elevation and land cover data to estimate sea level rise impacts (SLR) to urban, developed lands and coastal wetland systems in Everglades National Park and the East and West coastal regions in South Florida. Maps and data tables estimating potential state change to open water were compiled through overlay analysis of elevation, land cover, and SLR masks with future land cover projected using a land cover transition threshold model. Analysis was based on a 2- to 5-km-wide longitudinal band along the SW and SE coasts of Florida where sea-level rise has no surface impediments to inundation and will likely cause coastline transgression and wetland migration. Analysis used three different projections; 0.27 m (0.9 ft), 0.76 m (2.5 ft) and 1.13 m (3.7 ft) greater than current sea level by 2070 estimated by NOAA and IPCC. Under a 0.27 m SLR projection 51% of the coastal land cover may be impacted. Under 0.76 m and 1.13 m projected SLR, coastal land cover areas were impacted by 56.5% and 59.1%, respectively. Migration of coastal wetlands from their current location into more inland areas in response to increased water depths and as a function of empirically derived marsh and mangrove accretion rates were also evaluated. With a SLR of 0.76 m by 2070, without accretion, 1160 sq km of wetland became open estuarine water. However, with accretion values of 0.211 m (4.1 mm yr-1) and 0.55 m (11 mm yr-1) by 2070, there was a transition of wetland cover to open estuarine water of only 349 sq km and 41 sq km, respectively. Under a low SLR of 0.27 m by 2070 scenario with accretion, the coastal mangroves were able to migrate inland while maintaining the current coastline. It was only under the more extreme scenario of 1.13 m SLR by 188 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

2070 that accretion was not able to compensate for inundation and there was a loss of wetland coastline everywhere. n Presented during S12: Landward migration of tidal wetlands II

ZONATION IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES: MALADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE OR HIDDEN CLIMATE-PROOFING? Battaglia, Loretta, Southern Illinois University Delfeld, Bradley Murphy, Gwendolyn Cherry, Julia Weisenhorn, Pamela Coastal communities exhibit pronounced zonation in composition across the marine-terrestrial transition. With rising seas and intensified storm surges, species that are ecologically “locked” in rigid zones may be at a disadvantage if they are slow to move to more suitable inland habitat. In contrast, species that span several zones, as adults and/or propagules in the soil, should be quicker to respond to chronic and acute saline intrusions. We hypothesized that the latter pattern is more common than previously thought because organisms may be inconspicuous outside of their dominant zone. The objective of this study was to determine the degree of zone rigidity for bacteria, mycorrhizae, vascular plants, and fiddler crabs, a dominant consumer in Gulf Coast ecosystems. We sampled these four groups in plots established along transects that were arrayed perpendicular to the coast. Bacteria and mycorrhizae were sampled using soil cores and identified to operational taxonomic units using molecular techniques. Plants were identified to species and their cover estimated in 1m2 quadrats. Fiddler crabs were sampled from replicate 4m2 enclosures established in each zone. Based on a cadre of multivariate analyses, we found significant overlap between zones for all organism types. Despite exhibiting dominance in a particular zone, all groups had relatively low zone fidelity and spanned more zones than expected, particularly when the “hidden flora and fauna” were accounted for in the datasets. Even relatively large adult fiddler crabs were found in unexpected areas. These flamboyant consumers were often obscured in the taller vegetation in upslope fresh marsh, a zone that had been overlooked in the literature as fiddler crab habitat. We conclude that these coastal zones are less rigid than they appear at first glance. Results bode well for species at the sea-land interface in that they appear to have a “jump start” on rising tides. n

Presented during S3: Coastal Wetland Science in a Changing World: Driving Innovation in Coastal Research I, 6/1/2021 8:35-10:25AM ET

MORTALITY MECHANISMS FOR WOODY PLANTS UNDER CHANGING SEAWATER EXPOSURE McDowell, Nate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory There are increasing observations of widespread loss of woody plants from coastal ecosystems due to changes in sea level and storm surges. While research on salinity effects on plants per se are well studied, there is a striking paucity of research on the causes of plant loss from seawater exposure. Here are review the evidence for mechanisms of woody plant mortality under seawater exposure, with a focus on two case studies: one from the Pacific Northwest and another from the Chesapeake Bay. Mortality mechanisms occur both below and above ground, with ion toxicity causing reductions in root survival and photosynthetic biochemistry, and low soil oxygen conditions exacerbating these impacts. Elevated seawater exposure appears to cause mortality through carbon starvation , with dramatic declines in non-structural carbohydrates as trees progress to death, with relatively minor hydrauilc failure occuring simultaneously. Dramatic photosynthetic declines at the whole-plant scale are driven by crown foliage loss and by ion toxicity driven reductions in photosynethic biochemistry. Growth is a strong predictor of the likelihood of mortality, with low growth strongly predicting mortality from seawater exposure. Prediction of vegetation change at coastal shoreline boundaries is enabled by models that now simulate carbon starvation, with development and validation of such models for coastal systems an urgent priority. n Presented during S3: Coastal Wetland Science in a Changing World: Driving Innovation in Coastal Research II, 6/1/2021 10:55AM12:45PM ET

EXPERIMENTAL, MODELING, AND OBSERVATIONAL APPROACHES TO ASSESSING SEA-LEVEL RISE IMPACTS TO TIDAL WETLANDS ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST Janousek, Christopher, Oregon State University Borde, Amy Drucker, Brandon Dugger, Bruce Cornu, Craig Diefenderfer, Heida Thorne, Karen Buffington, Kevin Bridgham, Scott Climate change is likely to alter estuarine ecosystems through sea-level rise (SLR) and changes to other ecosys-

tem drivers. Predicting SLR impacts to tidal wetlands in estuaries requires an understanding of how key wetland processes change along gradients of increasing inundation and salinity. We provide an overview of two NOAA-funded SLR projects on the west coast of the US designed to characterize and model the effects of SLR on tidal wetland structure and function. In the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary, we conducted manipulative field and greenhouse experiments to develop relationships between wetland plant productivity and inundation and salinity, and used additional site-specific data to inform a mechanistic model of SLR on wetland persistence and carbon sequestration. Our data show that dominant plant species in the estuary have different responses to inundation, but that sediment availability and SLR scenario were principal drivers of wetland persistence in the model. In two large PNW estuaries, we are measuring fluxes of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) such as methane, and quantifying hydrologic variables across a land use gradient (natural, restored, and disturbed wetlands). Together with estimates of sequestration rates, those data will allow us to develop statistical models of environmental drivers of GHG fluxes, evaluate the impacts of land use on carbon dynamics, and ultimately better understand how wetland restoration may increase blue carbon sequestration and enhance estuarine resilience to SLR. We highlight the value of integrating observational studies, manipulative experiments, and modeling to project SLR impacts to coastal estuaries and their functions. Complementary approaches can provide data across a range of spatiotemporal scales to assess SLR impacts and ensure that modeling efforts are grounded in sound mechanistic understanding of wetland processes derived from empirical data. n Presented during S3: Coastal Wetland Science in a Changing World: Driving Innovation in Coastal Research II

MODELLING THE COASTAL WETLANDS RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE GREAT LAKES Theriault, Dominic, Hydrodynamic and Ecohydraulic Section, Environment Climate Change Canada Maranda, Antoine Sévigny, Caroline Morin, Jean Bachand, Marianne Roy, Mathieu Gosselin, Rémi Hogue-Hugron, Sandrine The coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes are of major importance, as they provide critical ecological and societal services such as water filtration, nutrient assimilation and habitats for a large number of species. Coastal wetland Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 189

classes (e.g. emergent vegetation, meadow marsh, ect.) are generally structured along a topographical gradient, as they bear a decreasing level of tolerance to prolonged submersion with increasing elevation relative to average lake level. Coastal wetlands might be particularly vulnerable to climate change, given that changes in net basin supply might affect seasonal and long-term trends in water level. In this study, to evaluate wetland sensitivity to climate change, we developed the Coastal Wetland Response Model to predict the spatiotemporal succession of wetland classes under hydroclimatic scenarios. Based on the Canadian Regional Climate Model, lake water levels, along with water and energy budgets were simulated for the periods 1980-2009 and to 2070-2099, under both RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 emission scenarios. At each of 20 coastal wetland study sites in the Canadian shore of the Great Lakes, airborne terrestrial LIDAR surveys provided a detailed characterization of ground elevation. At each site, a total of 300 species-level vegetation quadrats and 450 precise elevation points were collected along transects in the summers of 2018 and 2019. Statistical models based on multispectral imagery and ground truth elevations developed to attenuate LIDAR errors associated with signal penetration in dense vegetation allowed reducing errors by 51.5%, when compared with classic ground classification algorithms. Hydrodynamic models and wave models for each lake were calibrated and used to simulate seiche and wind set-up and produce numerous physical variables (e.g. water depth, frequency of submersion/exondation, etc) at each grid point, for each quarter month of the projected water level time series. Wetland classes were derived from species-level vegetation quadrats using principal components and cluster analyses. We then used a random forest, a machine learning approach to predict the probability of occurrence of each wetland class. A succession algorithm was developed to predict the changes in wetland classes based on changes on environmental thresholds. This way, wetland maps were produced for each year of the time series and compared to wetland delineations based on historical aerial photos interpretation for validation. By predicting wetland migration and changes in extent and composition, the Coastal Wetland Response Model provided a basis to evaluate wetland vulnerability to climate change and to develop adaptive measures to enhance wetland resilience in the Great Lakes. n

McKenna, Owen, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Mushet, David Kucia,Samuel Prairie-pothole wetlands provide critical habitat necesPrairie-pothole wetlands provide critical habitat necessary for supporting North American migratory waterfowl populations. However, climate and land-use change threaten the sustainability of these wetland ecosystems. Very few experiments and analyses have been designed to investigate the relative impacts of climate and land-use change drivers as well as the antagonistic or synergistic interactions among these drivers on ecosystem processes. Prairie-pothole wetland water budgets are highly dependent on atmospheric inputs and especially surface runoff, which makes them especially susceptible to changes in climate and land use. Here, we present the history of prairie-pothole climate and land-use change research and address the following research questions: 1) What are the relative effects of climate and land-use change on the sustainability of prairie-pothole wetlands? and 2) Do the effects of climate and land-use change interact differently under different climatic conditions? To address these research questions, we modeled 25 wetland basins (1949–2018) and measured the response of the lowest wetland in the watershed to wetland drainage and climate variability. We found that during an extreme wet period (1993–2000) wetland drainage decreased the time at which the lowest wetland reached its spill point by 4 years, resulting in 10 times the amount of water spilling out of the watershed towards local stream networks. By quantifying the relative effects of both climate and landuse drivers on wetland ecosystems our findings can help managers cope with uncertainties about flooding risks and provide insight into how to manage wetlands to restore functionality. n Presented during S4: Novel approaches to quantifying synergistic interactions between climate and land-use change on prairie-pothole wetlands I

USING WETLANDSCAPE TO SIMULATE RECENT CLIMATE TRENDS IN THE PRAIRIE POTHOLE REGION

Presented during S4: Novel approaches to quantifying synergistic interactions between climate and land-use change on prairie-pothole wetlands I, 6/1/2021 8:35-10:25AM ET

Werner, Brett, Centre College Millett, Bruce Johnson, Carter Tracy, John Voldseth, Richard

USING PROCESS-BASED MODELING TO QUANTIFY RELATIVE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE SHIFTS AND CONSOLIDATION DRAINAGE ON PRAIRIE-POTHOLE WETLANDS

WETLANDSCAPE (WLS) has been developed over 30 years of peer-reviewed scholarship to investigate the role of climate change and agricultural land use (both land cover and agricultural drainage) in prairie wetlands, specifically

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those in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America. This presentation will demonstrate the power of WLS as a research tool, and the insights into landscape-scale wetland dynamics for the purposes of wetland management and restoration. The system dynamics model currently runs in Stella Architect (ISEE, 2020) and incorporates both surface water and groundwater dynamics using climate data and a simulated set of basins from Orchid Meadows in eastern South Dakota. In this presentation, we will offer an overview of WLS and its development (Johnson & Poiani, 2016), along with the calibration and validation process. Then we will present novel results of model experiments simulating recent climate (2006-2019) in the Prairie Pothole Region, comparing these results to the sensitivity tests of 21st Century climate change projections for the region (Johnson et al., 2010) and in reference to earlier multidecadal comparisons (Werner et al., 2013). We will also offer insights from recent work on agricultural drainage and prairie pothole wetlands, following up on Werner et al. (2016). We conclude with a few notes into the insights offered by the WLS model results into the suite of wetland conservation and restoration options available. n Presented during S4: Novel approaches to quantifying synergistic interactions between climate and land-use change on prairie-pothole wetlands III, 6/1/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

AUTOMATIC MAPPING OF WETLAND INUNDATION DYNAMICS IN THE PRAIRIE POTHOLE REGION USING GOOGLE EARTH ENGINE Wu, Qiusheng, University of Tennessee, Knoxville The Prairie Pothole Region of North America is characterized by millions of depressional wetlands, which provide critical habitats for globally significant populations of migratory waterfowl and other wildlife species. Due to their relatively small size and shallow depth, these wetlands are highly sensitive to climate variability and anthropogenic changes, exhibiting inter- and intra-annual inundation dynamics. Moderate-resolution satellite imagery (e.g., Landsat, Sentinel) alone cannot be used to effectively delineate these small depressional wetlands. By integrating multi-temporal (2009-2018) NAIP aerial imagery and ancillary geospatial datasets, a fully automated approach was developed to delineate wetland inundation extent at watershed scales using Google Earth Engine. Machine learning algorithms were used to classify aerial imagery with additional spectral indices to extract potential wetland inundation areas, which were further refined using ancillary geospatial datasets. The wetland delineation results were then compared to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) geospatial dataset

and existing global-scale surface water products to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. The results showed that the proposed method can not only delineate the most up-to-date wetland inundation status, but also demonstrate wetland hydrological dynamics, such as wetland coalescence through fill-spill hydrological processes. The proposed automated algorithm provides a practical, reproducible, and scalable framework, which can be easily adapted to delineate wetland inundation dynamics at broad geographic scales. n Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools I, 6/8/2021 8:35AM - 10:25AM ET

BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC DRIVERS THAT IMPACT THE ABILITY OF PACIFIC HIGH ISLAND MANGROVE FORESTS TO KEEP UP WITH SEA LEVEL RISE MacKenzie, Richard Eperiam, Eugene Grow, Jessica Val Klump, J. Thorne, Karen Krauss, Ken Buffington, Kevin Apwong, Maybeleen Marquez, Roseo Greenstone Alefaio, Tamara Micronesian mangroves represent some of the most intact and productive mangroves in the world and provide food, fiber, and fuel for indigenous peoples across the Micronesian region. These forests are also important role for climate change mitigation and adaptation as they can remove and bury massive amounts of atmospheric CO2 as well as maintain coastline elevations relative to sea level. Both of these services are largely influenced by belowground processes, such as accretion, sedimentation, and C burial. We used the Pacific high island of Pohnpei as a model system to examine how different biotic and abiotic drivers influence these belowground processes. Forty-eight sediment cores were collected from riverine, interior, and fringe zones of eight mangroves around the island. Accretion, sedimentation, and carbon burial rates were determined using 210Pb, bulk density, and organic carbon content. Accretion rates varied from 0.13 to 1.7 cm/yr, organic matter accumulation from 0.027 to 0.29 gOM/cm2/yr, mineral accumulation from 0.01 to 0.44 gMIN/cm2/yr, and C burial rates from 121.2 ± 53.9 to 195.4 ± 89.2 gC/m2/yr1. Rates will be compared against biotic (e.g., aboveground biomass, litter fall, stem density, basal area) and abiotic (percent deforestation, rainfall, salinity, watershed area, watershed slope, Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 191

hydrologic zone, distance from ocean) factors measured from within the same plots to identify factors influencing the ability of these high island mangroves to maintain their elevation relative to sea level. Results can then be used to develop management plans or inform vulnerability assessments for mangroves in Pohnpei as well as across the western Pacific. n Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools II, 6/8/2021 10:55AM - 12:45PM ET

ADVANCEMENTS INTO CLIMATE REGULATION OF PEATLAND GREENHOUSE GASES FLUXES: AN EXPERIENCE IN A TROPICAL PEATLAND, IQUITOS, PERU Fachin, Lizardo, Instituto de Investigaciones de la AmazonÃa Peruana - IIAP del Castillo Torres, Dennis Lilleskov, Erik Cadillo-Quiroz, Hinsby Rengifo, Jhon Kolka, Randy Chimner, Rodney Griffis, Tim Roman, Tyler While much work has been done to understand the ecosystem processes of boreal peatlands, tropical peatlands are lagging in their representation in global peatland research projects, despite the knowledge that they represent one of the largest natural terrestrial carbon (C) pools. The Peruvian Amazon basin contains approximately 75,000 square kilometers of lowland peatlands, which are known to contain large amounts of C, specifically, the Loreto region of Peru which is home to a large portion of these peatlands and provides an excellent region to further our scientific knowledge of these ecosystems. In recent years the Intensive Carbon Monitoring Site – Quistococha (SMIC-Q) has been home to several novel research projects, and provides an excellent location for future work due to the accessible location near the city of Iquitos, Peru as well as the expertise from the local Research Institute of the Peruvian Amazon (IIAP). The SMIC-Q is representative of the tropical “aguaje” palm (Mauritia flexuosa) peatlands which are prevalent throughout the region. Initial research in the area included mapping these palm peatlands as well as assessing C stocks in above and belowground biomass. In 2017 an Eddy Covariance flux tower was installed in the forest and has provided some initial results indicating the system is a sink of approximately 460 g CO2-C m-2 y-1 and a source of approximately 22 g CH4-C m-2 y-1 (Griffis et al., 2020). Further, 192 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

these observations indicate a decline in the CO2 uptake rate during the dry season. Ongoing work associated with the tower aim to better understand the sub-ecosystem processes that contribute to the overall fluxes measured by the tower. While these palm peatlands are important globally for their C pools, they are also important locally as a source of palm fruit. The most common method for harvesting the palm involves cutting down the tree, which has led to increased forest degradation in some portions of the region. Representatives from IIAP are working with local groups to teach more sustainable harvesting practices, as well as educating locals on the importance of these natural ecosystems. Overall, this area provides an excellent location for furthering our understanding of greenhouse gas fluxes in tropical peatlands. n Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools II

CRITERIA AND INDICATOR APPROACHES TOWARDS BETTER MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT OF TROPICAL PEATLANDS Bhomia, Rupesh, CIFOR Murdiyarso, Daniel Peatland restoration needs to be underpinned by monitoring efforts that allow for adaptive approaches to peatland restoration. Peatland restoration monitoring can inform the design, strategy, selection of site and management approaches, and improve restoration efforts through adjustments. Tested monitoring protocols that are simple, easy to measure over time can be very helpful. Scientifically robust, reliable, and practical set of criteria and indicators (C & I) can help to assess progress and outcomes of restoration efforts. An attempt to identify a set of C & I for peatland restoration monitoring in Indonesia was made. The C and I approach focussed on several bio-physical, social, economic and governance criteria underpinned by quantifiable indicators. Bio-physical indicators for ecology, hydrology, and fire were identified, while indicators for social networks, equality, trust and justice were described for social aspects. Economic indicators included aspects of incentives and livelihood options across peatland landscapes. With regards to governance indicators exploring appropriate policies at local, provincial and national level for successful implementation were determined to be important. In this presentation some of these identified C and I will be discussed, along with some strategies for verification and testing of there C and I on the ground. n

Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools II

PROCESS-BASED MODELLING OF PEAT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN INDONESIAN PEATLANDS

SOIL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION FACTORS FOR TROPICAL PEATLANDS

Swails, Erin, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) Deng, Jia Hergoualc’h, Kristell Frokling, Steve

Hergoualc’h, Kristell, Center for International Forestry Research Swails, Eric

Efforts aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from land use and land-use change rely on quantification of baseline emissions reference levels and monitoring of actual emissions. Therefore, accurate and precise estimates of peat GHG fluxes are critical for mitigating anthropogenic GHG emissions from tropical peatlands. However, existing measurements of tropical peat GHG fluxes are sparse compared to measurements in temperate and boreal peatlands. Furthermore, due to the high spatial and temporal variability of peat GHG fluxes, quantification using extrapolation of point-based field measurements is inherently uncertain. Process-based models rely on relationships between GHG fluxes and controlling factors to extrapolate measurements collected at specific locations at specific points in time to larger regions over extended time periods. We investigated the potential for refining estimates of tropical peat GHG emissions using process-based modelling. The process-based DeNitrification – DeComposition (DNDC) model was used to generate GHG emissions for key land-use categories and management practices in tropical peatlands. We used field data from undrained peat swamp forests and drained oil palm plantations on peat from Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, to calibrate and validate the DNDC model for use in tropical peatlands. Our goals were (1) to compare modelled emission factors with emission factors developed from point-based flux measurements to determine whether process-based modeling can reduce uncertainty in tropical peat GHG emissions estimates, and (2) to use process-based modeling to investigate relationships between peat GHG fluxes and proxy variables. Preliminary model runs indicate that DNDC can successfully simulate ecological drivers (climate, soil, vegetation, and management practices) and peat GHG fluxes (CO2, CH4, and N2O) in undrained tropical peat swamp forests and drained oil palm plantations on peat. Additional results will be provided in the presentation. n

Tropical peatlands are large carbon (C) deposits which store most of their C belowground. When disturbed either by vegetation changes, drainage or both, the soil organic matter which accumulated over thousands of years mineralizes very quickly releasing large amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) into the atmosphere. Current knowledge on the magnitude of these transfers remains extremely limited, disbalanced geographically, and inaccurate in some instances. For example, tropical organic soil emission factors of the 2013 Wetland Supplement to the 2006 IPCC guidelines were exclusively based on data collected in Southeast Asian ombrotrophic (i.e. nutrient-poor) peatlands and may not reflect accurately emission rates from peatlands in other tropical regions with e.g. minerotrophic (i.e. nutrient-rich) peat and/or different land uses and management/drainage practices. We reviewed the scientific literature on tropical peatlands published since the IPCC Wetland Supplement was finalized which related to fluxes of soil GHG, above and belowground litter, and dissolved organic C in different land uses as well as fire-induced losses of soil organic matter, and CO2 and CH4 emissions. We applied methods and criteria from the Wetland supplement to select studies, assess their quality, and compute GHG soil emission factors. Out of 45 peer-reviewed soil CO2, CH4, N2O flux studies selected, 25 were discarded for not meeting quality criteria of measurement frequency (minimum frequency of every two months), experimental length (> 9 months), omission of micro-spatial heterogeneity in sampling design or inappropriate measurement methods. Among studies selected, only 21% monitored soil fluxes of N2O which is a potent GHG. Finally, studies conducted outside of Southeast Asia were all from Latin America including lowland and highland peatlands of Colombia, Panama, and Peru. GHG fluxes from tropical African peatlands remain unstudied. While more results will be provided during the presentation, conclusions from current search points towards critical research gaps and a profound need for improving scientific research methods in tropical peatlands. n

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Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools III, 6/8/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

COMPARING THREATS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN SOUTH AMERICAN TROPICAL MOUNTAIN PEATLANDS AND LOWLAND PEATLANDS Lilleskov, Erik Maria Planas, Ana Wayson, Craig del Castillo Torres, Dennis Suárez, Esteban Carlos Benavides, Juan Hergoualc’h, Kristell Chavez, Laura Kolka, Randy Chimner, Rodney Peatlands are ecologically, economically, and culturally important in both the Andes and Amazon basin of tropical South America. Yet the nature, and human uses, of these peatlands differ greatly. Here we provide a synthetic contrast of these systems based on our work and that of others. Andean peatlands are largely herbaceous fens dominated by cushion plants or graminoids. Existing in a zone where grazing is common, they are often intensively used in grazing and cropping agroecosystems, with the intensity of that use appearing to increase with seasonality of precipitation. Grazing can have a strong impact on greenhouse gas emissions rates, especially leading to increases in methane emissions, whereas drainage for agriculture can drive increases in CO2 emissions. In contrast, lowland Amazonian peatlands in the western Amazon, best studied in the Peruvian Amazon, are dominated by peat swamp forests with comparatively lower human impacts. These forests include two major ecotypes—palm swamps and pole forests. Although deforestation rates are quite low in these ecosystems, the former can be degraded by destructive native palm (Mauritia flexuosa) fruit harvest, which can affect greenhouse gas fluxes. Nevertheless, the absence of extensive drainage, deforestation, and intensive agriculture in the peat swamp forests of Amazonia provide for potential long-term maintenance of intact peatlands. However, the lack of explicit legal protection of peatlands increases the potential for degradation as roads, oil and gas operations, and intensive agroforestry such as oil palm expand their footprint in the region. Protections for peatlands are evolving, and vary among countries. For example, Peru is developing a national definition of peat and is working on a national wetlands inventory and national peatland maps, first steps in developing protections and sustainable management practices 194 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

for these ecologically unique and diverse ecosystems. Taking a regional view will help parse out the ecological, social, and political dimensions affecting sustainable peatland management planning. n Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools III

MOUNTAIN PEATLANDS IN THE NORTHERN ANDES AND THEIR RELEVANCE IN THE NATIONAL GHG INVENTORIES Carlos Benavides, Juan, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Lilleskov, Erik Velasquez, Esther Chimner, Rodney Worldwide peatlands store nearly one third of the soil carbon, storing nearly as much carbon as the atmosphere. Peatlands in the tropical alpine ecosystems in the Andes (paramos) are frequent and have large concentrations of carbon (up to 2000 MgC ha-1) and are important stocks that are not usually included in the national carbon inventories of South American countries. Peatland degradation has been an important source of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere worldwide but little is known about the climatic impacts of peatland degradation on tropical high elevations. Carbon balance of mountain peatlands is related to elevation, dominant vegetation and human disturbances. Methane emissions from peatlands have a clear relationship with the dominant vegetation and hydrological disturbances. Our estimates indicate that one third of the peatlands in the tropical alpine areas (paramo) are degraded. Recent conservation programs require that paramo lands used in the past for agriculture and cattle grazing should migrate into uses that are compatible with lower environmental impacts and climate mitigation mechanism. Here, we present the estimated potential gains on climate change mitigation by the peatlands of the Colombian Andes under different conservation and restoration strategies. We compared the potential GHG emissions from peatlands after different restoration and protection scenarios until 2050. Our results indicate that passive restoration has limited gains on soil carbon and almost no effect on reduction of methane emissions, while the intermediate restoration intensity provides a strong management of methane and important gains in soil carbon within a 15-year time window. Restoration of Andean peatlands can supply nearly 25% of the national determined contributions under the Paris agreement. However, the societal and economic impacts of the different conservation and restoration strategies on

the pastoral communities of the Andes should be included in any management program. n

Management & Applied Science Presented during CS11: Agricultural Wetlands, 6/8/2021 1:15PM 3:05PM ET

