Marshes are often the first environments lost when urban sprawl moves in. They are also incredibly diverse places, playing host to migrating birds, fragile populations of amphibians, and urban populations of fish and aquatic insects.
Freshwater wetlands used to be considered havens for disease, and they were drained, removed, and paved whenever possible. Now they are also at risk from other urban impacts such as pollution and habitat fragmentation. For those who are stewards of the wetlands in the temperate rainforest of the Pacific Northwest, here are some resources to help restore these valuable wet places.
Why Restore a Wetland in or Near the Home?
A wet place in the yard can bring a lot of enjoyment to homeowner and wildlife alike. Especially in urban areas, there are so few remaining wetlands that the backyard pond and marsh can become a haven for amphibians and for insects like dragonflies. Marsh birds like the red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) also visit local wetlands. A small wetland can be a biodiversity hot spot and a wonderful place to see wildlife that would not normally thrive in an urban area.
Even Small Wetlands Count!
Even tiny wetlands add to the patchwork of biologically diverse spaces in the urban environment. Create a rain garden under a drain or in a wet place next to a parking spot. Add swales to the garden and move water towards an edible wetland garden. A wet space does not need to take up an entire yard, nor does it require a large pond. In the struggle to keep and restore marshlands, every wetland counts.
The Wetlandkeepers Handbook
British Columbia’s Wetlandkeepers Handbook (Southam, T and E. Curran, 1996) is also called A Practical Guide to Wetland Care. This guide is a good one for the homeowner who wants to assess the health of a backyard or local marsh and understanding its animal and plant species. The British Columbia Wildlife Federation runs short and week-long workshops for wetland stewards on wetland ecology and restoration. For those who seek to understand the wetland species in their backyard and restore or construct such a native temperate wetland, the workshop and book are a good place to begin.
Learn How to Assess Wetland Health
Wetland stewards looking for professional resources to assist in local marsh restoration or construction may find the EPA's Methods for Evaluating Wetland Condition to be useful tools. These technical but still accessible online guides lead those interested in ecosystem restoration through a comprehensive assessment of a local wetland, from invertebrates to water quality to plant life.
Explore the Social and Environmental Aspects of Wetland Stewardship
Those looking to restore a home wetland or a marsh in their local community can use the book Exploring Wetlands Stewardship: A Guide for Landowners and Communities to assess the best local areas for ecological restoration. The Department of Ecology in Washington State recently revised this wetland ecology and stewardship guide for landowners. The handbook also provides a comprehensive look at the state laws and bodies that govern the conservation of wetlands.The guide was written by Jane Rubey and revised in 2008. It is available from the Department of Ecology.
Understanding wetlands and restoring them can be a challenging process. However, if the result is an urban area that hosts diverse species, migratory birds, and threatened amphibians, the challenge is well worthwhile. These resources help the wetland steward begin the process of assessing, restoring, and creating small urban marshlands.
Tricia Edgar - Tricia Edgar is a gardener, environmental educator, and science writer from the Pacific Northwest.
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