Wave Attenuation and Response of Tidal Vegetation to Novel Restoration Techniques

The City of Delta, the City of Surrey, and the Semiahmoo First Nation in British Columbia are testing the feasibility of restoring historic salt marshes to reduce the risk of coastal flooding by installing a pilot project to test multiple salt marsh rebuilding techniques in Boundary Bay. This study will test the hypothesis that the treatment techniques will lead to higher vegetation growth and reduced wave energy at the pilot sites.
Modern salt marsh restoration methods have shown that combining sea dikes with restored salt marshes can reduce the overall cost of mitigating coastal flooding as well as promote the recovery of estuary ecosystems.
This study will involve analysis of the wave attenuation and weathering associated with the treatment methods as well as include vegetation monitoring for the transplanted salt marsh vegetation. This project will add critical information on an emerging field of engineering and science that is of significant interest globally and nationally.

Faculty Supervisor:

Ana Chara-Serna

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: