Performing Department
Environmental & Forest Biology
Non Technical Summary
The Braddock Bay Fish and Wildlife Management Area (FWMA) is a 2,576-acre, highly productivemarsh complex consisting of five embayment ponds with associated streams, wetlands and uplands.All five embayments are hydrologically connected to Lake Ontario and the Rochester EmbaymentArea of Concern (AOC). The project sites in this proposal (i.e., Buck Pond: Phase II, ButtonwoodCreek, and Salmon Creek) are not directly in the Rochester Embayment. The project sites, however,include wildlife habitat directly adjacent to the Rochester Embayment AOC and represent remnantbays that are connected to urbanization and shoreline hardening (e.g., development of houses androads, specifically the Lake Ontario parkway). Therefore, restoration methods proposed in thisapplication will directly benefit the Rochester Embayment as the sites remain hydrologicallyconnected to Lake Ontario and represent some of the only remaining coastal marsh wetlands withinthe region that still support wetland habitat and wildlife communities, many of which are state listedspecies of concern. At Braddock Bay FWMA, marsh vegetation occupies approximately 65% of thearea, with narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifola) and hybrid cattail (Typha x glauca) being thedominant species (NYSDEC Braddock Bay FWMA Management Plan 2011). The complex is animportant economic driver for Monroe County and the towns of Greece and Parma because theFWMA provides extensive ecosystem services and recreational opportunities for the public.This proposal focuses on the restoration/enhancement of coastal wetland habitat at three locations inthe Braddock Bay FWMA watershed in Monroe County, New York. All three sites maintain ahydro logic connection to the Rochester Embayment (sites are less than 0.3 miles from coastline).This restoration program is an on-going collaborative effort between D, State University of NewYork-Brockport (SUNY-Brockport), Town of Greece, NYSDEC, U.~. Army Corps of Engineers,and private landowners. The goal of the current partnership is to restore sedge meadow habitat andimprove wetland interspersion in coastal marshes adjacent to Lake Ontario and in the majortributaries of Buttonwood and Salmon Creeks (drowned river mouths that are part of the BraddockBay complex). The project sites were once diverse and productive coastal marshes, but have becomepredominantly dense stands of monotypic cattail. Presently they support minimal native sedgemeadow and emergent wetland communities and provide marginal habitat for important sport fishes,marshbirds, and other wetland wildlife.Coastal marshes along western Lake Ontario, such as the Braddock Bay FWMA, are dominated byinvasive narrow leaf and hybrid cattail due to altered water regimes. The resultant dense cattail matshave limited value for wetland-dependent wildlife, including marsh birds, reptiles and mammals. Inaddition, these cattail mats provide poor spawning habitat for fish, including northern pike, the stateendangered pugnose minnow, darters, bullheads, longnose gar, and bowfin. This project will restoresedge meadow habitat and create connection channels and potholes in dense cattail along tributariesand bays that connect to Lake Ontario and the Rochester Embayment.The restoration methods to be used at each site will be specific to the existing conditions, but allstrategies will enhance the diversity of wetland habitats, restore native plant communities, enhanceaccess to/and restoration of spawning areas for native fish species, increase hydrologicalconnectivity, and improve wetland interspersion. Methods will include restoration of sedge meadowhabitat, removal of cattail by mechanical means to create connection channels, removal of cattail to create open potholes to maximize interspersion, and native plant and wildlife communities. Thefinal delivery will include restoration of approximately 155 acres. This will include seven acres ofpotholes, 10,000 linear feet of meandering channels, and restoration of 40 acres of sedge meadow.Potholes and linear channels will be excavated using specialized low ground pressure equipment.These methods have been successfully implemented elsewhere within the Lake Ontario basin toimprove fish and wildlife habitat, including French Creek WMA, Lakeview Marshes WMA, and onprivate lands, with additional work scheduled at Buck Pond (Phase I): Braddock Bay FWMA andLakeshore Marshes in the fall of 2013.Award Start Date: 8/25/14End Date: 1/31/16 (as of 6/15/16)Sponsor: Ducks Unlimited Incorporated
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
75%
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
25%
Goals / Objectives
This project will conserve coastal wetlands by restoring sedge meadow communities and improvinghydrological connectivity in areas that are presently dense, monotypic stands of cattail. The cattaildominates the marshes and limits growth of native plants as well as use by wetland-dependentwildlife and the public. The restoration/enhancement of these sites will increase the quality of thecoastal wetland habitat and benefit marshbirds such as American bittern, least bittern (NYthreatened), Virginia rail, sora rail, sedge wren (NY threatened), and black tern (NY endangered).Blandings turtle (NY threatened) may also benefit, as will mammals, amphibians, and invertebrates.Sedge meadow habitat and wildlife such as northern pike and black terns are indicators of a healthyfunctioning coastal wetland system. The response of these species will be used to help evaluate theefficacy of our restoration during monitoring.
Project Methods
The proposed project will involve restoration and enhancement of coastal wetland habitats in LakeOntario. DU has identified three locations in the Braddock Bay FWMA, connected to the RochesterEmbayment Watershed as priority areas for coastal wetland restoration. The restoration methods tobe employed at each site will depend on the existing conditions. Methods for the restoration andenhancement will build upon successful projects designed and delivered by DU, such as the projectsrecently completed in the coastal wetlands of the St. Lawrence Valley, NY, funded through NOAA.Similarly, restoration methods will follow published restoration methodologies detailed in projectscompleted at SUNY-Brockport for sedge meadow restoration (Czayka 2012). The restorationmethods, identified for each site below, include: ·l. Creation of meandering channels though the cattail mat. Using a specialized aquaticexcavator or low-ground-pressure excavator, channels will be restored through the densecattail mats to enhance fish passage and hydrological connectivity. The channels will be cutto connect newly restored potholes, and also connects onsite patches of remnant sedgemeadow habitat. The channels will allow fish access upstream to spawning locations and willensure juvenile fry can return to the Lake Ontario. Similarly, the channels will be restored toensure water depths are tied to Lake Ontario water levels, thus ensuring that newly restoredchannels do not create isolated pools that could trap fish.2. Excavation of small pools or potholes for spawning sites, connected by channels.3. Excavation of oxbows to connect new and pre-existing on-site sedge meadow habitat to therestored channels, thus allowing fish access to spawning habitats which is currently limitedby a dense barriers of cattail.4. Restoration of sedge meadow habitat through the excavation of the top layer of cattail debrisand roots to expose mudflats.5. Placement of a water control structure to control flooding. The structure will integrate a fishladder to facilitate passage into the newly restored coastal marsh (i.e., Salmon Creek). Thecreated marsh and water control structure will provide for management capabilities, thusensuring the wetland maximizes hydrological connectivity, maintains sedge meadowcharacteristics, provides habitat for fish and wildlife, and maximizes recreationalopportunities for users of the Braddock Bay FWMA. The management of the sedge meadowwith a water control structure will allow for the independent management of the system tocontrol invasive species by flooding, to protect spawning areas, and restore native plantcommunities.