Marsh Management at the Kennedy Space Center
There are approximately 15,500 hectares (38,500 acres) of wetlands on KSC. Wetlands occur in areas with permanent or seasonally high water tables. In the central portion of KSC, wetlands occur mainly as linear swale marshes within scrub and slash pine communities. Wetlands are most prevalent along the Banana River, Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon. Most of these peripheral wetlands have been and are managed for mosquito control. Functionally, wetlands provide a buffer zone between terrestrial and aquatic systems by filtering particulates, nutrients and organics. By trapping sediments they alleviate turbid water
conditions and by absorbing nutrients, they reduce or eliminate eutrophication of adjacent water bodies. Wetlands slow run-off, thereby and providing a hydrostatic head which protects freshwater supplies from salt water intrusion.
The creation of mosquito control impoundments during the 1950's and 1960's has blocked the natural tidal flow between the Indian River Lagoon estuarine system and the wetlands. By flooding the impounded marshes during the breeding season (May through October), the mosquito population can be controlled as they lay their eggs on moist soil rather than standing water. However, research has shown that impounding can cause severe environmental impacts including the degradation of water quality, the elimination of productive marsh vegetation, and the interruption of the free flow of nutrients between the wetlands and the lagoon.
The establishment of the impoundments at the Kennedy Space Center has left much of the wetland environment disturbed, as evidenced by the invasion of upland shrubs such as Willow (Salix caroliniana) and Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius). Much of the low salt marsh was replaced by open water or by extensive cattail marshes (Typha domingensis) where freshwater was used to flood the impoundment [2]. The reduction of productive marsh vegetation has limited the species of fauna which occupy and visit the marshes. For example, many cattail marshes are dominated solely by Typha and have a low value as a feeding habitat for wading birds.
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Last Modified: Wed Apr 14, 1999
CSR/TSGC Team Web
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