Wetland Restoration

Properly designed and constructed wetlands need 7:1 side slopes, an average depth of 18-24 inches, an irregular shoreline and rough, undulating bottoms.  As well, it is important to make sure the finished grades blend with the surrounding landscape. Wetlands can range from being a shallow excavation or scrape to more extensive engineering including a berm and/or water control structure. Wetlands can range from being a shallow excavation or scrape to more complex with a berm and/or water control structure to hold back water. Gradually water will begin to fill in your wetland from a combination of rain and snowmelt. If this doesn't happen right away, don't worry too much about it. By the following spring, the wetland should be full. After a year shoreline and littoral zone vegetation will start to establish. In rare cases you may need to help this along with aquatic plantings, but count on the existing seed bank, wind dispersal and the physical features you have developed for nature to take care of itself.