V. ScheduleEcological Restoration of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens Floodplain AreaThe following Proposal is not finished. What has been written has not been properly edited. Portions needing additional work or just plain not done are indicated in the context of the proposal.My apologies to the person who will be doing the peer review because with the lack of editing it reads poorly. If you ignore the impulse to edit and focus more on reviewing the general flow and whether the sections actually fulfill the required information I would be appreciative.Connie Bailie1I. Introduction Land continues to be developed in Southwest Michigan causing intact, unique, and natural contiguous ecosystems to disappear. In addition, invasive non-indigenous floral and faunal species are increasing at an alarming rate and degrading what small ecosystempatches remain. (more statistics of ecosystem loss and value of unique ecosystems needed)The Matthaei Botanical Gardens (MBG) is located in SW Michigan, northwest of Ann Arbor in the Dixboro community. It has 365 acres surrounding Fleming Creek that has ahistory of farming and some logging but it unaltered from urbanization. MBG is a University of Michigan property with a public conservatory, five supportive greenhouses,and various public gardens and research areas. Within the 365 acres there are various andunique ecosystems including fen, marsh, upland oak forests, lowland oak opening remnants, and a long and contiguous floodplain. Housing development has increased dramatically in the Dixboro area in the last 20 years. With this development, the deer population in the areas has been displaced to the vast “natural area” at MBG and signs over-browsing is evident. The MBG floodplain surrounding Fleming Creek, which runs the entire length from the north east corner to the south, is one of many unique and valuable ecosystems at MBG in need of restoration to preserve it from further degradation. Fleming Creek itself is fairly well intact with little channel alteration and having a relatively natural flood cycle. The greatest apparent stress to the system is the loss of the canopy in the floodplain area along Fleming Creek due to invasive exotic pests attacking elm and ash. With the loss of the canopy, light penetration increased and possibly ground water rise has placed stress on existing woody flora and has created an opportunity for non-indigenous invasive to establish. These aggressive competitors will eventually out-compete native species and thereby loss of biodiversity, and with that, attributes and function of a diverse flora will decrease in time. Canopy loss has degraded stream ecological processes and populations of what once was model and healthy stream.Restoration is an intentional activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of disturbed or degraded ecosystems. Goals of heath, integrity, and sustainability are the usual focus of restoration activities. Although these terms of ecosystem-based goals are sometimes considered vague (Ehrenfeld 2000) the restoration objectives will contribute to these never-the-less universally recognized important targets.Because restoration gives an important opportunity for meaningful ecological research (Cairns **** ), designing a applied restoration project to both satisfy the sponsors requirements and needs of a restored ecosystem as well as being suited for long-range ecological study and having scientific value will enhance the significance of this practicum . Measurements and monitoring protocol need to be established that will not only measure biological response and contribute to ecological knowledge but will report to the stakeholders success of restoration efforts and activities. 2MBGN has a multi-mission statement of education, research, outreach, and conservation. This practicum not only fits well with their research and conservation mission, it will serve to promote their education and public outreach mission and act as a venue to actuate its strategic goal for becoming a center for ecosystem education and volunteerism. This research will look into what degree of degradation has occurred? What species and assemblages are appropriate for the floodplain system at this location? What are the proximate stresses and what are the best strategies to alleviate or control them? Also what are the key attributes of the systems and how might they be modified to get this ecosystem on a sound ecological tract? And what measurements are needed to monitor success?II Problem StatementThe MBG site with loss of critical canopy tree species of elm and ash has given opportunity for invasive shrub and herbaceous species as well as increased the stream water temperature and decreased autotrophic inputs and quality to the fluvial system. These indications of degradation has prompted MBGNA to seriously address conservation of their “natural areas” and impelled intentions of restoration of their uniqueand valuable ecosystems. Currently there is not a natural areas management plan for the site, however, in 1999 the Graham Family submitted a “Sam Graham Trees” proposal. The Sam Graham’s Tree Project was proposed in 1999 to introduce and interest citizens to native trees and shrubs of Michigan, to place these woody plants in an ecologically meaningful context, and to re-establish and manage an extensive woodland of native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants surrounding Fleming Creek in a prominent area on the “Red Trail”. This project was to honor Dr. Samuel Graham, a pioneering forest ecologist at the University of Michigan and author of the Trees of Michigan (Graham 19**). Although not a restoration proposal per se, reforestation to specific “grove” types and plant assemblage were suggested . A substantial donation was awarded by the Graham family to accomplish this giving MBGNA an opportunity to begin costly and much need restoration. Restoration activities for the designated area under the Sam Graham Tree (SGT) Project began with removal of Common and Glossy Buckthorn (Rhamnus carthardica and R. **), mulflora rose (Rosa ***), as well as the removal of several box elder trees (Acer negunda) and planting of swamp white oak (Quercus macrocarpa). At the time of the SGT proposal ash trees were not effected by the emerald ash tree borer (***** sp. ). Thisnew loss to the canopy as complicated plans of canopy restoration efforts. Besides having to adapt their
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