Implementing an ecosystem approach to restoring the condition and services of a large urban wetland complex

Background/Question/Methods

The ecosystem approach is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way.  It is based on applying appropriate scientific methodologies to focus on levels of biological organization that encompass the essential structure, processes, functions and interactions among organisms (including humans) of the ecosystem.  This strategy is being used by Cleveland Metroparks to restore urban catchments in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Ohio.  The Lake-to-Lake Trail Ecosystem in the Upper Abram Creek catchment contains the largest remaining wetland complex in the county.  It is a former bog-kettle lake wetland complex that has been degraded by decades of farming and more recently by urban stormwater.  An ecosystem approach to rehabilitating this wetland has been initiated that takes into account the key terrestrial and aquatic resources and ecological forcing factors (stormwater, deer over-population and invasive plants).  A hydrological and biological monitoring network has been deployed to characterize current conditions and provide quantitative measures of success.

Results/Conclusions

Initial results from hydrologic monitoring and modeling continue to support the conclusion that stormwater is the key degrading factor for aquatic resource services with peak and total discharges of water 50-60% higher than predevelopment conditions.  Stormwater impacts are not uniform, with large wetland areas having intact, ground-water driven hydrology.  Baseline vegetation data indicates very high deer browse especially in terrestrial forest communities.  Invasive plants dominate large areas of the wetland complex.  Plant community quality is not uniformly degraded.  Mature forest and bur-reed (Sparganium), river bulrush (Bolboschoenus fluviatilis) and skunk cabbage-sedge (Symplocarpus foetidus-Carex) seep wetlands persist in the complex.  Natural systems in the ecosystem are or could provide significant regulating (e.g. storm water detention and removal), supporting (e.g. nutrient processing), and aesthetic (nature viewing, bird watching) ecosystem services.  But, service provision has been reduced or is threatened by invasive plants, excess storm water, deer over-population, and past human uses especially vegetable farming over the past century, which reduced the deepwater marsh-lake habitat in the complex by 95%.  Quantification of ecosystem condition and services will continue and rehabilitation efforts are underway in collaboration with the soil and water district, regional sewer district and local municipalities, including stormwater retrofits and invasive plant management.  The ecosystem approach has provided a powerful and practical organizing framework for framing the problem, developing applied monitoring efforts, and soliciting community support for urban ecosystem rehabilitation.