Testing restoration methods for Lake Ontario wetlands at a wetland scale

Sedges and grasses have a competitive advantage over cattails at higher elevations in Great Lakes wetlands where periodic low lake levels result soils too dry to support cattails. Regulation of Lake Ontario water eliminated lake-level years, resulting cattail invasion. At wetland scale two sites, we tested restoration methods by dredging channels through cattails, using spoil materials create mounds suitable for sedge/grass growth, seeding mounds, controlling (T. × glauca) adapted from experimental studies. Soil moisture subsidence mound were monitored. Vegetation was sampled pre-restoration shoreline meadow, emergent, zones years following implementation. Although decreased elevation both soil increased more the site with greater subsidence. Mean percent cover ramet counts reduced emergent sites. Mounds held post-construction. Across Carex lacustris Calamagrostis canadensis meadow zone reduction Typha; on mounds. Key factors affecting results litter and, second year situ cold, moist stratification, as well related Recommendations future restorations include conducting detailed surveys assess potential subsidence, wider deeper provide actively invasive species, additional post-restoration data collection.