Effectiveness monitoring at tidal wetland restoration and reference sites in the Siuslaw River estuary: A tidal swamp focus

Abstract

This project was part of the Siuslaw Watershed Restoration Initiative. We designed and established a monitoring program at five sites totaling 319 A: two tidal wetland restoration sites (97A) and two reference sites (205 A) in the Siuslaw River estuary, and one 17 A reference site in the Yaquina River estuary. Both restoration sites were historically Sitka spruce tidal swamp, but one has subsided and is currently restoring to tidal march. The three reference sites -- two least-disturbed tidal swamps and one least-disturbed tidal marsh -- were selected to represent the full range of historic and current conditions at the restoration sites.