Response of tidal marsh revegetation to novel sediment enhancement in the Fraser River Estuary, Canada

Tidal marshes are productive and economically important, providing valuable ecosystem services including disturbance regulation, waste treatment, and the ability to sequester carbon. Sturgeon Bank is a large tidal ecosystem that had a total tidal marsh area of 543 ha at its greatest extent this century. At least 160 ha of tidal marsh at Sturgeon Bank has died off between approximately 1989 and 2011. In addition to increased relative sea level and increased salinity, leading hypotheses as to causes of tidal marsh recession at the western delta front include sediment deficit and goose herbivory. The Sturgeon Bank Sediment Enhancement Pilot Project provides an opportunity to explore an innovative method for tidal marsh restoration. Dredged sediment will be added to the southwestern Sturgeon Bank mudflat over a two-year period, forming three 150 m long and 100 m wide mounds. This applied research project will explore the need to supplement sediment enhancement with tidal marsh revegetation, including the creation of goose exclosures and revegetation by planting bulrush plugs.

Faculty Supervisor:

Eric Anderson

Student:

Partner:

Ducks Unlimited Canada (BC)

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Finance and Insurance; Other services (except public administration); Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

British Columbia Institute of Technology

Program: