ABSTRACT
The salt marshes of the contiguous United States have all been disturbed, directly through effects of dredging and filling, or indirectly from hydrological modifications elsewhere in the watershed. The regional goal for salt marsh restoration should be to maintain the natural diversity of species and community types. Maximizing tidal flushing is not an appropriate restoration goal, because extensive dredging has negative impacts. Like most restoration projects in the region, this one represents a change in type, rather than a net gain, of wetland habitat, because the island replaced a large subtidal area in south San Diego Bay. The creation of habitat for endangered birds was credited as mitigation, at the expense of another diminishing habitat type which, in itself, was worthy of restoration. A reanalysis of the restoration objectives led to plans for substantial dredging to achieve full tidal flushing.
