Habitat Development Field Investigations. Windmill Point Marsh Development Site, James River, Virginia, Summary Report

A marsh habitat was developed using fine-textured inorganically and organically enriched sediments dredged from the James River navigation channel in the winter of 1974-75. During the period between the autumn of 1974 and September 1977, engineering and ecological activities were accomplished to document marsh construction operations and environmental alterations that accompanied the marsh habitat development. The hydraulic construction of a relatively inexpensive sand dike on a soft river bottom foundation and the ability of the dike to contain fine-grained hydraulically dredged sediments were demonstrated. Ecological monitoring and experimental studies of plants, soils, sediment and water quality; fish, aquatic invertebrate, and wildlife communities; and metals and chlorinated hydrocarbon compound uptake by marsh plants were also conducted. The ecological studies contrasted preconstruction and postconstruction conditions and compared postconstruction conditions with those of a natural marsh habitat. The freshwater inter-tidal, semi-contained and upland dredged material substrate was nearly completely covered with over 75 types of naturally invaded plants within about 6 months following its construction. Report on Dredged Material Research Program. Includes Appendices A and B. See also Appendix E, AD-A062 170.