HYDROLOGIC CHARACTERIZATION OF TWO PRIOR CONVERTED WETLAND RESTORATION SITES IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA
2001
Wetland losses resulting from conversion to agriculture and other land uses has generated considerable interest
in wetland restoration. Increased federal and local regulations have mandated that wetland areas must be protected, and when
loss is unavoidable, mitigation and restoration efforts are required. Establishing appropriate hydrologic functions will
inherently influence wetland restoration success. This research involved a three–year field study to develop guidelines for
restoring wetland hydrologic function to drained agricultural fields. Two field sites (9.2 ha and 10.4 ha) located in Beaufort
and Craven Counties, North Carolina, were instrumented and monitored to evaluate the effectiveness of the restoration
treatments used. Experimental treatments included two levels of water table management (high outlet control at 15 cm above
average land surface and low outlet control at 15 cm below average land surface) and two types of surface contouring (smooth
and rough) to control runoff. The restoration treatments imposed at the Beaufort County site created a range of wet conditions.
The high water table management, rough microtopography treatment displayed the most consecutive and total number of days
with the water table less than 30 cm deep, while the low water table management, smooth microtopography treatment
displayed the driest conditions. The restored wetland status of the Craven County site was marginal. Due to both lateral
seepage and seepage around the water control structures, the intended levels of water table management at the Craven County
site could not be maintained. Roughing of the soil surface reduced the amount of outflow from restoration treatments by
approximately 30% compared to the smooth microtopography treatments. Rough microtopography also reduced peak outflow
rates and increased the duration of outflow events.
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