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Land
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Wetland Construction and Restoration: Design and Performance
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Wetland Construction and Restoration: Design and Performance

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Planning and Landscape Architecture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 17678

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Douglas J. Spieles

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
McPhail Center for Environmental Studies, Denison University, Granville, OH 43023, USA
Interests: ecological development of constructed ecosystems; stress, disturbance and ecosystem management; ecology, evolution and environmentalism; spatial analysis of ecosystems
Dr. Michael A. Liptak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
EnviroScience Inc., Stow, OH 44224, USA
Interests: rare plant surveys; wetlands ecology; wetland restoration; mitigation wetland design

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Wetlands have long been recognized for the critical role they play in providing and maintaining ecological services which we depend on. Even so, the quality and quantity of wetlands have declined globally in the face of anthropogenic development. While some remaining wetlands are protected, there is an ongoing need to restore natural wetlands and to construct artificial ones. Wetlands have been built for various purposes, ranging from wetlands constructed for wastewater treatment to those designed to restore culturally important features of a landscape. Furthermore, others are mitigation wetlands, intended specifically as legal compensation for wetland functions lost to development. Through thousands of construction and restoration projects around the world, much has been learned about the design, engineering, performance, and sustainability of wetland ecosystems. This era has also engendered some extraordinary collaboration among ecologists, environmental scientists, engineers, government officials, wildlife biologists, and non-governmental officials.

The journal Land presents a Special Issue entitled “Wetland Construction and Restoration: Design and Performance”, which is open to researchers interested in this field. We welcome review and research articles on wetlands built for wastewater treatment (often called constructed wetlands); those built to reestablish wetlands in the landscape (restored wetlands); and those built for legal compensation (mitigation wetlands). Submissions to this Special Issue may consider the science of wetland site suitability, design, or function; research on wetlands as socioecological components of the landscape; the policy and process of wetland construction, restoration, or mitigation; cultural aspects of wetland restoration; or economic analyses of wetland services. Specific topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment;
  • Design specifications and functional performance;
  • Performance indicators and evaluation;
  • The sustainability of constructed wetlands;
  • The ecological function of restored wetlands;
  • Landscape features that influence restored wetlands;
  • Wetland restoration techniques and outcomes;
  • The mitigation process and assessment;
  • The ecological economics of built wetlands.

Prof. Dr. Douglas J. Spieles
Dr. Michael A. Liptak
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • wetland management
  • landscape design
  • restoration
  • mitigation
  • socioecological systems
  • ecological engineering
  • ecosystem services
  • water quality
  • ecological performance standards

