SREL Reprint #2010

Selection of woody species for bottomland restoration

K. W. McLeod, M. R. Reed, and T. G. Ciravolo

Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802

Abstract: The bottomland forest of a third order stream in the South Carolina coastal plain was slowly destroyed between 1955 and 1985 by thermal effluent. When restoration efforts began in 1990, the site was dominated by several early successional communities, ranging from broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus) on dry sites to black willow (Salix nigra) in ephemeral pool sites. Successful bottomland forest restoration depends on choosing the correct species and methods of reintroduction for a particular site. The presence of large areas of broomsedge and loblolly pine suggested that some upland as well as bottomland species might do well in this habitat. Therefore, eleven species, representing a wide range of site requirements were planted as either containerized or bareroot seedlings into sites varying in apparent soil moisture. After the first growing season, a relatively dry year, survival was >70% for species as diverse as Taxodium distichum and Quercus marilandica. The subsequent three years have been much wetter and adequate survival has been limited to T. distichum and Q. michauxii (in both wet and dry sites), Fraxinus pennsylvanica (in wet sites), and Q. nigra (in dry sites). Over the four years of the study, growth has been substantial, but beaver herbivory during recent flood events has adversely affected, while not killing, some individuals.

SREL Reprint #2010

McLeod, K.W., M.R. Reed, and T.G. Ciravolo. 1994. Selection of woody species for bottomland restoration. pp. 106-118 In: F. J. Webb, Jr. (Ed.). Proceedings of the 21st Annual Conference on Wetlands Restoration and Creation. Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).