A NOVEL APPROACH TO QUANTIFYING CHANGE IN WETLAND DISTRIBUTION AND DRAINAGE (1850S2004) FOR CONSERVATION PLANNING IN MIXED-USE LANDSCAPE Lawlor, Stephanie, University of South Florida Flannagan, Claire Rains, Kai Rains, Mark Landry, Shawn Quantifying long-term changes in wetland distribution and drainage is an important step in conservation and restoration planning in agricultural landscapes. However, efforts to accurately map conditions prior to the advent of aerial photography are hindered by a lack of data, so early wetland loss and hydrological alterations have often eluded effective consideration in such efforts. To overcome this barrier, we developed and validated a frequency-intersect method utilizing 1850s Public Land Survey System data and original late-1800s maps. A new sampling approach was devised to delineate wetlands from 1950s aerial photos to quantify progressive changes in wetland distribution and drainage patterns in St. Lucie County (146,402 ha), Florida (USA), between the 1850s, 1950s and 2004. Using a GIS-based protocol, we discovered that St. Lucie County lost 86% of its wetland area between the 1850s-2004, with 69% of those losses to agriculture and 12% to urbanization. St. Lucie County was also extensively ditched and drained over this period, with drainage density increasing by three orders of magnitude, from 0.08 km/km² in the 1850s to 7 km/km² in the 1950s, and finally to 25 km/km² in 2004. This expanded drainage density has increased hydrologic connectivity by channelized flows, with the relative amount of the total wetland area within 100 m of a channel increasing 30-fold, from 2% in the 1850s, to 36% in 1950s, then to 60% in 2004. The techniques developed for this study show promising potential for prioritizing wetlands for conservation and restoration planning in St. Lucie County and other areas, including the entirety of the 48 conterminous states in the USA where historical data are widely available. Spatially explicit data generated by our techniques can better inform wetland conservation and restoration programs,

which were previously limited to assessments within time periods supported by aerial imagery alone, resulting in incomplete information regarding drivers of contemporary landscape patterns. For managers, detailed and accurate understanding of historical landscapes helps to identify conservation targets, define restoration approaches, evaluate successes, and prevent restoration project missteps. n Presented during CS11: Agricultural Wetlands

ADAPTIVE WATER MANAGEMENT FOR WETLAND CONSERVATION IN AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE Zou, Yuanchun, Adaptive water management for wetland conservation in agricultural landscape, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences To understand the current situation of contradiction between wetland and agricultural water uses in the main grain-producing areas in Amur River Basin, we analyzed the natural and socio-economic driving factors, and to take a typical wetland-agriculture system as a case to assess the water use conflict and put forward adaptive management suggestions. Results showed that the total surface water storage in the Sanjiang Plain wetlands has decreased from 14.4 billion t in the 1980s to 4.7 billion t in 2010s, which means that it has lost approximate 2/3, due to the wetland loss and degradation. The case study the Qixing River National Nature Reserve (QRNNR) showed that without the rapid development of paddy fields in the surrounding farms, the natural water resource endowment of Qixing River can fully meet the needs of the natural wetland ecosystems. Agricultural development for successive years, especially the dramatically increased requirement for water in paddy fields, intensified the water use conflict between wetlands and farmlands. When QRNNR and its surrounding farms were considered as a whole system, the total precipitation, evapotranspiration, groundwater recharge, groundwater extraction, and agricultural drainage were 1.25, 1.48, 0.23, 0.43 and 0.09 billion m3/a, respectively. The main reason for the local continuous decline of groundwater depth was that groundwater extraction was approximate twice as great as the total infiltration recharge from wetlands and farmlands. The management principles and key recommendations, e.g. improving the wetland water resources protection system and integrating wetland protection goals into agricultural policies, adaptive wetland techniques (stagger water transfer, accurate water recharge, ice and snow melting water resourced) and agricultural techniques (water-saving irrigation, soil water capacity increased, rainfed agriculture), as well as joint management of wetland surface-ground Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 195

water and wetland-farmland water resources addressing environmental change, could mitigate the conflict between wetlands and farmlands. n Presented during CS11: Agricultural Wetlands

DURATION OF FARMING IS AN INDICATOR OF NATURAL RESTORATION POTENTIAL OF SEDGE MEADOWS Wang, Guodong, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Soil seed banks can be important components of ecological restoration, particularly if the species remain viable in the soil for long periods of time. A germination experiment was conducted in the greenhouse to determine seed bank viability based on length of time farmed. Soils from sedge meadows farmed between 0 and 50 years were collected in Sanjiang Plain, China. Most dominant sedges (e.g., Carex schmidtii, C. lasiocarpa) and grasses (e.g. Calamagrostis angustifolia) survived as seeds if farmed for less than 5 years, therefore fields farmed for short periods of time are the best candidates for wetland restoration. Certain important structural components (tussock-forming Carex spp.) are not retained in seed banks when farmed for 6-15 years, but the seed banks still contained viable seeds of other important sedge meadow species, which could contribute to the restoration of wetland communities. However, most sedge meadow species were missing in fields farmed for more than 16 years, which make these fields difficult to restore via natural recolonization. We conclude that the duration of farming can be used as a general indicator of the potential of natural restoration for sedge meadows. This information could be used to determine which wetlands might be targeted for restoration. n Presented during CS12: Restoration, 6/8/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

APPLICATION OF A WATERSHED APPROACH TO MITIGATE A LARGE SCALE HIGHWAY PROJECT - SR 167 COMPLETION PROJECT AND HYLEBOS RIPARIAN RESTORATION PROGRAM Merten, Christina, Herrera Environmental Consultants Ewbank, Mark The Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT’s) State Route (SR) 167 Completion Project will construct close to six miles of new highway within the Puyallup/White River Watershed amid urban and agricultural lands. WSDOT is using an innovative watershed approach to address the expected increase in stormwater runoff from new impervious surfaces, reduce flooding, restore streams, and provide wetland mitigation. Existing streams and 196 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

wetlands are in mostly poor condition, with many channels straightened for man-made purposes and wetlands overwhelmed by invasive vegetation. The project will realign and widen thousands of feet of stream channels to approximate their predevelopment geomorphology, restore native riparian vegetation, and restore nearly 120 acres of wetlands and buffers. Most of the project’s wetland mitigation requirements can be addressed within enlarged project right of way via constructing and enhancing wetlands and buffers in new and restored floodplain areas, maximizing the ecological value that can be accomplished within the project area. The completely modified stream channel network in the project area is designed to accommodate increased stormwater runoff from the new highway in ways that do not harm habitats, alleviating the need for conventional stormwater flow control facilities. The prevalence of surface water in the flat landscape is considered a resource for maximizing ecological benefits in this project’s design, not a nuisance. This presentation will provide an overview of the environmental analysis, inter-disciplinary design approach, climate change considerations, stream and wetland rehabilitation, floodplain reconnection, creation of special habitat features, and invasive vegetation treatment strategies. This project presents a new approach for WSDOT and an example of how a large transportation project can be an opportunity for watershed restoration. n Presented during CS12: Restoration

MITIGATING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FROM THE ABANDONED I-95 HIGHWAY EMBANKMENT FILL AT RUMNEY MARSH IN REVERE, AND SAUGUS, MASSACHUSETTS Reiner, Edward, United States Environmental Protection Agency Between 1967 and 1969, approximately 49 hectares of Rumney marsh were filled, creating an embankment nearly 3.9 kilometers long for the Interstate 95 project which was never completed. This embankment restricted tidal flow to approximately 180 hectares of salt marsh, as only one opening was created for tidal flow and drainage across the width of the marsh. Removal of the abandoned highway embankment and restoration of the marsh are included as goals in the 1988 designation of the marsh as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. To date, approximately 31 percent of the original embankment footprint (15 hectares) have been restored as mitigation for aquatic impacts elsewhere. All restoration efforts, however, have been required to maintain a continuous flood control berm across the marsh, based on the belief that the narrow opening of the embankment was restricting the tides, and thereby, was

providing flood protection to properties abutting the marsh. Completed around 2013, the reconstruction of three bridges along the Pines River by Massachusetts DOT included increased bridge spans as well as higher bridges to improve tidal flushing, control invasive species, decrease erosive high velocity conditions, and improve recreational boating. In order to evaluate whether the abandoned I-95 highway embankment itself was restricting the high tides, EPA undertook bathymetric and water level studies. Our bathymetric study documented significant scour holes at each of the three major crossings of the Pines River. Our water level study documented that the area above the embankment has only slightly lower maximum daily tide levels as compared to the unrestricted Pines River. While the reconstructed Route 107 bridges have restored a more normal tidal hydrology to the marsh, these bridges still restrict tides. This restriction will continue to help protect upstream areas from tidal flooding as well as storm surges. We conclude that removal of the upstream abandoned embankment from the marsh can be done in a manner that restores the previous flow patterns, decreases erosive water velocities, improves drainage, restores clam flats, salt marsh, and fish and wildlife habitat, all without increasing flooding problems in the community. Addressing the fundamental flow and drainage impairments caused by the embankment will improve marsh resiliency to sea level rise. This abstract represents the views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. No official endorsement by EPA is intended or inferred. n Presented during CS12: Restoration

RESTORATION OF A SPHAGNUM-DOMINATED PEATLAND DISTURBED BY A ROAD: DO PEAT AMENDMENT THICKNESS AND FERTILIZATION MATTER? Isabel, Christine Rochefort, Line LeBlanc, Marie-Claire Northern Alberta is covered by a great proportion of peatlands that coincides with important oil sand deposit. A vast network of access roads was developed on these peatlands due to oil sands mining. Roads as well as seismic lines are part of linear disturbances which reaches over than 600 000 km in the Canadian boreal region. Roads in peatlands disturb crucial ecosystem services such as biodiversity, wildlife habitat, peat accumulation and herewith also carbon sequestration. We restored a Sphagnum-dominated peatland impacted by a road located on an in situ oil sand mining site. Restoration included (1) the partial removal of the mineral soil to 20 cm, 50 cm and 75 cm below the adjacent peatland’s surface level, (2) filling with peat from a nearby

donor-peatland, (3) diaspores and (4) straw spreading across the entire peat surface and (5) phosphorus fertilization on half of each peat amendment. Research objectives were to evaluate the optimal amendment for bog characteristic vegetation to return. One year post-restoration, fertilization did not show any effect on plant establishment. Two distinct vegetation communities were identified on the restored area, which greatly differed from the targeted bog community. Differences observed in plant establishment may be due to an asynchronous storage time of the peat material as well as time gaps between soil amendments and vegetation introduction. Two years post-restoration, there was a higher cover of non-bog species in the 20 cm and 50 cm peat depth amendment compared to the 75 cm amendment. This study is a novel approach of linear peatland restoration and a first step to develop best management practices for the linear disturbances. It also highlights the importance of long-term post-restoration monitoring. n Presented during CS12: Restoration

RESTORING ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING OF WETLANDS WITHIN CULTURAL LANDSCAPES Orloff, Alishia, Yale Indigenous and local knowledge serves as a robust lens for sustainable ecosystem management and restoration. Through agro-ecological practices, Indigenous peoples of Hawaiʻi have developed comprehensively complex strategies and traditions for maintaining the resilience of wetland ecosystems. Traditional practices such as agro-ecological systems involving kalo (taro) has been exercised in Hawaiian wetlands for centuries particularly because of its capacity to optimize multiple wetland ecosystem services. While often underestimated, these longstanding connections and adaptive strategies are crucial in local bird conservation and water management efforts especially under current environmental pressures. In order to better understand the extent of local management approaches in maintaining ecosystem functioning on the Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve, three management sites were surveyed for habitat structure, water quality, and waterbird utilization. Radial surveys (15 m) were conducted at 30 randomly selected point locations at two IRM sites, a hybrid managed wetland site, and an unmanaged control site. Explanatory factors of bird detections used in GLM analyses reveal that Managed agro-ecological lo’i sites are positively associated with waterbird detections. Additionally, individual bird species were associated with unique habitat features. Open water and understory canopy were the primary predictors of endangered waterbird detections in the wetlands. This Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 197

data provides insights to habitat structure and function for the conservation of waterbirds that are maintained by Indigenous Resource Management. Recovery efforts of these species and integration of adaptive management perpetuate avenues for conservation and cultural revitalization. Ultimately Indigenous Resource Management presents a sustainable model for contemporary wetland management that values and maintains vital connections to the socio-ecological dimensions of our ecosystems. n Presented during CS4: Vegetation II, 6/3/2021 6:55PM - 8:45PM ET

DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF AN ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR EUROPEAN FROG-BIT MANAGEMENT Cahill, Blake, Central Michigan University Monfils, Anna Hansen, Sara European frog-bit (Hydrocharsis morsus-ranae L.; EFB) is a free-floating aquatic plant invasive to North America. The species forms dense floating mats and has the potential to reduce the diversity of native plant, fish, and invertebrate communities; alter the physicochemical properties of wetlands; and inhibit the recreational and commercial use of wetlands and waterbodies. First recorded outside of cultivation in North America in Ontario in 1939, EFB has been documented in seven U.S. states and two Canadian Provinces. In 1996, EFB was first documented in Michigan in the Detroit River and has since rapidly expanded its distribution in Lake Erie and Lake Huron Coastal Wetlands and since 2013 has been detected in an increasing number of inland waters. In Fall of 2018, a team of biologists, land managers, and state and federal agencies formed a European Frog-bit Collaborative with the goal of integrating EFB management, monitoring, and research efforts in Michigan into an adaptive management framework (AMF). The resulting AMF contains strategies to address priority EFB management needs, including delimiting high-risk EFB infestations, assessing ongoing control efforts, educating recreational and professional stakeholders about EFB, and addressing critical information needs for EFB management. These strategies inform and support on-the-ground management to contain existing high-risk infestations, mitigate impacts in invaded high-value wetlands, and protect uninvaded high-value wetlands from invasion. We will present on the current state of knowledge on EFB biology and ecology, provide an overview of the EFB AMF, and discuss efforts to apply the AMF and its strategies on a local jurisdiction level (e.g., Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas). n

198 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

Presented during CS5: Worldly Wetlands II, 6/3/2021 6:55PM 8:45PM ET

ASSESSING THE FEASIBILITY OF RED LISTING COASTAL SWAMP FOREST HABITATS OF SOUTH AFRICA Van Deventer, Heidi, CSIR Kelbe, Bruce Jewitt, Debbie MacKay, Fiona Durand, Francois Adams, Janine Nel, Jeanne van Niekerk, Lara Naidoo, Laven Pretorius, Lulu Grundling, Piet-Louis Grobler, Retief Janse van Rensburg, Susan Ridden, Taryn South Africa’s coastal swamp forests are range-restricted, transitional forested wetlands, facing threats of climate and anthropogenic pressures. To improve the understanding of their range and habitat loss to date, we have integrated available spatial data, back casted it to the epoch 2000 and assessed changes in these systems for the epochs 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2017. The resultant layer totalled 120 km², with two distinct regions between the uMtamvuna Estuary on the border between the Eastern Cape Province and the uThukela Estuary in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province where systems occur in narrow gorges, as opposed to the Maputaland Coastal Plain (MCP) northwards to the Kosi Bay Estuary on the border to Mozambique, where 97% of the extent occur in broader systems in both valleybottom wetlands and depressions. Based on the dominant tree species, two International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) transitional forest wetland categories are identified: tropical and sub-tropical. Land cover changes showed that an estimated 20% of the areal extent of coastal swamp forests had been lost between 2005 and 2017. Of the total extent, only 19% is located completely within protected areas and Ramsar sites, although severe degradation, in places up to 50% of the patch, has been observed inside these areas too. Fragmentation analysis showed that forest patches became more fragmented, increasing from 817 to 1145 patches between 2005 and 2017. Although the systems would potentially qualify as the first aquatic ecosystems for red listing under the South African National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004, a bottom-up community approach is recommended in line with the latest IUCN criteria. Several research gaps need to be addressed for the red listing process, including improved

understanding of floristic variation along latitudes, faunal species associations, and improved quantification of degradation trends over time. n Presented during CS7: Identification, Delineation, and Functional Assessment, 6/8/2021 8:35AM - 10:25AM ET

AN EVALUATION OF THE CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONS OF PROBLEMATIC WETLANDS: ALPINE SWALES, CHUGACH MOUNTAINS, SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA Johnson, Charlene, 673d Civil Engineer Squadron- Conservation Element Problematic wetlands are designated as such due to, typically, naturally occurring complex circumstances which may mask one or more features of a landform which otherwise performs the functions of a wetland. In Alaska, Alpine Swales have been identified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Technical Committee on Hydric Soils as being problematic due to seasonal hydrology dependent on snowbeds and lack of typical hydric soil indicators. The problematic features are a function of the geologic, biologic, and climatic conditions in high latitude and high elevation alpine ecosystems. This study evaluated the vegetation, hydrology, and soil characteristics of alpine swales in Snowhawk Valley, Chugach Mountains in Southcentral Alaska, part of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The study was conducted in two parts. The vegetation, hydrology, and soil features of eighteen shallow, concave snowbeds in a ridge-and-swale complex were evaluated according to USACE Wetland Delineation Manual and Alaska Regional Supplement in accordance with the protocols for “Problematic Wetlands” and using test indicator for Alaska Alpine Swales (TA5). In a separate sample of four snowbed depressions, soil and moisture sensors were installed at 5cm, 15cm, and 30cm to evaluate seasonal hydrology below the ground surface and remote cameras were set up to evaluate snowcover timing and duration as well as the duration of surface water, if present. Preliminary analysis indicates that while persistent surface water inundation in these landforms is rare, there is a persistence of saturated conditions in the upper root zone of the soil profile, driven by capillary action in the early part of the growing season. Distinctive vegetation communities comprised of species known to occur predominantly in wetlands are prevalent in these concave landforms, compared to adjacent convex landforms. While typical hydric soil indicators are frequently absent, the presence of saturation and a hydrologically influenced vegetation community is consistent with the federal definition of a “wetland”. The persistence and functions of these unique ecosystems, particularly to mod-

erate seasonal stream discharge and provide critical water quality support to fish habitat downstream, is at risk due to changes in climate such as quantity of snowfall in winter and rate of melt in spring and early summer. n Presented during CS7: Identification, Delineation, and Functional Assessment

SIMPLY MEASURABLE HYDROPHYSICOCHEMICAL ATTRIBUTES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH SOIL REDOXIMORPHIC FEATURE & COLOR CHARACTERISTICS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA WETLANDS Schmidt, Stephanie, George Mason University Ahn, Changwoo Soil color patterns called redoximorphic features (RMFs)—concentrations, depletions, and reduced matrices—are often requirements for soils to be classified as hydric (i.e., able to support wetland ecosystems), but require extensive training to be properly identified. In this study, we characterized RMF and soil color attributes in plots from four wetland sites in Northern Virginia based on watershed urbanization degree and physiographic region. To develop a method capable of assessing and tracking presence and development of hydric soils, we assessed four simply measurable hydro-physicochemical (HP) attributes at each plot and compared both HP and 10 RMF and color attributes between sites. To enhance cohesion of RMF and color attribute characterization, we also conducted a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on all HP attributes and used k-means clustering to compare RMF and soil color attributes by distinct HP-based clusters. When compared by site, differences were found in two HP attributes (inundation/saturation frequency and soil moisture); additionally, only four out of ten significant or marginally significant differences in RMF and color attributes were found between sites, including color values, frequencies of depletions, depth to depletions (p < 0.05), and frequencies of concentrations (p < 0.10). In contrast, PCA Dimensions 1 and 2 explained over 80% of variability in HP attributes, and a comparison between three HP-based clusters identified six significant or marginally significant differences in RMF and color attributes: chromas, depth to concentrations, and frequencies of concentrations (p < 0.05) along with non-matrix color frequencies and RMF contrasts (p < 0.10). Our results highlight that simply measurable HP attributes are closely associated with certain soil RMF and color characteristics unrelated to site identity, thus providing a suite of measurements to assess and track soil biogeochemistry and characteristics of hydric soils. n Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 199

Presented during CS8: Animal Biodiversity, 6/8/2021 8:35AM 10:25AM ET

Presented during CS8: Animal Biodiversity

BEAVERS ROLE IN RESTORING SEDIMENT PONDS AND WATER QUALITY OF RECLAIMED MINE SITE

HOW DOES WETLAND SOIL CONTAMINATION RELATE TO FRESHWATER TURTLE HEAVY METAL BIOACCUMULATION?

Hass, Amir, West Virginia State University Wolford, Isaac Lester, Randall Cantrell, Robert Haynes, Warren

Lozon, Darien, West Virginia University Brown, Donald Anderson, James Hubbart, Jason

Sediment ponds constructed downstream from surface mining operations to trap sediments from mining activities are usually removed upon site reclamation and final bond-release phase of the mining permit. Opportunistic as they are, beavers sometimes move in and restore damaged ponds into wetlands. In this study, we evaluate the role of such headwater-restored pond on stream water quality downstream from a mountaintop-removal valley-fill surface mining site at the Central Appalachian broadleaf forest ecoregion in south-central WV, 15 years after reclamation. In-situ stream water measurements of pH, dissolve oxygen, oxidation-reduction potential, temperature and electrical conductivity (EC) were conducted every two weeks at the time of grab-samples collection at selected longitudinal locations upstream and downstream from the restored pond. Water samples were further analyzed for alkalinity, dissolved carbon, and major ionic and metal content. Significant longitudinal and temporal variation and elevated levels of all measured parameters were observed upstream from the wetland area but not downstream from it. With EC, for example, exceeding at times regulatory thresholds upstream (seasonally fluctuating from 229 to 560 µS cm-1), while averaging 153 ± 38 µS cm-1 (fluctuating from 123 to 253 µS cm-1) downstream from the wetland area. Moreover, and while following the same temporal trend upstream (fluctuating from 4.0 to 15.2 mg L-1), nitrate levels downstream from the wetland area were consistently low (2.95 ± 1.60 mg L-1) and not significantly different from that of adjacent stream draining non-disturbed headwater basin (2.56 ± 1.21 mg L-1). The elevated levels of measured parameters occurred during periods of high evapotranspiration potential demand and low precipitation, where limited surface and subsurface runoff contributed to the dilution of the valleyfill base flow. The wetland effect of attenuating headwater composition and levels thereof was greater than could be explained by incremental longitudinal drainage basin dilution. The results are discussed with respect to current practices and regulations, and the invaluable role of beavers in restoring/converting sediment ponds into wetlands and their benefit in regulating downstream water quality. n

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Underground and surface coal mining have resulted in heavy metal contamination such as iron sulfide, selenium, and mercury in West Virginia wetlands. Agricultural runoff such as pesticides can also cause zinc, cadmium, chromium, and lead accumulation in wetland systems over time. Heavy metals can pose a threat to the health and safety of humans who interact with contaminated water or consume animals with accumulated levels higher than the EPA regulation. Freshwater turtles can serve as a biological indicator for quantifying environmental health because their life expectancy and high trophic status increase their bioaccumulation potential. It is important to monitor heavy metals in turtles as high levels can cause lethal defects in embryos and decrease life span. We assessed 33 painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) and 24 snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) for heavy metal concentrations (cadmium, chromium, total mercury, lead, selenium, and zinc) through non-destructive tissue sampling. Heavy metals were compared between species, tissue types, and percent agriculture within 30, 250, 500, and 1000 m of wetlands (n = 16 redundancy analyses). Concentrations in soil adjacent to wetlands were also compared to turtle heavy metal levels. All metals were higher in nails than blood as expected, but differences in levels between species varied across metals. Top redundancy analyses included percent agriculture within 30 and 1000 m for painted turtle blood and nails, respectively, and within 250 and 500 m for snapping turtle blood and nails, respectively. The top redundancy analysis for soil heavy metal levels included percent agriculture within 250 m. Selenium levels in soil and turtle nail samples were positively correlated with proximity to mine land. Lead concentrations found in turtle nails were positively correlated with lead levels found in wetland soil. Percent agriculture was negatively correlated with mercury in turtle blood but positively correlated in turtle nails, and 25% of the samples analyzed had mercury levels that exceeded EPA consumption limits. Mining activity, whether current or historic, has an impact on the environment that could be seen for decades in freshwater turtles and should be considered when implementing and managing wetland buffer areas. Turtle harvesting limits should be investi-

gated further to ensure the safety of residents who choose to consume turtles within the watershed. n Presented during CS8: Animal Biodiversity

HYDROACOUSTIC SONAR DATA QUANTIFY FISH PASSAGE IN A HYDROLOGICALLY RECONNECTED WETLAND AT THE SHIAWASSEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SAGINAW, MI, USA Bozimowski, Alexandra (Sasha), U.S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center Greenberg, Anna Lugten, Eliza Dunton, Eric Dellick, Julie Kowalski, Kurt Salem, Maria Liu, Xinmiao Reestablishing hydrologic connectivity between an impounded wetland and a parent waterbody is an important process in restoring fish habitat. However, it is difficult to quantify fish usage of reconnection structures and fish passage into and out of reconnected sites given limitations caused by low light conditions, poor water clarity, and gear-type specificity associated with common capture methods. High-resolution sonar, such as the Adaptive Resolution Imaging Sonar (ARIS; Sound Metrics, WA, USA), allows researchers to non-invasively view the water column and its contents in high turbidity and/or low or no light conditions. Fish can be differentiated against background features, thus allowing characterization of fish movements. An ARIS sonar was installed at a water control structure connecting a formerly diked wetland to the Shiawassee River and ultimately, Saginaw Bay, at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge in Saginaw, MI, USA. The unit collected continuous footage, output in hourly files, from March 18 to November 18, 2020. Simultaneously, a machine learning model was built to process the approximately 3,167 hours (18.5 TB) of sonar data collected during the study. Preliminary results shed light—and sound—on fish passage into hydrologically reconnected wetlands and utilization of restored habitat. Model output suggests hundreds of fish pass through the water control structure into and out of the wetland unit at all hours of the day. Sonar imagery also shows movement of both large- and small-bodied fish between the wetland and parent waterbody. These data show the benefits of hydrologic reconnection of impounded wetlands in that fish are nearly constantly utilizing the structure to access available habitat. n

Presented during CS8: Animal Biodiversity

OPTIMIZING SPRING FLOWS FOR JUVENILE CHINOOK SALMON SURVIVAL THROUGH THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER DELTA Wohner, Patti, Oregon State University Duarte, Adam Peterson, James Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were once abundant throughout California’s Central Valley watershed and supported economically and culturally significant fisheries. Land development, river modification, and water use have led to widespread habitat degradation resulting in significant declines in Chinook salmon and other anadromous fishes. In 1992, the U.S. Congress passed the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) that required a doubling of the number of naturally produced anadromous fishes in the Central Valley by 2002 that remains unfulfilled today. The timing, magnitude, variation, temperature, and turbidity of river discharge are highly altered in the Central Valley, and largely driven by managed reservoir releases. For example, anthropogenic alterations of the Stanislaus river which provides ~80% of water to the San Joaquin River Delta have created flows that are 65% less variable and annual peak flows that are significantly reduced. Regulated rivers can negatively affect migrations of Chinook salmon by reducing their survival. Flow reductions are the most extreme in winter, coinciding with peak fry emigration. Juvenile Chinook salmon in the Central Valley out-migrate from natal tributaries through the Delta, a network of natural and manmade channels linked to the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The Delta is the core of California’s water delivery system providing agricultural and domestic water and necessitating flow regulation. Juvenile out-migrating salmon are particularly vulnerable during the transition to the Delta tidal environment because they undergo physiological changes in preparation for seawater entry. Juvenile survival has been estimated to be very low in studies of hatchery raised juvenile Chinook salmon through the south Delta, but survival increases with lowered water temperature and higher flow velocities. To help reach the CVPIA restoration objectives, we developed a juvenile salmon routing and survival model by conducting a meta-analysis of published Chinook salmon smolt survival and migration estimates. Results of the 2008-2015 meta-analysis confirmed survival in the south Delta is related to San Joaquin River flow and temperature. We then used the model to estimate optimal flows during juvenile outmigration from February to May. Using actual flow and temperature data from 2008-2018, we found that large flow pulses at predictable times during the spring are projected to be optimal for Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 201

increasing juvenile Chinook salmon survival to the Bay and that optimal scenarios differed with water year. n Presented during CS9: Policy, 6/8/2021 10:55AM - 12:45PM ET

as well as a suite of best practices that can be implemented at the outset of a stream or wetland mitigation project to reduce the risk of invasion. n

