Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Restoration in Florida Spring ......Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)...
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Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Restoration in Florida Spring Systems Sean A. King 1 , Lyn Gettys 2 , and Chris J. Anastasiou 1 1 Southwest Florida Water Management District, Brooksville, FL, USA 2 University of Florida, Davie, FL, USA Introduction Restoration Techniques Installation Next Steps Results Filamentous Algae Macrophytes Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) is the foundation of Florida spring ecosystems and provides services that maintain water quality and create habitat for fish and wildlife. Over the past century a variety of drivers have caused a plant community shift from macrophytes to filamentous algae. In 2014, a pilot project was initiated in the Crystal River/Kings Bay spring system to test several innovative techniques to address these drivers and restore the native SAV community. Herbivory exclusion barriers and eelgrass sod mats were installed at three quarter-acre plots in the Hunters Cove area within the Crystal River/Kings Bay spring system in the Fall of 2015. The long-term goal is to rotate the restoration plots until the entire six acre area is planted with eelgrass. • Continue to manually remove invasive species (e.g. hydrilla, algae) • Test additional planting techniques (e.g. peat pots, ‘mini-mats’) • Monitor and evaluate ecological changes over time • SAV, invertebrates, fish, sediments, water quality • Remove herbivory exclusion barriers in the Spring/Summer of 2017 • Determine whether well-established SAV will persist despite heavy grazing pressure and competition from algae Herbivory exclusion barriers were specially designed to allow for maximum water circulation and wildlife usage while preventing manatee grazing. After four months the eelgrass sod mats were fully developed and were rolled up for transportation to the restoration site. Several hundred eelgrass sod mats were cultivated in a one acre pond at the Duke Energy Mariculture Center in Crystal River. Eelgrass sod mats consisted of coconut coir fiber mats (15’ x 3’) planted on six inch centers with the ‘Rockstar’ variety of eelgrass (Vallisneria americana). Underwater Engineering Services, Inc. (UESI) was hired to install the herbivory exclusion barriers using a team of SCUBA divers. The PVC exclusion barriers were designed to conform to the bottom topography and extend >2’ above mean high water to prevent manatees from accessing the restoration plots. Eelgrass sod mats were installed within a quarter of each plot directly onto the existing substrate in rows with approximately 3’ spacing between mats. In April 2016, additional mats and peat pots were installed in each plot. The eelgrass sod mats immediately created fish and wildlife habitat within a spring system dominated by filamentous algae. Four months later, eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) continues to expand where planted; however hydrilla and filamentous algae are abundant in the unplanted areas. Additional eelgrass installation and maintenance are expected to increase native SAV abundance. The eelgrass sod mats have expanded by over 2’ on each side and are beginning to coalesce into larger eelgrass beds. FFWCC and SWFWMD staff sampled the fish community within the restoration plots and found 11 species, compared to only 2 species in the control area.
Transcript of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Restoration in Florida Spring ......Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)...
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Restoration in Florida Spring Systems
Sean A. King1, Lyn Gettys2, and Chris J. Anastasiou1
1Southwest Florida Water Management District, Brooksville, FL, USA2University of Florida, Davie, FL, USA
Introduction Restoration Techniques
Installation
Next Steps
Results
Filamentous AlgaeMacrophytes
Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) is the foundation of Floridaspring ecosystems and provides services that maintain water qualityand create habitat for fish and wildlife. Over the past century avariety of drivers have caused a plant community shift frommacrophytes to filamentous algae. In 2014, a pilot project wasinitiated in the Crystal River/Kings Bay spring system to test severalinnovative techniques to address these drivers and restore the nativeSAV community.
Herbivory exclusion barriers and eelgrass sod mats were installed at three quarter-acre plots in the Hunters Cove area within the Crystal River/Kings Bay spring system in the Fall of 2015. The long-term goal is to rotate
the restoration plots until the entire six acre area is planted with eelgrass.
• Continue to manually remove invasive species (e.g. hydrilla, algae)• Test additional planting techniques (e.g. peat pots, ‘mini-mats’)• Monitor and evaluate ecological changes over time
• SAV, invertebrates, fish, sediments, water quality
• Remove herbivory exclusion barriers in the Spring/Summer of 2017• Determine whether well-established SAV will persist despite
heavy grazing pressure and competition from algae
Herbivory exclusion barriers were specially designedto allow for maximum water circulation and wildlifeusage while preventing manatee grazing.
After four months the eelgrass sod mats were fullydeveloped and were rolled up for transportation tothe restoration site.
Several hundred eelgrass sod mats were cultivatedin a one acre pond at the Duke Energy MaricultureCenter in Crystal River.
Eelgrass sod mats consisted of coconut coir fibermats (15’ x 3’) planted on six inch centers with the‘Rockstar’ variety of eelgrass (Vallisneria americana).
Underwater Engineering Services, Inc. (UESI) was hired toinstall the herbivory exclusion barriers using a team ofSCUBA divers.
The PVC exclusion barriers were designed to conform to thebottom topography and extend >2’ above mean high waterto prevent manatees from accessing the restoration plots.
Eelgrass sod mats were installed within a quarter of eachplot directly onto the existing substrate in rows withapproximately 3’ spacing between mats. In April 2016,additional mats and peat pots were installed in each plot.
The eelgrass sod mats immediately created fish and wildlifehabitat within a spring system dominated by filamentousalgae.
Four months later, eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) continues toexpand where planted; however hydrilla and filamentous algae areabundant in the unplanted areas. Additional eelgrass installationand maintenance are expected to increase native SAV abundance.
The eelgrass sod mats have expanded by over 2’ oneach side and are beginning to coalesce into largereelgrass beds.
FFWCC and SWFWMD staff sampled the fishcommunity within the restoration plots and found 11species, compared to only 2 species in the control area.
