Assessing restoration performance at the Nisqually River Delta: opportunity, capacity, and realized function
Presentation Abstract
The restoration of the Nisqually River Delta represents one of the largest efforts toward re-establishing the ecosystem function and resilience of modified habitat in the Puget Sound, particularly for anadromous salmonid species. Here we use monitoring and applied studies to assess restoration performance within a tiered framework of Opportunity, Capacity, and Realized Function. Opportunity is evaluated with physical metrics for outmigrating salmon to access and benefit from the expansion of newly restored habitat. Capacity refers to specific functions of the restored habitats, such as the capacity to produce prey resources for outmigrating salmon. And realized function is the integration of Opportunity and Capacity metrics so that outmigrating salmon would benefit from accessing and foraging in newly restored habitats. We monitored and modeled a variety of physical parameters to measure changes in opportunity potential from historic, pre-restoration, and post-restoration habitat conditions at several sites across the delta. These parameters included channel morphology, water quality, tidal elevation, and landscape connectivity. Biological monitoring and applied studies included vegetation, invertebrate prey, salmonids, and waterbirds. Here we present synthesize the research results and publications to provide further insights to the ecosystem response to restoration processes.
Session Title
Posters: Habitat Restoration & Protection
Conference Track
SSE18: Posters
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE18-86
Start Date
5-4-2018 11:30 AM
End Date
5-4-2018 1:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events); posters
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Anadromous fishes-Nisqually River Delta (Wash.); Restoration ecology--Nisqually River Delta (Wash.); Resilience (Ecology)--Nisqually River Delta (Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Nisqually River Delta (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Assessing restoration performance at the Nisqually River Delta: opportunity, capacity, and realized function
The restoration of the Nisqually River Delta represents one of the largest efforts toward re-establishing the ecosystem function and resilience of modified habitat in the Puget Sound, particularly for anadromous salmonid species. Here we use monitoring and applied studies to assess restoration performance within a tiered framework of Opportunity, Capacity, and Realized Function. Opportunity is evaluated with physical metrics for outmigrating salmon to access and benefit from the expansion of newly restored habitat. Capacity refers to specific functions of the restored habitats, such as the capacity to produce prey resources for outmigrating salmon. And realized function is the integration of Opportunity and Capacity metrics so that outmigrating salmon would benefit from accessing and foraging in newly restored habitats. We monitored and modeled a variety of physical parameters to measure changes in opportunity potential from historic, pre-restoration, and post-restoration habitat conditions at several sites across the delta. These parameters included channel morphology, water quality, tidal elevation, and landscape connectivity. Biological monitoring and applied studies included vegetation, invertebrate prey, salmonids, and waterbirds. Here we present synthesize the research results and publications to provide further insights to the ecosystem response to restoration processes.
