Developing a Species Selection Guide for Bottomland Hardwood Restoration within the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley.

Over the past two decades, federal incentive programs have encouraged the restoration of bottomland forests throughout the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV).  Programs such as the Conservation Reserve (CRP) and Wetlands Reserve (WRP) Programs have been marginally successful.  Foresters and contractors often follow conventional tree planting procedures that are well established for upland sites, but problematic in bottomlands.  High water table, soil drainage, overland flooding and diverse soil properties make species selection difficult.  Slight changes in topography and soil structure influence hydrology which often has dramatic affects on survival and growth of planted seedlings.  Survival and growth rate of eight species of oak were measured on six-year old seedlings established in 2004.  The site is unique in that it grades from better drainage to poorer as elevation changes across the floodplain.  Soil core samples will be collected and described along the grade within each species to determine the growth and survival of the seedlings as related to wetness as determined using depth and percentage of chroma 2 or less models.  At the conclusion of this project, a Species Selection Guide to Aid Natural Resource Professionals In bottomland Hardwood Restoration will be developed.