HABITAT CREATION IN A DYNAMIC DELTA
Challenges in an Urban Wetland Project
Judy Walther, President Stan Wilson, Project Manager Environmental Survey Consulting BLUNN CREEK DELTA
RESTORATION
MANAGEMENT
EDUCATION
Maximizing Resilience in a Highly Dynamic Wetland System
BOARDWALK TRAIL AT LADY BIRD LAKE
BLUNN CREEK DELTA
BLUNN CREEK DELTA HISTORY OF ITS STRUCTURE 1952 - 2016
Delta as dynamic system
Urban manipulation (Longhorn Dam)
Sedimentation flow from upstream
FEBRUARY 2014 FEBRUARY 2014 FEBRUARY 2014 FEBRUARY 2014 FEBRUARY 2014 FEBRUARY 2014 APRIL 2014 FEBRUARY 2017 Project Scope • Managing exotic species • Informal monitoring of control methods used on Colocasi esculenta (elephant ear) • Plantings for increased diversity • Collecting and propagating seed of Physostegia correllii (Correll’s false dragonhead) • Informal monitoring of herbivory-protected vs. open planting • Management for 12 months • Volunteer coordination and leadership • Educational signage research and content • Educational guidance brochure for students and teachers Project Scope • Manage exotic species • Informal monitoring of invasive species control methods used on Colocasi esculenta (elephant ear) • Plantings for increased diversity • Collect and propagate Physostegia correllii (Correll’s false dragonhead) seed • Informal monitoring of herbivory-protected vs. open planting plots • Management and monitoring • Volunteer coordination and leadership • Educational signage research and content • Educational guidance brochure for students and teachers MANAGE EXOTIC SPECIES
Approximately 600 LF of target area
TARGETED EXOTIC SPECIES
Elephant Ear (Colocasia esculenta) Chinese Tallow (Sapium sebiferum)
White Mulberry (Morus alba) Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense)
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus)
TECHNIQUES Girdling and treating trees Wicking herbaceous plant material
Cutting and injecting Hand pulling
Trimming seedheads Project Scope • Manage exotic species • Informal monitoring of control methods used on Colocasi esculenta (elephant ear) – (Constrained by budget) • Plantings for increased diversity • Collect and propagate Physostegia correllii (Correll’s false dragonhead) seed • Informal monitoring of herbivory-protected vs. open planting plots • Management and monitoring • Volunteer coordination and leadership • Educational signage research and content • Educational guidance brochure for students and teachers Colocasi esculenta (elephant ear) JULY 2013 FEBRUARY 2017 Blunn Creek Delta Elephant Ear Treatment Program Blunn Delta Elephant Ear Treatment Program
Area=> EE4 EE8-1 EE8-2 EE8-3
Method Glyphosate Glyphosate Glyphosate Glyphosate Foliar Spray Wick Hollow Stem Cut & Paint Injection 1st App. 10/2/2013 10/2/2013 10/2/2013 10/2/2013
Notes marginally about 50% almost total almost total effective suppression suppression suppression
2nd App. 11/11/2013 (hand removal) (hand removal) (hand removal)
Notes marginally (more effective) (more effective) (more effective) effective 3rd App. winter dormant winter dormant winter dormant winter dormant Blunn Delta Elephant Ear Treatment Program
Area=> EE9-1g EE9-2w EE9-1i EE9-2c
Method Imazamox Imazamox Imazamox Imazamox Foliar Spray Wick Hollow Stem Cut & Paint Injection 1st App. 10/1/2013 10/1/2013 10/1/2013 10/1/2013
Notes some dead and about 50% inconclusive over 90% some regrowth suppression suppression
2nd App. (hand removal) (hand removal) (hand removal) (hand removal)
Notes (more effective) (more effective) (more effective) (more effective)
3rd App. winter dormant winter dormant winter dormant winter dormant Project Scope • Manage exotic species • Informal monitoring of invasive species control methods used on Colocasi esculenta (elephant ear) • Plantings for increased diversity • Collect and propagate Physostegia correllii (Correll’s false dragonhead) seed • Informal monitoring of herbivory-protected vs. open planting plots • Management and monitoring • Volunteer coordination and leadership • Educational signage research and content • Educational guidance brochure for students and teachers INCREASE BIO-DIVERSITY Genus Species Common Name Amorpha fruticosa indigo bush Aster sp. Aster Carex emoryi Emory Sedge Cladium mariscus var. jamaicense Sawgrass Cyperus articulatus flat sedge Echinodorus cordifolius Creeping Burrhead Eleocharis spp. sand spikerush Elymus canadensis Canada Wildrye Eupatorium coelestinum