Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

National survey of planted salt marshes (Vegetative stabilization and wave stress)

  • Wetland Restoration
  • Published:
Wetlands Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There have been many recent attempts to establish salt marshes in the coastal United States. Plantings are generally made for the purpose of shore protection, dredged material stabilization, or habitat development. During 1980 a survey was made of recent and historic salt marsh planting projects. Data were collected in 104 planted marshes in 12 coastal states. The relative stability of these plantings was compared to physical indicators of wave climate severity (fetch, shore slope, offshore depth, shore configuration, sediment grain size, orientation with respect to prevailing and storm winds, and proximity to boat traffic).

Fetch, shore configuration, and sediment grain size were found to be related to planting stability. Using these parameters, a system was developed for evaluating potential marsh development sites.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Bascom, W. N. 1951. The relationship between sand size and beach-face slope. Transactions of the Am. Geophysical Union. 32(6).

  • Broome, S. W., and E. D. Seneca. 1978. Vegetative stabilization site form, North Carolina. U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (unpublished).

  • Chapman, V. J. 1940. Studies in salt marsh ecology: VI–VIII, comparison with the marshes on the east coast of North America. J. Ecol. 28: 118–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, V. J. 1974. Salt marshes and salt deserts of the world. Second, Supplmented Reprint Edition, Verlag Von J. Crammer, Germany.

  • Chapter, E. H. 1965. Ecological aspects of the dwarf brown form ofSpartina in the Dovey estuary. J. Ecol. 53: 789–797.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davies, M. R., and J. M. Lambert. 1940. A sandy area in the Dovey estuary. J. Ecol. 28: 453–464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodd, J. D., and J. W. Webb. 1975. Establishment of vegetation for shoreline stabilization in Galveston Bay. MP 6–75, U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research Center, Fort Belvoir, Va.

  • Gallagher, J. L., F. G. Plumley, and P. L. Wolf. 1977. Underground biomass dynamics and substrate selective properties of Atlantic coastal salt marsh plants. TR D-77-28, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Miss.

  • Garbisch, E. W., Jr. 1977a. Recent and planned marsh establishment work throughout the contiguous United States. A survey and basic guidelines. TR D-77-73, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Miss.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garbisch, E. W., Jr. 1977b. Vegetative stabilization site information forms, Chesapeake Bay. U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (unpublished).

    Google Scholar 

  • Garbisch, E. W., Jr., et al. 1973. Biotic techniques for shore stabilization. Second Intl. Estuarine Res. Conf., Myrtle Beach, S.C. 28 pp.

  • Garbisch, E. W., Jr., P. B. Woller, and R. J. McCallum. 1975. Salt marsh establishment and development. TM-52, U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research Center, Fort Belvoir, Va.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harshberger, J. W. 1911. An hydrometric investigation of the influence of sea water on the distribution of salt marsh and estuarine plants. Proc. of Am. Phils. Soc. 50: 457–496.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, D. S., and M. H. York. 1915. The relation of plants to tide levels. Carnegie Institute Publications, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kadlec, J. H., and W. A. Wentz. 1974. State of the art survey and evaluation of marsh plant establishment techniques: induced and natural. Vol. I, TR D-74-9, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Miss.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, C. A. M. 1972. Beaches and coasts. Edward Arnold, Ltd.

  • Knutson, P. L. 1975. The use of dredged material for the development of intertidal marshlands. Proc. of MTS/IEEE Ocean 75 Conf., San Diego, Calif. 208–212.

  • Knutson, P. L. 1976. Development of intertidal marshlands upon dredged material in San Francisco Bay. Proc. of Seventh World Dredging Conf., San Francisco, Calif. 103–118.

  • Knutson, P. L. 1977a. Planting guidelines for marsh development and bank stabilization. CETA 77-3, U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research Center, Fort Belvoir, Va.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knutson, P. L. 1977b. Designing for bank erosion control with vegetation. Coastal Sediments ’77. Am. Soc. of Civil Engineers, N.Y. 716–733.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lunz, J. D., R. J. Diaz, and R. A. Cole. 1978. Upland and wetland habitat development with dredged material: ecological considerations. TR DS-78-15, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Miss.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manbeian, T. 1973. The influence of soil moisture suction, cycle wetting and drying, and plant roots on the shear strength of a cohesive soil. Thesis presented to the University of California at Berkeley, Calif., in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Ph.D.

