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0 <br />• <br />Port of Houston Authority <br />Wetland Mitigation Plan <br />Corrective Actions <br />-a k s aao 0; "' isk) <br />a. If wetland hydrology is not maintained, PHA will evaluate the problem and <br />recommend an appropriate response. The appropriate response might <br />include modifications to site hydrology, spillway modifications, levee <br />modifications, or no action. <br />Cover of Desirable Vegetation <br />Achieving the target percentage of vegetative cover is a critical step in successful wetland <br />development. The species composition of plants and ratio of cover of desirable to undesirable <br />species will determine, to a great extent, the quality of ecological services provided by the <br />wetland. Desirable vegetation includes species that provide high quality habitat and nutritious <br />forage for wetland fauna, while stabilizing wetland soils and enhancing the quality of water <br />passing through the wetland. <br />Fluctuations in pool levels and flooded acreage, resulting from variations in rainfall and <br />evapotranspiration, are expected. Therefore, only areas that are frequently flooded during the <br />planting season will be planted. The remaining areas within the wetlands will be allowed to <br />become naturally vegetated from endemic plant/seed sources and spreading from planted <br />zones. <br />Planted species must meet minimum planting densities after wetland construction is complete. <br />The planted species must also meet or exceed expected survival rates (within hydrated planting <br />zones) after the first post -planting inspection; and meet or exceed targeted coverage (within <br />flooded areas) at subsequent monitoring events. The flooded areas subject to vegetative cover <br />success criteria may be different from the area originally planted, depending on water level <br />fluctuations during the first three seasons following planting. <br />Benchmark Ecological Services, Inc. June 2002 <br />S 457�S y <br />