A 3.1-Acre freshwater tidal wetland was created in 1986 along rancocas creek in burlington county, new jersey, to partially compensate for wetland losses associated with a nearby bridge construction project. An existing upland site was graded to an elevation that provides for inundation of the created marsh during mean high tide with between 1.0 And 2.2 Ft of water. Three perennial species, peltandra virginica, sagittaria latifolia, and pontederia cordata, were planted in the created marsh in the spring of 1986. Vegetation was sampledin september 1986 and 1987. Fish and benthic invertebrates were sampled in september 1987 and august 1988. Wildlife use of the marsh was observed and recorded throughout the study period. Sediment depth was sampled in june 1988. Unplanted, volunteer vegetation has becomewell established throughout the wetland. The created marsh exhibitsan ecosystem structure consistent with a develping freshwater tidalwetland in which the following functions are being performed: primary productivity and food chain support, fish and wildlife habitat, sediment trapping, nutrient transformation, and flood storage. These functions help support neighboring aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, serve to maintain surface water quality, and help to protect nearby development from flood damage. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1224, Rest areas, wetlands, and hydrology.
Abstract