INVASIVE SPECIES AND COMPENSATORY MITIGATION: ENVIRONMENTAL DRIVERS, PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, AND BEST PRACTICE

Presented during CS9: Policy

DeBerry, Douglas, William & Mary Hunter, Dakota

Nahlik, Amanda, US EPA Office of Research and Development Kentula, Mary Paulsen, Steven Magee, Teresa

One of the most important and pervasive contemporary issues in the field of ecological restoration is that of biological invasion. From first principles, we know that disturbance represents a mode of introduction for invasive species, and ecological restoration sites can be particularly susceptible to biological invaders because the practices used to create, restore, or enhance ecological conditions are often the same types of disturbances that leave a site vulnerable to invasion. This is especially true of compensatory wetland and stream mitigation sites, where invasive plant species present one of the greatest challenges to managers, designers, and agency reviewers alike. The capital outlay for invasive plant management on mitigation sites has increased considerably over the past couple of decades, and in some cases it can represent the largest investment of money and resources during postconstruction maintenance. Despite these circumstances, a comprehensive review of the literature reveals a conspicuous lack of applied research on invasive plant species in compensatory mitigation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate impacts of plant species invasion and characterize important environmental factors that contribute to invasion on mitigation sites. We sampled vegetation and environmental variables (site hydrology, light availability, soil physiochemistry, site age) across invasion gradients at multiple wetland and stream mitigation sites in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont physiographic provinces of Virginia. Data analysis involved a multimetric statistical approach combining correlation, AIC, and CCA to arrive at a plausible model for invasion risk by species. On wetland sites, we targeted Arthraxon hispidus (joint-head grass), Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass), and Typha spp. (cattail); on stream sites, we studied Lespedeza cuneata (sericea lespedeza), Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle), and M. vimineum invasions. Our analysis revealed species-specific environmental drivers of invasion with a few factors consistently important across all targeted invaders – notably, canopy cover, hydrology, and a handful of important physiochemical variables. The results of this research have been used to develop recommendations for ecological performance standards, 202 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

WETLAND ASSESSMENT: BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL WATER QUALITY PERSPECTIVE

Water chemistry or water quality is often used to determine if aquatic ecosystems meet restoration objectives or Clean Water Act criteria. However, it is not consistently possible to collect water in wetlands because surface water presence varies across wetland types. Using data from the National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA), a survey of 967 sites representing 25,153,681 hectares of wetland across the conterminous US, we found surface water could be collected at only 537 of the sampled sites, representing only 41% of the wetland population area and under-representing particular wetland types. We use wetlands to introduce the concept of aquatic resource quality, the condition of an ecosystem based on the collective assessment of physical, chemical, and biological indicators, to meet monitoring and assessment goals for aquatic ecosystems. Wetland condition was evaluated through the NWCA based on a biotic indicator (vegetation multimetric index) at each sampled site. Results indicated wetland resource quality was good for about half of the area of the sampled population, with the remainder of the wetland area in fair and poor quality. Ten physical, chemical, and biological indicators measured at every site were used to report the relative extent and relative risk of stressors on wetland resource quality. Physical stressors, especially vegetation removal and surface hardening, are commonly observed and have negative impacts on aquatic resource quality. Because aquatic resource quality can be consistently evaluated, regardless of surface water presence or aquatic ecosystem type, we propose that this concept be used as the basis for aquatic ecosystem monitoring and assessment. n Presented during S1: Working in Wetlands I - Leveraging Non-traditional Experiences as a Student & Early Careers in Private Sector, GIS & Academia (Co-Sponsored by South Central Chapter and Student Section), 6/1/2021 8:35-10:25AM ET

BEGINNING A CAREER IN ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AND PLANNING: PERSPECTIVES FROM AN ENTRYLEVEL ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

Garner, Joe, GreenVest When I learned in college that you could make a career out of designing and restoring ecosystems, I was hooked. While I was in school, I accepted a position with a restoration construction company that allowed me to get my hands dirty and learn the basics about ecological restoration. This led to a career in construction oversight and GIS on a multitude of restoration projects as an environmental scientist. I have a passion for restoring degraded ecosystems and love working in an industry that is so innovative and relevant in environmental stewardship. This presentation focuses on my experiences as an entry-level environmental scientist at GreenVest, LLC. GreenVest, LLC is an environmental development and consulting firm that specializes in ecological restoration, mitigation services, and sustainable land planning. Although most of my time is spent in GIS, I wear many other hats as a project manager, construction supervisor, compliance inspector, and even cow wrangler! So please join me to learn about my experiences working on innovative restoration projects and how students and recent graduates can better prepare themselves for an exciting and rewarding career in ecological restoration. n Presented during S1: Working in Wetlands II - How to Transition Your Career into Non-Traditional Wetland Work through Mentorship, Drones, Advocacy and Ecopreneurship (Co-Sponsored by South Central Chapter and Student Section), 6/1/2021 10:55AM- 12:45PM ET

EXPLORING THE ECOTONE OF WETLAND SCIENCE & ENTREPRENEURISM Schewe, Jeremy, Ecobot Inc. My favorite places on the planet are ecotones. I love edge places where “worlds” cross and exchange takes place. In navigating the pathways through life as a wetland scientist, biologist, ecologist, or natural resources manager, one often may find themselves on a clearly defined path that leads them into academia, conservation planning, consulting, policy, or activism. And sometimes, especially for those of you who have spent ample time in the field, getting from location “A” to “B” through a swamp is not always a direct path. Come explore the ecotone of wetland science and entrepreneurism with a seasoned wetland scientist and botanist. In this presentation, we will take a look at the journey of my commitment to the protection of sensitive habitats and threatened & endangered species while navigating the multi-pathways through the swamp of life. How do academia, non-profit organizations, international NGOs, consultancies, grassroots organizations, venture capital, tech, and entrepreneurism come to the same watering hole? In my career, I have helped to protect thousands

of acres of natural habitat; run in front of bulldozers to conduct T&E studies; conducted multi-team biological assessments before fracking companies could wreak havoc on a natural community; contracted with multiple federal agencies as an independent contractor; managed corporate natural resource teams; and, took an unrealized idea, convinced a bunch of folks to work on it with me, gathered a lot of investment, and created a suite of tools and a new business from nothing. n Presented during S1: Working in Wetlands II - How to Transition Your Career into Non-Traditional Wetland Work through Mentorship, Drones, Advocacy and Ecopreneurship (Co-Sponsored by South Central Chapter and Student Section)

WETLANDS, DRONES, AND GIS: COMBINING YOUR PASSIONS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR Gay, Ryan, Whitenton Group While traveling around the world and serving in the United States Navy, I discovered my first passion and appreciation for diverse ecosystems. Through my travels, I received a firsthand experience of our planet’s beauty and majesty and the need to conserve and protect the natural world while ensuring sustainable forward progress. These experiences ultimately led to a career as an environmental consultant. Over the course of my educational career at Texas A&M University at Galveston, I discovered specific areas of interest I became passionate about. I was fascinated by wetlands. Remote sensing became my wetland assessment tool, and GIS helped me tell each wetland’s story. As an environmental consultant for Whitenton Group Inc. I have been able to take my passions and combine them to tell the stories of various types of wetlands from different regions in Texas. Each region and project presented its own set of challenges, and my knowledge and passion in all these areas have helped to overcome these challenges and help tell the story in an efficient manner. I was 28 when I went back to college the first time. I am a Navy veteran, wetland scientist, Part 107 licensed drone pilot, and currently attending Sam Houston State University seeking a second Masters in GIS. My presentation will remind you to find your passions, make them work for you, and never stop learning. While traveling around the world and serving in the United States Navy, I discovered my first passion and appreciation for diverse ecosystems. Through my travels, I received a firsthand experience of our planet’s beauty and majesty and the need to conserve and protect the natural world while ensuring sustainable forward progress. These experiences ultimately led to a career as an environmental consultant. Over the course of my educational career at Texas A&M University at Galveston, I discovered specific areas of Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 203

interest I became passionate about. I was fascinated by wetlands. Remote sensing became my wetland assessment tool, and GIS helped me tell each wetland’s story. As an environmental consultant for Whitenton Group Inc. I have been able to take my passions and combine them to tell the stories of various types of wetlands from different regions in Texas. Each region and project presented its own set of challenges, and my knowledge and passion in all these areas have helped to overcome these challenges and help tell the story in an efficient manner. I was 28 when I went back to college the first time. I am a Navy veteran, wetland scientist, Part 107 licensed drone pilot, and currently attending Sam Houston State University seeking a second Masters in GIS. My presentation will remind you to find your passions, make them work for you, and never stop learning. n Presented during S1: Working in Wetlands III - Pearls of Wisdom from Recent Post-Doc’s, Hiring Managers, and Seasoned Professionals (CoSponsored by South Central Chapter and Student Section), 6/1/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

YOU GOT THE JOB INTERVIEW, YOU GOT THE JOB OFFER…NOW WHAT? Jecker, Scott, Whitenton Group, Inc. Environmental Consultants The Interview Ok. So you have landed a job interview with one or more companies. Now it’s time to prepare for the interview as much as possible. You need to know about the company that you are interviewing with and understand the job description/responsibilities. If possible, you need to know about the hiring managers that will be conducting the interview. This presentation will cover how to approach your first professional interview. Does your resume reflect or at least somewhat align with the job description you are being interviewed for? How will you make yourself stand out from the other applicants? What questions do you ask the hiring manager about the position, the company, and the expectations? This presentation will cover those topics, possibly with a “mock” interview. The Job Offer You have been offered a position. This presentation will cover how to negotiate your hourly rate/salary, benefits, and the job potential for growth. Keep your eye on the ball, your first job is often the stepping-stone to the rest of your career! Now What is Expected of You? Your supervisor will have expectations for your performance. Depending on what type of business, government, or industry you are working in, the expectation will be different. This presentation will cover what those typical expectations are for new hires, how you can grow within a company, and how you can “grow” your resume as you gain experience. n 204 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

Presented during S10: Ecological Restoration through Policy Change: Restoring and Managing Beaver in Washington State, 6/8/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

LIVING WITH BEAVERS: IN-PLACE MANAGEMENT OF ECOSYSTEM ENGINEERS Kerr, Elyssa, Beavers Northwest The ability of beavers to modify stream systems and create wetland complexes provides a suite of ecosystem services to improve watershed health including slowing streams, recharging groundwater, and adding complexity to riparian ecosystems. However, when beavers build along streams in urban and rural settings, the impoundment of water often has adverse impacts on roads, homes, and agricultural lands built in historic floodplains. A growing number of programs seek to mitigate these beaver conflicts while retaining the benefits to biodiversity, water quality and quantity, and climate change resilience that beaver complexes provide. Managing beavers in the densely populated Puget Sound region, Snohomish Conservation District and Beavers Northwest have both developed strategies for in-place management of beavers to encourage coexistence. We will discuss the strategies that these organizations employ to retain beavers on the landscape and build capacity for non-lethal beaver management throughout the region. We will provide guidance on inplace management to protect vegetation, prevent blockages of critical conveyance infrastructure, and mitigate localized flooding. We will highlight the impacts of beaver to private landowners, jurisdictional land managers, and restoration practitioners as well as share strategies for engaging communities, providing beaver conflict management services, and planning for beavers from project inception. With appropriate policies and best management practices, these strategies for coexistence are widely applicable in communities where beavers have impacts on human infrastructure. n Presented during S11: Microbes: Small Players with Big Impacts on Invasive Species Management and Wetland Restoration I, 6/10/2021 3:35PM - 5:25PM ET

ABOVE- AND BELOW-GROUND MICROBES AND THEIR POTENTIAL ROLE IN PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS INVASIONS Clay, Keith Schroeder, Carolyn Birnbaum, Christina Farrer, Emily Smith, Mckenzie Waryszak, Pawel Halbrook, Susannah Shearin, Zackery

Research has revealed great microbial diversity associated with plants, roles as symbionts or pathogens, and potential for mediating plant invasions. While initial research has elucidated microbial diversity, the current challenge is to evaluate the effects of individual microbes and microbial communities on plant performance through experimental manipulations or sampling across environmental gradients. The objective of our research is to describe patterns of fungal diversity associated with invasive Phragmites australis, an important wetland invader, and to explore how microbes affect plant performance using both fungal isolation and direct sequencing. We obtained 173 endophyte isolates from Phragmites collected in the Great Lakes region, corresponding to 55 OTUs. While more OTUs were isolated from stems, diversity was highest in rhizomes. One-third of seeds also yielded endophyte isolates where colonized seedlings grew faster than endophyte-free seedlings and one common OTU was associated with higher seed germination. In an independent experiment where sterile cuttings were inoculated with one of four isolates, inoculation had marginal effects on plants grown in an environmental chamber, but no effect in a common garden due to rapid endophyte colonization from the local environment. In a Gulf Coast field survey, metabarcoding methods showed that Phragmites roots had higher endophyte richness and putative pathogen abundance compared to native plants. However, proximity to Phragmites did not alter microbial communities in native plants. A culturebased study obtained 112 fungal isolates corresponding to 83 OTUs from Phragmites roots and found that endophyte communities varied with marsh salinity, with highest richness in brackish marshes and highest pathogen abundances in saltmarsh. Plant growth promotion assays suggest that ~40% of tested Phragmites endophytes are phosphate solublizers and many have high salinity tolerance. In total, our results demonstrate high fungal diversity associated with Phragmites and evidence of altered plant performance, but further experimental research is required. n Presented during S11: Microbes: Small Players with Big

Impacts on Invasive Species Management and Wetland Restoration I ARE MICROBES THE KEY TO A NEW FORM OF PHRAGMITES CONTROL? Kowalski, Kurt Snow, Danielle White, James Kingsley, Kathryn Clay, Keith Bickford, Wesley Bacteria, fungi, and other microbes promote growth, accelerate nutrient acquisition, increase stress tolerance,

enhance disease resistance, and confer many other benefits that can help invasive plants outcompete native plants. Wetland managers apply many tools to control Phragmites australis spp. australis including combinations of herbicide, cutting, burning, and flooding. The Great Lakes Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework (https://www. greatlakesphragmites.net/pamf) and other research studies are reducing the uncertainty about the efficacy of treatment combinations given site conditions, but the optimal approach is unclear and managers continue to identify the need for additional non-toxic treatments. Therefore, new treatments that target the microbiome are in development and will complement both existing management options and other developing approaches (e.g., insect biocontrol, genetic biocontrol). A group of scientists from several agencies formed a Phragmites Symbiosis Collaborative and in 2015 published a research agenda for how we can advance the science of microbial symbiosis to support invasive species management (https://doi.org/10.3389/ fmicb.2015.00095). We now have a much better idea of what microbes are associated with Phragmites and how they impact plant growth. This information is being used to develop new treatments (i.e., bioherbicides) that target the relationships between the invasive plants and their microbiome to disrupt plant growth. Expanded collaborations among federal and academic partners now support field testing of potential new treatments, even as other work continues to build out our base knowledge of the Phragmites microbiome. A collective impact approach is guiding the development of these innovative new treatments and leading to more options for resource managers. n Presented during S11: Microbes: Small Players with Big Impacts on Invasive Species Management and Wetland Restoration II, Thursday, June 10, 2021 5:55PM - 7:45PM ET

THE EFFECTS OF ORGANIC INPUTS ON MICROBIAL DYNAMICS IN SATURATED SOILS: WHAT (LITTLE) WE KNOW Scott, Brian, University of Maryland Baldwin, Andrew Yarwood, Stephanie Organic soil amendments, including transplanted topsoil, are widely used in wetland creation. In addition to being a source of nutrients, amendments can alter soil microbial dynamics directly through bioaugmentation and indirectly by modifying the soil biogeochemistry. Through a combination of lab and field studies, we have been investigating the impact of organic amendments on biogeochemical processes. Our sites are wetlands and therefore our focus is on iron reduction and methanogenesis. Organic amendWetland Science & Practice July 2021 205

ments alter the ferrous iron and methane expression due to the (energetic) quality of the amendments and changes in soil pH. Fresh organic material increases the concentration of ferrous iron in saturated soils whereas aged material attenuates soluble iron. Iron toxicity may have a strong impact on wetland plant selection: some native wetland plants are iron tolerant, whereas non-native plants, such as Phragmites australis, are highly intolerant. We measured methane gas produced from organic amendments in newly constructed wetlands and found that the radiative forcing may cause net warming for decades or longer. Because methanogen populations in saturated soils are very stable, even when subjected to anoxic and dry conditions, they can begin producing methane almost immediately after wetting and extended saturation significantly increases methane flux. As revealed by these examples, the effects of organic amendments on wetland soil biogeochemistry vary and may be considered beneficial or detrimental depending on site conditions and desired outcomes. Our research suggests restoration success can be improved by applying what we know about the wetland soil microbiome and how it is altered by soil amendments. n

position, change detection, degradation, and diversity, as well as system threats and pressures. Remote sensing data and techniques can be used to derive wetland classification data, landscape metrics, and vegetative indices, which are useful in evaluating the impacts of biotic and abiotic stressors on wetland form (i.e., composition and zonation) and function (i.e., biomass and quality). This presentation provides an overview of various remote sensing applications, including (1) high-spatial resolution satellite imagery to evaluate hydrologic restoration and marsh creation impacts on wetland structure, function, and migration, (2) airborne hyperspectral imagery and Lidar elevation data for mapping wetland zones and evaluating impacts from long-term water-level changes, and (3) development of a raster-based wetland vegetation condition index for evaluating changes in wetland quality and function. Ultimately, these data and methods provide advanced characterizations that contribute to more comprehensive inventorying and monitoring of wetland resources, improving the ability to forecast resource condition, stability, and adaptive management strategies. n

Presented during S12: Landward migration of tidal wetlands I, 6/10/2021 3:35PM - 5:25PM ET

Presented during S12: Landward migration of tidal wetlands II, 6/10/2021 5:55PM - 7:45PM ET

USE OF REMOTE SENSING TO ASSESS THE IMPACTS OF STRESSORS ON WETLAND CHANGE AND MIGRATION

TIDAL MARSH RESILIENCE AT THE LANDSCAPE SCALE: A NATIONAL PRODUCT TO CHARACTERIZE MARSH MIGRATION PATHWAYS AND STRATEGIC ADAPTATION OPPORTUNITIES.

Suir, Glenn, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sasser, Charles Saltus, Christina Wilcox, Douglas Grimes, Evan Harris, J. Mason Reif, Molly Wu, Wei Wetland zonation, which can be caused by succession (i.e., temporal trends), physical factors (i.e., elevation, hydrology, and salinity gradients), and biological interactions (i.e., competition and predation), can play significant roles in wetland ecosystem goods and services. Additionally, direct and indirect impacts from biotic and abiotic stressors can have short- and long-term influence on wetland zonation and their form and function. Measuring changes in wetland condition and composition, especially as a function of zonation, can be difficult. Monitoring habitat switching or migration has traditionally been time-intensive, costly, and often requires repeat field-based surveys in areas with limited accessibility. Remote sensing data can provide detailed assessments of wetland landscapes, including species and habitat com206 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

Stevens, Rachel, GBNERR Carter, Jamie Herold, Nate Shull, Suzanne The National Estuarine Research Reserve System and NOAA’s Office of Coastal Management have worked with partners to develop a nationwide assessment of tidal marsh resilience at the landscape scale. The protocol allows systematic comparison of marsh current and future conditions over large areas and evaluation of parcellevel conservation and restoration projects in a realistic and forward-looking way. Characterization of the full range of conditions throughout a region of interest, for example Refuge, National Park or State, allows us to determine how representative a specific marsh is of the system it is located in. This facilitates strategic research and monitoring project design. Systematic evaluation of marsh migration pathways and other future conditions allows managers to locate restoration and land protection projects in areas with the greatest adaptation potential that will be sustainable for the long-term and so be most

cost effective. Used in tandem with field-based protocols, this approach provides an integrated continuum of assessment to inform research, management and protection of tidal marshes at the local, state, regional, and national scales. n Presented during S13: A Universal Declaration on Rights of Wetlands: Shifting our Paradigm Restores the Human-Wetland Relationship in Support of Wetland Restoration, Conservation and Wise Use, 6/10/2021 3:35PM - 5:25PM ET

THE RIGHTS OF WETLANDS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON BIODIVERSITY & ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: LINKING BIODIVERSITY AND HUMAN WELL-BEING Fennessy, Siobhan, Kenyon College The Americas Assessment of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) details the critical relationship between biodiversity, ecosystems, and the capacity of nature to provide benefits, while recognizing a diversity of world views and multiple values of nature. The Americas are diverse, hosting 40% of the world’s most biodiverse countries with three times more “biocapacity” per capita than the global average. However, the increasing demand for food, water, and other material goods has increased consumption and intensified land use, continuing a pattern of widespread degradation and destruction of wetlands with regional wetland losses ranging from 20-60% of total wetland area since 1970. The result is the loss of the benefits wetlands provide to food and water supplies, climate regulation, and adaptation to hazardous and extreme events, with a 50% decline in the freshwater supply per person. Overall, there has been a substantial decline in nature’s contribution to people (NCP, a broader term than ecosystem services). Of the 18 NCP evaluated across different wetland types, 66% are in decline, with 30% declining strongly. The intrinsic value of nature is at the heart of the IPBES framework, recognizing the links between biodiversity, nature’s contributions to people, and quality of life, with efforts to incorporate local and indigenous knowledge. The declaration of wetlands rights reflects these linkages, acknowledging the importance of wetlands as a universal heritage. A legal recognition of the inherent rights of wetlands should be considered as an approach to ensure the future of wetlands globally. n

Presented during S14: The Role of Wetland Health and Recovery Assessments in Water Supply Decision-Making I, 6/10/2021 3:35PM 5:25PM ET

A GENERAL APPROACH TO HYDROLOGIC RECOVERY METRIC DEVELOPMENT WITH APPLICATION TO GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED WETLANDS IN XERIC LANDSCAPES Schmutz, Dan, Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. Shea, Chris Hydrologic recovery of wetlands impacted by water table drawdown due to groundwater production necessarily involves improvements to wetland hydropatterns (e.g., levels, duration, and return frequency). How much improvement is sufficient to declare a degraded wetland as recovered? We propose here a general approach to establishing a hydrologic recovery metric, and demonstrate a specific application for freshwater, geographically isolated wetlands. Our approach involves • identifying sufficient replicate wetlands, • collecting monthly water level data of sufficient length, • categorizing the wetlands into two groups based on ecological conditions—stressed and unstressed, • calculating median water level offsets relative to the long-term 3 percent exceedance (PE03) elevation at each site, • performing a “crossing point” empirical cumulative distribution analysis to identify a threshold offset that minimizes misclassification errors in separating the water level offsets of the stressed and unstressed groups. Past studies have indicated that there are differences between wetlands in xeric (e.g., sandhill, scrub, scrubby flatwoods) versus mesic (e.g., pine flatwoods) vegetation-dominated landscapes. We developed a hydrologic recovery metric using monthlyaveraged water level data representing 62 stressed and 64 unstressed wetland time series (typically 7 years in length) taken from 89 unique xeric-associated wetlands. Stress classifications were developed using available groundtruthed wetland condition data (e.g., Wetland Assessment Procedure, Wetland Health Assessment) as well as random forest statistical predictions. Other time series were considered for inclusion in the study, but ultimately excluded due to unrepresentativeness (e.g., a period with unusual rainfall, sites still showing stress due to lag time, and sites showing stress but occurring in areas of little drawdown). A hydrologic recovery metric of -3.7 feet (relative to the PE03) was determined for xericassociated wetlands in the Northern Tampa Bay Area (Florida). Assuming similar rainfall, only 16% of truly unstressed sites are expected to have long-term median levels lower than this threshold and only 15% of truly stressed sites are predicted to be above it on a long-term Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 207

median basis. To further characterize uncertainty, only 5% of unstressed wetlands are expected to have offsets below -4.3 feet. For stressed wetlands, it is predicted that only 5% would have offsets above -3.0 feet. n

environmental recovery is a critical component of this permit renewal. Tampa Bay Water continues to consider wetland health as we evaluate each potential new water supply project and make weekly decisions on the source allocation of our multiple water supply sources. n

Presented during S14: The Role of Wetland Health and Recovery Assessments in Water Supply Decision-Making I, 6/10/2021 3:35PM - 5:25PM ET

Presented during S14: The Role of Wetland Health and Recovery Assessments in Water Supply Decision-Making I

ASSESSMENT OF WETLAND HEALTH AND RECOVERY IN WATER SUPPLY PLANNING AND OPERATION DECISIONS Hogg, Warren, Tampa Bay Water Shea, Chris Kiehn, Whitney Palustrine wetlands currently make up over 25 percent of the land surface in the Northern Tampa Bay area. Ground water extraction from public supply wellfields began in this area in 1930 and increased as the local population grew. The rate of ground water extraction from 11 wellfields reached 167 million gallons per day on an annual average basis in early 2001. This high rate of sustained extraction was a contributing factor to low or absent water levels in area wetlands and the transition from wetland toward upland plant species. Elected and regulatory officials in the Tampa Bay area made historic decisions in 1998, recognizing the importance of wetlands and reducing the extraction of ground water from these 11 wellfields to no more than 90 million gallons per day. The agreements allowed us to develop alternative water supply sources, reduce ground water extraction, and meet the growing demand for water in our area. Ground water extraction from these wellfields has averaged approximately 80 million gallons per day for the past 10 years. Tampa Bay Water recently completed an assessment of environmental recovery at 1,360 wetlands and lakes in this area. A comprehensive assessment of environmental recovery due to the reduced rate of ground water extraction was necessary to renew the operating permit for these wellfields. Numeric metrics of environmental health or recovery were established for wetland types covered by this study and multiple weightof-evidence analyses were developed. A quantitative assessment of recovery was completed for all sites with long-term water level data and 85% of the lakes and wetlands fully meet their numeric metric of recovery. The remaining sites show substantial water level improvement and most of these sites missed being classified as recovered by less than one foot on a long-term basis. Full hydrologic recovery at many of these remaining wetlands is precluded by new residential development adjacent to the wellfields. Tampa Bay Water has applied to renew the operating permit for these 11 wellfields at the same extraction rate and this assessment of 208 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

HYDROLOGIC IMPACTS OF WELL FIELDS ON HUMAN AND WETLAND ENVIRONMENTS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Duever, Michael, Natural Ecosystems LLC There are a number of wellfields in South Florida, which I’ve had some involvement with over the last several decades. When human activities are being proposed in south Florida, there is often the perception that the above ground and shallow below ground depth of the wet season water levels is the most (only?) important hydrologic consideration. This is because it is a major factor determining a site’s suitability for agricultural or residential development. With South Florida’s flat topography and porous limestone substrates, one of my concerns has always been about the extent of the above and below ground impacts of well fields on nearby lands, particularly wetlands. Relatively little attention is typically given to the duration of inundation and the depth to which the water table declines below ground as a result of well field groundwater extractions because these parameters are so much more difficult to document. However, they can be a critical factor for both the natural and human environment, particularly in areas like south Florida with its seven-month dry season and high frequency of lightning strikes. Over the years I have been on the lookout for south Florida sites with at least some associated hydrologic information that might shed light on the horizontal and vertical extent of hydrologic effects of wellfields. I will discuss three well field locations that are showing effects or could be expected to affect the duration of surface inundation and depth and extent of dry season water levels in the surrounding landscape. n Presented during S14: The Role of Wetland Health and Recovery Assessments in Water Supply Decision-Making II, 6/10/2021 5:55PM 7:45PM ET

