Active Marsh Improvement:A decade of rehabilitating cattail

impacted areasMichael Manna1, Sue Newman1, Scot Hagerthey*, Mark Cook1, LeRoy Rodgers2, and David Black2

1 Applied Sciences Bureau, SFWMD

2 Land Resources Bureau, SFWMD

* Current: National Center for Environmental Assessment, EPA

Enhancements and expansion of STAs, BMPs integration with CERP, Also-

The Long Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals- 2003

Cattail (90+%)Cattail mix (50+%)Mix cattail (10+%)Other (<10%)

LEGEND (1995)

N

10 km

Transect Sites inWCA-2A

F0

F3

U3

F1

F2

F5

E0

E1E2

E3

E4

E5

U1U2

F4• Natural recovery of the Everglades has been deemed “too lengthy”; thereby, accelerated recovery must be investigated.

• “At the present time there are no specific management activities that have been demonstrated to accelerate recovery at a large scale. In addition, there are some concerns that active management in impacted areas may exacerbate phosphorus movement, particularly if not carefully investigated prior to implementation.”

1. Cattail Habitat Improvement Project (CHIP)2. Landscape Pattern Restoration (AMI-1)3. Slough Restoration (AMI-2)

Active Marsh Improvement Projects

Cattail Habitat Improvement Project (CHIP)

ENRICHED

TRANSITION

REFERENCE

• Rehabilitate cattail areas?• Multiple tropic level sampling• Method – herbicide and

prescribed fire• Control and Reference

comparisons

5

March 2006 @ TO1 - Firebreaks

July 2006 @ TO1 - Fire

CHIP plot creationJune 2006 @ TO2 – Aerial spray

October 2008 @ TO1 – SAV marsh

CHIP Experimental and Reference plot above-ground live biomass (g/m2) for 2007-2009

2007 2008 2009

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Dry

Wei

ght (

g m

-2)

Tran

sitio

n

Enric

hed

Ref

eren

ce

Tran

sitio

n

Enric

hed

Ref

eren

ce

Tran

sitio

n

Enric

hed

Ref

eren

ce

April 2012

September 2015

TO1 May 2014

AMI W in 2013 AMI E in 2013

Landscape Pattern Restoration (AMI-1)

initial 12 mon 24 mon

Perc

ent c

over

(%

)

0

20

40

60

80

100Dead vegetation SAV Live emergent vegetation Openwater

West

initial 12 mon 24 mon0

20

40

60

80

East

b

c

a

b

a a

a

a

a

a

a

a

b

b

b

c

c

cb

b

a

a

b b

Vegetation type cover change in Landscape Restoration plots with 12 and 24 month applications. α= 0.05.

Slough restoration (AMI2)

Slough restoration (AMI2)

Time since spraying (months)

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26

Pro

porti

onal

cha

nge

in p

erce

nt c

over

Ty

pha

from

initi

al (%

)

-100

-50

0

50

100

control24 oz. acre-1

32 oz. acre-1

24< 0, p=0.0624>32,p=0.0132< 0, p=0.01

24< 0, ns24>32,p=0.0232< 0, p<0.01

24< 0, ns24>32,ns32< 0, p=0.02

12 monthsInitial 24 months

32 oz. acre-1

24 oz. acre-1

In Conclusion

• Control cattail/ Desirable vegetation

• Glyphosate and fire best for eliminating all vegetation

• Imazamox is good for keeping patterning

• 32 oz dose is the most effective balance

Acknowledgements

Staff and Contractors over the years:Everglades - J. Beerens, B. Bellinger, R. Bennett, M. Blaha, E. Cline, L. Cooke, J. Fay, S. Hohner, P. Holowecky, M. Jacoby, M. Kobza, M. Nungesser, F. Santamaria, K. Seitz, R. Shuford, J. Zimmerman, and C. Zweig

Veg. Management- S. Smith, P. Ellis

SFWMD, Aircoastal and Helicopter Applicators Inc., for aerial support

Florida Fish and Wildlife ConservationCommission – Prescribed fire