Habitat development utilizing dredged material at Barren Island Dorchester County, Maryland

Published source details Earhart H.G. & Garbisch E.W. (1983) Habitat development utilizing dredged material at Barren Island Dorchester County, Maryland. Wetlands, 3, 108-119.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Restore/create brackish/saline marshes or swamps (multiple actions) Action Link
	Directly plant non-woody plants: brackish/saline wetlands Action Link

Restore/create brackish/saline marshes or swamps (multiple actions)

A study in 1981–1982 in an estuary in Maryland, USA (Earhart & Garbisch 1983) reported that 53% of a site prepared with multiple interventions contained smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora. After approximately one year, smooth cordgrass stands covered 4.5 ha of an 8.5 ha prepared area. Methods: In November 1981, fine-grained dredge sediment was deposited in Tar Bay. In April–May 1982, an 8.5-ha area 20–50 cm above mean low water was sown with a mix of smooth cordgrass seeds and cat litter (as a drying agent; approximately 96 seeds/m²) and harrowed with spikes or chains. In June and August, the area was fertilized (NPK fertilizer; 110 kg/ha). The area covered by smooth cordgrass stands, both “dense” and “sparse”, was recorded in December 1982.

(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
Directly plant non-woody plants: brackish/saline wetlands

A study in 1982 in an estuary in Maryland, USA (Earhart & Garbisch 1983) reported approximately 70% survival of saltmeadow cordgrass Spartina patens planted into deposited dredge sediment. Survival was measured after 5–6 months. Methods: In June–July 1982, nursery-reared saltmeadow cordgrass was planted on an area of fine-grained dredge sediment deposited in Tar Bay. Approximately 65,520 plants were planted, 60 cm apart, 40–70 cm above mean low water. Each plant was fertilized with 30 g of slow-release Osmocote® fertilizer. Survival was recorded in December 1982.

(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)