DEVELOPMENT OF A RECOVERY METRIC FOR GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED MARSHES Shea, Chris, Tampa Bay Water Hogg, Warren Kiehn, Whitney Tampa Bay Water’s Consolidated Water Use Permit required a recovery analysis for approximately 380 monitored wetlands. Monitored wetlands were grouped into habitat

types for development of recovery metrics – quantitative standards for identifying continuing impacts from groundwater withdrawals. Twenty-six geographically-isolated marsh wetlands were grouped by wetland condition and water levels standardized by subtraction from a “normal pool” elevation. (The normal pool elevation is based on vegetative or physical indicators of long-term inundation.) Long-term median water levels between stressed and unstressed groups were then compared and a threshold value distinguishing the two groups calculated. In order to determine ecological condition in this study, Wetland Assessment Procedure (WAP) scores were examined. The WAP method (developed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Tampa Bay Water in 2005) focuses on the distribution, abundance and condition of plant species in a wetland, in comparison to their normal patterns of occurrence in unimpacted systems. WAP scores are on a five-point scale, with 5 being the best score (normal vegetative zonation) and 1 being the lowest score (most altered, with upland plant species in the deep zone). WAP scores are determined annually for ground cover, shrub and canopy strata. Various WAP score criteria (based on long-term median scores for ground cover and/or shrubs) were used as grouping variables in separate tests. The recovery metrics calculated, expressed as long-term median water levels below normal pool, bracketed those previously determined by the Southwest Florida Water Management District as a wetland health standard for isolated cypress wetlands. n Presented during S15: Typha: Current science on genetics to management, 6/10/2021 5:55PM - 7:45PM ET

LEGACIES OF GLYPHOSATE USE FOR INVASIVE CATTAIL CONTROL: LEACHING POTENTIAL FROM DECAYING LITTER AND EFFECTS ON GERMINATION OF NATIVE MACROPHYTES Sesin, Verena, Trent University Davy, Christina Freelannd, Joanna A major goal of invasive plant management is the restoration of native biodiversity, but because effective methods for invasive plant control may also harm native plants, informed application of control methods is necessary. The herbicide glyphosate, commonly sprayed in invasive plant management, can be toxic to native macrophytes, but is thought to degrade relatively quickly in water and soil. However, glyphosate from spray can accumulate in the tissues of invasive plants where it can persist for a minimum of several weeks. It remains unclear whether this accumulated glyphosate could be released into surrounding substrate as plant tissues decay, and subsequently

impair the recolonization of native plants in managed areas. To address these knowledge gaps, we first quantified the concentrations of glyphosate in leachate of Typha × glauca, an invasive macrophyte in North America, that had been sprayed nine weeks earlier with either a 5% or 8% concentration of the formulated product Roundup WeatherMAX®. We then assessed the germination and early growth success of seeds from two co-occurring native macrophytes, Typha latifolia and Ammannia robusta, that had been exposed to T. × glauca leachate either with or without glyphosate residues. We report the results of both experiments, which collectively provide important information about whether glyphosate-based invasive plant control could pose indirect and longer-term risks to native plants, and hence potentially impede restoration efforts. Our results also allow us to provide management recommendations for pesticide-based control of invasive macrophytes, including T. × glauca, that should minimize unintended side effects on nearby native plants. n Presented during S15: Typha: Current science on genetics to management

MANAGING INVASIVE CATTAIL TO INCREASE BIODIVERSITY AND HABITAT COMPLEXITY IN GREAT LAKES COASTAL WETLANDS Schrank, Amy, University of Minnesota Sea Grant Lishawa, Shane The diverse plant assemblages in Great Lakes coastal wetlands (GLCWs) provide important ecosystem services including critical habitat for native fish, wildlife, and bird species in and beyond the region. The structural complexity of these wetland systems provides larval, juvenile, and adult fish habitat for > 90% of the fish species in the Great Lakes. Biodiversity and ecosystem function of these GLCWs are threatened by hybrid cattail, Typha X glauca (hereafter Typha), an aggressive invader that homogenizes wetlands by out-competing native plant species and producing copious litter. Though the effects of Typha invasion on higher trophic levels is just beginning to be understood, the effects of Typha management strategies on animal species is less well known. For example, recent research has shown that fish abundance and diversity are reduced in cattail invaded areas of GLCWs compared to native marsh regions; however it is unknown if mechanical harvesting of Typha, an effective strategy to restore plant diversity, can also benefit water quality or other species such as macroinvertebrates and fishes. To evaluate the effects of Typha management on water quality, macroinvertebrates, and fishes, we mechanically harvested Typha in four GLCWs in different configurations designed to increase aquatic connectivity Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 209

and structural complexity. We found that both harvested and aquatic connectivity plots had reduced Typha biomass and litter relative to control plots. Furthermore, dissolved oxygen in these managed plots rebounded more quickly during the day compared to control plots. Fish abundance and diversity were significantly higher in harvested plots relative to controls and we suspect this is due to both the absence of litter and the reduced stem density in harvested plots relative to unmanaged Typha stands. These results suggest that mechanical harvesting of Typha can benefit not only plant biodiversity but also higher trophic levels and consequently the larger ecosystem. n Presented during S2: Building Tribal Wetland Program Capacity and a National Framework for Advancement within the United States I, 6/1/2021 8:35-10:25AM ET

DEVELOPMENT OF A TRIBAL WETLANDS MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM Lewis, Jessica, MS Band of Choctaw Indians - Office of Environmental Protection The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians received an EPA Wetlands Program Development Grant in 2018. The work plan focused on Core Element 1- Monitoring and Assessment and included creating a tribal wetlands inventory, collection of data utilizing drone-based remote sensing, and selecting monitoring and assessment goals. This presentation will provide an overview of the successes, lessons learned, and goals for the development of a Rapid Assessment Method that merges Western Science with Traditional Ecological Knowledge. n Presented during S2: Building Tribal Wetland Program Capacity and a National Framework for Advancement within the United States I

TRIBAL WETLAND PROGRAMS AND CAPACITY BUILDING TO PROTECT, RESTORE, AND MANAGE WETLAND AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS. Storm, Linda, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 works with tribal partners to support their development of Wetland Programs with grant funding and technical assistance. Tribal Wetland Program Plans (WPP) often include and address tribal cultural values and traditional ecological knowledge to achieve tribal program goals and objectives. Core elements of WPPs, such as monitoring and assessment, voluntary restoration and protection, regulatory program development, and in some cases development of water quality standards, are all potential elements of a wetland program. Additional elements may also be incorporated into plans, such as educational curriculum, 210 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

elder and youth knowledge and practice exchanges, and other specific community needs. Actions and activities are identified in WPPs to either develop or strengthen a tribe’s protection of wetland and aquatic resources, both on and off reservation. Tribal wetland data collection, through monitoring and assessment, is used to identify high priority areas to restore, to protect, or to focus development. Collection of monitoring data to assess the condition or functions of wetlands is also foundational for the development of tribal wetland ordinances or water quality standards for wetlands. EPA’s wetland program development grant (WPDG) funds, in combination with other funding sources (such as Section 319 or 106 funding), can be used to support sustaining Tribal program outcomes and needs. This presentation will share a couple of case examples of the powerful and important work of Pacific Northwest tribes who have developed WPPs, who have addressed how tribal cultural values and traditional ecological knowledge are integrated into their wetland protection, ecosystem management, and restoration programs, and how peer-to-peer tribal networks support them. n Presented during S2: Building Tribal Wetland Program Capacity and a National Framework for Advancement within the United States II, 6/1/2021 10:55AM- 12:45PM ET

MAPPING FORT BERTHOLD’S WETLANDS: A GEOGRAPHICAL APPROACH TO PROTECTING OUR WATER AND OUR HISTORY Lorio, Mary Cunningham, Joshua The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation’s relationship with water is historically unique, from its cultural connection to aquatic plants and animals to the formation of Lake Sakakawea in the 1950’s. Even today, with significant oil production activities occurring on the Fort Berthold Reservation, including the use of hydraulic fracturing, the Three Affiliated Tribes’ complex relationship with water continues. Since 2018, the Three Affiliated Tribes Environmental Division has been developing a Wetland Program Plan to construct an administrative, legal and regulatory framework to facilitate the assessment, monitoring and protection of Fort Berthold’s wetland resources. In collaboration with St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, important GIS data will be used to identify at-risk wetlands as well as potential wetland protection or restoration projects, and a Story Map is being developed which will incorporate historical, cultural and scientific information about the Reservation’s wetlands. n

Presented during S2: Building Tribal Wetland Program Ca-

pacity and a National Framework for Advancement within the United States II USING NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO MEET TRIBAL WETLAND PROGRAM NEEDS Davis Anderson, Ferin, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), located 30 miles southwest of Minneapolis, MN, was awarded an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tribal Wetland Program Development Grant in 2019. The proposal was developed with the intent to advance and refine the SMSC’s existing wetland program by focusing on an EPA core element involving monitoring and assessment. SMSC plans to incorporate LiDAR (light detection and ranging) data to examine the location of current and potentially historic wetlands. They will be using a drone (UAV) mounted LiDAR system that collects derivatives based on hydrologic, surface, terrain and landform features with accuracy in the range of 5-10cm. SMSC seeks to demonstrate how UAV-mounted LiDAR can be used as a tool to further prioritize ecologically significant wetlands and identify potentially restorable wetlands. Key words: Science and technology LiDAR Monitoring Tribal wetland programs. n Presented during S2: Building Tribal Wetland Program Ca-

pacity and a National Framework for Advancement within the United States II WETLANDS BY DESIGN: ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS FOR WETLAND PROGRAM PLANNING IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES Robertson, Andrew, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Drawing on examples from a variety of tribal communities, this presentation focuses on the elements of success for Wetland Program Plan design and implementation. Designing a successful wetland plan is a thoughtful and deliberate process that relies on communication, cooperation, applied science, technology and community support. The integration of community goals and objectives and the recognition that partnerships and education are key components are important elements that cannot be understated. Understanding the role that wetlands have traditionally played in tribal culture as well as the importance of wetlands for both current community needs and future goals provides consistency and continuity for a successful plan. Working within the EPA Core Elements

Framework to generate base funding and federal support provides a scientific basis for plan design and a jumpstart for future efforts such as Treatment As A State and assumption of Clean Water Act permitting responsibility. n Presented during S2: Building Tribal Wetland Program Capacity and a National Framework for Advancement within the United States III, 6/1/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

ADAPTING A FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT TOOL AND INCORPORATING A CULTURAL COMPONENT TO ASSESS WETLANDS ON THE NEZ PERCE TRIBE’S RESERVATION Hewett Hoover, Rue, Nez Perce Tribe The 770,470-acre Nez Perce Reservation is located in the Columbia-Snake River Plateau in North Central Idaho. Over 300 wetlands are found on the reservation in the headwaters and riparian zones of streams and rivers and in depressions in farmland. The Nez Perce people (Nimiipuu) have traditionally derived much of their food, fiber, and medicines from wetland plants making wetlands a great importance to the Tribe. While most of the wetlands have been delineated and assessed, what the Nez Perce Tribe (NPT) needed was a functional assessment tool to evaluate the functions and benefit values of each wetland, one that included a cultural component to include the cultural importance of each wetland to the Tribe. The NPT Wetlands Program has adapted a functional assessment tool, the Wetland Ecosystem Services Protocol (WESP), created by Dr. Paul Adamus, for tribal use on the NPT Reservation. This tool will be used to determine the functions and values (both ecological and cultural) of reservation wetlands to make decisions and prioritize actions in our approach to future wetland management. The WESP will have several uses for the Tribe’s and other tribes and agencies in the region as a tool for identifying functions, benefits, and values of individual wetlands; prioritizing wetlands restoration and protection; evaluating restoration results; and monitoring the long-term effects of wetland restoration. The NPT Wetland Program staff have worked with Dr. Adamus to adapt the tool for use on the reservation and to add a cultural component using the Tribe’s traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). With this tool, the Wetland Program has been able to start prioritizing wetland restoration projects within the Tribe. This presentation will address how we adapted WESP and calibrated the tool for this region, and how we created the cultural value assessment component for the NPT. n

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Presented during S2: Building Tribal Wetland Program Capacity and a National Framework for Advancement within the United States III

DEVELOPING A WETLAND PROTECTION PROGRAM WITHIN THE QUINAULT INDIAN RESERVATION Martin, Janice, Quinault Indian Nation Eide, Greg Research problem and objectives [Developing and implementing tribal wetland programs, including wetland program plans that address various core elements (Monitoring and Assessment, Volunteer Restoration and Protection, Regulatory and Wetland Water Quality Standards)] Abstract Summary (Quinault Indian Nation) The Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) strives to protect wetland ecosystems within and beyond the reservation boundaries. The QIN Division of Natural Resources (QDNR) employs staff knowledgeable on the subject of wetlands, reviewing internal and external project proposals. Staff provide technical assistance by interpreting tribal and federal regulations to protect aquatic resources. QIN supports and participates in the Timber, Fish and Wildlife Agreement, a cooperative process for regulating forest practices in Washington State. This agreement allows Tribal review and technical input, regarding proposed projects that have the potential to impact streams and wetlands within our area of interest. QIN has been fortunate to receive EPA Wetland Program Development funds over the past 5 years in support of this effort, and has maintained a Wetland Specialist position. Recently, the Quinault Nation gained authorization to regulate Waters of the United States, and is drafting regulations that will be adopted to administer them, including development of water quality standards. This milestone will strengthen our efforts towards two of EPA’s Core Elements, regulatory activities and water quality standards for wetlands. Tribal staff continue efforts to fulfill EPA Core Elements identified in the Quinault Wetland Program Plan. Notably, QIN recently updated the National Wetland Inventory maps within the reservation and is in the process of developing a GIS wetland database. We are developing an auditing program that will measure project permit compliance within the reservation and a Wetland Management Plan, two more efforts towards fulfilling EPA Core Elements, Restoration and Protection and Monitoring and Assessment. We will present these tools, how they fit into the QIN Wetland Program Plan for the next 6-year period and the status of future management of wetlands on the reservation. n

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Presented during S4: Novel approaches to quantifying synergistic interactions between climate and land-use change on prairie-pothole wetlands I, 6/1/2021 8:35-10:25AM ET

USING STRATEGIC SCIENCE TO BUILD A CONSERVATION CONSTITUENCY FOR ADDRESSING LARGE-SCALE STRESSORS ON WETLANDS Anteau, Michael, U.S. Geological Survey Post van der Burg, Max Mckenna, Owen Wetland conservation in the Prairie Pothole Region is primarily motivated by waterfowl conservation goals and interests and is largely accomplished with conservation easements and fee title purchases funded by waterfowl hunters. Even with these tools and an engaged user group, wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region face a myriad of threats due to interacting pressures from climate and land-use practices. Land-use stressors such as sedimentation, runoff, and agricultural drainage, coupled with climate changes, have likely altered dynamics of the Prairie-Pothole ecosystem and increased issues with invasive species. There is mounting evidence that some of these interacting change drivers have progressively chronic effects, which suggest that some stressors may continue to degrade the region even if land-use changes cease. We will discuss examples of these interactions, which call to question whether current tools used for conservation of wetlands are adequate to protect ecosystem services provided by remaining wetlands. However, a number of these stressors also threaten or influence other societal interests, which create opportunities to craft new conservation strategies that not only benefit waterfowl and wetlands, but provide benefits to a broader community, for example agricultural producers, pollinators, and people living in cities. This approach requires research to better quantify ecosystem services provided by prairie-pothole wetlands, how those services are threatened by climate and land-use changes, and improved communication of research efforts to inform a more diverse array of interest groups. n Presented during S4: Novel approaches to quantifying synergistic interactions between climate and land-use change on prairie-pothole wetlands II, 6/1/2021 10:55AM- 12:45PM ET

NOVEL APPROACHES IN WETLAND RESTORATION: THROWING EVERYTHING AT THE WALL DeKeyser, Shawn, North Dakota State University Nearly all wetland restoration efforts are met with certain successes and failures. Determining success or failure is dependent on the goals set and the level of

effort put into the restoration, and constrained by the ecological realities of the site. We restored a wetland/ upland area of approximately 19 hectares in southeastern North Dakota, with a goal of restoring a highly diverse native plant community that is functionally similar to intact “natural” wetland plant communities of the ecoregion. Since 2013, the restoration process has involved continuous monitoring, interdisciplinary collaboration, prompt adaptive management in response to emerging challenges, and patience. To date, we have employed: Roundup Ready ® crops as a pre-treatment prior to restoration to manage seedbank dynamics; a variety of restoration treatments including high-diversity seeding, seeding plus native hay mulch, and seeding, hay mulch, and donated vegetation plugs; and invasive species management of reed canarygrass and cattail through non-traditional chemical applications, mechanical methods, and high-diversity spike seeding. In addition, we recently utilized precision restoration techniques by incorporating seeds and vegetation plugs grown in the greenhouse from hand-collected native graminoid and forb seeds from nearby wet meadows. Our results suggest: certain efforts might not be worth the additional costs; there are non-traditional chemical alternatives for invasive species control; and novel methods, such as donated vegetation plugs from high quality wetlands, warrant further exploration. We believe management and monitoring should continue for several years and novel interdisciplinary approaches should be considered in the future. n Presented during S4: Novel approaches to quantifying synergistic interactions between climate and land-use change on prairie-pothole wetlands III, Tuesday, June 1, 2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

IDENTIFYING STRUCTURAL SHIFTS IN AREAPERIMETER RELATIONS OF PRAIRIE WETLANDS USING REMOTE SENSING Krapu, Christopher, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Borsuk, Mark Kumar, Mukesh Artificial drainage of wetlands is commonly employed to manipulate the number and size of wetlands for agricultural purposes. Within the context of the North American Great Plains, ongoing shifts in crop types and associated agricultural practices have the potential to lead to drastic alterations to the region’s wetlands. Using long-term remote sensing analysis of the entire USA state of North Dakota via Landsat data products, we identify a strong signature of change to wetland ponded size / area distributions manifested in a dimensionless ratio of area to shoreline. Extensive hydrologic simulations show that

this quantity is highly robust to natural shifts in precipitation. Employing this signature, we find an abrupt shift in the area/perimeter properties of the region’s wetlands around the year 1999 (+/-1 year) and also find that the severity of this shift is highly correlated with changes in agricultural practices after controlling for number and size of wetlands previously present. These findings point to a potential interaction between ongoing climatic shifts across the northern Great Plains with agricultural water management practices. n Presented during S4: Novel approaches to quantifying synergistic interactions between climate and land-use change on prairie-pothole wetlands III

UNDERSTANDING LAND CHANGE IN WETLAND LANDSCAPES Rover, Jennifer, USGS EROS The US Geological Survey recently released a suite of remotely sensed land change products for the conterminous United States. The Land Change Monitoring, Assessment, and Projection (LCMAP) initiative developed ten science products by modeling and classifying Landsat analysis ready data. The ten annual products start in 1985 and describe various land cover and land change attributes. The products are complimentary, inform one another, and can be leveraged to develop a multitude of derivatives. The release of this product suite offers an opportunity to investigate changes occurring within wetlands and their uplands at a temporal frequency not previously available. In the prairie pothole region, the impact of humans on the landscape is evident. The changes in land cover across this unique wetland landscape are documented by the product suite. Understanding how land use influences wetlands in a region with considerable shifts in weather and climate presents a challenge. To better understand the interaction of these variables, LCMAP science products can be utilized to analyze the timing associated with land cover change. Changes in spectral response are tracked and provide an estimate of the day of year a change occurred. Wetlands typically change between land cover classes in response to weather or land use, including shifts to and from other cover types such as open water, grassland, or even barren. Over the past three decades, uplands displayed an increase in conversions from grassland to cropland and grassland to wetland or water, the latter resulting from the shift to a wetter regional climate regime. The suite of products offered by LCMAP provide higher frequency information for insight into wetland landscape change resulting from both climate and human activities. n Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 213

Presented during S4: Novel approaches to quantifying synergistic interactions between climate and land-use change on prairie-pothole wetlands III

USING OPTICAL AND SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR (SAR) SATELLITE DATA TO MONITOR PRAIRIE WETLAND INUNDATION DYNAMICS Devries, Ben, University of Guelph Wetlands play an important role in hydrological regulation across landscapes. The seasonal inundation “signature” of these wetlands is an important indicator of wetland function and the resilience of wetland-dominated landscapes to environmental change. The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) is characterized by myriad small, depressional wetlands, many of which exhibit inundation dynamics on short timescales. While image data from optical satellite sensors like Landsat and MODIS have been playing a critical role in characterizing the long-term inundation dynamics in the PPR, limitations in the spatial and temporal resolution of these datasets present a barrier to the detailed understanding of seasonal and event-scale inundation dynamics at landscape scale. More recently, data from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite missions have been shown to be effective in quantifying rapid inundation dynamics, given the ability of SAR sensors to image the Earth’s surface regardless of cloud and illumination conditions. Current research in SAR remote sensing of inundation dynamics in PPR wetlands shows that although regular SAR acquisitions can provide a reliable record of inundation through time, detecting very small wetlands remains a challenge, even with fine-resolution SAR sensors like Sentinel-1 and RADARSAT-2, due to the effects of SAR speckle. The recent launch of the very high temporal-resolution Canadian RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) presents an opportunity to overcome some of the spatial and temporal limitations associated with wetland inundation monitoring in the PPR. Future research in SAR remote sensing of wetland dynamics is needed to develop methods that exploit such high-density SAR time series imagery to better understand hydrologic dynamics in small PPR wetlands. Specifically, the development of multi-temporal speckle filtering and classification methods using RCM’s compact polarization mode will improve the ability of multi-temporal SAR missions to quantify wetland dynamics in the PPR. n Presented during S5: Exhibiting Ethics in Wetland Restoration and Creation: Case Studies and Lessons Learned - hosted by the SWS Professional Certification Program & SWS Wetland Restoration Section I, Thursday, June 3, 2021 4:35PM - 6:25PM ET

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO DELIVER EFFECTIVE WETLAND RESTORATION – A PARTNERSHIP PROJECT ON THE RIVER SWILGATE, UK 214 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

Simpson, Matthew, 35percent The River Swilgate flows through Tewkesbury in the South West of England. In 2007 severe flooding impacted residents living within the floodplain and subsequent floods have raised the profile of river floodplain and wetland management among a disparate group of stakeholders. Environment Agency assessment of the river identified the flood mechanisms responsible but also indicated that the river was failing to achieve the target of good ecological status, under the European Union’s Water Framework Directive, due to physical alterations to the river, diffuse pollution and a loss of floodplain connectivity. This has impacted macroinvertebrate, fish and macrophyte populations and reduced the aesthetic value of the area for local residents. The river catchment includes both rural and urban stretches with different pollution sources and degradation issues such as diffuse agricultural pollution, bank erosion from cattle, urban road drainage pollution and straightening and morphological alteration through urban areas. Extensive community consultation led to the establishment of a partnership project which brought together government agencies, local wildlife charities, community groups and consultants to consider river and wetland restoration options for the Swilgate. This paper examines the ethical challenges and successes of the project and assesses the various community engagement mechanisms undertaken such as visioning workshops, community and professional ecological survey days and community volunteer days. It looks at the ethics around engagement activities throughout the design and construction phases of the project and presents lessons learnt on a technical and communications basis. n Presented during S5: Exhibiting Ethics in Wetland Restoration and Creation: Case Studies and Lessons Learned - hosted by the SWS Professional Certification Program & SWS Wetland Restoration Section I

ETHICAL PRACTICES AND ETHICAL DILEMMAS: REAL WORLD SCENARIOS FROM MASSACHUSETTS Davies, Gillian, Senior Ecologist and Natural Climate Solutions Specialist and Visiting Scholar, Senior Ecological Scientist This presentation will present specific real-world scenarios involving ethical dilemmas or ethical challenges that wetland scientists face, including during wetland restoration projects. Ethical challenges can come from a variety of people with whom we interact: employers, clients, engineers who are on our teams, contractors, colleagues, and community members. Examples from each of these groups will be discussed. In addition, emerging ethical practices and thinking will be discussed, including the ethical practice of acknowledging Indigenous Peoples who live or lived on land where a presenta-

tion is occurring, and consideration of re-framing our ethical relationship with wetlands and Nature. Could re-framing our ethical relationship to wetlands lead to the step-change that is necessary to change the downward trajectory of wetland and boidiversity degradation and loss and global climate destabilization? Information on the recent Universal Declaration of the Rights of Wetlands will be shared (see www.rightsofwetlands.org), as well as specific approaches to addressing or resolving ethical challenges. n Presented during S5: Exhibiting Ethics in Wetland Restoration and Creation: Case Studies and Lessons Learned - hosted by the SWS Professional Certification Program & SWS Wetland Restoration Section I

INCORPORATING COMMUNITY GROWTH AND WANTS INTO MITIGATION DESIGN Cleveland, Leandra, HDR Wetland mitigation is more than compensating for lost functions and values of wetlands and streams. While that is the fundamental premise, the larger landscape setting, future community growth, and stakeholder needs are also important aspects of the design and site selection. A mitigation site located in a natural setting today, may quickly become surrounded by development, thereby making it an isolated feature in the larger landscape setting. Still more challenging is balancing community and stakeholder wants into mitigation design. Why are these non-science based components important when siting and designing a mitigation site? The reason is that applying good science and practice in the real world is a challenge. As wetland scientists, we are not always making the final decisions. Project costs, schedule constraints, availability of property, balancing multi-agency needs, and incorporating stakeholder wants are also part of the decision process. However, as wetland scientists, it is our job to work collaboratively to educate others on the science, and ultimately provide the best mitigation design and location possible. Lessons learned from good and poor examples of mitigation design and location from real world examples will be discussed. For each example, the reasons for why a specific design or location was selected will be described. This will include measures for avoiding problems in the future with a focus on the positive outcomes that can be achieved with a collaborative approach. n Presented during S5: Exhibiting Ethics in Wetland Restoration and Creation: Case Studies and Lessons Learned - hosted by the SWS Professional Certification Program & SWS Wetland Restoration Section I