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 7333 KiB  
Article
Wetland Restoration through Excavation: Sediment Removal Results in Dramatic Water Quality Improvement
by Michael C. Hassett and Alan D. Steinman
Land 2022, 11(9), 1559; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11091559 - 14 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1471
Abstract
We evaluated whether sediment excavation improved water quality in a former (pre-European settlement) wetland complex that was a farm in the early 1900s and then later in the 1990s/early 2000s was allowed to naturally refill with water and became nutrient-rich ponds plagued by [...] Read more.
We evaluated whether sediment excavation improved water quality in a former (pre-European settlement) wetland complex that was a farm in the early 1900s and then later in the 1990s/early 2000s was allowed to naturally refill with water and became nutrient-rich ponds plagued by legacy phosphorus issues. Two ponds were recently restored via dewatering, excavation of the surface sediment, and hydrologic reconnection to an adjacent creek to re-establish a flow-through marsh. The removal of ~103,000 m3 of phosphorus-laden sediment and reconnection to the adjacent stream resulted in improved water quality, with a reduction in total phosphorus concentration from ~1000 μg/L to ~20 μg/L and a 40% reduction in specific conductivity in both former ponds. Soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations declined substantially in one pond, from ~720 μg/L to 3 μg/L, but not in another pond, which was partially dredged by the landowner prior to restoration. Additionally, phosphorus concentration in the downstream receiving water body also declined but to a much more modest degree. Sediment excavation was an effective restoration tool in this former agricultural system, but given the expense and potential impact on pre-existing biota, a full-system diagnosis, including cost, sediment characterization, and control of external nutrient loading, is recommended before its implementation elsewhere. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wetland Construction and Restoration: Design and Performance)
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24 pages, 1993 KiB  
Article
Effects of Hydrologic Pulsing and Vegetation on Invertebrate Communities in Wetlands
by Kurt S. Keljo
Land 2022, 11(9), 1554; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11091554 - 13 Sep 2022
Viewed by 1319
Abstract
Constructed, mitigation wetlands in the midwestern United States are frequently dominated by a Typha spp. monoculture and their hydrologies are often determined by adjustable control structures. Wetlands provide habitat for multiple macroinvertebrate species, which in turn provide food for other organisms inhabiting the [...] Read more.
Constructed, mitigation wetlands in the midwestern United States are frequently dominated by a Typha spp. monoculture and their hydrologies are often determined by adjustable control structures. Wetlands provide habitat for multiple macroinvertebrate species, which in turn provide food for other organisms inhabiting the wetlands, such as waterfowl. This study examined the impacts of plant diversity and manipulated hydrology on macroinvertebrate communities. Forty 1-m2 wetland mesocosms were either planted with a monoculture of Typha spp. or with a more diverse plant community of Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Juncus effusus, and Sparganium eurycarpum. They were also assigned to one of four hydrologic regimes: steady state, pulsing, deep spring/shallow fall, and shallow spring/deep summer. After one year, macroinvertebrates were sampled in the mesocosms. Mesocosms with deep spring hydrologies were found to have greater taxon diversity than those with other hydrologies, but Chironomidae biomass was the lowest under the deep spring hydrology. Culicidae and Chironomidae were found in higher numbers in mixed vegetation than in Typha spp. Taxon richness and Chironomid biomass were significantly higher in mixed vegetation mesocosms than in Typha spp. monocultures. Results suggest vegetation diversity and hydrological regimes impact macroinvertebrate communities, with potential implications for constructed wetland design and management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wetland Construction and Restoration: Design and Performance)
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14 pages, 1080 KiB  
Article
Restored and Natural Wetland Small Mammal Communities in West Virginia, USA
by Krista L. Noe, Christopher T. Rota, Mack W. Frantz and James T. Anderson
Land 2022, 11(9), 1482; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11091482 - 04 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1702
Abstract
Wetland restoration is a common practice, and, in many cases, it is for mitigation to offset losses of natural wetlands due to human interference. Researchers commonly compare bird, amphibian, and reptile communities between these wetlands and natural wetlands but overlook small mammals. However, [...] Read more.
Wetland restoration is a common practice, and, in many cases, it is for mitigation to offset losses of natural wetlands due to human interference. Researchers commonly compare bird, amphibian, and reptile communities between these wetlands and natural wetlands but overlook small mammals. However, terrestrial small mammals are essential to consider as they serve a fundamental role in the ecosystem as seed dispersers and prey for larger wildlife. We conducted small mammal trapping on 26 wetlands (n = 14 restored, n = 12 natural) in West Virginia, USA, in the summers of 2020 and 2021 to obtain and compare community metrics between wetland types. We found that mass, occupancy probability, and community composition were similar between restored and natural wetlands. However, the apparent abundance of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) was higher in natural wetlands (p < 0.001). Because we captured the three rarest species exclusively in natural wetlands, the ability of restored wetlands to provide an adequate habitat for rare or wetland-obligate species may be biologically significant. Restored wetlands mainly offer sufficient habitat for small mammal communities, but apparent abundance in restored wetlands may differ from natural wetlands depending on species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wetland Construction and Restoration: Design and Performance)
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20 pages, 3110 KiB  
Article
Reclaiming Wetlands after Oil Sands Mining in Alberta, Canada: The Changing Vegetation Regime at an Experimental Wetland
by Melissa House, Dale H. Vitt, Lilyan C. Glaeser and Jeremy A. Hartsock
Land 2022, 11(6), 844; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11060844 - 04 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2036
Abstract
Surface mining for oil sand results in the formation of large pits that must be reclaimed. Some of these pits are backfilled with a myriad of substrates, including tailings rich in cations and anions, to form a solid surface. Experimental reclamation of the [...] Read more.
Surface mining for oil sand results in the formation of large pits that must be reclaimed. Some of these pits are backfilled with a myriad of substrates, including tailings rich in cations and anions, to form a solid surface. Experimental reclamation of the East in-pit located on the Syncrude Canada Ltd. mine lease was initiated in 2011 with Sandhill Wetland. Here, we report on monitoring (between 2015 and 2021) of Sandhill Wetland plant communities and significant environmental features, including base cations and water tables. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that the three dominant plant communities established in 2013 have continued to be dominated by the same species nine years after reclamation was initiated, but with reduced species richness. Plant communities have shifted across the wetland in response to water table changes and increases in sodium concentrations. The stoichiometry of base cations is unlike the natural wetlands of the region, and the surficial water chemistry of the wetland is unique. In response to variability in precipitation events coupled with wetland design, water tables have been highly variable, creating shifting water regimes across the wetland. Plant community responses to these shifting conditions, along with increases in base cation concentrations, especially sodium, provide background data for future in-pit reclamation designs. The plant responses underscore the need to develop reclamation designs for landscapes disturbed by mining that alleviate extreme water table fluctuation events and decrease cation concentrations to levels that approach natural wetlands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wetland Construction and Restoration: Design and Performance)
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Review