blue mistflower Helianthus annuus Common Sunflower Hibiscus laevis halberdleaf rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos subsp. lasiocarpos wooly rosemallow Hymenocallis liriosme spider lily Iris virginica blue flag iris Justicia americana Water-Willow Lobelia cardinalis cardinal flower Ludwigia octovalvis var. octovalvis Shrubby Water- Primrose Osmunda regalis royal fern Panicum virgatum Switchgrass Physostegia correllii Correll False- Dragonhead Pontederia cordata Pickerelweed Solidago canadensis Common Goldenrod Thalia dealbata powdery thalia Thelypteris kunthii river fern Tripsacum dactyloides Eastern Gamagrass FEBRUARY 2014 JUNE 2014 JUNE 2014 JUNE 2014 JUNE 2014 NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 FEBRUARY 2017 FEBRUARY 2017 Project Scope • Manage exotic species • Informal monitoring of invasive species control methods used on Colocasi esculenta (elephant ear) • Plantings for increased diversity • Collecting and propagating seed of Physostegia correllii (Correll’s false dragonhead) seed • Informal monitoring of herbivory-protected vs. open planting plots • Management and monitoring • Volunteer coordination and leadership • Educational signage research and content • Educational guidance brochure for students and teachers Correll’s False Dragonhead (Physostegia correllii) Correll’s False Dragonhead (Physostegia correllii) A List of the Rare Plants of Texas December 2010 Edition Jackie M. Poole and Jason R. Singhurst, Wildlife Diversity Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744 and William R. Carr, Texas Conservation Data Center, The Nature Conservancy of Texas P.O. Box 1440, San Antonio, TX 78295-1440
Distribution: Bexar (H?), Galveston, Gillespie (X), Kinney, Maverick, Montgomery (H), Travis, Val Verde, and Zapata counties; LA; Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Sonora Recent collection from Maverick County and perhaps recently from Bexar County (specimen awaits verification). Added an extirpated record from Gilliespie County.
Global Rank: G2 6-20 occurrences known globally; imperiled/very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range
State Rank: S2 6-20 known occurrences in Texas; imperiled in the state because of rarity; very vulnerable to extirpation from the state JULY 2013 JULY 2013 Correll’s False Dragonhead (Physostegia correllii) RARE SPECIES MANAGEMENT
•Collected seed from site
•Plants grown at ESC nursery
•Treated nearby elephant ear
•Planted on site near existing colonies
IMPORTANCE Encouraging the preservation and propagation of this plant can help serve to enhance future wetland restoration projects and wetland research. Project Scope • Manage exotic species • Informal monitoring of invasive species control methods used on Colocasi esculenta (elephant ear) • Plantings for increased diversity • Collect and propagate Physostegia correllii (Correll’s false dragonhead) seed • Informal monitoring of herbivory-protected vs. open planting • Management and monitoring • Volunteer coordination and leadership • Educational signage research and content • Educational guidance brochure for students and teachers Nutria Turtles Swans and Ducks
Installed exclosure cages to protect plants from herbivory Project Scope • Manage exotic species • Informal monitoring of invasive species control methods used on Colocasi esculenta (elephant ear) • Plantings for increased diversity • Collect and propagate Physostegia correllii (Correll’s false dragonhead) seed • Informal monitoring of herbivory-protected vs. open planting plots • Management for 12 months • Volunteer coordination and leadership • Educational signage research and content • Educational guidance brochure for students and teachers DEVELOP MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PROGRAM
•Management extended through 12 months
•Follow-up treatment of exotic species management
•Additional planting and seeding in areas with low survival rates Project Scope • Manage exotic species • Informal monitoring of invasive species control methods used on Colocasi esculenta (elephant ear) • Plantings for increased diversity • Collect and propagate Physostegia correllii (Correll’s false dragonhead) seed • Informal monitoring of herbivory-protected vs. open planting plots • Management and monitoring • Volunteer coordination and leadership • Educational signage research and content • Educational guidance brochure for students and teachers Interactions with Non-profit, Private, Public Organizations
