Document: DAV-3-64-6

Evaluating ecosystem restoration in the Kissimmee River with metrics based on different reference conditions.

ANDERSON, D.H.*

Center for Environmental Studies and South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, FL 33415, USA ¹

Abstract:
Incomplete historical records and the absence of nearby reference sites can complicate the development of expectations for evaluating ecosystem restoration projects. This task is further complicated by the need to communicate restoration evaluation results to diverse audiences. The evaluation program for the Kissimmee River restoration in south Florida is using the best available reference data from diverse sources (historical, reference sites, and models) to address the full range of anticipated responses. Sixty-one expectations were developed for major ecosystem components ranging from hydrology to vegetation to wading birds. The reliability of these expectations as measures of restoration success may vary because of differences such as the quality of reference data. I evaluated this variability by scoring each expectation for type of metric, quality and quantity of reference data. The frequency distribution of the total score for each expectation was bimodal suggesting that some expectations (e.g., quantitative expectation based on many years of historical data) may be more reliable and that the two groups should be treated separately. Integration of these expectations is achieved by calculating the cumulative percent realized, which can be plotted versus time with the anticipated response trajectory to track restoration progress. Departures from the anticipated trajectory may signal the need for adaptive management intervention. This graphical presentation provides a simple means of conveying restoration progress relative to expected progress for diverse audiences.

Keywords: restoration, assessment, rivers

This abstract is being presented at: 10:30 AM in session:
RESTORATION ECOLOGY AND INVASIONS