SUCCESSFUL WETLAND RESTORATION THROUGH A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

Slowinski, Thomas, Wetlands & Ecology, V3 Companies V3 Companies has been involved in two successful wetland restoration/mitigation banking projects through a PublicPrivate Partnership with Campton Township, located in Kane County, Illinois. The Township purchased the Blackberry Creek Headwaters Conservation area in 2003 as part of their open space program and they felt that wetland mitigation banking would be an effective vehicle to fund ecological restoration of the property. V3 entered into a Design/Build/Manage Private-Public Partnership with Campton Township, where the Township provides the property and V3 funds the design, permitting, construction and required ecological monitoring, management and reporting. Mitigation bank credit sales funds the work and long term management of the restoration, with an agreed upon distribution of eventual revenue if the mitigation projects are successful. Details of both mitigation banks will be provided as summarized below. Blackberry Creek Headwaters Mitigation Bank: 220 acre property with park and trail, 134.5 acres restored in 2 phases, 86.66 acres/mitigation credits. Phase 1 met all performance standards in 2013 and all credits sold by 2015. Phase 2 met hydrology and interim vegetation standards in 2020 with sale of 15 of 17 released credits. Gray Willows Farm Mitigation Bank: 208 acre property, 95.76 acres restored, 52.37 credits, approved April 2017, construction in 2018, planting in 2019. Three V3 PWSs are involved in the project. There have been many logistical, technical and regulatory issues, but no real ethical issues, other than dealing with our public partner, agency personnel and ourselves on technical and financial issues in an ethical and truthful manner. n Presented during S5: Exhibiting Ethics in Wetland Restoration and Creation: Case Studies and Lessons Learned - hosted by the SWS Professional Certification Program & SWS Wetland Restoration Section I

THE ROLE OF PROFESSIONAL WETLAND SCIENTISTS ON WETLAND PROJECTS UNDER GLOBAL CHANGE SCENARIOS Lepage, Ben, National Taiwan University and Academy of Natural Sciences All living organisms need fresh clean water to survive and we’ve forgotten that water is life and anthropogenic impacts contribute to the to the naturally-occurring processes that impact our planet, ecosystems, and the services they provide. Climate and global change are real and if we are to prevail as a species, we then need to use our resources much more wisely, adapt to the changing conditions, and be much more sustainably and environmentally innovative. Society has become numb to hearing about global change and expects science to resolve the issues to maintain our Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 215

standard of life. Although the science is sound, our ability to communicate complex ecological and geological processes with stakeholders needs to be improved to gain stakeholder support and trust. Wetland scientists must be ambassadors and help all stakeholders understand the importance of wetlands, the work hat we do, and the work that needs to be done. Restoration programs need to provide resiliency and the flexibility to adapt to quickly changing physical conditions and policy decisions. Stakeholders are an important and essential element of any project and it’s our responsibility to include the community and their diverse points of view as part of the solution. But this role comes with risk. Consensus requires compromise and PWS’ need to be cautious about making decisions that could be considered unethical. n Presented during S5: Exhibiting Ethics in Wetland Restoration and Creation: Case Studies and Lessons Learned - hosted by the SWS Professional Certification Program & SWS Wetland Restoration Section II, Thursday, June 3, 2021 6:55PM - 8:45PM ET

ETHICAL DILEMMA IN WETLAND CREATION IS DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF GENUINE MOTIVATION AND PROACTIVE PLANNING Paul, Swapan, Sydney Wetland Institute, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Australia New landscapes have been increasingly installing ‘wetlands’, which has become a fashion rather than a true venture. Whilst the benefits and constraints of wetland creation can be several, many are not considered until after because of two main reasons: an absence of genuine motivation for wetland creation and a lack of proactive planning. Examples will be cited from Australian landscapes and the presentation will advocate for a systemic approach in landscape management so that the wetlands thus created can last long. n Presented during S5: Exhibiting Ethics in Wetland Restoration and Creation: Case Studies and Lessons Learned - hosted by the SWS Professional Certification Program & SWS Wetland Restoration Section II, Thursday, June 3, 2021 6:55PM - 8:45PM ET

WETLAND RESTORATION TECHNIQUES AND ETHICAL CHALLENGES: CASE STUDIES FROM THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, USA Herb, Andy, AlpineEco Ethics play a role in our everyday decision-making whether we realize it or not. As a wetland scientist who spends his days (and many nights!) focused on restoration projects, I am frequently attempting to find the magical balance of employing scientific principles, restoring ecological processes, 216 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

minimizing cost, maximizing practicability, and staying true to stakeholder requests. All too often, there are serious conflicts between sound science and project requirements, and between project costs and desired outcomes. Deciding what restoration actions “should” be taken is the essence of striking this balance and is ultimately based on ethics, which in this context is essentially the act of prioritizing different aspects of the project. In this presentation, I will briefly summarize some of the more prominent ethical dilemmas I have faced on recent projects in the Rocky Mountains, USA, including those associated with wetland impact assessments as well as restoration design, implementation, and monitoring efforts. Then, I will provide a brief evaluation of the outcomes of those decisions as they relate to meeting overall project expectations. n Presented during S6: Wetland Wildlife in Natural, Managed, Reclaimed and Restored Wetlands I, 6/8/2021 8:35AM - 10:25AM ET

INTERIOR WETLANDS OF MEXICO: STATUS AND ISSUES OF WATERBIRD HABITATS Cantu, Antonio, Louisiana State University Donnelly, J. Patrick King, Sammy Wetlands of Mexico’s Highlands have historically been key habitats for migratory birds of North America, providing wintering, stopover, and breeding grounds for populations of waterfowl, shorebirds, and other wetlanddependent wildlife. However, major wetland habitats in this region are exposed to multiple threats related to human activities. We identified 10 priority wetlands for migratory birds in Mexico’s Highlands based on longterm records by mid-winter aerial surveys conducted by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our objective was to evaluate the status and major threats to these sites and identify factors limiting their restoration potential. Our results indicate that overall water diversion and the poor water quality due to pollution are the major threats in Mexico Highlands, yet some site-specific issues were also determined. These environmental stressors have also occurred at various sites in Canada and United States, but in many cases, these issues have been effectively addressed. For Mexico, our results suggest that current efforts conducted by private, academic, and government organizations are insufficient to meet the demand of wetland issues. Furthermore, a general deficiency of professionals with the ability to develop and implement management plans for Mexico’s wetlands hinder wetland restoration, as only a few organizations have adequately trained staff. Greater international collaborative efforts between ecologists and land managers within North America’s arid lands would increase collective capacity

for wetland ecosystem understanding, management, and restoration, magnifying habitat outcomes for migratory birds at a continental scale. n Presented during S6: Wetland Wildlife in Natural, Managed, Reclaimed and Restored Wetlands I

OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS FOR WETLAND CONSERVATION IN AN IRRIGATED WORLD King, Sammy Vradenburg, John Fredrickson, Leigh Laubhan, Murray Tashjian, Paul Agriculture and wetland and wildlife conservation are closely linked through state and federal policies, agricultural conversion of wetlands, and wetland and wildlife benefits provided by certain farm practices. In the last few decades, irrigated agriculture has rapidly expanded placing tremendous pressure on water and wetland resources throughout the United States resulting in widespread and often irreversible groundwater declines and surface water shortages. Some conservation practices, such as improved irrigation efficiency, have led to increased water use. Some purported solutions, such as interbasin transfers and conversion of wetlands to on-site irrigation reservoirs, create further problems and additional wetland modifications. An understanding of water use behaviors necessitates consideration of farm economics, water law, and farm policy structures. Our findings indicate that antiquated water law systems, combined with over allocation of water resources, constrains our ability to control water use whereas federal subsidies provide an economic stimulus to intensify and expand conflict among agricultural practices and water and wetland conservation. A new approach is needed that embraces the combined reality of globalized agriculture, the need for food and water security, and the value of environmental benefits provided by wetland and aquatic systems. We argue that changes in agricultural practices are coming regardless of whether they are planned or not because water use practices are not sustainable. However, if addressed now, we have a fleeting opportunity to minimize the collective impacts to wetland and aquatic resources and local agricultural communities. n Presented during S6: Wetland Wildlife in Natural, Managed, Reclaimed and Restored Wetlands I

RECENT CHANGES AND FUTURE UNCERTAINTY IN WHOOPING CRANES AND THEIR HABITATS ALONG THE TEXAS GULF OF MEXICO COAST

Smith, Elizabeth, International Crane Foundation Endangered Whooping Cranes migrate 4,000 km annually from breeding grounds in Northern Territories, Canada, to wintering grounds in coastal Texas, United States, and require vast expanses of fresh, brackish and saline wetlands. After reaching a record low of 16 individuals in 1941, the Whooping Crane population has grown to about 500 individuals through international species protection, habitat conservation, and public awareness efforts. However, wetland habitat loss and degradation on coastal wintering grounds remains the primary limiting factor for continued Whooping Crane recovery. Sea-level rise (SLR) along the Texas coast in United States is ~4 mm/yr, twice the global SLR rate due to regional land subsidence. Land change projections indicate a 50% loss of coastal marsh from 1-m SLR in next 75 years before increasing at about 2 m SLR. These changes exacerbate current wetland habitat loss due to urban and industrial expansion and increasing water offtake in river basins, further reducing coastal habitat quality. Heritage ranching families comprise a large proportion of the 85% privately owned lands along the Texas coast and are striving to continue their land legacy while providing high-quality, wildlife habitat. We introduce diverse opportunities to offset the cost of maintaining these working landscapes through conservation easement purchases, wetland/grassland restoration, improved water availability, and promoting ecotourism and carbon exchange programs. To mitigate for climate change, particularly sea level rise, we aim to conserve 51,000 ha of coastal marsh and 152,000 ha of coastal prairie, now and in the future. This long-term approach necessitates maintaining low-lying coastal prairie and managed weltand habitat that will become prime coastal marsh habitat in the next century. Envisioning and implementing conservation at this spatial and temporal scale will ensure the recovery of the Whooping Crane as well as maintain the preferred livelihoods in an agricultural environment. n Presented during S6: Wetland Wildlife in Natural, Managed, Reclaimed and Restored Wetlands II, 6/8/8, 2021 10:55AM - 12:45PM ET

AVIAN USE OF MARSH TERRACES IN GULF COASTAL WETLANDS McFarland, Madelyn, Mississippi State University Davis, Brian Reynolds, Larry Woodrey, Mark Brasher, Mike Coastal wetlands of the Gulf of Mexico support millions of migratory birds annually. However, between 2004 and 2009, Gulf states experienced 71% of the total decline of Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 217

coastal wetlands within the conterminous United States; Louisiana accounted for most of this loss. Marsh terracing is one method used to combat coastal wetland loss. This restoration technique uses in situ sediment to construct segmented ridges in open water areas of shallow, coastal wetlands to dissipate erosive wave energy, reduce turbidity, increase submerged aquatic vegetation production, and provide habitat for a diversity of avian and other wildlife species. Despite widespread use of marsh terraces in coastal restoration efforts, past research and monitoring have provided limited and inconclusive results on their value as avian habitat. Using both ground and aerial surveys, our study evaluates avian use of marsh terraces across 24 paired sites (terraced and non-terraced) in coastal Louisiana. Avian surveys focused on two guilds of birds: breeding secretive marsh birds and wintering waterfowl. Preliminary results from our first field season indicated: 1) overall, nonterraced sites were used by a greater abundance of secretive marsh birds than terraced sites 2) terraced sites had less secretive marsh bird species diversity than non-terraced sites, 3) and generally, wintering waterfowl species abundances varied spatially and temporally across terraced and non-terraced sites. Field efforts are ongoing, and data collection will be completed by July 2021. Future analysis will examine the relationship between avian use and habitat characteristics of study sites (e.g., submerged aquatic vegetation, diversity and structure of emergent vegetation). Our results will better inform decisions on restoration techniques used to minimize marsh loss and improve avian habitat at local and regional scales. n Presented during S6: Wetland Wildlife in Natural, Managed, Reclaimed and Restored Wetlands II

THE HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE OF PRIVATE LANDS FOR NORTH AMERICAN WATERFOWL CONSERVATION Brasher, Mike, Ducks Unlimited, Inc. Waterfowl conservation in North America provides an example of an abundant wildlife resource that was driven to alarmingly low levels due to unregulated exploitation of its populations and habitats, but which has since recovered due to cooperative efforts across multiple countries. Waterfowl conservation in North America began in earnest during the late 19th and early 20th Century and has developed through international treaties and national policy as well as regional partnerships and supporting efforts of private landowners. In recent years, significant accomplishments have been realized through public/private partnerships that use local knowledge and engagement with stakeholders to develop conservation programs that are compatible with landowner interests 218 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

and existing farming or ranching operations. Case studies from across North America demonstrate there exists no single “best” program for conserving waterfowl habitat (wetlands) on private lands, although a common denominator for success is robust support from an energized and resourceful partnership. Financial incentives provided a positive encouragement for participation, but private land programs will be most effective long-term when they incorporate the needs of private landowners and generate benefits beyond provision of wildlife habitat. Successful conservation of waterfowl populations into the future will require a suite of programs and strategies and will hinge on our ability to develop conservation solutions that provide mutual benefits to waterfowl and an increasingly diverse private landowner base. n Presented during S6: Wetland Wildlife in Natural, Managed, Reclaimed and Restored Wetlands II

WESTERN YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO NESTING HABITAT RESTORATION Stanek, Jenna, Los Alamos National Laboratory Wohner, Patti Cooper, Robert King, Sammy Laymon,Stephen Western Yellow-billed Cuckoos are a riparian obligate species and are listed as federally threatened under the Endangered Species Act in the United States. Their populations continue to decline despite efforts to increase availability of riparian forest. Breeding habitat requirements include large contiguous tracts of riparian forest (>80 ha), large estimated home ranges (16–90 ha), and dense canopy cover. However, local habitat scale features required for nesting may be missing in landscapes of predominantly mature riparian forest in California. We used historical nest data (n = 95) from the South Fork Kern River Valley, California from 1985–1996 to identify important vegetation features that may be missing in current riparian forests. We found yellow-billed cuckoos selected nest sites based on increased canopy cover within a 5 m radius of the nest and decreasing mean quadratic diameter at breast height; both of which are characteristics typical of young dense riparian vegetation. The absence of natural processes in the riparian systems studied results in a lack of early successional stage forest selected for nesting by this federally threatened species. While full hydrologic restoration in these systems is currently unfeasible, adaptive management strategies that use local hydrologic and forest management techniques implemented over a landscape scale

with temporal and spatial targets for early successional habitat could improve nesting conditions and potential recovery of this species. n

for application in a variety of shoreline conditions, to address the wicked problems that climate change, urbanization and legacy pollution present for salmon survival, ecological function and environmental justice. n

Presented during S7: Floating Treatment Wetlands, 6/8/2021 8:35AM - 10:25AM ET

Presented during S7: Floating Treatment Wetlands

DUWAMISH RIVER FLOATING WETLANDS PROJECT: SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL INNOVATION

THE DUWAMISH RIVER FLOATING WETLANDS PROJECT: RESEARCH OUTCOMES

Rottle, Nancy, University of Washington Engelke, Jen Andrews, Leann Bowles, Mason

Engelke, Jenn, University of Washington Andrews, Leann Bowles, Mason Rottle, Nancy

A third of Puget Sound’s coastline and 97% of Seattle’s urban core shoreline is armored, replacing historic wetland and riparian habitats that once lined the edges of rivers and estuaries and removing the food source, refuge, and ecological estuarine processes that five species of salmon require to survive. In the Duwamish River, juvenile salmon must swim from their natal streams through a gauntlet of urban industry and a toxic cocktail Superfund site to reach Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. Since traditional restoration is not possible where riverside industry provides essential services, innovative habitat restoration techniques for urban salmon migration corridors are required. The Duwamish River Floating Wetlands project combined design, research and community science to determine if constructed floating wetlands (CFWs) can increase salmon habitat and improve water quality to support the survival of outmigrating salmon smolts in these constrained environments. The scientific objectives of the project were to gather information about how floating wetlands could influence juvenile salmon and other fish behavior, invertebrate food source production, plant growth, and water quality related to fish habitat. At the same time, social objectives of the program were to engage community scientists in research activities, connect local residents to the river, and break through regulatory barriers to the implementation of floating wetlands. The project team designed, fabricated and deployed four “BioBarges” supporting two different floating wetland prototypes, testing both structure and several wetland plant species. Graduate students and community scientists monitored plant growth, invertebrates, fish and water quality effects of the prototypes at four shoreline sites in the estuary of the Duwamish River from March 2019–July 2020. Our suite of four presentations for the symposium will include 1) an introduction to the context, design and deployment, and research methods to assess the floating wetland prototypes; 2) our research results on plant growth, fish use, invertebrate production and water quality measures; 3) our two-year community science program and 4) implications for scaling up, funding and adapting these prototypes

The Duwamish River Floating Wetlands project deployed and monitored constructed floating wetlands (CFWs) during the 2019 and 2020 seasons of outmigrating juvenile salmon runs on the urban Duwamish River. CFWs are an innovative form of green infrastructure that may be used to enhance water quality and provide a range of other ecosystem services, including providing wetland and aquatic habitat along armored shorelines where traditional restoration is not feasible. The scientific objectives of the monitoring program were to gather information about how CFWs influence juvenile salmon behavior, invertebrate production, plant growth, and water quality in a proof-of-concept research study. Monitoring results included the growth of eight different species of native bulrush, the presence of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates which are known food sources for juvenile salmon smolts, observations of nearby juvenile salmon, and visits by river otters. Data from the first year (2019) showed low numbers of salmon compared to surrounding natural shorelines. Despite missing salmon, biofilters produced invertebrates and plant growth of four species that would theoretically create salmon habitat. A laboratory analysis of the biofilters also showed promise in remediating copper, lead, zinc, and nitrogen from the Duwamish River, an EPA superfund site. After the initial season, the biobarges were relocated closer to the shoreline, transferred to less saline conditions but still an estuary location, and redesigned to include a biofilter 2.0 prototype on the biobarge. Year two (2020) monitoring season included observations of juvenile salmon interacting with the biobarges and observation results trended toward greater salmon use of the biofilters than the control sites. The year one plant species thrived in a year two growth and new locations, while four new plant species showed promise in the new biofilters. Terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates trended toward greater collection at the biofilters than the control sites. Metal uptake was found in both types of biofilters. During field research and deconstruction of the biofilters, river otters, eels, and other wildlife were also found using the biobarges. The biobarges served as living Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 219

shorelines in a harsh environment that currently has limited salmon habitat. These living shorelines may provide critical missing wetland and aquatic habitat to restore juvenile salmon migration corridors. n

Suarez, Esteban, Universidad San Francisco de Quito Lilleskov, Erik Zurita-Arthos, Leo Chimner, Rodney Chimbolema, Segundo

Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools I, 6/8/2021 8:35AM - 10:25AM ET

Andean high-elevation (páramo) peatlands are an understudied and highly threatened ecosystem. Although these environments provide crucial ecosystem services throughout the Andean region in the form of water regulation, and carbon storage, traditional uses (agriculture, cattle grazing, water abstraction) have profound impacts on their structure and functioning. However, proper management and restoration of these peatlands is greatly hampered by a lack of baseline information and little local experience on available restoration approaches that could be adapted to the conditions of Andean peatlands. Here we report on a countryscale assessment of the conservation status of Ecuadorian páramo peatlands, discuss restoration/conservation opportunities for this ecosystem, and present three-year data on a pilot peatlands restoration project on Northern Ecuadorian peatlands. Preliminary analysis of national data on páramo peatlands shows a markedly contrasting picture. A large proportion of the páramo peatlands of the Eastern cordillera is in excellent condition, probably due to the remoteness and harsh climate of this region and, at least partially, to the presence of several protected areas. In contrast, most páramo peatlands in the Western cordillera either show signs of severe degradation, or have been completely transformed by grazing, agriculture, and water abstraction projects), especially in the central and southern highlands of Ecuador. Damage to many these Western peatlands results from they being the only wet spots in a relatively dry region, which historically put these ecosystems as hotspots for human occupation and use. Although these conditions make it difficult to find opportunities to start new restoration initiatives, our pilot project shows that functional and structural restoration of páramo peatlands can be achieved with low monetary investments and in relatively short periods of time. n

THE SWAMP INITIATIVE: INTEGRATION OF TROPICAL WETLAND RESEARCH, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE GLOBE Kolka, Randy, USDA Forest Service Carbon-rich tropical wetlands (mangroves and peatlands) are important in climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies and provide numerous ecosystem services such as storm protection, nursery areas for fish, habitat for rare species, long-term storage of carbon, and food, fiber, and fuel for humans. Because of their importance we developed the Sustainable Wetlands Adaptation and Mitigation Program (SWAMP) to assist countries with their accounting and conservation of tropical wetlands. SWAMP is a collaborative effort between the Center for International Forestry Research and the USDA Forest Service through support from the US Agency for International Development. The goal of SWAMP is to provide policy makers and natural resource professionals with credible information and training to make sound decisions regarding the role of tropical wetlands in climate change adaptation and mitigation. The SWAMP objectives are to: (1) Quantify greenhouse gas emissions from intact and disturbed wetlands; (2) Quantify carbon stocks of representative tropical wetlands; (3) Develop carbon modeling tools and scaling approaches using remote sensing; (4) Define roles for tropical wetlands in climate change adaptation strategies; and (5) Promote capacity building and outreach as integral parts of all activities. Over the 10+ years of SWAMP, the integration of research, outreach and policy has led to important changes both at the country scale and globally with regards to REDD+ programs, IPCC reporting, overall awareness of the importance of tropical wetlands in the global carbon balance, and considerably improved governmental responses to changing climate. n Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools III, 6/8/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

NEW INSIGHTS ON MOUNTAIN PEATLAND RESTORATION IN ECUADOR 220 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

Presented during S9: SWS Career Narratives: 2) Navigating a wetland scientist career: Lessons for the next generation (organized by Gary Ervin, Excerpts by Doug Wilcox), 6/8/2021 1:15PM - 3:05PM ET

LAND MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH IN WETLANDS Duever, Michael, Natural Ecosystems LLC I have always liked animals, especially reptiles. I originally kept them as pets, buying some and capturing others in the wild. I studied reptiles in college, and fish populations on my first professional job. As much as I enjoyed working with them, I eventually came to realize that these and

all other critters would only continue to exist in the wild if they had a place to live. This made me shift my focus from the animals themselves to trying to understand the environment upon which they depend, the ecological processes that created and maintained that environment, and how it can be affected by human actions. I have been able to gain experience working in a variety of terrestrial, wetland and freshwater aquatic habitats in a variety of geographic areas, including: 1) the Natural Audubon Society Research and Sanctuary Departments for twenty years at many natural and human-impacted areas across the United Sates; 2) The Nature Conservancy at the Disney Wilderness Preserve mitigation site in central Florida for seven years; and 3) the South Florida Water Management District on several very large restoration projects for the past twenty years. Over the years I have learned many lessons about how I could be most effective in helping to protect, restore and manage natural areas and their critters. Some of the more important aspects of my being able to make a difference include: 1) having a long-term, whole system perspective; 2) having an on-the-ground knowledge of the areas; and 3) working with others with a broad range of expertise and/or knowledge of each area. n Presented during S6: Wetland Wildlife in Natural, Managed, Reclaimed and Restored Wetlands II, 6/8/2021 10:55AM - 12:45PM ET

CHALLENGING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WESTERN YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO HABITAT NEEDS AND ACCEPTED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Wohner, Patti, Oregon State University Stanek, Jenna Cooper, Robert King, Sammy Laymon, Steven The focus of many riparian restoration efforts in the southwestern United States is the establishment of vegetative cover, often without re-establishment of flood dynamics. In the absence of flooding and gap forming disturbance, restored forests often senesce without tree recruitment. This has been common in California riparian systems, including those that historically supported federally threatened western Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus; Cuckoo). Multiple hypotheses exist for Cuckoo declines, but breeding ground habitat quality has not been sufficiently explored as a major contributing factor. We used a historical (1986–1996) spot mapping dataset from the South Fork Kern River Valley, CA to identify vegetation characteristics related to territory densities of Yellow-billed Cuckoo and five other sensitive riparian bird species. We found Cuckoo densities were

positively associated with increased vertical vegetative structure 1–5 m above ground with a threshold for mean tree height. Sensitive species densities were also related to vertical structure and started to decline with stand height greater than 6–8 m. Naturally regenerated sites had higher densities of most sensitive bird species than planted sites. Our data suggest that traditional restoration practices of simply planting trees without restoring hydrologic processes necessary to develop a complex canopy structure and to sustain early successional habitat on the landscape through a time scale appropriate for early successional stage species is insufficient for long-term population growth of these bird species. Hydrologic management to maintain sufficient soil moisture and partial canopy removal across space and time is one potential alternative to encourage natural regeneration and increased low to mid canopy layer characteristics used by these species of concern. The assumption that current riparian forest can function naturally is not supported by our results. n

Physical Science

Presented during CS10: Hydrology and Sediment, 6/8/2021 10:55AM 12:45PM ET

EVALUATION OF THE AQUIFER EXPLOITATION POTENTIAL IN A RIVERBANK FILTRATION SITE BASED ON SPATIOTEMPORAL VARIATION OF RIVERBED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY Cui, Geng, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Tong, Shouzheng River infiltration is an important part of groundwater resource recharging in riverbank filtration (RBF) sites. It is not only affected by the hydraulic gradient between river stage and groundwater table, but it also depends largely on the riverbed hydraulic conductivity (RHC). However, due to the hydrodynamic conditions and sediment thickness during the scouring and deposition process, the lithology of riverbed sediments undergoes strong spatial and temporal changes, which leads to strong uncertainty of RHC. The way in which river scouring and deposition influence the RHC is still not completely clear, resulting in the inaccuracies in calculation of the rate of river water infiltration to aquifer and in the distortion of regional groundwater resource quantity evaluation. Based on the knowledge of the geological and hydrogeological settings of a typical RBF site in the middle reaches of the second Songhua River in China, we determined the relationship between RHC and sediment particle size by stepwise reWetland Science & Practice July 2021 221

gression analysis and genetic algorithm. A hydrodynamic and sediment transport model was established based on Delft3D to simulate the spatial distribution of sediment particle size. On this basis, a numerical model of groundwater flow was established using Visual MODFLOW, in which the river boundary was generalized into the third type of boundary condition and RHC zoning was performed to improve the accuracy of the model simulation. We found that the aquifer exploitation potential varies in different hydrological conditions. Groundwater pumping plan should be administered according to the changes in the river hydrological characteristics to avoid a series of ecological and geological problems caused by the excessive exploitation of groundwater. n Presented during CS10: Hydrology and Sediment

FLOODPLAIN/STREAMBANK MODULATION OF RIVER LOADS OF SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENTS, FROM REACHES TO WATERSHEDS TO REGIONS Noe, Gregory, USGS Florence Bascom Geoscience Center Hupp, Cliff Schenk, Edward Hopkins, Kristina Ahmed, Labeeb Metes, Marina Claggett, Peter Doody, Thomas Floodplain/streambank modulation of river loads of sediment and nutrients, from reaches to watersheds to regions Greg Noe, Krissy Hopkins, Peter Claggett, Cliff Hupp, Ed Schenk, Marina Metes, Labeeb Ahmed, Dianna Hogan Floodplains and streambanks play a key role in watershed nutrient and sediment transport and stream water quality; however, current understanding, data density, and tools are insufficient to make spatially-explicit, quantitative predictions of sediment and nutrients fluxes across multiple spatial scales. We measured bank erosion and floodplain deposition over decadal time scales using dendrogeomorphology, sediment characteristics, and reach geomorphology along 67 stream reaches that represent the diversity of geology and land-use of the mid-Atlantic U.S. The magnitude of measured fluxes of sediment and associated N, P, and C of floodplains or streambanks was similar across Valley and Ridge, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain physiographic provinces, while smaller fluxes were measured in the mountainous Appalachian Plateau and Blue Ridge. The average sediment flux of floodplain deposition within a reach was twice that of streambank erosion, with 41 sites being net depositional, and a few sites had substantial 222 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

floodplain deposition. We developed regression models that used upstream watershed attributes and lidar derived reach-scale geomorphometry to extrapolate fluxes to the larger regional network of reaches. Reach geomorphometry was estimated everywhere LiDAR was available, using a new geospatial toolkit. Preliminary models show moderate predictability of fluxes that enable predictions for each of the stream reaches of the combined Chesapeake and Delaware River watersheds. Summing these predicted reach fluvial fluxes, along with predictions of upland erosion, sediment delivery to streams, and measured river loads, generates high-resolution sediment and associated N and P and C mass balances for the region’s watersheds. The sediment mass balance demonstrates that streambank erosion and floodplain deposition loading are offset and exceed measured river loads by a factor of two. However, floodplain deposition of N, P, and C greatly exceeded streambank erosion. In conclusion, the fluvial exchange of sediment between streams and floodplains is critically important for understanding watershed sources, sinks, and transport of sediment and nutrients. Our approach for measuring and modeling floodplain/streambank fluxes offers a scalable method for developing spatially explicit models of geomorphic and water quality processes. n Presented during CS6: Climate Disruption, 6/3/2021 6:55PM 8:45PM ET

