Hurricanes Katrina and Rita showed the vulnerability of coastal communities and how human activities that caused deterioration of the Mississippi Deltaic Plain (MDP) exacerbated this vulnerability. The MDP formed by dynamic interactions between river and coast at various temporal and spatial scales, and human activity has reduced these interactions at all scales. Restoration efforts aim to re-establish this dynamic interaction, with emphasis on reconnecting the river to the deltaic plain. Science must guide MDP restoration, which will provide insights into delta restoration elsewhere and generally into coasts facing climate change in times of resource scarcity.

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ABSTRACT:The Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) Approach is a method for developing functional indices and the protocols used to apply these indices to the assessment of wetland functions at a site-specific scale. The HGM Approach was initially designed to be used in the context of the Clean Water Act, Section 404 Regulatory Program, permit review to analyze project alternatives, minimize impacts, assess unavoidable impacts, determine mitigation requirements, and monitor the success of compensatory mitigation. However, a variety of other potential uses have been identified, including the determination of minimal effects under the Food Security Act, design of wetland restoration projects, and management of wetlands.This report uses the HGM Approach to develop a Regional Guidebook to (a) characterize ponded, herbaceous marshes of the glaciated Prairie Pothole Region, (b) provide the rationale used to select functions of the ponded, herbaceous depressional marsh subclass, (c) provide the rationale used to select model variables and metrics, (d) provide the rationale used to develop assessment models, (e) provide data from reference wetlands and document its use in calibrating model variables and assessment models, and (f) outline the necessary protocols for applying the functional indices to the assessment of wetland functions. DISCLAIMER:The contents of this report are not to be used for advertising, publication, or promotional purposes. Citation of trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products. All product names and trademarks cited are the property of their respective owners. The findings of this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents.

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Windmill Point (WP) is an 8-ha dredged material island site in the intertidal reach of the James River. This fine-textured, freshwater site was one of the first habital development projects built by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (CE). Long-term physical, chemical, and biological monitoring has been conducted since 1974. Three nearby natural wetlands have been used for comparison purposes in order to document site success or failure and the speed of wetland development. With the exception of some herbaceous plmV~ings on the WP containment dikes, vegetation has colonized naturally. Over time, predominant species have been Peltandra virginica, Pontederia cordata, and Sagittaria tat~)tia. Wildlife and fish populations and species diversity have been consistently greater al WP than at the 3 reference wetlands. Benthos regained pro-disposal levels within 6 months. Five heavy metals and 14 PCBs were examined in soil and plant samples. Only DDE was found to translocate to wetland plant shoots, and kepone was found to be relatively _~table. WP was broken into 2 smaller islands by flooding in 1983 and now consists of as much shallow aquatic habitat as emergent wetlands. The CE recognizes that active site management o f such rivcrine wetlands through placement of additional dredged material and dike repair is needed to ensure long-term site integrity.

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