Vegetation Establishment And Shoreline Stabilization

Adaptation of species for shoreline stabilization, use of wave-stilling devices, and effects of fertilizers were studies along the north shore of East Bay in Texas. Water salinity varied throughout the study with rainfall and evaporation but never exceeded 18,500 parts per million. Soil texture was classified as a loam or clay-loam. Soil pH, salinity, and cation concentrations fluctuated with bay water salinity, rainfall, evaporation, and location in relation to tidal zones. Giant reed and gulf cordgrass were best adapted for dry areas. Smooth cordgrass was the species best adapted in areas exposed to tidal action. The survival and growth of this species appeared essential in stabilizing the eroding upper Texas coast bay shoreline. Wave-stilling devices of hay bales were not able to withstand high-wave energy. Tires on cables attached to posts lost their effectiveness as they sank into the mud. Nevertheless, smooth cordgrass survival was significantly greater behind these devices. Mechanical planting behind a tractor was accomplished at low tides. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers did not significantly improve survival or reproduction in transplanted areas, but were significant in natural smooth cordgrass stands for reproduction and herbage production. (Author).

The objective of the study was to determine which resident species of plants adapted to saline conditions can be used to control shore erosion in bays or estuaries. Water salinity and soil physical and chemical characteristics were determined at the experimental planting sites at East Bay near Galveston, Texas. The soil was loam or clay-loam texture and was structurally unstable and subject to wave erosion. Soil salinity varied from 2,500 to more than 12,000 parts per million and water salinity from below 2,500 to 18,000 parts per million. Twelve plant species were selected for evaluation of their ability to stabilize the shoreline.

Excerpt from Establishment of Vegetation for Shoreline Stabilization in Galveston Bay This report is published to assist coastal engineers in shoreline stabilization through the establishment and maintenance of vegetation. The techniques for shoreline stabilization with vegetation discussed in this report are applicable to other low-energy estuarine areas. The work was carried out under the coastal ecology research program of the u.s. Army Coastal Engineering Research Center (cerc). About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.