ASSESSMENT OF CARBON STORAGE POTENTIAL OF FORESTED WETLAND SOILS AS AFFECTED BY URBANIZATION DEGREE IN TWO PHYSIOGRAPHIC PROVINCES OF VIRGINIA, USA Ledford, Kathryn, George Mason University Ahn, Changwoo Schmidt, Stephanie This study assessed carbon storage potential in terms of total carbon (TC) and total carbon stocks (TC stocks) in soils of four forested wetlands in Northern Virginia along with associated soil physicochemistry [e.g., soil pH, bulk density (Db), and gravimetric soil moisture (GSM)]. The study sites were selected across two vastly different degrees of urbanization (urban [U]; non-urban [N]) and the two main physiographic provinces of the region (Piedmont; Coastal Plain). Soils were sampled and analyzed at three depth intervals (0-10cm; 10-20cm; 20-30cm). No significant differences were found in TC (3.07 ± 0.31% [U]; 3.82 ± 0.40%; [N]) or TC stocks (2.81 ± 0.35 kg∙m2 [U]; 3.58 ± 0.28 kg∙m-2 [N]) between urbanization degrees (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in TC stocks by physiographic province (p >0.05), however,

Coastal Plain wetland soils had higher TC than the Piedmont wetlands (4.32 ± 0.41%; 2.57 ± 0.22%, p < 0.05). Db and GSM were significantly different along urbanization degree and physiography, and were highly correlated to TC, being able to estimate the total variability of TC to a significant degree (R2 = 0.39 and R2 = 0.47, all p < 0.05). The outcome shows that urban wetlands fairly mirror the carbon storage potential of non-urban wetlands and more likely so in the Coastal Plain than in the Piedmont, especially in their top 10 cm of soils. Further studies may be warranted across an urbanizing landscape to elucidate carbon storage potentials of urban wetlands that can combat urban carbon emissions. n Presented during CS7: Identification, Delineation, and Functional Assessment, 6/8/2021 8:35AM - 10:25AM ET

RATE OF IRON MONOSULFIDE FORMATION IN S-RICH WETLAND SOILS Duball, Chelsea, University of Wyoming Beaudette, Dylan Vaughan, Karen Andersen, Megan Indicator of Reduction in Soil (IRIS) films are a unique tool used to measure anaerobic conditions, in contribution towards hydric soil identification, and therefore wetland identification. IRIS films are typically used to quantify anaerobic conditions in soils via the visualization of iron (Fe) reduction, whereby the orange ironoxide (Fe3+) paint on the film disappears under reducing conditions when Fe3+ is reduced to soluble Fe2+, thus leaving behind the white color of the bare polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film. Alternatively, under oxidationreduction levels well below the range of Fe-reduction, sulfate (SO42-) reduces to sulfide (S2- and H2S), which is prone to react with the orange Fe3+ paint on IRIS films, resulting in the precipitation of insoluble, blackcolored iron monosulfide (FeS). While only a few studies have investigated the precipitation of FeS on IRIS films, it is understood that FeS forms exclusively under strongly reducing soil conditions. However, the Hydric Soils Technical Standard only includes visual evidence of Fe-reduction on IRIS films in the criteria used to quantify anaerobic soil conditions. Therefore, the rate of FeS formation on IRIS films remains relatively unknown and current IRIS methods may not capture anaerobic conditions accurately in S-rich systems. Our study investigated the rate of FeS formation to identify the amount of time needed to capture the maximum precipitation of FeS on IRIS films. To determine the rate and magnitude of FeS precipitation on IRIS films, five replicate

films were deployed in a wet, gypsum-rich soil, across eleven different time periods ranging from 2 minutes to 30 days. Results show that FeS can precipitate on IRIS films in as short as two minutes and the highest average amount of FeS (82%) precipitated in just one day. After one day, the percentage of FeS precipitated on IRIS films decreased and visual evidence of Fe-reduction (white color-change) became more apparent. Our results suggest that the recommended 30-day deployment period for IRIS films is too long to accurately capture the precipitation of FeS on IRIS devices, especially in S-rich systems. These considerations should be incorporated into standard IRIS protocols used to quantify anaerobic conditions in soils. n Presented during S14: The Role of Wetland Health and Recovery Assessments in Water Supply Decision-Making I, 6/10/2021 3:35PM - 5:25PM ET

HYDROPERIODS OF CYPRESS DOMES IN WESTCENTRAL FLORIDA, USA Cameron, Cortney, Southwest Florida Water Management District Hancock, Michael The depth and duration of standing water in wetlands are critical factors defining habitat type and overall ecologic value in the landscape. A better understanding of these relationships can improve our ability to define limits of hydrologic impacts, beyond which wetland functions can be greatly damaged. The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Tampa Bay Water have been monitoring water levels in wetlands in west-central Florida for over 40 years. The District’s database includes water level data for over 500 wetlands, most with 10 to 40 years of at least monthly daily data. From this database, 41 cypress dome wetlands lacking substantial anthropogenic impacts on hydrology were selected for analysis of annual hydroperiods, defined here as the number of days per calendar year that water levels exceed a specific depth. The effects of data sampling frequency and length of data on hydroperiod calculations were also evaluated. On average, the cypress domes had at least some surface water present for approximately 215 to 325 days per year and were fully inundated for approximately 5 to 20 days. We find that approximately twice monthly water level data collection for ten years represents a minimum data sampling frequency and data length target for characterizing cypress dome hydroperiods. The results provide insights into how hydroperiods can vary in time and space while delineating typical baseline hydroperiod ranges for cypress domes in the west-central Florida study area. More broadly, and applicable to wetWetland Science & Practice July 2021 223

lands worldwide, the work underscores the need to contextualize hydroperiods relative to depth threshold and data collection characteristics in order to better understand hydroperiods within and between wetlands. n

expanding groundwater use, shifts in federal environmental protections and a changing climate. Lessons learned are intended to advance understanding and inspire further study for their long-term management and protection. n

Presented during S14: The Role of Wetland Health and Recovery Assessments in Water Supply Decision-Making I

Presented during S14: The Role of Wetland Health and Recovery Assessments in Water Supply Decision-Making II, 6/10/2021 5:55PM - 7:45PM ET

THE PECULIAR NATURE OF FLORIDA’S SANDHILL WETLANDS, PONDS & LAKES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE REGIONAL AQUIFER Nowicki, ReNae, EcoHydrologix LLC / School of Geosciences, University of South Florida Rains, Mark Embedded in the sandhill of west-central Florida (xeric communities on rolling hills and ridges of marine sands) are a peculiar type of wetland, pond, and lake referred to locally as the “sandhill” type. Formed in karst and completely surrounded by uplands, their peculiarity lies in their distinct hydrologic cycle, which ranges widely over both time and space. The high points of these cycles, which occur infrequently, create a false sense of normality that is not met during the remainder of the cycle, when surface water may be shallow or absent for extended periods of time. This, and the sometimes depauperate ecology that establishes in response, produces fodder for myths and misunderstanding of their true ecohydrologic nature. Their peculiarity is a function of their connectivity to a regional water-supply aquifer, the Upper Floridan aquifer (U Fldn)—part of the massive Floridan Aquifer System, which underlies all of Florida and portions of five other states. This connectivity sets them apart from other types of isolated wetlands, ponds, and lakes in Florida, including cypress domes, freshwater marshes, wet prairies and the numerous lakes densely dotting the landscape. It also sets them apart from isolated wetlands beyond the state, like the Carolina Bays of the Atlantic Coast, kettle ponds of Alaska, prairie potholes of the Great Basin, and isolated ponds and lakes elsewhere. Hydrologic control by groundwater of a regional aquifer places sandhill wetlands, ponds, and lakes at the far end of the hydrologic continuum, opposite rain-driven features and more distinct than groundwater-driven features of a surficial aquifer. Presented here are lessons learned from recent research into sandhill wetland, pond, and lake ecohydrology: physical and chemical evidence of their connectivity to the U Fldn; a model for their mechanisms of connectivity; and models for their resulting ecohydrology. Sandhill features, while unique, contribute important functions on the landscape and are vulnerable to increasing uncertainty associated with 224 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

ESTIMATING INTERMITTENT STREAMFLOW RATES BETWEEN GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED WETLANDS AND RIVERS USING WATERSHED TERRAIN AND HISTORICAL RUNOFF Fouad, Geoffrey, Monmouth University Rains, Kai Lee, Terrie In regions where wetlands regularly/seasonally flood, wetland overflows can produce intermittent streamflow in tributaries that connect geographically isolated wetlands to distant rivers. The lack of comparable, region-wide information on the location and magnitude of intermittent streamflow generated by wetlands has hampered efforts to adequately prioritize and protect wetlands and the natural tributaries connecting them to rivers. The present study combines national long-term streamflow data and high-resolution light detection and ranging (LiDAR) terrain data to organize wetlands along tributaries and estimate the streamflow rate between wetlands and rivers in a 1505-square-kilometer area north of Tampa Bay, Florida. Gaged streamflows at the outlets of watersheds are converted to runoff per unit area (i.e. meters per square kilometer) assuming different parts of the watershed have the same potential to generate runoff. LiDAR data are used to map the area upslope of each 0.76 × 0.76 meter (2.5 × 2.5 feet) grid cell. Upslope area is then multiplied by runoff depth to generate a cubic meters per second grid, which is used to classify tributaries according to flow magnitude. Calculated average annual or monthly runoff is used to estimate intermittent streamflow across the region for wet and dry seasons, and for years before and after groundwater pumping cutbacks from large municipal well fields. Field surveys are used to verify intermittent streamflow at tributaries classified with flow rates at and below the one cubic foot per second average annual threshold used to designate federally protected waterways in the United States. n

Presented during S14: The Role of Wetland Health and Recovery Assessments in Water Supply Decision-Making II

FIELD VALIDATION OF THE NATIONAL HYDROGRAPHY DATASET AND A REGIONAL HYDROGRAPHY DATASET IN TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA, USA Fransbergen, Savannah, University of South Florida Fouad, Geoffrey Rains, Kai Rains, Mark Wetlands lacking surface-water connections to downstream waters are often afforded less protections than their hydrologically connected counterparts, thus, it is important such connections be accurately mapped. We conducted field validation and GIS analysis to assess the accuracy of surface-water flowpath networks depicted in two hydrography datasets, the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) and a Regional Hydrography Dataset (RHD) in the Northern Tampa Bay area. The RHD, a product developed for local water management purposes, combines LiDAR data with long-term streamflow records to generate a cubic meter-per-second grid which is then used to predict the location and magnitude of streams and other waterways during specific seasons, months, or annual averages. Our study area (150,500 ha) includes more than 6,000 small wetlands and waterbodies (mean: 7 ha) which comprise approximately 27% of the landscape. We looked for wet-season flow at 241 field sites (2019, 2020) where flow was either predicted by the NHD or the RHD, or between wetlands where no flow was predicted by either dataset. When the NHD or RHD predicted the presence of a flowpath, one was observed in the field greater than 80% of the time. However, the RHD depicted a far more extensive network than the NHD (RHD: 1,698 km, NHD: 931 km). This resulted in 70% more individual wetlands and 43% more wetland area connected by surface-water flowpaths to downgradient wetlands and waterways. Wet-season field work revealed that both products under-estimated surfacewater connections between wetlands, but the wet-season RHD performed better than the annual average RHD (e.g., a 31% lower error of omission) and considerably better than the NHD (e.g., a 54% lower error of omission). These results indicate landscape-level estimates of hydrological connectivity differ between hydrography datasets, with regional and seasonal input leading to greater accuracy. However, these results also indicate that accurate site-specific determination of surface water connections, particularly where one is not predicted to occur, may still require field verification. n

Presented during S4: Novel approaches to quantifying synergistic interactions between climate and land-use change on prairie-pothole wetlands I, 6/1/2021 8:35-10:25AM ET

3-D HYDROLOGIC MODELING OF THE DYNAMICS OF WETLAND HABITAT NETWORKS IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS Liu, Ganming, Bowling Green State University Links between climatic forcing and wetland habitats can be conceptualized using a graph-theoretical approach, which treats open-water wetlands as nodes to map habitat connectivity and wetland networks for ecological analysis. The first and most crucial step in creating such networks, however, is to characterize the dynamic behaviors of the nodes, i.e., the occurrence of wetlands with ponded water. This study applied a 3-D, fully integrated surface and subsurface flow model, HydroGeoSphere (HGS), to simulate the hydrologic dynamics of wetlands in the northern Great Plains (NGP) and to characterize the resulting habitat networks as responses to climatic variability. Results show HGS was able to simulate water movement in both surface and subsurface domains and capture spatially-explicit, dynamic behaviors of wetlands (e.g., “fill-spill”, coalescence, and disaggregation) as they responded to wet and dry climatic conditions. Our network analysis based on the HGS results illustrated broad differences in network connectivity, ranging from near total fragmentation of wetlands to strong ecological connectivity, as the climate varied from drought to deluge. In other words, wetland networks in the NGP could easily shrink, degrade, or even collapse when the climate becomes drier. The use of HGS in assessing wetland habitat connectivity in this study obviously presents a novel application of sophisticated hydrologic models and demonstrates their potential to solve critical ecological and water-resources problems in the NGP. n Presented during S4: Novel approaches to quantifying synergistic interactions between climate and land-use change on prairie-pothole wetlands I

SIMULATING CATCHMENT RESPONSE TO CLIMATE AND LAND USE CHANGE USING CATCHMENT CLASSIFICATION AND VIRTUAL BASIN MODELLING Spence, Christopher, Environment and Climate Change Canada Mekonnen, Balew Whitfield, Colin Wolfe, Jared Pomeroy, John Shook, Kevin He, Zhihua Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 225

Historic and projected climate change in addition to constantly evolving agricultural practices make it difficult to disentangle the influence of climate and land use decisions on Canadian Prairie streamflow regimes and water availability. This paper aims to describe the development and application of a basin classification-based virtual model platform that can be used to enhance understanding of how climate and wetland drainage each control Prairie basin hydrology. Each 100 km2 basin in the Canadian Prairie ecozone was classified into one of seven types using a hierarchical clustering of principle components. The modelling platform has been applied to investigate the hydrological sensitivity of two Prairie basin classes (High Elevation Grasslands and Pothole Till) to changes in climate and wetland extent. The experiments revealed that snowpacks are highly sensitive to changes in climate, and this varies geographically and between the two classes. Spring maximum snow water equivalent can decrease 9% per degree °C of warming, but this can be offset with increases in mean annual precipitation. Wetland drainage enhances annual streamflow volume, more so during wet conditions. The platform is designed to expand and provide linkages to water chemistry, groundwater and biodiversity models to generate information on how multiple systems may respond to stress. These results are being developed in partnership with stakeholders, and communicated to decision-makers to inform agricultural beneficial management practices and wetland management. n Presented during S4: Novel approaches to quantifying synergistic interactions between climate and land-use change on prairie-pothole wetlands II, 6/1/2021 10:55AM- 12:45PM ET

NEW INSIGHTS ON THE ROLE OF WETLANDS IN CONFERRING WATERSHED HYDROLOGIC RESISTANCE Creed, Irena, University of Saskatchewan Paltsev, Aleksey Ameli, Ali Lane, Charles Golden, Heather Leibowitz, Scott Hydrologic resistance is a watershed’s ability to absorb or contend with disturbances while maintaining or quickly recovering hydrologic functional traits. Here, we explore the importance of vulnerable waters – such as wetlands – in conferring a watershed’s hydrologic resistance at national scales. We used a framework that quantifies and compares the hydrologic values of wetlands of different types (surface/subsurface), locations (far or near to stream), and connectivity (low versus 226 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

high connectivity) to explore the relationships between wetlands and hydrologic resistance in relatively undisturbed catchments throughout the conterminous United States. We measured hydrologic resistance as the degree to which discharge (Q) is coupled with precipitation (P) (i.e., the slope of the P vs. Q correlation) – watersheds that store water and release it gradually to the stream have a high resistance (low P-Q correlation). In contrast, watersheds that do not hold water and release it quickly to the stream have low resistance (high P-Q correlation). We considered factors that influence the way a watershed collects, stores and releases water, and links P to Q. We included: (1) “distal factors” such as estimated water balance as indicated by the theoretic energy (potential evapotranspiration (PET)/P) and water (actual evapotranspiration (AET)/P) limits and synchrony between P and temperature (T) phases; and (2) “proximal factors” [e.g., the potential volumetric storage capacity of a wetland, the residence time of water stored within it, the location of a wetland to a nearby stream – and its hydrologic connectivity to the stream]. As expected, we found that for watersheds that are in phase, where at the extremes, peak P and peak temperature (T) are in July, low connectivity wetlands conferred higher hydrologic resistance. However, not expected, we found that for watersheds that are out of phase, where at the extremes, peak P is in January, and peak temperature is in July, low connectivity wetlands conferred lower hydrologic resistance. Wetlands vary in the manner in which they affect hydrologic resistance, based on their hydrologic connectivity and P and T synchrony. Our findings led us to develop new conceptual models of the role of wetlands in conferring watershed hydrologic resistance that are being further explored. n

Policy Presented during CS5: Worldly Wetlands II, 6/3/2021 6:55PM 8:45PM ET

TRANSBOUNDARY WETLANDS: EXPLORING FORMAL MECHANISMS FOR COOPERATION Rosenblum, Zoe, Oregon State University and IHE-Delft Institute for Water Education Despite increased understanding of the benefits of wetlands, global wetland area continues to decrease. Wetlands are being lost at an alarming rate, and with them, biodiversity, floodwater storage, water purification, and countless other functions. There is little information available about mechanisms to manage transboundary wetlands.

While the Ramsar Convention is one international mechanism for wetland governance, there are very few cases in which all riparian parties have jointly designated a Transboundary Ramsar Site. Most research on transboundary wetlands explores specific conflicts or management issues or argues for or against the Ramsar Convention as a legal tool to manage wetlands. However, little research explores institutions for managing transboundary wetlands. Furthermore, while there is much evidence that freshwater resources are a source of cooperation, there is emphasis on rivers and wetlands are largely absent from the discourse. This research employs document analysis, coding, and spatial analysis to explore how transboundary wetlands are managed. The products of this research are: a database of the world’s transboundary wetlands; an in-depth analysis of the management of the Wadden Sea, Okavango Delta, and the Hamoun Wetlands; and a discussion of factors that may contribute to cooperation over transboundary wetlands. n Presented during CS5: Worldly Wetlands II

YOUTH ENGAGED IN WETLANDS: A GLOBAL NETWORK TO CONSERVE WETLANDS, TOWARDS YOUTH REPRESENTATION IN THE RAMSAR CONVENTION E. Sanchez, Maria, University of Saskatchewan Sharma, Bidhya Jones, Dylan Allély-Fermé, Elise Lobato-de Magalhães, Tatiana The continuing and alarming decline of wetlands worldwide constitutes an urgent call-to-action for all generations to join efforts in conserving and using wetlands wisely. Youth Engaged in Wetlands (YEW) is an international network whose mission is to provide a global platform for youth worldwide, to enable and empower them to promote wetland conservation. YEW aims to build greater sense of ownership of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands’ mission among youth, through networking and capacity building. YEW’s vision is to be the leading youth network at the global level for wetlands and a valued stakeholder for the Ramsar Convention. The YEW team is composed of students and young professionals working on a range of wetland types worldwide. Following the Ramsar Convention’s 13th Conference of the Parties (COP) in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), YEW created a strategy for the period from 2019 until 2021 when the Convention will hold its 14th COP in Wuhan (China). The strategy is based on four objectives. Objective 1 involves the development, management, and coordination of this international network. Objective 2 includes establishing a

knowledge-sharing platform to increase the understanding of the challenges and opportunities for youth engagement in the Ramsar Convention and wetland conservation. Objective 3 aims to build participation of youth in decisionmaking and establish a formal mechanism for intergenerational cooperation within the Ramsar Convention and beyond. Finally, objective 4 strives to build networks with youth and their organizations, and contribute to communicating youth stories and the importance of wetlands. The network is committed to interdisciplinary and intergenerational collaboration to support the mission to save wetlands worldwide. n Presented during CS9: Policy, Tuesday, June 8, 2021 10:55AM 12:45PM ET

ROLLBACK OF US FEDERAL WETLAND PROTECTIONS: IMPLICATIONS FOR WETLAND ACRES AND FUNCTIONS IN WISCONSIN Miller, Nick, The Nature Conservancy Gries, Ashley Smith, Chris Kline, Joanne Wagner, John Jack, Loretha Bernnthal, Tom Waters of the US (WOTUS) rules define which wetlands and waterbodies receive federal protection under the Clean Water Act (CWA). These definitions have been debated in courts and subject to change since the CWA’s inception. The 2020 WOTUS Rule, called the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, is less restrictive than previous iterations, limiting CWA wetland jurisdiction to sites adjacent to—and typically annually inundated by—relatively permanent surface waters. These changes will eliminate federal regulatory protections for many wetlands and put at risk wetland services such as flood abatement, water quality protection, carbon storage, and shoreline protection. However, the extent of impact was not assessed during rule formation. Wisconsin’s Green Fire and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) conducted a case study to assess the likelihood of Wisconsin wetlands losing CWA protections using a GIS-based hydrogeomorphic approach. These data were developed earlier as part of Wetlands by Design, a statewide wetland ecosystem service assessment conducted by TNC and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that considers wetland hydrologic inputs, outputs, water flow paths, and association with waterbodies using the LLWW Classification System. Results suggest 3.5 milWetland Science & Practice July 2021 227

lion acres (55% statewide, ranging from 14% to 72% across Wisconsin’s HUC6 watersheds) or more of Wisconsin’s remaining wetlands would lose federal protection. These data also allow for estimation of the wetland area important for a range of ecosystem services that would no longer be protected under federal jurisdiction. Statewide, 2.5 million acres or more of wetlands that contribute to managing flood waters would no longer be federally protected, with northern Wisconsin watersheds most at risk. We recommend similar hydrogeomorphic modeling, nationwide, to assess wetland connectivity with adjacent and downstream waters and inform the development of a science based WOTUS Rule. Further, a broad array of wetland conservation activities can benefit from application of the LLWW Classification System and additional GIS-based assessment tools used in Wetlands by Design. n Presented during S13: A Universal Declaration on Rights of Wetlands: Shifting our Paradigm Restores the Human-Wetland Relationship in Support of Wetland Restoration, Conservation and Wise Use, 6/10/2021 3:35PM - 5:25PM ET

CULTURAL, LOCAL COMMUNITY AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ ISSUES FOR A DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WETLANDS Simpson, Matthew, 35percent Pritchard, Dave Much of the recent growth in contemporary formal recognition of the rights of nature draws on improved understandings about the belief systems and traditional practices of Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs). The cultural and linguistic heritage of IPLCs contributes to the world’s diversity. Their knowledge and practices have enhanced respect for the environment and natural resources, often offering models of sustainable approaches to water security, food security, health and well-being. Rights of wetlands can be an important component of enlightened and holistic approaches of this kind, which see the human species as part of the ecosystem rather than apart from it. Increasing evidence suggests that land demarcated as Indigenous Lands protects the natural environment through reduced rates of wetland degradation and deforestation, less habitat conversion and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to surrounding areas. Traditional knowledge and management practices often play a significant role in protecting crucial habitats and the socio-ecological systems they support. The United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples addresses the most significant issues affecting indigenous peoples - their civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights. A declaration of wetland 228 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

rights needs to fit with this philosophy, and to support the wisdom and rights of IPLCs with respect to the landscape and their relationship with wetlands. This paper sets out some key ingredients of the required approach. n Presented during S13: A Universal Declaration on Rights of Wetlands: Shifting our Paradigm Restores the Human-Wetland Relationship in Support of Wetland Restoration, Conservation and Wise Use

INNOVATING TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE DESTABILIZATION AND BIODIVERSITY COLLAPSE: A DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WETLANDS Davies, Gillian, BSC Group, Inc./Tufts University Global Development and Environment Institute Finlayson, Max Despite establishment of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971), and many wetlands conservation and restoration efforts at national and sub-national levels, wetland loss and degradation continue apace, and are part of a larger trend in ecosystem and biodiversity loss and degradation. The current paradigm for conservation of wetlands is failing to meet stated goals. In the context of climate destabilization, the need to reverse these trends is urgent. Often led by local and Indigenous peoples, a global rights of Nature movement is shifting the ethical and legal paradigm for the human-Nature relationship. As wetland professionals, how can we respond to larger trends? A group of wetland and climate scientists, through the SWS Climate Change & Wetlands Initiative and Ramsar Section, proposes a Universal Declaration of the Rights of Wetlands with the goal of shifting our relationship with wetland ecosystems. Acknowledging inherent rights of wetlands and their legal personhood, as Indigenous people have done for millennia, and as many scientists and philosophers have done throughout history, returns to values and modes of thinking that modernity has typically pushed to the margins. In reconsidering our place in the community of beings making up the Earth community, we can restructure our relationships with wetlands. By embracing relational values with Nature, such as reciprocity, gratitude, responsibility, and acknowledgement of the personhood of Nature we shift decision-making away from exploitation, depletion, degradation and loss, and towards real conservation, restoration, re-wilding and remembering our integrated and relational presence as a part of Nature. n Presented during S13: A Universal Declaration on Rights of Wetlands: Shifting our Paradigm Restores the Human-Wetland Relationship in Support of Wetland Restoration, Conservation and Wise Use

THE RIGHTS OF WETLANDS IN SUPPORT OF A SAFE CLIMATE AND EFFECTIVE WETLAND RESTORATION – THE CHARTER MODEL

Moomaw, Bill Wetlands are an integral component of the global ecosystem that connects through gas exchange with the atmosphere. Wetlands sequester carbon dioxide and respire both carbon dioxide and methane. They support large amounts of biological diversity including migratory birds that connect local wetlands to global biodiversity. Current attempts to declare that wetlands have a fundamental right to exist can learn from previous declarations on the rights of nature that have utilized the charter model. We will examine two examples, the World Charter for Nature (WCN) (1982) and the World Charter – 1999, and determine if either provides a suitable model for a declaration of the rights of nature. WCN contains strong statements on the value of nature, and defines five principles for conserving it. The Charter was engraved in bronze tablets that were placed outside the common meeting room of the General Assembly that endorsed it. The Earth Charter is a civil society initiative that has been endorsed by UNESCO and many societal groups including indigenous people and some representatives from government including mayors and other officials. It was proposed by Maurice Strong and Michael Gorbachev as the World Commission on Environment and Development was drafting Our Common Future in 1987, the report that defined sustainable development. In many ways it provides a template for more recent proposals for the Green New Deal in the United States and the Green Deal in Europe. Like those efforts, at creates a global order that links environmental conservation with socio-economic issues. This analysis seeks to determine whether either of these two charters provide a useful structure or precedent for a Declaration of the Rights of Wetlands. n Presented during S13: A Universal Declaration on Rights of Wetlands: Shifting our Paradigm Restores the Human-Wetland Relationship in Support of Wetland Restoration, Conservation and Wise Use

