Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Study Of Sediment Accretion Dynamics In Mature And Restored Tidal Freshwater Forested Wetlands In The James River Watershed Using Surface Elevation Tables And Marker Horizons, Ronaldo Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

Sediment accretion and elevation change in tidal forests, and the corresponding ability of these wetlands to keep pace with sea-level rise (SLR), represent data gaps in our understanding of wetland sustainability. Surface Elevation Tables and marker horizons were installed in three mature tidal forests and a restored tidal marsh, allowing us to measure elevation change, accretion, and subsidence. Additionally, we measured predictor variables to test for their significance in explaining accretion and elevation change rates. Mean accretion at our sites was 11.67 +/- 3.01 mm yr^-1 and mean elevation change was -20.22 +/- 8.10 mm yr^-1, suggesting …