Publication Date
12-1984
Publisher
Humboldt State University
Abstract
A 5.5 hectare abandoned log pond at the foot of Park Street, Eureka, California, which originally was salt marsh, was chosen as the off-site mitigation site for the destruction of 1.2 hectare of salt marsh, 2.4 hectares of mudflat, and 3.2 hectares of riparian and upland habitat during the construction of the Woodley Island Marina. Passive saltmarsh restoration was attempted by breaching a dike separating the log pond from Freshwater Slough, and estuary of Humboldt Bay, in December 1980, thus allowing the periodic tidal intrusion of salt water into 3.8 hectares of the area. Previously, in August 1979 an interior dike had been constructed within a portion of the mitigation area to enhance an existing 0.7 hectare freshwater marsh. This study measured the response of vascular plants, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals to the changes brought about by the reestablishment of tidal action and construction of the interior dike. An undiked tidal marsh at the foot of Bay street along Eureka slough, closer to Humboldt Bay, served as a control. In addition, studies of birds were conducted at Woodley Island and at nearby Indian Island which had mudflat habitat similar to that on Woodley Island before marina construction.