WHY COULD A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS OF WETLANDS SUPPORT WETLAND WISE USE? Davidson, Nick We face a recognised global biodiversity crisis. Wetlands are not exempt. In 1971, 50 years ago, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was established by governments because of then increasing concerns over wetland loss and degradation – and its impacts on wetland-dependent species. But since 1970 the area of wetlands has progressively continued to decline, through deliberate drainage and conversion, in all parts of the world. Deterioration in the state of our remaining wetlands is becoming progressively more widespread, including for designated Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites). Populations

of freshwater species have declined since 1970 far more than species depending on other biomes. For wetlands, the world’s governments have not met their 2020 Aichi Targets for biodiversity. Nor are they on track to deliver the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for wetlands. Yet governments are just continuing “business as usual”: in 2021 they are preparing to adopt yet another set of goals and targets, for 2030 – and the draft targets are very similar to previous targets. Nature conservation actions and protected area approaches for wetlands have failed to deliver, and will likely continue to fail: the drive for economic growth, rather than truly sustainable development, continues to over-ride achieving wetland wise use. So, we all need to change our mindsets and approaches and develop new paradigms to achieve such wise use. That’s what we are here to explore and discuss in this symposium. n Presented during S2: Building Tribal Wetland Program Capacity and a National Framework for Advancement within the United States II, 6/1/2021 10:55AM- 12:45PM ET

STARTING AND SUSTAINING A TRIBAL WETLAND PROGRAM Jones, Mike, Stockbridge-Munsee Community Many tribes have benefited from the development of a formal wetland program. A stand-alone program allows for a more targeted approach that incorporates wetlandspecific activities to effectively manage these valuable resources. Once a program has been developed, sustaining the program becomes a major and ongoing challenge in the face of funding, staffing, and time constraints. No two tribes or tribal wetland programs are the same, but programs can be run successfully and sustainably through careful planning, strategic thinking, communication, and creativity. This presentation will cover tips, strategies, challenges, and lessons learned to help guide any tribe that is considering starting a wetland program, or tribes focused on maintaining their program. It will include ideas and advice for funding, creating a Wetland Program Plan, developing partnerships, and utilizing resources available to tribes. n

Presented during S6: Wetland Wildlife in Natural, Managed, Reclaimed and Restored Wetlands II, 6/8/2021 10:55AM - 12:45PM ET

CONSERVATION EASEMENTS FOR “NATURAL RELATIVELY NATURAL HABITAT OF FISH, WILDLIFE, OR PLANTS, OR SIMILAR ECOSYSTEM” IN THE U.S. TAX CODE Nyman, John, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 229

Conservation easements allow landowners to transfer developmental rights to another organization that will not develop the land. Conservation easements are one answer to challenges to wildlife conservation posed by private land ownership. For example, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) enrolled over 2.7 million acres of wetlands on private lands. Most wildlife professionals probably believe that those easements, purchased with taxpayer’s money, contributed to wildlife conservation. A different program recently attracted negative attention. The U.S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service estimated that between 2010 and 2017, private investors used syndicated permanent conservation easements to claim $26.8 billion in charitable contribution deductions that lowered their federal income tax by approximately $10.6 billion. Unfortunately, a 2020 report by U.S. Senate, Committee on Finance identified numerous commercial valuations of land that appeared so inflated that they represented abusive tax shelters. A second problem may have developed with that program. Until 2018, there was little question what constituted “relatively natural habitat of fish, wildlife, or plants, or similar ecosystem” in the U.S. Tax code. In 2018 for example, the U.S. Tax Court ruled that a golf course “neither provides a habitat for rare, threatened, or endangered species nor is a natural area that contributes to the ecological viability of an adjacent National Forest.” I currently believe that most members of the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) and The Wildlife Society (TWS) would recognize the definition of “relatively natural habitat of fish, wildlife, or plants, or similar ecosystem” used in that decision. That decision was overturned in 2020 by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh District. I currently believe that most members of SWS or TWS would not recognize definition of “relatively natural habitat of fish, wildlife, or plants, or similar ecosystem” used by the 2020 decision. I also believe that conservation easements will lack conservation value in the physical world if the 2020 definition used by the Court of Appeals persists. I urge wildlife professionals to be ready with amicus curiae brief summarizing the use of the terms “habitat” and “ecosystem” in conservation if the 2020 decision regarding “relatively natural habitat of fish, wildlife, or plants, or similar ecosystem” persists in the U.S. Tax Code. n Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools II, 6/8/2021 10:55AM - 12:45PM ET

EFFECTIVENESS OF FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR MANGROVE PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT IN VIETNAM 230 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

Thu Thuy, Pham, CIFOR Dao Thi Linh, Chi Pham Duc, Chien Nguyen Viet, Hoa Trang Dao Le, Huyen Hoang Tuan, Long Vu Tan, Phuong Thuy Pham, Thu Nguyen Dinh, Tien Nguyen Van, Truong Mangroves play an important role in providing goods (forest products and fishery resources) and environmental services, both to the marine environment and people. However, in Vietnam, mangrove forests have been threatened by economic pressures and climate change. Since 1990s, the government of Vietnam has issued a large number of policies and donors have funded a large number of projects promote mangrove conservation activities. These policies and projects aim to create financial incentives to motivate forest owners to protect mangroves. However, there is a lack of analysis on their effectiveness to inform future policies. Using case studies from Thai Binh, Quang Ninh and Thanh Hoa provinces Vietnam, this papers aims to address these knowledge gaps and analyze both opportunities and constraints for mangrove protection and management in Vietnam. This study has adopted a mixed research methodology. In total, 240 people participated in focus group discussions, 604 households participated in the household surveys. We also conducted 24 key informant interviews with local authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community representatives. Findings were presented and verified at a national consultation workshop with 42 participants as well as a provincial consultation workshop with 32 participants. Our findings show that many policies and projects offer social and economic incentives for mangrove protection. However, they are impeded by insecure tenure, land grabbing, elite capture and inequitable benefit-sharing. Several other factors constrain mangrove protection at the institutional level: overlapping and unclear mandates and responsibilities among government agencies at central, provincial and multilateral level, accessing to information on both policies and projects is difficult for local people. Moreover, the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems, incentives and disincentives designed by policies and projects, also have major drawbacks. These include low enforcement and compliance, unclear penalty mechanisms and a lack of requirement to replant mangrove forests after they are illegal cut. Policies and projects strongly emphasize and create incentives to replant mangrove forests, rather than to maintain and conserve existing mangrove forest areas. Incentives are also designed

to compensate local labor costs for replanting mangrove or patrolling activities, rather than addressing the direct drivers of deforestation and degradation. The study also reveals that local willingness to pay is driven and determined by effective law enforcement; transparent and accountable financial management; equitable benefit sharing; equitable distribution of rights and responsibilities; co-funding from government or projects; the level of annual income; and direct dependence of local livelihoods on mangroves. Protecting mangroves requires a policy shift in land-use planning to address the drivers of mangrove deforestation and degradation. Cross-sectoral coordination also needs to be further enhanced to improve effectiveness in law enforcement. Incentives designed by policies and projects should encourage local people to replant new mangrove forests, and also maintain and sustain newly planted mangroves and existing mangrove forests. Enhancing local participation in mangrove forest protection and development also requires accountable and transparent benefit-sharing and inclusive decision making. n Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools II

P1: A GLOBAL TREATY FOR WETLANDS EXISTS SINCE 50 YEARS. WHAT’S IN IT FOR HUMANITY’S CURRENT CHALLENGES AND FOR SCIENTISTS? Rojas Urrego, Martha, Convention on Wetlands 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the ‘Convention on Wetlands’ in the city of Ramsar, on 2 February 1971. The treaty covers all water-related ecosystems, from upstream glaciers and freshwater sources to coastal marine areas, including rivers and lakes, mangroves and peatlands, marshes and reefs. The 1960s marked a turning point, when early results of modern wetland research started to gain attention by policymakers and finally led to the adoption of the Convention. There was an initial focus on migratory waterbirds, useful biodiversity indicators and appreciated game. However, the Wetland Convention gradually developed and implemented its much broader wise use concept based on an ecosystem approach. The treaty is the legal framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands by the 171 Contracting Parties to the Convention. To support this work, science-based tools are developed and awareness raised to show that wet ecosystems are among the most productive on earth, contributing to human livelihoods, acting as arteries and purifiers of freshwater, providing the most efficient carbon store and protecting us from floods, droughts and other disasters.

However, human draining and destruction of wet ecosystems is accelerating since the 19th century. We have not yet been able to slow it down: Current wetland loss is three times greater than that of forests. Despite this unfavourable evolution, the Convention provides today the most visible and respected global platform to raise awareness of wetland benefits. It develops management tools to safeguard wetlands and to include them in national development policies and plans, as a significant contribution to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The Convention appreciates the SWS’s contribution to the Convention processes through its consolidated understanding of wetland roles and functions, not only based on natural sciences, but also on economic valuation, social analysis and gender considerations. This is the place to share it with the 171 Contracting Parties, who have chosen the Convention on Wetlands as their global tool to promote wetland-based solutions, relying on sound scientific understanding and know-how. n Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools II

P2: FROM RIVERS TO THE COASTS: ASSESSING WETLAND FUNCTIONS IN ALTERED LANDSCAPES IMPROVES ECOLOGICAL OUTCOMES Berkowitz, Jacob, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center Johnson, David Berkowitz, Jacob Johnson, David Price, Jaybus Landscape-scale alterations impact the extent and function of wetlands in both riverine and coastal settings. For example, levees have disconnected the Mississippi River from up to 70% of its historic floodplain. The remaining constrained floodplain wetlands receive flood pulses that diverge from natural hydropatterns, and this effect will be exacerbated under anticipated climate change scenarios. The remaining floodplain wetlands provide a variety of ecological functions, although alteration has shifted the magnitude of functional outcomes. This represents a wetland functional tradeoff in which alterations can enhance some functions (typically those related to physical processes) while decreasing other functions (often associated with biologically mediated processes such as habitat maintenance). Hydrologically altered floodplain wetlands in backwater areas exemplify these ecological tradeoffs. Backwater wetlands experiencing prolonged inundation provide ideal conditions for denitrification, which improves water quality. Yet the same anaerobic conditions supporting Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 231

denitrification can induce aquatic habitat quality limitations due to hypoxia. Within a coastal restoration context, an analysis of >40-year-old dredged material beneficial use projects further highlights these functional tradeoffs. The restored wetlands are highly functional but remain distinct from unaltered reference areas. The analysis indicates that gains in physically derived functions (e.g., energy dissipation, water storage) yield benefits at faster timescales than biologically driven functions. However, increases in biological functions work to further enhance physical functions as restoration sites mature. For example, increases in vegetative structural complexity over time improves sediment retention efficiency. How we quantify and interpret these ecological functional tradeoffs across different landscapes is key to improving the valuation of wetlands, which in turn promotes conservation and restoration initiatives. Additionally, understanding how alteration changes wetland functions supports the deliberate optimization of ecological outcomes from river systems to the coast. n Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools II

P3: PULSING DYNAMICS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS FACING SEA-LEVEL RISE Gaiser, Evelyn, Florida International University Water flow pulses are a common denominator of flowingwater ecosystems and may play a particularly regulatory role in low-gradient coastal wetlands. Coastal wetlands receive pulses of freshwater from rainfall and frequently managed flows, while also being subject to marine water pulses from tides and tropical storms. Resultant water level fluctuations often lead to energy subsidies that stimulate production and consumption. These energy subsidies may be particularly important in coastal wetlands facing subsidence and collapse of peat soils driven by accelerating sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion. Where subsidy pulses accelerate sedimentation or soil development by plants and/or algal mats, they may allow coastal ecosystems to continue to develop carbon stores and associated functions and services. Pulses of connectivity allow mobile consumers to track and redistribute limiting resources in coastal wetlands. The Florida Coastal Everglades is exceptionally exposed and sensitive to pulses of fresh and marine water and associated resources. Two decades of long-term data provide examples of water pulses that: (1) increase production and inland movement of salt-adapted vegetation, (2) connect upstream and downstream food webs with long-term legacies in populations, and (3) increase the provisioning of critical ecosystem services that feed back 232 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

to the freshwater pulse restoration process. We reflect on the theory of pulse dynamics and how coastal ecosystems may be maintained in states that develop critical organic carbon stores as sea-levels rise. For example, hurricanes in 2005 and 2017 that delivered 3-10 cm-thick phosphorusrich storm surge deposits to coastal mangrove forests. The inorganic deposit and resultant organic accretion by the recovering forest result in elevation gains, and important contributor to resilience to sea-level rise. At the same time, freshwater pulse restoration maintain plant and microbialmat driven accretion in upstream marshes. Results are interpreted in the context of other pulsed ecosystems confronted by multiple interacting drivers and legacies. n Presented during S8: Tropical wetlands and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation – Scientific advancements and innovative tools II

P4: THE LIMITS OF TIDAL WETLAND VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT TO SEA-LEVEL RISE: CAHOON, REED AND DAY REVISITED Feedbacks between inundation, sedimentation and carbon sequestration allow a degree of vertical adjustment to sealevel rise in tidal mangroves and marshes that may extend over millennial timescales. From early in the Holocene, mangroves tracked sea-level rise at rates considerably higher than those encountered over the past century, and in doing so appear to have influenced global atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. However, paleo-stratigraphic studies in mangroves and tidal marshes have suggested that the upper limits of this vertical adjustment may be exceeded by rates of sea-level rise projected for the latter half of this century. The global Surface Elevation Table-Marker Horizon (SET-MH) network is providing important information on the processes at work in determining tidal wetland responses to sea-level rise. An analysis of more than a decade of tidal marsh SET-MH observations across four continents suggests that while accretion rates are generally keeping pace with sea-level rise, elevation gain is not. At higher rates of accretion marshes show lower incremental gain in elevation, the implication being that the weight of that new material enhances upper-level subsidence thereby compromising elevation gain. This process constrains the upper limits of tidal wetland vertical adjustment in most settings and reconciles short- and long-term observations of wetland response to high rates of sea-level rise. n

AUTHORS INDEX Adams, Janine Ahmed, Labeeb Ahn, Changwoo Alexannder, Laurie Allély-Fermé, Elise Almaliki, Hadeel Alves, Molly, The Tulalip Tribes AmazonÃa Peruana - IIAP Ameli, Ali Andersen, Megan Anderson, Carlton, University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast Geospatial Center Anderson, Ferin Davis, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Anderson, James Andrews, Leann, Penn State Anteau, Michael, U.S. Geological Survey Apwong, Maybeleen Arenas, Anita, California State University of Long Beach Awwad, Fatima, Université du Québec À Trois-Rivières Bachand, Marianne Baerwalde, Matt, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe Bailey, Vanessa Baldwin, Andrew Bansal, Sheel, USGS Battaglia, Loretta, Southern Illinois University Beauchamp, Jeffrey Beaudette, Dylan Berkowitz, Jacob, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center Bernnthal, Tom Bhargav, Vikram, Trent University Bhomia, Rupesh, CIFOR Bianchi, Thomas Biber, Patrick Bickford, Wesley Birnbaum, Christina Bond-Lamberty, Ben Borde, Amy Borsuk, Mark Bourgeau-Chavez, Laura, Michigan Tech Research Institute Bowles, Mason Bozimowski, Alexandra (Sasha), U.S. Geological Survey - Great Lakes Science Center Brasher, Mike, Ducks Unlimited, Inc. Bridgham, Scott Brooks, Hope Brophy, Laura, Estuary Technical Group, Institute for Applied Ecology Brown, Donald Brown, Robert Brumley, Jessica Brzostek, Edward Buffington, Kevin Cadillo-Quiroz, Hinsby Cahill, Blake, Central Michigan University

198 222 199, 222 174 227 164 163 192 226 223 186 211 163, 200 184, 219 174, 212 191 157 183 189 181 170, 171 205 160, 184 187, 188 158 223 231 227 168 175, 192 171 158, 187 164, 165, 205 204 169, 171 189 213 157, 176 184, 219 201 217, 218 189 158 170 200 160 179 170 189, 191 192 198 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 233

Cameron, Cortney, Southwest Florida Water Management District 223 Campbell, Daniel, Birchbark Environmental Research 167 Cantrell, Robert 200 Cantu, Antonio, Louisiana State University 158, 216 Carlos Benavides, Juan, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana 194 Carlson, Christine 188 Carter, Gregory 187 Carter, Jamie 206 Chang, Xiaoqian 164 Chan, Karen, Tsinghua University 162 Chavez, Laura 194 Cherry, Julia 188 Chiaranunt, Peerapol 164 Chimbolema, Segundo 220 Chimner, Rodney, Michigan Technological University 176, 192, 194, 220 Christensen, Jay 174 Claggett, Peter 222 Clay, Keith 204, 205 Clendinen, Chaevian 172 Cleveland, Leandra, HDR 215 Cooper, Robert 218, 221 Cornu, Craig, Institute for Applied Ecology 169, 189 Coroinado-Molina, Carlos 188 Creed, Irena, University of Saskatchewan 173, 226 Cui, Geng, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences 221 Cunningham, Joshua 210 Currin, Carolyn, NOAA NCCOS 167 Dao Thi Linh, Chi 230 Davidson, Nick 229 Davies, Gillian, BSC Group, Inc./Tufts University Global Development and Environment Institute 214, 228 Davis, Brian 217 Davis, Jenny 167 Davy, Christina 209 DeBerry, Douglas, William & Mary 202 DeKeyser, Shawn, North Dakota State University 212 del Castillo Torres, Dennis 192, 194 Delfeld, Bradley 188 Dellick, Julie 201 Deng, Jia 193 Devries, Aaron, USGS Great Lakes Research Center 164 Devries, Ben, University of Guelph 214 Diefenderfer, Heida 189 Donnelly, J. Patrick 216 Doody, Thomas 222 Dorken, Marcel 168 Doss, Terry, NJ Sports & Exposition Authority 182 Downard, Becka, Utah Division of Water Quality 181 Drucker, Brandon 189 Duarte, Adam 201 Duball, Chelsea, University of Wyoming 223 Duever, Michael, Natural Ecosystems LLC 208, 220 234 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

Duffe, Jason Duffie, Laura, HDR Dugger, Bruce Dunton, Eric Durand, Francois Duwadi, Shrijana Eash, Josh Eide, Greg Elango, Vijaikrishnah Elliot-Perez, Crystal, Trout Unlimited Engelke, Jen, University of Washington Eperiam, Eugene Ervin, Gary Ewbank, Mark Ewel, Katherine, University of Florida Fachin, Lizardo, Instituto de Investigaciones de la Fagherazzi, Sergio Farrer, Emily Faust, Derek, Clover Park Technical College Fendereski, Forough, University of Saskatchewan Fennessy, Siobhan, Kenyon College Fesenmyer, Kurt Finlayson, Max Flannagan, Claire Formel, Stephen, Tulane University Fouad, Geoffrey, Monmouth University Fransbergen, Savannah, University of South Florida Fredrickson, Leigh Freelannd, Joanna Frokling, Steve Gaiser, Evelyn, Florida International University Garner, Joe, GreenVest Gay, Ryan, Whitenton Group Gedan, Keryn, George Washington University Geddes, Pamela, Northeastern Illinois University Goldberg, Deborah Golden, Heather Goldfarb, Ben Gosselin, Rémi Grabas, Greg Greenberg, Anna Greenstone Alefaio, Tamara Greenwald, Stephanie Gries, Ashley Griffis, Tim Grimes, Evan Grobler, Retief Grow, Jessica Gruetzman, Jennifer Grundling, Piet-Louis Ha Hoang, Thi

185 178 189 201 198 160 173 212 166 186 184, 219 191 183 196 177 192 169 204 179 173 207 186 228 195 166 224, 225 225 217 168, 209 193 232 203 203 169 168 165 226 177 189 185 201 191 160 227 192 206 198 191 173 198 176 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 235

Halbrook, Susannah Hamovit, Nora Hampton, Adrienne Hancock, Michael Hansen, Sara Harris, J. Mason Hass, Amir, West Virginia State University Haynes, Warren Heffernan, James Herb, Andy, AlpineEco Hergoualc’h, Kristell, Center for International Forestry Research Herold, Nate Hewett Hoover, Rue, Nez Perce Tribe He, Zhihua Hilting, Anna Hoang Tuan, Long Hogg, Warren, Tampa Bay Water Hogue-Hugron, Sandrine Hopkins, Kristina Hopple, Anya, Pacific Northwest National Lab Howes, Thomas Hoyt, David Hren, Michael Hribljan, John Hrynyk, Morgan, Landscape Science and Technology Branch - Environment and Climate Change Canada Hubbart, Jason Hung Tran, Dang Hunter, Dakota Hupp, Cliff Isabel, Christine Isherwood, Ewan Jack, Loretha Janke, Adam Janousek, Christopher, Oregon State University Janse van Rensburg, Susan Jecker, Scott, Whitenton Group, Inc. Environmental Consultants Jen, Devin, University of Southern Mississippi Jewitt, Debbie Jiang, Ming Johnson, Carter Johnson, Charlene, 673d Civil Engineer Squadron- Conservation Element Johnson, David Johnson, Erik Johnson, Olivia, U.S. Geological Survey Jones, Dylan Jones, Mike, Stockbridge-Munsee Community Kalyanapu, Alfred Keddy, Paul Kelbe, Bruce Kemner, Kenneth Kentula, Mary, US EPA Office of Research and Development 236 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

204 165, 172 184 223 198 206 200 200 162 216 193, 194 206 211 225 167 230 208 189 222 169 166 172 172 176 185 200 176 202 222 197 162 227 174 189 198 204 187 198 159 190 199 231 174 160 227 229 160 167 198 160 183, 202

Kerr, Elyssa, Beavers Northwest Kiehn, Whitney King, Sammy Kingsley, Kathryn Kirwan, Matthew Kline, Joanne Klionsky, Sarah, University of Connecticut Kolka, Randy Kolka, Randy, USDA Forest Service Koval, Jason Kowalski, Kurt Krapu, Christopher, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Krauss, Ken Kucia,Samuel Kudoh, Aoi, Kyoto University Kumar, Mukesh Lan Chun, Chan, University of Minnesota Duluth Landry, Shawn Lane, Charles Langley, Adam Laubhan, Murray Lawlor, Stephanie, University of South Florida Lawrence, Beth Laymon,Stephen Laymon, Steven LeBlanc, Marie-Claire Ledford, Kathryn, George Mason University Lee, Terrie Lehman, Justin Leibowitz, Scott Lepage, Ben, National Taiwan University and Academy of Natural Sciences Lester, Randall Lewis, Jessica, MS Band of Choctaw Indians - Office of Environmental Protection Lilleskov, Erik Lishawa, Shane Liu, Ganming, Bowling Green State University Liu, Xinmiao Liu, Yina Lobato-de Magalhães, Tatiana Lorio, Mary Lozon, Darien, West Virginia University Lugten, Eliza MacKay, Fiona Mackenzie, Richard A. Magee, Teresa Manh, Quy Do Maranda, Antoine Marquez, Roseo Marti, Aaron Martin, Janice, Quinault Indian Nation Ma, Shizhou

204 208 158, 216, 217, 218, 221 164, 205 169, 187 227 159 192, 194 220 160 164, 165, 201, 205 213 191 190 161 213 166 195 226 161 217 195 159, 172 218 221 197 222 224 174 226 215 200 210 176, 192, 194, 220 209 225 201 171 227 210 200 201 198 176, 191 202 176 189 191 161 212 173 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 237

McDowell, Nate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory McFarland, Madelyn, Mississippi State University McKenna, Owen, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center McNicol, Gavin Meadows-McDonnell, Madeleine, University of Connecticut Madeleine Megonigal, Patrick Meier, Jacob Mekonnen, Balew Mercer, Robyn, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Merten, Christina, Herrera Environmental Consultants Metes, Marina Michael, Morgan Middleton, Beth, US Geological Survey Miller, Haley Miller, Nick, The Nature Conservancy Millett, Bruce Mocorro Powell, Ashley Mohammady, Sassan Monfils, Anna Moomaw, Bill Morin, Jean Morrison, Elise, University of Florida Munguia, Steffanie, Florida International University Murdiyarso, Daniel, CIFOR Murdock, Justin, Tennessee Tech University Murphy, Gwendolyn Mushet, David Myers-Pigg, Allison Myers, Robbyn Nahlik, Amanda, US EPA Office of Research and Development Naidoo, Laven Neil, Christopher Nel, Jeanne Nguyen, Thi Hong Hanh Dinh, Tien Nguyen Nguyen, Hoang Hanh Noe, Gregory, USGS Florence Bascom Geoscience Center Norwood, Matthew Nowicki, ReNae, EcoHydrologix LLC / School of Geosciences, University of South Florida Noyce, Genevieve Nyman, John, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center O’Loughlin, Edward O’Meara, Teri, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Orloff, Alishia, Yale Osborne, Todd Otte, Marinus Owens, Sarah Paltsev, Aleksey Pardue, John Paulsen, Steven Paul, Swapan, Sydney Wetland Institute, Sydney Olympic 238 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

171, 189 217 190, 212 184 172 161, 170, 171 160 225 180 196 222 160 183 159 227 190 184 173 198 229 189 171 178 175, 192 160 188 190 171 180 202 198 159 198 176 230 176 222 171 224 161 229 160 170 197 171 159 160 226 166 202 216

Pavlovic, Noel Pennington, Stephanie Peralta, Ariane, East Carolina University Peterson, James Pham Duc, Chien Planas, Ana Maria Pomeroy, John Ponzio, Kimberli, St. Johns River Water Management District Post van der Burg, Max Pretorius, Lulu Price, Jaybus Pritchard, Dave Puchkoff, Anna Pulak, Anastasia Quesnelle, Pauline Raczka, Nanette Rains, Kai Rains, Mark Regier, Peter Reif, Molly Reiner, Edward, United States Environmental Protection Agency Reinhardt, Carrie Rengifo, Jhon Reschke, Carol Reynolds, Larry Ridden, Taryn Riera, David, Florida International University Rivers, Patrick Rivers-Ubach, Albert Robertson, Andrew, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Rochefort, Line Rock, Danielle Rojas Urrego, Martha, Convention on Wetlands Roman, Tyler Rosenblum, Zoe, Oregon State University and IHE-Delft Institute for Water Education Ross, Michael Rottle, Nancy, University of Washington Rover, Jennifer, USGS EROS RoyChowdhury, Taniya, Crop Genetics and Plant Pathology Unit, ARS-USDA Roy, Mathieu Sah, Jay, Florida International University Salem, Maria Sanchez, Maria E., University of Saskatchewan Saltus, Christina Sasmito, Sigit Sasser, Charles Schenk, Edward Schewe, Jeremy, Ecobot Inc. Schmidt, Stephanie, George Mason University Schmutz, Dan, Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. Schrank, Amy, University of Minnesota Sea Grant

