4.2 Habitat

Under ideal circumstances, habitat conditions on leased or owned sites will be protected or improved during the life of projects. If the habitat is in near pristine condition at the start of a project, then potentially all that is needed is site protection (i.e., prevention of future activities that will degrade the site).

If, however, habitat conditions are poor at the start of a project, then some form of on-site or off-site active manipulations may be appropriate to restore, enhance, or create the desired conditions (see Conservation for definitions of these terms). Invasive and noxious species may need to be eradicated periodically or constantly. On-site and off-site sources of sediment and water quality degradation may need to be determined and removed (or otherwise addressed).

Potentially, the most significant habitat improvement needs may be to work with adjacent upland and watershed property owners to address off-site issues, such as decreasing run-off and unnatural erosion, reducing shoreline armoring, and implementing best management practices for adjacent in-water and shoreline activities (i.e., recreational piers, mooring buoys, and marinas).

The Nature Conservancy implements an extensive Community-based Restoration Program in coastal and marine areas of the United States. Several case studies and resources can be found on the program’s web site.

Specific examples of inter-tidal and sub-tidal habitat-related activities include:

• Improving marsh, wetland, seagrass, or riparian communities through re-vegetation, invasive plant control, natural re-contouring of the landscape, removing levees and artificial drainage systems, and related activities.
• Improving natural shellfish beds in estuarine areas through seeding juvenile shellfish, creating adult spawner sanctuaries, and/or introducing appropriate substrate for shellfish settlement and growth.
• Improving native populations of aquatic organisms through re-introductions and control of invasive plant and animal species.
• Working with landowners or managers to restore water clarity, quality, and natural flow of fresh and saltwater.
• Working with water managers to restore natural volumes and timing of freshwater flows through rivers and into estuarine and coastal areas, and to remove or reduce the impacts of barriers to the movement of aquatic organisms in rivers and estuaries.
• Working with coastal and freshwater management authorities to effect ecologically compatible dredging, channelization, shoreline protection, and related activities.