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37 pages, 2247 KiB  
Review
Wetland Removal Mechanisms for Emerging Contaminants
by Olivia Celeste Overton, Leif Hans Olson, Sreemala Das Majumder, Hani Shwiyyat, Mary Elizabeth Foltz and Robert William Nairn
Land 2023, 12(2), 472; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land12020472 - 14 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4270
Abstract
In recent decades, previously unobserved trace compounds have become more widely detected in wastewater treatment effluents and freshwater ecosystems. Emanating from various sources and presenting potential human health and ecological risks at much lesser concentrations than traditional contaminants, detection of “emerging contaminants” has [...] Read more.
In recent decades, previously unobserved trace compounds have become more widely detected in wastewater treatment effluents and freshwater ecosystems. Emanating from various sources and presenting potential human health and ecological risks at much lesser concentrations than traditional contaminants, detection of “emerging contaminants” has increased with improvements in analytical techniques. The behavior of emerging contaminants in wetlands is a topic of increasing interest, as natural wetlands are known to transform and sequester pollutants and constructed or treatment wetlands are widely utilized to address elevated concentrations of constituents of concern. Both natural and constructed wetlands are complex biogeochemical systems with interrelated abiotic and biotic mechanisms leading to the removal of emerging contaminants. A literature review was performed to assess the current state of knowledge of various wetland mechanisms involved in removing these contaminants from surface waters and effluents. The primary mechanisms discussed in the literature are sorption, photodegradation, microbial biodegradation and phytoremediation. The most influential mechanisms are dependent on the properties of the contaminants and wetland systems studied. Common trends exist for different constructed wetland designs to leverage various mechanisms based on hydrology, substrate and vegetation plantings. Much remains to be understood about the various processes occurring in wetlands as they relate to emerging contaminant removal. Improving the understanding of the potential role of wetland mechanisms can help manage this environmental challenge more effectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wetland Construction and Restoration: Design and Performance)
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21 pages, 714 KiB  
Review
Wetland Construction, Restoration, and Integration: A Comparative Review
by Douglas J. Spieles
Land 2022, 11(4), 554; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11040554 - 09 Apr 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5826
Abstract
In response to the global loss and degradation of wetland ecosystems, extensive efforts have been made to reestablish wetland habitat and function in landscapes where they once existed. The reintroduction of wetland ecosystem services has largely occurred in two categories: constructed wetlands (CW) [...] Read more.
In response to the global loss and degradation of wetland ecosystems, extensive efforts have been made to reestablish wetland habitat and function in landscapes where they once existed. The reintroduction of wetland ecosystem services has largely occurred in two categories: constructed wetlands (CW) for wastewater treatment, and restored wetlands (RW) for the renewal or creation of multiple ecosystem services. This is the first review to compare the objectives, design, performance, and management of CW and RW, and to assess the status of efforts to combine CW and RW as Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICW). These wetland systems are assessed for their ecological attributes and their relative contribution to ecosystem services. CW are designed to process a wide variety of wastewaters using surface, subsurface, or hybrid treatment systems. Designed and maintained within narrow hydrologic parameters, CW can be highly effective at contaminant transformation, remediation, and sequestration. The ecosystem services provided by CW are limited by their status as high-stress, successionally arrested systems with low landscape connectivity and an effective lifespan. RW are typically situated and designed for a greater degree of connection with regional ecosystems. After construction, revegetation, and early successional management, RW are intended as self-maintaining ecosystems. This affords RW a broader range of ecosystem services than CW, though RW system performance can be highly variable and subject to invasive species and landscape-level stressors. Where the spatial and biogeochemical contexts are favorable, ICW present the opportunity to couple CW and RW functions, thereby enhancing the replacement of wetland services on the landscape. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wetland Construction and Restoration: Design and Performance)
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