Research Project: Restoring coastal wetlands for shorebirds: leveraging lessons learned to identify research priorities and strategies to maximize future success
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Project description. Coastal wetland restoration is a vital coastal management tool, but is often reactive rather than proactive, with new projects initiated as an opportunistic response to the availability of land or funding, or as a compensatory mitigation response. A substantial body of literature has examined various aspects of coastal wetland restoration success, but too often, the resulting recommendations for long-term ecological success are disconnected from restoration practice. This disconnect can be attributable to logistical constraints, differences in project time scales and priorities, and uneven communication between researchers and practitioners. This
proposal seeks to continue closing the gap between restoration ecology and practice. Specifically, we will focus on maximizing the success of restoration projects using beneficial uses material to create shorebird habitat.
The Salt Bayou ecosystem, part of the Chenier Plains ecoregion, is an ideal focal ecosystem for this project, as it encompasses numerous past, current, and potential future wetland restoration projects. A strategic plan developed in 2013 identified hydrology and elevation as key elements of restoration success, but also acknowledged gaps in our understanding about links between the
restoration of wetland geomorphology and ecological success criteria, especially shorebirds. For example, what is the ideal range of elevations for shorebirds, and what elevation will provide the most productive food supply for these birds? Does this elevation range overlap with the waterfowl habitat in the area? What types of elevation profiles (e.g. homogeneous vs. heterogeneous; absolute elevation range) will maximize shorebird use of these habitats, without
detracting from the broader goals of creating emergent marsh and waterfowl habitat? New beneficial uses (BU) projects planned over the next five years will employ elevation profiles based on these findings. The project team will (1) leverage past research by synthesizing lessons learned from past projects, and (2) develop a blueprint to guide future research directions and boost the success of future investments.
Timeline. Restoration in the Salt Bayou ecosystem is ongoing, with major projects initiated every ~3-5 years. These results will be directly applied to projects initiated between 2023-2025. However, decisions based on recommendations from this and subsequent proposals can be scaled
to apply to projects with both near-term and long-term start dates, and will make the outcomes of this synthesis effort relevant for many years, if not decades to come.
Approach. In the proposal preparation stage, input on the project plan was solicited from a currently active group of stakeholders (Salt Bayou Workgroup). During the project period, activities will be parsed into two components: (1) Synthesis. Under the supervision of the lead PI, a postdoctoral research associate will conduct (a) a metaanalysis of shorebird use of coastal
restoration projects in the region and (b) a literature review (white paper) assessing links between restoration approach, elevation profiles, shorebird use across the Gulf of Mexico. (2) Develop research plan and application plan. In a series of workshops among project investigators and stakeholders, the synthesis findings will shape discussions about future research needs. Following an iterative process, the outcome will be a set of specific research needs and goals that will shape the where, how, and why of future restoration projects. Dissemination activities will include two publications and two conference presentations that will serve to recruit additional stakeholders and share key findings.
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Cooperative Agreement