Suisun Marsh Habitat Management Preservation And Restoration Plan PDF Download

The Suisun Marsh Habitat Management, Preservation, and Restoration Plan (USBR 2011) includes several actions that may change the value of the landscape for supporting healthy waterfowl populations. Such actions include restoration of managed seasonal wetlands to tidal habitat, and enhancement of the remaining managed wetlands. To evaluate the impacts on waterfowl and maximize habitat benefits, an understanding of food production across the various habitat types is needed. In this study, I evaluated moist soil core sampling as a method to estimate food production in the brackish marsh habitats of the Suisun Marsh, and developed preliminary estimates of seed production in managed and tidal wetlands at three locations across the marsh. I present estimates of seed depletion at each site, and identify possible sources of error that could be addressed in an ongoing collaborative project to estimate carrying capacity of the Suisun Marsh for waterfowl. My preliminary results indicate low seed production in all habitat types (less than 150 pounds per acre at each site) in winter 2015-2016. Seed production varied between locations, and I did not detect a significant difference between managed and tidal habitats, although my sample of sites was very limited. Seed depletion was significantly higher in managed sites than tidal sites, although I did not determine if this was due to consumption or decomposition of seeds. Results from this pilot study will help to identify sampling methodology required to provide landscape scale estimation of seed production. These data will inform modeling efforts to identify specific enhancement actions to improve waterfowl habitat in the Suisun Marsh.