Wetland Restoration and Construction
A primary focus of the USC Wetland Program is Wetland Restoration and Construction. We accredit past landuse modifications to dramatic losses of wetland acreage across New York possibly by as much as 60% (Mitch and Gosselink. Wetlands 2nd Edition, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1993) and with current landuse trends moving much of this land back to fallow and abandoned states there is excellent opportunity for wetland restoration throughout the USC Watershed.
A Wetland Site with High Restoration Potential has:
- an interested landowner who appreciates the ecological and/ or watershed benefits of wetlands.
- physical properties of the site including:
- low slopes
- "heavy" soils with little sand and gravel content
- physical properties should not include
- high quality existing wetland features including shrub, forested, or wet meadow wetlands without obvious degradation
- a stream with the objective of creating an impoundment
- access for heavy equipment
- Funding is unavailable through other government programs.
Potential wetland construction sites in the USC watershed can be documented by filling out this form and returning it to: