Regional habitat development and preservation priorities should be established by identifying target populations, groups, or communities and their support populations in an ecosystem context. Properly planned dredged material habitats can be both visually and functionally compatible with preexisting natural habitats. The character of any upland, island, wetland, or aquatic habitat is determined by both physical (geomorphological, hydrological, climatological) and ecological (succession, competition, predation) principles. Properly planned disposal operations serve to modify physical conditions and thereby influence (with some predictability) biological responses. Chemically enriched (polluted) dredged material can be used to develop productive fish and wildlife habitats if available information about mechanisms affecting chemical solubilization and biological availability is incorporated into project design. Consequences of habitat displacement are not easily avoided because of limited understanding about the relative value of various sizes and configurations of specific habitat types. An awarenes of existing information describing the value of habitat types to management target resources together with studies designed to clarify specific target population-habitat interactions provides the only insurance against cumulative reduction in fish and wildlife resources. Blanket habitat development policies used in lieu of consideration of the unique qualities of each ecosystem should be avoided. (Author).

"This report provides a hard copy of the bibliographic information contained in the digital Wetland Creation/Restoration Data Base. One thousand one hundred data base records are included; each of these represents one article, report, or other publication dealing with the creation or restoration of wetlands. Information in the records is ... accessible via a cross-referenced index divided into four sections (Location Index, Plant Genus Index, Wetland Type Index, and Subject Index."--Page 1 Abstract.

Aldo Leopold, father of the "land ethic," once said, "The time has come for science to busy itself with the earth itself. The first step is to reconstruct a sample of what we had to begin with." The concept he expressedâ€"restorationâ€"is defined in this comprehensive new volume that examines the prospects for repairing the damage society has done to the nation's aquatic resources: lakes, rivers and streams, and wetlands. Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems outlines a national strategy for aquatic restoration, with practical recommendations, and features case studies of aquatic restoration activities around the country. The committee examines: Key concepts and techniques used in restoration. Common factors in successful restoration efforts. Threats to the health of the nation's aquatic ecosystems. Approaches to evaluation before, during, and after a restoration project. The emerging specialties of restoration and landscape ecology.