The Trail Foundation Environmental Survey Consulting The 3M Company
Volunteer labor facilitated the project’s success
Informed participants of unique flora and current transformative makeup of the area 3M (MAJOR DONOR), THE TRAIL FOUNDATION, AND ESC SITE VISIT
JULY 2013 CITY OF AUSTIN WATERSHED PROTECTION, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION, AND ESC SITE VISIT
JULY 2013 3M GRANT
The Trail Foundation received a $50,000 grant from 3M
May 2014
Volunteers from 3M planted native wetland plants. Project Scope • Manage exotic species • Informal monitoring of invasive species control methods used on Colocasi esculenta (elephant ear) • Plantings for increased diversity • Collect and propagate Physostegia correllii (Correll’s false dragonhead) seed • Informal monitoring of herbivory-protected vs. open planting plots • Management and monitoring • Volunteer coordination and leadership • Educational signage research and content • Educational guidance brochure for students and teachers
Project Scope • Manage exotic species • Informal monitoring of invasive species control methods used on Colocasi esculenta (elephant ear) • Plantings for increased diversity • Collect and propagate Physostegia correllii (Correll’s false dragonhead) seed • Informal monitoring of herbivory-protected vs. open planting plots • Management and monitoring • Volunteer coordination and leadership • Educational signage research and content • Educational guidance brochure for students and teachers http://www.thetrailfoundation.org/portfolio /blunn-creek-ecological-restoration/ http://www.thetrailfoundation.org/portfolio /blunn-creek-ecological-restoration/
EDUCATION BLUNN CREEK DELTA CONCLUSIONS
Important to get a very clear agreement regarding what a client wants.
Important to know if and how client wants to relate to community, i.e. developing relationships with local schools/groups.
Blun Creek Delta Project
Client and grantor were committed to involving community members through volunteer work days.
Client made brochures available online, but no outreach to local schools.
Client changed their minds about the sign after research, artwork, text and layout were completed. MANAGEMENT BLUNN CREEK DELTA OBSERVATIONS
ESC chose to limit the use of chemicals.
After one or two applications of herbicide, we hand dug the exotic species.
Whenever exotics were removed, we planted native species in their place.
Physostegia did thrive. Need to keep watching its progress.
Plants survived inside the exclosures in this high browse area.
Future Research
Haven’t made final decision regarding best herbicide techniques for wetland species. MANAGEMENT BLUNN CREEK DELTA CONCLUSIONS
Recommend leaving exclosures, with highly edible species inside, since browsing will continue.
Need a longer monitoring and maintenance period than 12 months.
Need to educate stores that sell exotic species and the public that buy them (Home Depot sells elephant ear).
Need more money to dig out exotics and replace with native species.
Future
With our current City of Austin wetland restoration contract, we are hoping to include more monitoring. RESTORATION BLUNN CREEK DELTA OBSERVATIONS
•Highest wildlife activity along Lady Bird Lake boardwalk
•Most wetland plant diversity along entire boardwalk
•Browsing by turtles, swans, ducks, nutria will continue
•Due to continued sedimentation, constantly burying and adding new land
•Constant opportunity for exotic plants, especially annuals
•Elephant ear takes advantage of early succession areas
•Deeper roots create an immovable part of the delta
•New areas will eventually be dominated by willows and other woody species RESTORATION BLUNN CREEK DELTA CONCLUSIONS
Some exotic species in urban areas almost impossible to eliminate at feasible cost.
With upstream unstable, there will continue to be changes impacting the delta. (2015 Halloween and Memorial Day floods)
ESC will continue researching herbicide techniques.
ESC is negotiating with the City of Austin to do more habitat restoration work on other areas around Lady Bird Lake.
There will always be constant urban stresses at Blunn Creek Delta, but ESC concludes restoration is still worth doing. The Trail Foundation The 3M Company HABITAT CREATION IN A DYNAMIC DELTA
Challenges in an Urban Wetland Project
Judy Walther, President Stan Wilson, Project Manager Environmental Survey Consulting