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The Role of Sediment Dynamics for Inorganic Accretion Patterns in Southern California’s Mediterranean-Climate Salt Marshes

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Abstract

Salt marsh resilience to sea-level rise depends on marsh plain elevation, tidal range, subsurface processes, as well as surface accretion, of which suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) is a critical component. However, spatial and temporal patterns of inorganic sedimentation are poorly quantified within and across Salicornia pacifica (pickleweed)-dominated marshes. We compared vertical accretion rates and re-examined previously published suspended-sediment patterns during dry-weather periods at Seal Beach Wetlands, which is characterized by a mix of Spartina foliosa (cordgrass) and pickleweed, and for Mugu Lagoon, where cordgrass is rare. Mugu Lagoon occurs higher in the tidal frame and receives terrigenous sediment from an adjacent creek. Feldspar marker horizons were established in winter 2013–2014 to measure accretion. Accretion rates at Seal Beach Wetlands and Mugu Lagoon were 6 ± 0.5 mm/year (mean ± SE) and 2 ± 0.3 mm/year. Also, the estimated sediment flux (g/year) across the random feldspar plots was 3.5 times higher at Seal Beach Wetlands. At Mugu Lagoon, accretion was higher near creeks, although not statistically significant. Dry-weather SSC showed similar concentrations at transect locations across sites. During wet weather, however, SSC at Mugu Lagoon increased at all locations, with concentrations decaying farther than 8 m from tidal creek edge. Based on these results from Mugu Lagoon, we conclude accretion patterns are set by infrequent large flooding events in systems where there is a watershed sediment source. Higher accretion rates at Seal Beach Wetlands may be linked to lower-marsh elevations, and thus more frequent inundation, compared with Mugu Lagoon.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Evyan Borgnis, John Callaway, Lisa Schile, John Takekawa, and Karen Thorne for their expertise in relevant field and lab research methods and manuscript suggestions. We thank Kirk Gilligan (Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge), Martin Ruane (NBVC Pt. Mugu), and Valerie Vartanian (NBVC Pt. Mugu) for providing access to salt marsh areas at Seal Beach Wetlands and Mugu Lagoon. This research was supported by the Southwest Climate Science Center and Department of Interior grants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Jordan A. Rosencranz, James R. Holmquist, Yareli Sanchez, Glen M. MacDonald & Richard F. Ambrose

  2. Department of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1524, USA

    Lauren N. Brown & Glen M. MacDonald

  3. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD, 21037-0028, USA

    James R. Holmquist

  4. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1772, USA

    Richard F. Ambrose

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  1. Jordan A. Rosencranz
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Correspondence to Jordan A. Rosencranz.

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Communicated by Cathleen Wigand

Appendix. Map of flood control channels in the Catchment of Seal Beach Wetlands

Appendix. Map of flood control channels in the Catchment of Seal Beach Wetlands

Fig. 6
figure 6

Watershed map showing different flood control channels that may provide sediment to Seal Beach Wetlands (source: http://www.ocflood.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=32723) 

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Rosencranz, J.A., Brown, L.N., Holmquist, J.R. et al. The Role of Sediment Dynamics for Inorganic Accretion Patterns in Southern California’s Mediterranean-Climate Salt Marshes. Estuaries and Coasts 40, 1371–1384 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0224-3

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