CWD Ecosystem Restoration 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which planting technique is most effective for restoring emergent vegetation in a degraded marsh?
- Broadcasting dry seed across the entire basin
- Transplanting plugs or rhizome divisions during early spring dormancy break (Correct answer)
- Applying herbicide first then seeding in midsummer
- Installing only woody shrubs along the perimeter
Correct answer: Transplanting plugs or rhizome divisions during early spring dormancy break
Transplanting plugs or rhizome divisions during early spring provides established root systems that can survive competition and hydrologic stress.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of installing a water control structure during wetland restoration?
- To permanently drain the wetland for maintenance access
- To allow management of water levels to mimic natural hydroperiods (Correct answer)
- To prevent any water from entering the restored site
- To aerate the soil by lowering the water table year-round
Correct answer: To allow management of water levels to mimic natural hydroperiods
Water control structures allow managers to manipulate hydroperiods, simulating natural seasonal flooding and drawdown cycles critical to wetland function.
Question 3: In a prairie pothole restoration, which action best addresses the loss of natural hydrology caused by tile drains?
- Adding clay liner to the basin floor
- Plugging or removing subsurface tile drains (Correct answer)
- Importing water via irrigation systems
- Planting drought-tolerant upland grasses
Correct answer: Plugging or removing subsurface tile drains
Removing or plugging tile drains restores the natural water retention capacity of prairie potholes by eliminating artificial drainage pathways.
Question 4: Which soil amendment is commonly used to reduce sulfide toxicity in restored tidal wetland soils?
- Calcium carbonate (lime) (Correct answer)
- Sodium chloride
- Organic mulch only
- Sulfuric acid
Correct answer: Calcium carbonate (lime)
Lime (calcium carbonate) raises soil pH and reduces sulfide toxicity, which is common in acid sulfate soils exposed during tidal wetland restoration.
Question 5: What does 'reference site' mean in the context of wetland restoration planning?
- A site used as a dump for excavated spoil material
- An undisturbed or minimally disturbed wetland used to define restoration targets (Correct answer)
- A nearby upland used to source fill material
- A regulatory database of permitted wetland impacts
Correct answer: An undisturbed or minimally disturbed wetland used to define restoration targets
A reference site represents a least-disturbed wetland of the same type used to establish structural and functional goals for restoration.
Question 6: Which monitoring metric is most directly indicative of successful wetland restoration hydrology?
- Soil organic matter percentage
- Depth and duration of inundation recorded by water level loggers (Correct answer)
- Number of invasive plant species present
- Distance to nearest road
Correct answer: Depth and duration of inundation recorded by water level loggers
Water level logger data documenting inundation depth and duration directly confirms whether target hydroperiods have been achieved.
Question 7: When restoring a forested wetland, what is the recommended minimum buffer width around the restored area to protect it from upland disturbance?
- 5 feet
- 15 feet
- At least 100 feet where feasible (Correct answer)
- No buffer is necessary if a fence is installed
Correct answer: At least 100 feet where feasible
A buffer of at least 100 feet is generally recommended to filter runoff, reduce edge effects, and protect restored wetland functions from adjacent land uses.
CWD Ecosystem Restoration 2
Which planting technique is most effective for restoring emergent vegetation in a degraded marsh?