Effectiveness Monitoring of Mechanically Restored Open-Water Habitat for Fishes in a Lake Erie Coastal Wetland Impacted By Invasive Phragmites

A number of Great Lakes wetland complexes have been inundated with invasive plant species (e.g. Common Reed - Phragmites).  It has resulted in large expanses of monoculture wetland habitat that no longer support aquatic and terrestrial biota historically present.   In response, efforts are underway by municipal, provincial, and non-government organizations to mechanically remove monocultures, and restore open water habitat.  Removal by dredging has been shown to improve wetland bird, macroinvertebrate and aquatic plant diversity.  However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the value of these new created habitats to wetland fishes.  To determine the use of newly created open-water habitats by wetland fishes and the quality of the newly restored habitats, DFO and MNR initiated a three-year effectiveness monitoring program at the Crown Marsh, Long Point Bay in 2012.  Fish use and habitat quality of wetland sites were assessed by sampling newly (2012) and recently created (6-7 years old) wetland habitats, and nearby reference sites.  Fishes were sampled twice per year with repeated seine hauls within 75 m² enclosed areas.  We present preliminary findings from our monitoring.  To date, twenty-eight species have been collected from sampling sites, including four fishes at risk