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0 • <br />D_l5Z6 (1ZQ_"'W <br />Port of Houston Authority <br />Wetland Mitigation Plan <br />plants, but may be sprigged with transitional species. The primary colonization mechanism will <br />be encroachment from planted zones and upland areas, the existing seedbank, and other <br />natural means. Much of the transitional zone is expected to take on characteristics of wet <br />prairie, rather than emergent marsh. <br />As a result of depth variation within the footprint of the created wetland (14410), a <br />variety of emergent plant species will be supported. Frequency and duration of flooding will also <br />vary as a function of depth and will impact the ultimate plant community structure over time. <br />Areas with a maximum depth ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 feet are expected to remain wet during <br />most of the year, except during prolonged dry periods. Shallower areas are expected to be <br />inundated for shorter periods depending on frequency, duration, and intensity of precipitation <br />events in any given year. These areas should be wet long enough, under normal rainfall <br />patterns to exhibit palustrine emergent wetland characteristics seen in seasonally flooded <br />wetlands in this region. <br />Ecological Classification <br />Projected impacted resources resulting from the Bayport Project will include uplands (coastal <br />prairie and forested), wetlands (adjacent and isolated, emergent and forested) that provide <br />benefit to the coastal ecosystem. The Proposed Mitigation site will include many components <br />that are ecologically similar, and provide similar ecological services as those that will be lost at <br />the Bayport Project site. <br />Soils <br />Site soils (Beaumont Clay) are classified as hydric soils and typically exhibit some primary and <br />secondary hydric soil characteristics (low chroma, slow permeability, nearly level). With <br />relatively minor hydrologic modifications, such as strategically located levees, shallow <br />impoundments that can retain surface runoff can be created. Long-term inundation (permanent <br />or intermittent) will ultimately result in the formation of additional wetland soil characteristics <br />(reducing conditions, oxide root channels, etc.). <br />Benchmark Ecological Services, Inc. June 2002 <br />��2C 3 a --- " S y <br />