Responses of Coastal Wetland Vegetation to a Large-Scale Tidal Restoration on the Texas Upper Coast

Abstract

Coastal wetlands are often modified by climate- and human-driven events of various frequency, intensity, and duration. These alterations may result in substantial changes to ecosystem structure and function. For example, the closure of Rollover Pass in 2019 reduced tidal saltwater input to East Galveston Bay, thus restoring historical hydrological conditions. I studied the impacts of pass closure on the salinity and floral community composition in adjacent wetlands from 2019-2021. Some decreases to salinity occurred, but they were small in magnitude and may not lead to substantial shifts in plant communities. There were few changes in plant community composition, and those that occurred were reorganizations in the distribution and abundance of existing salt-tolerant species. The slow rate of biotic change following this large-scale restoration highlights the decadal scale needed for ecosystem restoration and is an argument for prioritizing conservation strategies in ecosystem management.