Ecological Evaluation for Estuarine Habitat Restoration at Herring River

位于美国马萨诸塞州韦尔菲尔特和特鲁罗的鲱鱼河栖息地恢复项目将是美国东北部最大的河口栖息地恢复项目。这项拟议的研究将是一个涉及众多组织的多学科监测项目的一部分。通过在河口逐渐打开重建的堤坝和潮汐控制结构，将潮汐流量重新引入河流，最终将使正常的潮差和盐度恢复到大约445公顷，从而重建河口过程，改善河口动植物的栖息地。潮汐流量的恢复将由国家公园管理局制定的正式适应性管理计划指导和通知。河口中的颗粒物和营养物的通量知之甚少。沉积物、营养物、颗粒有机物的来源以及在整个鲱鱼河口的分布尚不清楚。这项研究将通过生物测定和稳定同位素研究来回答这些问题，并将成为一个全面监测项目的一部分。调查鲱鱼河口恢复前、中期和恢复后状况的独特机会将是规划、实施和管理未来沿海生境恢复工作的基础。

The Herring River Habitat Restoration Project in Wellfleet and Truro, MA, USA will be the largest estuarine habitat restoration in the north-eastern USA. The proposed study will be part of a multidisciplinary monitoring project involving numerous organisations. Reintroduction of the tidal flow to the river by means of incremental openings of a rebuilt dike and tidal control structure at the mouth of the river will eventually restore normal tidal range and salinity to approximately 445 hectares, allowing for reestablishment of estuarine processes and improved habitat for a host of estuarine plants and animals. Restoration of tidal flow will be guided and informed by a formal Adaptive Management Plan developed by the National Park Service. Fluxes of particulates and nutrients in estuaries are poorly understood. Sources of sediments, nutrients, particulate organic matter, as well as distribution throughout Herring River estuary are unknown. This study will answer those questions with bioassay and stable isotope studies and will be part of a comprehensive monitoring project. The unique opportunity of surveying pre-, mid- and post- restoration conditions of the Herring River Estuary will be fundamental for planning, implementing and managing future restoration efforts of coastal habitats.