Restoration of Species Diversity and Hydrologic Function in Wetlands within the Coastal Dune Lake Watershed

Increased coastal development and decades of fire suppression have contributed to the widespread loss of species-rich wet prairies in the southeastern United States, leading to hardwood encroachment and the degradation of these unique ecosystems. Efficient, data-driven restoration strategies are essential to returning these landscapes to a more natural, functioning state.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden, in partnership with the Florida State Park Service, is restoring 312 acres of wet prairie at Deer Lake State Park in Walton County, Florida. This initiative, supported by the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (GEBF) through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), aims to improve water quality and restore wetlands within the watershed of globally rare and imperiled coastal dune lakes.

Years of fire exclusion have allowed woody shrubs to outcompete native herbaceous species, forming dense, tree-like stands that shade out grasses, orchids, pitcher plants, and other characteristic flora. Reintroducing fire alone is insufficient to reverse this degradation. This project employs manual and mechanical methods to remove encroaching hardwoods and their biomass, restoring conditions favorable to fire-adapted, herbaceous-dominated communities. Notably, the restoration avoids the use of chemical treatments, relying instead on physical intervention followed by the strategic reintroduction of prescribed fire to mimic natural processes and reduce organic litter accumulation.

This presentation will explore the restoration strategy, lessons learned from implementation, and preliminary outcomes of in situ augmentation studies, offering insights into effective approaches for restoring degraded southeastern wetlands.