Engineering Design/Modeling: Commercial Township Site

Opportunities and constraints are presented for the conceptual restoration of diked salt hay farms in Commercial Township to tidal marshes. The fundamental design philosophy was to restore physical processes at the site, which would result in a sustained and naturally functioning tidal marsh. The design criteria of channel morphology were based upon reference marsh data, historic conditions, and consideration of natural marshplain evolution. General assumptions and projections were made concerning anticipated patterns of site marshplain evolution, using a two dimensional hydrodynamic and cohesive sediment transport model. A comprehensive review of incremental changes in engineering design as implemented during the construction by the EEP is presented with associated justification. The role of the Adaptive Management process in site construction monitoring is reviewed with particular emphasis to the establishment of high marsh creation areas.