Recognizing the importance of wetland protection, the Bush administration in 1988 endorsed the goal of "no net loss" of wetlands. Specifically, it directed that filling of wetlands should be avoided, and minimized when it cannot be avoided. When filling is permitted, compensatory mitigation must be undertaken; that is, wetlands must be restored, created, enhanced, and, in exceptional cases, preserved, to replace the permitted loss of wetland area and function, such as water quality improvement within the watershed. After more than a dozen years, the national commitment to "no net loss" of wetlands has been evaluated. This new book explores the adequacy of science and technology for replacing wetland function and the effectiveness of the federal program of compensatory mitigation in accomplishing the nation's goal of clean water. It examines the regulatory framework for permitting wetland filling and requiring mitigation, compares the mitigation institutions that are in use, and addresses the problems that agencies face in ensuring sustainability of mitigated wetlands over the long term. Gleaning lessons from the mixed results of mitigation efforts to date, the book offers 10 practical guidelines for establishing and monitoring mitigated wetlands. It also recommends that federal, state, and local agencies undertake specific institutional reforms. This book will be important to anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of the "no net loss" issue: policy makers, regulators, environmental scientists, educators, and wetland advocates.

Details the scientific basis for the reconstruction of damaged ecosystems.

This guidance manual ... provides technical assistance, outlines necessary steps, and provides useful tools for the development and implementation of sound scientific monitoring of coastal restoration efforts ... [and] offers a means to detect early warnings that the restoration is on track or not, to gauge how well a restoration site is functioning, to coordinate projects and efforts for consistent and successful restoration, and to evaluate the ecological health of specific coastal habitats both before and after project completion.

The series is an essential reference text for research workers and students in all fields of marine science and related subjects. An ever increasing interest in oceanography and environmental issues makes it especially relevant.

CONCERNS ABOUT THE HEALTH of the environment have become firmly embedded in the public's list of vital issues confronting present and future generations. The emergence of environmental issues as a significant part of the societal agenda can be traced to the 1960s and 1970s, although threats to the world ecosystem were identified much earlier. In The Coastal Zone, John and Winona Vernberg, the preeminent scholars on the southeastern coastal environment, encourage the general public to gain a more in-depth understanding of environmental science, especially as it pertains to the future of our treasured coastal communities. Using case studies of the southeastern coast, the Vernbergs provide an overview of the ecological characteristics of the coastal zone and urge readers to become aware of environmental consequences resulting from human disturbances such as chemical and biological contamination and habitat alterations. With the rise of urbanization and an ever-increasing population, coastal communities are being subjected to intense multiple stresses resulting from conflicting demands for use of finite resources. In order to save these limited resources for the benefit of present and

This report explains the process involved when proceeding from a wetland mitigation design concept to a fill' engineering package that is suitable for public bid and advertisement The information provided is geared toward educating nonengineering professionals engaged in developing wetland mitigation specifications The biological foundations for the various elements are first presented, followed by full guideline specifications. The vegetation specifications address site preparation, plant material acquisition, transport, handling, and storage of seeds, herbs, and saplings, planting methods for various stock types, different seeding methods, tiring of planting in conjunction with seasonal variations, hydrological considerations such as tidal cycle, water level and rainfall patterns, equipment access and type, protection measures for herbivory, inundation and vandalism, fertilization and amendrnent application, soil-nutrient testing, substrate handling, trppsport, and storage and minimization of impacts on existing wetland resources. The subgrade specifications target construction methods and equipment, soil-material testing, and performance. The other soil-related specifications quarantine and safeguard existing resources such as friable surface soils and wetland topsoils that can be used to "seed" a site.