Wetlands Studies

The Natural Resource Section conducts wetland studies and monitoring activities to support ongoing Agency operations and projects. Some of these reports may be downloaded and viewed from the links provided below.

The Use of Reclaimed Water for Enhancing and Creating Wetland and Wildlife Habitat: Efficacy and Effects, Hudeman Slough Mitigation and Enhancement Wetlands Case Study

The Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District began implementing the Hudeman Slough Wetland Enhancement Project in 1991. Secondary-treated wastewater is used to inundate seasonal wetland management units and constructed ponds that are managed as waterbird habitat. Reclaimed water areasCanada Geese in Hudeman Slough tended to have higher water nutrient levels, particularly phosphates, although ammonia and nitrate were often highest in other wetland areas. Sediment nutrient and contaminant concentrations were lowest in reclaimed water units. No significant differences in median waterbird densities were detected between reclaimed water and muted tidal study plots. High zooplankton and low benthic invertebrate densities suggested that zooplankton, epifauna, and macrophytes were the major prey items available among all study areas. Managed wetlands exhibited the highest zooplankton densities. Low infaunal densities in all areas were likely due to anoxic conditions in the predominantly clay substrates. We conclude that water management may be of greater importance than the source of water to the overall ecological health of managed wetlands.