  • McLachlan, A. 1980. The definition of sandy beaches in relation to exposure: a simple rating system. South African J. of Science. 76.

  • Newcombe, C. L., et al. 1979. Bank erosion control with vegetation, San Francisco Bay, California. MR 79-2, U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research Center, Fort Belvoir, Va.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pestrong, R. 1972. San Francisco Bay tidelands. California Geology. 25(2).

  • Phillips, W. A., and F. D. Eastman. 1959. Riverbank stabilization in Virginia. J. of Soil and Water Cons. 14: 257–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Purer, E. A. 1942. Plant ecology of the coastal salt marshlands of San Diego County, California. Ecological Monographs. 12: 81–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Randwell, D. W. 1967. World resources ofSpartina townsendii (sensu lato) and economic use ofSpartina marshland. J. Appl. Ecol. 4: 239–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Redfield, A. C. 1972. Development of a New England salt marsh. Ecological Monographs. 42(2): 201–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riggs, S. R., M. P. O’Conner, and V. J. Bellis. 1978. Shoreline erosion and accretion: a process-response classification of the shore zone environments of North Carolina. Sea Grant 04-6-158-44054.

  • Rowntree, R. A. 1973. Morphological change in a California estuary: sedimentation and marsh invasion at Bolinas Lagoon. Unpublished Ph. D. Dissertation, University of California at Berkeley, Calif.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharp, W. C., C. R. Belcher, and J. Oyler. 1980. Vegetation for tidal stabilization in the mid-Atlantic states. SDA-SCS.

  • Sharp, W. C., and J. Vaden 1970. Ten-year report on sloping techniques used to stabilize eroding tidal river banks. Shore and Beach. 38: 31–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, H. K. 1978. An introduction to habitat development on dredged material. TR DS-78-19, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Miss.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swann, E. L. 1965.Spartina (Gramineae) in W. Norfolk. Proc. Bot. Soc. Brit. Isles. 6(1): 46–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • U. S. Army Beach Erosion Board. 1933. Relation between sand size and slope of the foreshore. Interim Report, Beach Erosion Board, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • U. S. Army Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research Center. 1977. Shore protection manual. Third Edition. U. S., Army, Corps of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research Center, Fort Belvoir, Va.

    Google Scholar 

  • U. S. Army Engineer District, San Francisco. 1976. San Francisco Bay and estuary dredge disposal study — marsh development. Appendix K. U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District.

    Google Scholar 

  • U. S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station. 1978. Wetland habitat development with dredged material: engineering and plant propagation. TR DS-78-16, U. S. Army Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Miss.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wayne, C. J. 1975. Sea and marshgrasses: their effect on wave energy and near-shore transport. M. S. Thesis, Florida State University College of Arts and Sciences, Tallahassee, Fla.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb, J. W., and J. D. Dodd 1976. Vegetation establishment and shoreline stabilization, Galveston Bay, Texas, TP 76–13, U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research Center, Fort Belvoir, Va.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiegel, R. L. 1965. Oceanographic engineering. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Second Printing.

  • Woodhouse, W. W., Jr. 1979. Building salt marshes along the coasts of the continental United States. SR No. 4, U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research Center, Fort Belvoir, Va.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodhouse, W. W., Jr., E. D. Seneca, and S. W. Broome 1972. Marsh building with dredge spoil in North Carolina. Bulletin 445, Agricultural Experiment Station, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodhouse, W. W., Jr., E. D. Seneca, and S. W. Broome 1974. Propagation ofSpartina alternaflora for substrate stabilization and salt marsh development. TM-46, U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research Center, Fort Belvoir, Va.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodhouse, W. W., Jr., E. D. Seneca, and S. W. Broome. 1976. Propagation and use ofSpartina alternaflora for shoreline erosion abatement. TR 76–2, U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research Center, Fort Belvoir, Va.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research Center, 22060, Fort Belvoir, Virginia

    Paul L. Knutson, Julie C. Ford & Margaret R. Inskeep

  2. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, National Plant Materials Center, Beltsville, Maryland

    John Oyler

Authors
  1. Paul L. Knutson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Julie C. Ford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Margaret R. Inskeep
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. John Oyler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Knutson, P.L., Ford, J.C., Inskeep, M.R. et al. National survey of planted salt marshes (Vegetative stabilization and wave stress). Wetlands 1, 129–157 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160460

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160460

Keywords

Search

Navigation