Nontidal Wetland Restoration
Nontidal wetland restoration is the rehabilitation of a degraded wetland so that its hydrology, vegetation, and ecological processes approximate, to the extent possible, the original natural condition prior to modification (USDA 2021). Nontidal wetlands include any wetlands that are not inundated by tidal waters; this summary applies to nontidal wetlands generally but includes some details specific to arid wetlands and ephemeral wetlands. There are also separate summaries for the related strategies of peatland restoration, stream restoration, floodplain reconnection, and built wetlands.
Specific activities to restore wetlands depend on the wetland type and how it has been modified. Frequently, wetland modification occurs via drainage by surface ditching or tile drains (Biebighauser 2023, Schilling 2022). These wetlands can be restored by removing those alterations—for example, by filling or blocking ditches. Strategies to restore arid wetlands include installing rock detention structures, earthen berms, log dams, soil remediation, and riparian restoration (Wilson and Norman 2018). Invasive species removal and replanting with native species are also common wetland restoration techniques.
Case Studies
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Desert Spring Restoration
Blue Hole Cienega Restoration Project
Boosting Ecosystem Resilience in the Southwest's Sky Islands
Chatfield Reservoir-Plum Creek
Ciénega San Bernardino Wetland Restoration
Cleveland Metroparks — Cleveland Harbor Eastern Embayment Resilience Study (CHEERS)
Clinton River Mouth Wetland Restoration
Community Driven Water Management: The Tomorrow's Water Model for Playa Restoration
Creating Refuge for Mohave Tui Chub at Mojave National Preserve
Duluth 21st Avenue West Demonstration Project
Emiquon Wetland Restoration Project
Eugene Field Park Restoration Project
Floodplain Restoration for Salmonid Habitat in the Yakima Basin
Fowl River Private Living Shorelines
Grassy Point, St. Louis River Estuary (Duluth)
Green or Gray? Choosing to Preserve Water Quality
GreenSeams Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Habitat Restoration and Ciénaga Conservation on the Pitchfork Ranch
Irrigation of Riparian Habitat Restoration Along the Rio Grande Canalization Project
Jackson Park Ecosystem Restoration
Johnson Creek Restoration, Portland, Oregon
Mimbres River Habitat Restoration for the Chihuahua Chub and Chiricahua Leopard Frog
Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo) Riparian Restoration
Otter Creek Floodplain, Middlebury, Vermont
Patagonia/Sonoita Creek Preserve Sacaton Restoration
Proctor Valley Vernal Pool Restoration Project
Protecting Future Water Supply Through the Southeast Recharge Basin Project
Redman Point–Loosahatchie Bar Environmental Restoration
Removing Invasive Plants from the Great Meadow
Research and Collaboration to Improve Amargosa Vole Conservation in the Lower Amargosa River
Restoration of Batiquitos Lagoon (Carlsbad)
Restoration of Riparian Wet Meadows
South Cape May Meadows, Cape May Point, New Jersey
Spring Peeper Meadow Restoration Project
Sugarloaf Cove (Lake Superior)
The Napa River Basin, California
The Nature Conservancy — Wetlands Restoration for Ecosystem and Community Resilience in He’eia O’ahu
The Restoration of an Urban Floodplain in Rahway
Trinity River Watershed, Dallas, Texas
USA: Richmond Heritage Trail “Hike Through History," Rhode Island
Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge: An Urban Wildlife Refuge
Wastewater Recharge and Wetland Construction by the City of Tucson
Tools
A Guide for Creating Vernal Ponds
A User's Guide to Wetland Restoration, Creation and Enhancement
Impact Evaluation on WA Conservation Corps Restoration Methods
Mitigation Action Portfolio (MAP)
Mitigation Ideas: A Resource for Reducing Risk to Natural Hazards
Riparian Habitat Restoration for the Arid Southwest
Riparian Restoration and Management Needs in the Arid and Semi-Arid United States
The Wetlands Restoration Guidebook
USDA Part 650 Engineering Field Handbook, Chapter 13: Wetland Restoration, Enhancement, or Creation
Likely Benefits and Outcomes
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Related Green (natured-based) vs. Gray infrastructure
In development.