Creating and Restoring Wetlands: From Theory to Practice, Second Edition describes the challenges and opportunities relating to the restoration of freshwater and estuarine wetlands in natural, agricultural, and urban environments in the coming century. This second edition is structured by clearly defined chapters based on specific wetland types (e.g. Peatlands, Mangroves) and with a consistent and coherent organization for ease of discoverability. The table of contents is divided into four main subjects: Foundations, Restoration of Freshwater Wetlands, Restoration of Estuarine Wetlands, and From Theory to Practice, each with multiple chapters. Part 1, Foundations, contains chapters describing definitions of wetlands, ecological theory used to guide restoration, and considerations on where to implement restoration on the landscape. In Parts 2 and 3, restoration of specific freshwater (marshes, forests, peatlands) and estuarine (tidal marshes, mangroves) wetlands are described. Part 4, From Theory to Practice, contains chapters describing performance standards to gauge success of projects and case studies describing small-scale and large-scale restoration projects of various freshwater and estuarine wetlands. Each chapter contains clearly labeled sections which assist the reader to quickly and easily key in on the subject matter that they are seeking. The approach of Creating and Restoring Wetlands is unique in that, in each chapter, it links ecological theory important to ecosystem restoration with practical techniques to undertake and implement successful wetland restoration projects, including recommendations for performance standards to gauge success as well as realistic expectations and timescales for achieving success. Each chapter ends with a summary table describing keys to ensure success for a given wetland ecosystem. Each chapter ends with a summary table describing keys to ensure success for a given wetland ecosystem Written by a single author, providing a consistent structure that is coherent, cohesive and well referenced Contains case studies of small- and large-scale restoration activities ensuring relevance to individuals and organizations

The public's interest in the renewal of natural ecosystems has grown steadily during the past few decades. While preservation of habitat is a key to environmental health, there is a growing awareness that restoration, creation, and enhancement are essential to recover ecosystems that have been degraded or destroyed. Wetland habitats are the focus of many recovery efforts because over the past 200 years the area and health of wetlands have declined significantly. Less than 46 percent of the 215 million acres of wetlands estimated to exist in the contiguous U.S. when Europeans arrived remain. Prior to the mid-1970s, the draining and destruction of wetlands were accepted practices. Many wetlands altered by humans were drained to support agricultural uses, while others were filled for urban development, diked for water impoundments or to diminish flooding, or dredged for marinas and ports. Indirect impacts from pollutants, urban runoff, and invasion by non-native species continue to degrade and destroy wetlands. Scientists and policy makers also recognize the value of wetland restoration. In 1992, scientists completed a study for the National Research Council that called for the development of a national wetlands restoration strategy. Since then, federal agencies have been working with partners to achieve a net increase of 100,000 acres of wetlands per year by 2005. This goal will be reached only through carefully planned and implemented restoration and creation projects that add ecologically valuable wetlands to the landscape. States and the federal government are funding and conducting large-scale ecosystem restorations, such as the South Florida/Everglades Ecosystem Restoration, which are contributing to the national wetland goal. However, without the support of citizens and local groups around the country the 100,000 acre per year goal cannot be reached. For many decades, citizens have been restoring, creating, and enhancing wetland habitats through local non-profit organizations. In addition, citizens have become involved in wetland projects through government programs. Despite these efforts, the nation is still losing more wetlands than it gains each year. This document is designed to support and further encourage landowner and community-based wetland projects.

The author reveals practices used to restore over 1,700 wetlands in 21 States, 2 Canadian Provinces, New Zealand and Taiwan, answering questions asked by the thousands of professionals and landowners who have taken the hands-on wetland restoration workshops he has instructed across North America. Discover how to build a wetland that looks and functions like a natural ecosystem, and for a fraction of the cost of required mitigation projects. See how to fix wetlands that have failed, and how unattractive eroding farm ponds can be transformed into beautiful, self sustaining wetland habitats. Clearly logical step by step instructions explain how to design and establish natural appearing wetlands for wildlife and fish habitat, cleaning run-off, recharging groundwater, and preventing flooding. Over 450 detailed drawings and photographs illustrate highly effective techniques for restoring surface and groundwater wetlands.

Efforts to direct the recovery of damaged sites and landscape date back as far as the 1930s. If we fully understood the conditions and controlling variables at restoration sites, we would be better equipped to predict the outcomes of restoration efforts. If there were no constraints, we could merely plant the restoration site and walk away. However