Evaluating the Functional Recovery of Restored Coastal Wetland in Southern California

The overall goal of our study was to evaluate the success of a large-scale restoration of the Huntington Beach Wetlands (HBW) in Huntington Beach, CA. Our study characterized the structure and function of three wetland landscapes in the wetland complex (salt marsh high and mid zones and seagrass beds) before a major restoration project began in Brookhurst Marsh. Within each landscape we detailed the physical parameters of sediment communities, quantified benthic plant, algal, microbial, and faunal diversity, with special note of invasive species, and characterized the trophic pathways that link the primary producers and consumers.