166 170, 171 166 201 230 194 225 180 212 198 231 228 182 159 185 170 195, 224, 225 195, 224, 225 171 206 196 185 192 166 217 198 179 185 171 181, 211 197 168 231 192 226 162 184, 219 213 172 189 162 201 227 206 175 206 222 203 199, 222 207 209 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 239

Schroeder, Carolyn Schultz, Rachel, SUNY Brockport Schweisberg, Matt, Wetland Strategies and Solutions, LLC Scott, Brian, University of Maryland Sengupta, Aditi Sen, Shilpa, HDR Sesin, Verena, Trent University Sévigny, Caroline Sharma, Bidhya Shea, Chris, Tampa Bay Water Shearin, Zackery Shields, Michael Shoemaker, Cory, Slippery Rock University Shook, Kevin Shull, Suzanne Simpson, Matthew, 35percent Skinner, Kelly Sklar, Fred, SFWMD Slowinski, Thomas, Wetlands & Ecology, V3 Companies Smith, Alexander, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary Smith, Chris Smith, Elizabeth, International Crane Foundation Smith, Mckenzie Snow, Danielle Spence, Christopher, Environment and Climate Change Canada Stafford, Joshua, USGS - South Dakota State Univ. Stanek, Jenna, Los Alamos National Laboratory Wohner, Patti Stelk, Marla, Association of State Wetland Managers Stevens, Rachel, GBNERR Storm, Linda, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Suarez, Esteban, Universidad San Francisco de Quito Suir, Glenn, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sutton-Grier, Ariana, University of Maryland Swails, Erin, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) Szubryt, Marisa Tangen, Brian Tan, Phuong Vu Tashjian, Paul Taylor, Kelsey Theriault, Dominic, Hydrodynamic and Ecohydraulic Section, Environment Climate Change Canada Thorne, Karen Thuy, Pham Thu, CIFOR Tinh, Pham Hong Tong, Shouzheng Tracy, John Trang Dao Le, Huyen Tuan Mai, Sy Vacek, Sara, US Fish and Wildlife Service Valach, Alex Val Klump, J. Vallette, Yvonne 240 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

204 161 180 205 171 179 209 189 227 207, 208 204 171 178 225 206 214, 228 160 188 215 187 227 217 204 205 225 174 218, 221 181 206 210 176, 194, 220 206 182 193 160 160 230 217 181 189 189, 191 230 176 221 190 230 176 173 184 191 180

Van Bael, Sunshine 166 Vanderhoof, Melanie, U.S. Geological Survey 174 Van Deventer, Heidi, CSIR 198 van Niekerk, Lara 198 Van, Truong Nguyen 230 Vaughan, Karen 223 Velasquez, Esther 194 Verhulst, Stephanie, University of Florida 185 Viet, Hoa Nguyen 230 Vogt, Darren 166 Voldseth, Richard 190 Vradenburg, John 217 Wagner, John 227 Waldron, Margaret 186, 187 Wang, Guodong, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences 196 Wang, Wenzhi 171 Ward, Nicholas 170, 171 Waryszak, Pawel 204 Wayson, Craig 194 Weisenhorn, Pamela 160, 188 Werner, Brett, Centre College 190 Whigham, Dennis 161 Whipple, Alexa 163 Whitcraft, Christine 157 White, James 164, 205 Whitfield, Colin 225 Wilcox, Douglas 206 Wohner, Patti, Oregon State University 201, 221 Wolfe, Jared 225 Wolford, Isaac 200 Womble, Spencer 160 Woodrey, Mark 217 Wu, Qiusheng, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 191 Wu, Wei 187, 206 Yabusaki, Steve 171 Yannuzzi, Sally 163 Yarwood, Stephanie 172, 205 Yuan, Yuxiang, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences 159 Zak, Donald 165 Zhang, Qiuwei 164 Zhu, Xiaoyan 159, 160 Zisette, Rob, Herrera Environmental Consultants 175 Zou, Yuanchun, Adaptive water management for wetland conservation in agricultural landscape, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences 195 Zurita-Arthos, Leo 220

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WETLANDS IN THE NEWS

isted below are some links to some random news articles that may be of interest. Links from past issues can be accessed on the SWS website: https://www.sws.org/wetlands-in-the-news/. The Association of State Wetland Managers' website: https://www.aswm.org/ contains a section entitled “Wetland News Digest.” This section includes links to newspaper articles that should be of interest: https://www.aswm.org/publications/wetland-news-digest. Members are encouraged to send links to articles about wetlands in their local area. Please send the links to WSP Editor at ralphtiner83@ gmail.com and reference “Wetlands in the News” in the subject box. Thanks for your cooperation. n

Wetlands mitigation bank looks to partner with St. Gabriel on nature center https://www.businessreport.com/business/wetlands-mitigation-banklooks-to-partner-with-st-gabriel-on-nature-center

Demand for soy puts pressure on Pantanal, Brazil's largest wild wetland https://news.mongabay.com/2021/06/demand-for-soy-puts-pressure-onpantanal-brazils-largest-wild-wetland/

Anglers who catch salamanders for bait need to be careful what they pick up https://www.wvgazettemail.com/outdoors/hunting_and_fishing/anglerswho-catch-salamanders-for-bait-need-to-be-careful-what-they-pick-up/ article_45ad12da-aa04-561f-a823-f600e12da46e.html

Australia rejects U.N. climate warning over Great Barrier Reef status https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/australia-rejects-u-n-climatewarning-over-great-barrier-reef-n1271795

Phragmites: the ‘bad boy’ of invasive species https://www.sudbury.com/beyond-local/phragmites-the-bad-boy-ofinvasive-species-3934797 This Ambitious Project Aims to Rebuild Louisiana’s Vanishing Coastal Wetlands https://www.audubon.org/magazine/summer-2021/this-ambitious-project-aims-rebuild-louisianas Muskrat love: Overlooked mammal keeps wetlands and marshes healthy https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/lifestyle/2021/07/07/nh-naturenews-muskrat-keeps-wetlands-and-marshes-healthy/7864934002/ Study: constructed wetlands are best protection for agricultural runoff into waterways https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-07/uok-scw063021.php Watch “Everglades National Park, Florida, USA in 4K Ultra HD https://youtu.be/in-oYF86gXU Saving Bull Trout (U.S. National Park Service) https://www.nps.gov/articles/saving-bull-trout.htm Ocean ‘Dead Zones’ Are Releasing One of the Worst Greenhouse Gases https://www.sciencealert.com/this-powerful-greenhouse-gas-is-on-therise-from-ocean-dead-zones Wetland Science at WARC https://www.usgs.gov/center-news/wetland-science-warc Rethinking coexistence with wildlife in the wetlands of Gujarat https://www.currentconservation.org/rethinking-coexistence-with-wildlife-in-the-wetlands-of-gujarat/ Water crisis reaches boiling point on Oregon-California line https://apnews.com/article/droughts-climate-change-science-government-and-politics-environment-and-nature-dd8ef971f3083006b6f314e24d530f27 New Zealand has lost thousands of hectares of wetlands in past decades, study shows https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/01/new-zealand-has-lostthousands-of-hectares-of-wetlands-in-past-decades-study-shows Wakodahatchee Wetlands Birds, Alligators and Native Bush in Florida https://www.albomadventures.com/wakodahatchee/ Proposed wetlands park along San Francisco Bay gets a setback https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/06/28/proposed-wetlands-parkalong-san-francisco-bay-gets-a-setback/ A walk through Tinchi Tamba Wetlands https://www.2aussietravellers.com/tinchi-tamba-wetlands/

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Photo Series Captures the Spectacular Beauty of the Icelandic Wetlands https://petapixel.com/2021/06/18/photo-series-captures-the-spectacularbeauty-of-the-icelandic-wetlands/ Enormous flock of declining shorebird discovered in South Carolina https://phys.org/news/2021-06-enormous-flock-declining-shorebirdsouth.html Wetland consultant says more needs to be done to protect city from flooding https://www.wbrz.com/news/wetland-consultant-says-more-needs-to-bedone-to-protect-city-from-flooding/ A volcanic eruption 39 million years ago buried a forest in Peru – now the petrified trees are revealing South America's primeval history https://theconversation.com/a-volcanic-eruption-39-million-years-agoburied-a-forest-in-peru-now-the-petrified-trees-are-revealing-southamericas-primeval-history-160160 This forest has stayed wild for 5,000 years—we can tell because of the soil https://phys.org/news/2021-06-forest-wild-yearswe-soil.amp Crowdsourced data helps create 'pop-up' habitats for migratory birds https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whatonearth/crowdsourced-data-helps-createpop-up-habitats-for-migratory-birds-1.6053187 Drone scares off thousands of nesting elegant terns at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in California https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2021/06/07/drone-crashabandoned-eggs/ National Park Nature Walks, Episode 6: Yellowstone Bison and Marsh Birds - Scientific American https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/national-parknature-walks-episode-6-yellowstone-bison-and-marsh-birds/ The rise and fall of the world’s largest lake https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/06/rise-and-fall-world-s-largestlake A Swampy Home for Shoebills https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/148400/a-swampy-home-forshoebills An enormous missing contribution to global warming may have been right under our feet https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/06/04/anenormous-missing-contribution-global-warming-may-have-been-rightunder-our-feet/ Florida manatees see one of the highest mortality rates in years. Experts say this is why https://news.yahoo.com/floridas-manatees-dying-off-unusually-083245754.html

Migratory bird tagged in Mumbai, sighted 4,500-km away in China https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/migratorybird-tagged-in-mumbai-sighted-4500-km-away-in-china/articleshow/83168998.cms Tearing out these dams will open rivers up for recreation—and save lives https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/low-head-damsare-being-torn-out-making-rivers-accessible-for-millions?cmpid=int_ org=ngp::int_mc=website::int_src=ngp::int_cmp=amp::int_add=amp_ readtherest Imperiled Ancaster wetland full of wildlife, neighbours say https://www.hamiltonnews.com/news-story/10404150-imperiled-ancaster-wetland-full-of-wildlife-neighbours-say/ Waterfront properties in Virginia subject to new wetlands guidelines https://www.dailypress.com/news/environment/dp-nw-vmrc-wetlands20210525-xavgow4gavgtvn4c3rtxx2fy5a-story.html Britain's sinking land - exploring the Fens https://britishheritage.com/travel/britains-sinking-lands-exploring-fens Parks Department, Conservationists Release 30-Year Plan To Protect NYC Wetlands https://champ.gothamist.com/champ/gothamist/news/parks-departmentconservationists-release-30-year-plan-protect-nyc-wetlands

Big Thicket National Preserve https://www.nps.gov/bith/learn/nature/wetlands.htm New Maps Track Receding Wetlands on Island https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2021/04/26/new-maps-paint-picturereceding-wetlands-face-rising-seas Sea Level Rise Is Creating Ghost Forests That are Visible From Space https://www.theinertia.com/environment/sea-level-rise-is-creating-ghostforests-that-are-visible-from-space/ Cherry Grove neighbors protest the possibility of development on 'wetland' property https://wpde.com/amp/news/local/cherry-grove-neighbors-protest-thepossibility-of-development-on-wetland-property Another Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands With Some Old And New Critters - Keep Your Eyes Peeled https://keepyoureyespeeled.net/another-hike-in-the-susquehanna-wetlands/ DNR, Corps team up to create new wetland habitat in Fremont County https://www.kmaland.com/news/dnr-corps-team-up-to-create-newwetland-habitat-in-fremont-county/article_bb5661be-a42d-11eb-980c238d20aa8606.html

Softer Ground: Reclaiming Wetlands through Design https://www.archdaily.com/961191/softer-ground-reclaiming-wetlandsthrough-design

Rerouting the Mississippi River could build new land—and save a retreating coast https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/04/rerouting-mississippi-rivercould-build-new-land-and-save-retreating-coast

The Ice Is Gone: And Plenty Of Ducks And Geese At The Wetlands Keep Your Eyes Peeled https://keepyoureyespeeled.net/the-ice-is-gone-and-plenty-of-ducks-andgeese-at-the-wetlands/

Mexico's drought reaches critical levels as lakes dry up https://apnews.com/article/latin-america-environment-and-naturedroughts-business-lakes-8cd80326b3de118db7226d1277a96fac

May is American Wetlands Month https://www.farmers.gov/connect/blog/conservation/conservation-easements-help-wetlands-thrive-across-country

Hikers protest proposed oil drilling in Big Cypress National Preserve https://www.naplesnews.com/story/tech/science/environment/2021/04/10/hikers-protest-proposed-oil-drilling-big-cypress-national-preserve/4839482001/

In A Hotter Climate, Dirt and Mud Are Hot Commodities https://www.npr.org/2021/05/01/986539732/got-mud-for-coastal-citieshumble-dirt-has-become-a-hot-commodity

Everglades National Park: A Remarkable Ecosystem Unlike Any Other https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/bucket-list/everglades-national-parkbucket-list/

Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 243

WETLAND BOOKSHELF

here are no new books to add to this listing. Please help us add new books. If your agency, organization, or institution has a website where wetland information can be accessed, please send the information to the Editor of Wetland Science & Practice at ralphtiner83@gmail. com. Your cooperation is appreciated. n

BOOKS

• History of Wetland Science: A Perspective from Wetland Leaders https://www.amazon.com/History-Wetland-Science-Perspectives-Leaders/dp/B08DC6GXDM • An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America (5th Edition) https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/introduction-aquatic-insects-north-america • Wading Right In: Discovering the Nature of Wetlands https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/W/ bo28183520.html • Sedges of Maine https://umaine.edu/umpress/books-in-print/ • Sedges and Rushes of Minnesota https://www.upress.umn. edu/book-division/books/sedges-and-rushes-of-minnesota • Wetland & Stream Rapid Assessments: Development, Validation, and Application https://www.elsevier.com/ books/wetland-and-stream-rapid-assessments/dorney/978-0-12-805091-0 • Eager: The Surprising Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/eager/ • Wetland Indicators – A Guide to Wetland Formation, Identification, Delineation, Classification, and Mapping https://www.crcpress.com/Wetland-Indicators-A-Guide-toWetland-Identification-Delineation-Classification/Tiner/p/ book/9781439853696 • Wetland Soils: Genesis, Hydrology, Landscapes, and Classification https://www.crcpress.com/Wetland-Soils-Genesis-Hydrology-Landscapes-and-Classification/VepraskasRichardson-Vepraskas-Craft/9781566704847 • Creating and Restoring Wetlands: From Theory to Practice http://store.elsevier.com/Creating-and-Restoring-Wetlands/ Christopher-Craft/isbn-9780124072329/ • Salt Marsh Secrets. Who uncovered them and how? http://trnerr.org/SaltMarshSecrets/ • Remote Sensing of Wetlands: Applications and Advances. https://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781482237351 • Wetlands (5th Edition). http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/ WileyTitle/productCd-1118676823.html

244 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

• Black Swan Lake – Life of a Wetland http://press.uchicago. edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/B/bo15564698.html • Coastal Wetlands of the World: Geology, Ecology, Distribution and Applications http://www.cambridge.org/ us/academic/subjects/earth-and-environmental-science/ environmental-science/coastal-wetlands-world-geologyecology-distribution-and-applications • Florida’s Wetlands https://www.amazon.com/FloridasWetlands-Natural-Ecosystems-Species/dp/1561646873/ ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1518650552&sr=84&keywords=wetland+books • Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Wetlands: Science, Management, Policy, and Practice http://www.springer.com/environment/ aquatic+sciences/book/978-1-4614-5595-0 • The Atchafalaya River Basin: History and Ecology of an American Wetland http://www.tamupress.com/product/ Atchafalaya-River-Basin,7733.aspx • Tidal Wetlands Primer: An Introduction to their Ecology, Natural History, Status and Conservation https://www. umass.edu/umpress/title/tidal-wetlands-primer • Wetland Landscape Characterization: Practical Tools, Methods, and Approaches for Landscape Ecology http:// www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466503762 • Wetland Techniques (3 volumes) http://www.springer.com/ life+sciences/ecology/book/978-94-007-6859-8 • Wildflowers and Other Plants of Iowa Wetlands https://www.uipress.uiowa.edu/books/2015-spring/wildflowers-and-other-plants-iowa-wetlands.htm • Wetland Restoration: A Handbook for New Zealand Freshwater Systems https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/books/wetlands-handbook • Wetland Ecosystems https://www.wiley.com/en-us/ Wetland+Ecosystems-p-9780470286302 • Constructed Wetlands and Sustainable Development https://www.routledge.com/Constructed-Wetlands-and-Sustainable-Development/Austin-Yu/p/book/9781138908994

ONLINE SOURCES OF WETLAND INFORMATION

The following is a listing of some government agencies and environmental organizations that provide online information on wetlands and where their publications on wetlands may be accessed.

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waterways Experiment Station, Environmental Laboratory https://www.erdc. usace.army.mil/Locations/EL.aspx • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Wetland Plants Database http://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/nwpl_ static/v34/home/home.html • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency https://www.epa. gov/wetlands • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wetlands Inventory https://fws.gov/wetlands/

• U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center https://www.usgs.gov/centers/wetland-and-aquaticresearch-center-warc • U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center https://www.usgs.gov/centers/npwrc • U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center https://www.usgs.gov/centers/pwrc • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Coastal Management https://coast.noaa.gov/ • U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service, Hydric Soils https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/ soils/use/hydric/ • Association of State Wetland Managers https://www. aswm.org/

Journal Land Seeking Contributions for Special Issue Commemorating 25th Anniversary of World Wetlands Day Submitted by Dr. Richard Smardon, Guest Editor, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY

he journal Land is planning a special issue to celebrate 25 years of “World Wetlands Day.” There is no other ecosystem that has its very own Ramsar Convention or such a challenge impacting ecosystem sustainability. Papers are encouraged that provide an overview of wetland status and function within different regions of the world. Of special interest are papers that address wetland ecosystem and human health and well-being as well as key international wetland management challenges and actors. A “Universal Declaration of the Rights of Wetlands” has even been proposed; therefore, we need innovative solutions for wetland management and maintenance for this Special Issue. Topics of interest for this Special Issue include the following: World Wetlands Day, coastal and inland wetlands status, wetland functions and values, Ramsar Convention, wetland ecology, stress, restoration and change over time. Deadlines for submission of manuscripts is December 31, 2021. Please contact Dr. Smardon at rsmardon@esf.edu for further information; please mention Land – Special Issue in the subject block. n

Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 245

WETLANDS JOURNAL

What’s New in the SWS Journal - WETLANDS?

he following articles appear in Volume 41, Issue 4 of WETLANDS, Journal of the Society of Wetland Scientists.

A Comparative Study of Manipulative and Natural Temperature Increases in Controlling Wetland Plant Litter Decomposition Changes in Sediment Organic Carbon Accumulation under Conditions of Historical Sea-Level Rise, Southeast Saline Everglades, Florida, USA Molluscan Diversity Influenced by Mangrove Habitat in the Khors of Qatar Coastal Wetlands Exposure to Storm Surge and Waves in the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System during Extreme Events Influence of Rocky Shore Characteristics on the Foraging Profitability of Eurasian Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus Shoreline Change Detection and Forecast along the Yancheng Coast Using a Digital Shoreline Analysis System An Effective Method for Wetland Park Health Assessment: a Case Study of the Guangdong Xinhui National Wetland Park in the Pearl River Delta, China Regional Wetland Plant Responses to Sulfur and Other Porewater Chemistry in Calcareous Rich Fens A Framework for Identifying Reference Wetland Conditions in Highly Altered Landscapes

The following articles appear in Volume 41, Issue 5 of WETLANDS, Journal of the Society of Wetland Scientists. Effects of Elevated CO2 Concentrations on 13C Fractionation during Photosynthesis, Post-Photosynthesis and Night Respiration in Mangrove Saplings Avicennia marina and Rhizophora stylosa Hydro-ecological Controls on Soil Carbon Storage in Subtropical Freshwater Depressional Wetlands Direct and Indirect Effects of Climate Change in Coastal Wetlands: Will Climate Change Influence Wetlands by Affecting Plant Invasion? Community Characteristics of Sympatric Freshwater Turtles from Savannah Waterbodies in Ghana Inorganic and Black Carbon Hotspots Constrain Blue Carbon Mitigation Services Across Tropical Seagrass and Temperate Tidal Marshes Arthropod Assemblages in Invasive and Native Vegetation of Great Salt Lake Wetlands Correction to A Framework for Identifying Reference Wetland Conditions in Highly Altered Landscapes Understanding Constraints on Submersed Vegetation Distribution in a Large, Floodplain River: the Role of Water Level Fluctuations, Water Clarity and River Geomorphology Wetland Invasion: a Multi-Faceted Challenge during a Time of Rapid Global Change

246 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

WSP SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

About Wetland Science & Practice (WSP)

etland Science and Practice (WSP) is the SWS quarterly publication aimed at providing information on select SWS activities (technical committee summaries, chapter workshop overview/ abstracts, and SWS-funded student activities), articles on ongoing or recently completed wetland research, restoration, or management projects, freelance articles on the general ecology and natural history of wetlands, and highlights of current events. WSP also includes links to U.S. federal agencies involved in wetland research, mapping, and conservation. The publication also serves as an outlet for commentaries, perspectives and opinions on important developments in wetland science, theory, management and policy. Both invited and unsolicited manuscripts are reviewed by the WSP editor for suitability for publication. When deemed necessary or upon request, some articles are subject to scientific peer review. Student papers are welcomed. Please see publication guidelines herein. Electronic access to Wetland Science and Practice is included in your SWS membership. All issues published, except the current issue, are available via the internet to the general public. The current issue is only available to SWS members. However it will be available to the public four months after its publication when the next issue is released (e.g., the July 2020 issue will be an open access issue in October 2020). WSP is an excellent choice to convey the results of your projects or interest in wetlands to others. Also note that as of January 2021, WSP will publish advertisements, see following page for details.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

If you read something you like in WSP, or that you think someone else would find interesting, be sure to share. Share links to your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts. Make sure that all your SWS colleagues are checking out our recent issues, and help spread the word about SWS to non-members! Questions? Contact editor Ralph Tiner, PWS Emeritus (ralphtiner83@gmail.com). n

WSP Manuscript – General Guidelines LENGTH: Approximately 5,000 words; can be longer if necessary. STYLE: See existing articles from 2014 to more recent years available online at: https://members.sws.org/wetland-science-and-practice

TEXT: Word document, 12 font, Times New Roman, single-spaced; keep tables and figures separate, although captions can be included in text. For reference citations in text use this format: (Smith 2016; Jones and Whithead 2014; Peterson et al. 2010). FIGURES: Please include color images and photos of subject wetland(s) as WSP is a full-color e-publication. Image size should be less than 1MB – 500KB may work best for this e-publication.

REFERENCE CITATION EXAMPLES:

• Claus, S., S. Imgraben, K. Brennan, A. Carthey, B. Daly, R. Blakey, E. Turak, and N. Saintilan. 2011. Assessing the extent and condition of wetlands in NSW: Supporting report A – Conceptual framework, Monitoring, evaluation and reporting program, Technical report series, Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney, Australia. OEH 2011/0727. • Clements, F.E. 1916. Plant Succession: An Analysis of the Development of Vegetation. Carnegie Institution of Washington. Washington D.C. Publication 242. • Clewell, A.F., C. Raymond, C.L. Coultas, W.M. Dennis, and J.P. Kelly. 2009. Spatially narrow wet prairies. Castanea 74: 146-159. • Colburn, E.A. 2004. Vernal Pools: Natural History and Conservation. McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company, Blacksburg, VA. • Cole, C.A. and R.P. Brooks. 2000. Patterns of wetland hydrology in the Ridge and Valley Province, Pennsylvania, USA. Wetlands 20: 438-447. • Cook, E.R., R. Seager, M.A. Cane, and D.W. Stahle. 2007. North American drought: reconstructions, causes, and consequences. Earth-Science Reviews 81: 93-134. • Cooper, D.J. and D.M. Merritt. 2012. Assessing the water needs of riparian and wetland vegetation in the western United States. U.S.D.A., Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Ft. Collins, CO. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-282.

Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 247

SOCIETY WETLAND �

SCIENTISTS

2021 Advertising Prospectus* Monthly E-Newsletter The SWS monthly e-newsletter is sent to approximately 3,000 members around the world, and enjoys an open rate between 40-50%, which is well above industry average. Place your organization in front of leading environmental scientists monthly with an ad that links to your website.

Website

With SWS.org launching a major website re-design in December, the new, far more user-friendly, engaging, and SEO-optimized format is expected to increase the site’s visibility and exposure. Highlight your company on the SWS.org homepage with a display ad that links to your website.

Wetland Science & Practice (WSP) WSP is the SWS quarterly publication aimed at providing information on select SWS activities (technical committee summaries, chapter and section workshop overview/abstracts, and SWS-funded student activities); brief summary articles on current or recently completed wetland research, restoration, or management projects; information on the general ecology and natural history of wetlands; and highlights of current events. It is distributed digitally, with over 1,000 impressions and more than 250 reads in the first six months after release.

• Price (per ad): 1x 3x 6x 12x $100 $90 ($270 total) $80 ($480 total) $70 ($840 total) • Ad Format: .jpeg or .png • Size Specifications: 336 pixels wide x 280 pixels tall; 72 dpi • Ad Due Date: Artwork and link URL due on the first of the month in which the ad is to run • Distribution Date: On or around the 15th of each month

• • • • •

Pricing: $300 quarterly; $1,000 yearly Ad Format: .jpeg or .png Size Specifications: 336 pixels wide x 280 pixels tall; 72 dpi Ad Due Date: Artwork and link URL due one week prior to beginning run date Ad Begin Date: Ad uploaded the first day of the first month of the quarter Ad Due Date: Ad Begins:

Quarter 1

Quarter 2

Quarter 3

Quarter 4

December 28 January 3

March 25 April 1

June 24 July 1

September 24 October 1

• Pricing and Size Specifications: Full page (7.5” wide x 10” tall): Half page (7.5” wide x 4.625” tall): Quarter page (3.625” wide x 4.625” tall):

$275 $175 $120

$250 $160 $110

$225 $145 $100

$200 $130 $90

• Ad Format: Press quality .pdf, with images rendered at 300 or higher dpi • Ad Due Date: Artwork is due on the 15th of the month prior to the month of publication • Distribution Date: WSP is published on or around the middle of the month of publication January issue April issue July issue October issue Ad Due Date: December 15 Issue Published: January 3

March 15 April 1

June 15 July 1

September 15 October 1

* Note: Initial year rates - special pricing in effect.

Interested in targeted exposure to SWS members? Contact membership@sws.org www.sws.org

Please note: All ads are subject to review and approval by SWS. 248 Wetland Science & Practice July 2021

Wetland Science & Practice January 2021 77

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Wetland Science & Practice July 2021 249

July 2021 Wetland Science & Practice

Articles inside

About WSP/Submission Guidelines

What’s New in the SWS Journal - WETLANDS

Physical Science

Wetland Bookshelf

Index to Proceedings, by Author

Management & Applied Science

Global Climate Change

Policy

Education & Communication

Biology & Ecology

Wetlands of Distinction: Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration Project at Poplar Island

Lake Ohrid and Studenchishte Marsh now a Ramsar Wetland!

Chapter News

From the Editor’s Desk

SWS News

President’s Message

An Updated Citizen Science State of the World’s Wetlands Survey