in Cape May County, New Jersey

Transcription

1 Reclamation of a Brownfield Site in Cape May County, New Jersey

2 Harbison Walker Former industrial site where magnesite (magnesium carbonate) brick was manufactured for 42 years ( ) In 1999, State of New Jersey purchased 126 acres of undeveloped beachfront, dune, and coastal wetlands including threatened & endangered hbitt habitats Cape May Point-major migratory bird stop over point in the Atlantic flyway

3 Site Location

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5 Alkali saltgrass growing in shallow depressions on the site.

6 Waste magnesite and limestone (ph 7.9-pH 9.9) Site remained relatively unvegetated since 1984

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9 What is the USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program?

10 The Program s Mission Finding Plant Solutions for Conservation Needs

11 Cape May Plant Materials Center United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Materials Program Proudly Serving the Conservation Plant Needs of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Coastal New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia i i and North Carolina. Critical Area Seedings

12 USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Program: What We Do. Sl Select and dtest tplants for resource needs such as: streambank and shoreline erosion, mine land reclamation, dune stabilization, wetland restoration, and wildlife habitat enhancement. Support the Agency s Field Offices with plant technology for Farm Bill Programs (Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP).

13 High Tide Germplasm switchgrass Collected in the Upper Chesapeake Bay Lowland ecotype In salt tolerance screening test, tolerated 28 ppt salt

14 USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Program: What We Do. Develop planting recommendations for conservation practice standards and specifications in the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG). Technology transfer of new plant products/developments to the grower/nursery industry. Work with other Federal Agencies (National Park Service, Fish & Wildlife Service, EPA, Army Corps of Engineers), State agencies, and NGO s in developing native plant propagation/use p technology.

15 Cape May Plant Materials Center Initial Evaluation-Summer 2000 Vegetative culms of the following species planted directly into the magnesite substrate: Cape american beachgrass - did not survive Avalon saltmeadow cordgrass - did not survive Atlantic c coastal a panicgrass ass - severely stressed, but only species to survive.

16 Dredge disposal material had high ph ( ) and soluble salts (4.6 mmho/cm) Oxidized dredge materialph around 3.5 or less. Dredge was incorporated into the magnesite substrate to add organic matter. ( ) Through oxidation the soil ph should eventually drop. (2003-pH 7.5)

17 Seed was placed with a Brillion drop seeder. Curlex blanket placed to prevent seed from blowing bow and ddessc dessicating

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19 Phase I-Native Grass Seed Mix Brillion seeding (55 #/ac.) was done January 11 & 12, 2001 on 9.3 acres with the following: Alkaligrass (Puccinellia distans) ) - 20 #/ac Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) - 10 #/ac. Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) - 10 #/ac. Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) - 5 #/ac. Redtop (Agrostis gigantea) - 1#/ac #/ac. Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) - 5 #/ac. Roundheaded bushclover (Lespedeza capitata) - 2#/ac #/ac. Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) - 2 #/ac.

20 Phase I-Seed Mixture Components Quick establishing Rdt Redtop; perennial ilcool season (short (h persistence) it Alkali saltgrass; perennial cool season (intermediate persistence) Annual ryegrass; reseeding annual, cool season (short term persistence) Canada wildrye; perennial cool season (intermediate persistence) Partridge pea; annual reseeding legume

21 Phase I-Seed Mixture Components Slow establishing, long-lived Switchgrass; perennial warm season Little bluestem; perennial warm season Round-headed bushclover; perennial warm season legume

22 May 2001

23 Initial First year establishment

24 August 2002

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26 Control Section-Plant Volunteers Phragmites root stock in dredge material Seaside goldenrod d-seed from adjacent dunes Groundsel bush (Baccharis) Annual broad-leaved weeds such as lambsquarter and pigweed. pg

27 Phase I- Planting Results Annual ryegrass, redtop, saltgrass dominated the site in the first season Alkali saltgrass, redtop predominated the second year with some Canada wildrye and switchgrass seedlings present & flowering. No little bluestem, round-headed bushclover or partridge pea observed within the first two growing seasons Succession is occurring in the seeded area. Seaside goldenrod, Succession is occurring in the seeded area. Seaside goldenrod, bayberry, and groundsel are volunteering.

28 Natural Succession Photos taken January 2004

29 Phase II-Native Grass Seed Mix Seeding accomplished March 2005 Alkaligrass (Puccinellia distans) - 2 #/ac Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) ) - 3 #/ac. Coastal panicgrass (Panicum amarulum) - 5 #/ac. Canada wildrye (Elymus y canadensis) ) - 10 #/ac. Redtop (Agrostis gigantea) 0.5 #/ac. Deertongue (Dichanthelium clandestinum) - 5#/ac #/ac. Evening primrose (Onethera biennis) - 5 #/ac. Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) - 4#/ac #/ac. TOTAL-34.5 #/acre

30 Phase II-Seed Mixture Components Quick establishing, short lived Redtop; perennial cool season (short persistence) Alkali saltgrass; perennial cool season (intermediate persistence) Canada wildrye; perennial cool season (intermediate persistence) Partridge pea; annual reseeding legume

31 Phase II-Seed Mixture Components Slow establishing, long-lived Switchgrass; perennial warm season Coastal panicgrass; perennial warm season Deertongue; perennial warm season Evening primrose; biennial, i warm season

32 Great Plains Seed Drill-Seeded March 2005

33 May 2005-Seedling Emergence

34 May 2005

35 Mixed Success

36 July 2006-Redtop, Saltgrass

37 July 2006 Evening Primrose Canada wildrye Coastal panicgrass Alkali saltgrass

38 Possible Phragmites Problem

39 Phase II-Initial Results Alkali saltgrass and redtop predominated the stand the first year. Annual weeds were extremely common. Switchgrass and coastal panicgrass were present the first year, but small. Many second year plants were producing seed. Evening primrose present tbut no partridge pea. Good mixture of species where establishment was successful. Many desirable volunteer species Monitor Phragmites invasion. Spot treatment may be necessary.

40 May 2007

41 May 2007 Baccharis, Goldenrod.but also Phragmites

42 May 2007

43 December 2008 Atlantic coastal panicgrass Alkaligrass/groundsel

44 Phragmites rootstock taking hold

45 A Success???...we ll see

46 Conclusions Dredge material can be a desirable medium for ameliorating poor soils. Stored dredge material may contain rootstock of phragmites. If possible, perform weed control 1-2 years in advance of seeding native plants. Design a diverse seed mixture to accommodate changes in soil salinity it and ph over time. (Shot gun mixes OK in this situation!)

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