Most cities are dominated by asphalt and concrete, which blocks the natural
movement of rain water. Wetlands, riparian buffers, and roadsides are being lost or
degraded in urban areas due to human development. Cities can be designed to benefit
humans and nature by using techniques from green infrastructure and restoration ecology
to improve urban sustainability. Parking lot M on McMaster University's west campus,
constructed in 1968 on a former floodplain, directs the highly saline parking lot runoff
into the adjacent Ancaster Creek. Natural groundwater sources along the surrounding
hillslopes are directed into pipes under the parking lot and into the creek. A one-hectare
riparian buffer restoration at lot M was used to assess the viability of depaving asphalt
and establishing native plants through a vegetation study. Total native plant biomass was
found to be similar to non-native plant biomass and was affected by road-salt salinity
from the parking lot. Species richness per quadrat was higher for non-native plants, and
greater for both non-native and native plants where less salt was present. Key
hydrological fluxes were examined at the parking lot that could contribute to a proposed
0.6 hectare constructed wetland on the parking lot, known as “McMarsh.” Potential
wetland water storage is in surplus year round, with an average storage of 265 mm/month.
Successful restorations require maintenance following the establishment of native species.
Management and maintenance of the restoration can help decrease non-native species.
Engaging with the community through outreach and education on restoration projects is
important for a successful restoration and increasing urban sustainability in cities. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Most cities are dominated by asphalt and concrete, which blocks the natural
movement of rain water. Wetlands, riparian buffers, and roadsides are being lost or
degraded in urban areas due to human development. Cities can be designed to benefit
humans and nature by using techniques from green infrastructure and restoration ecology
to improve urban sustainability. Parking lot M on McMaster University's west campus,
constructed in 1968 on a former floodplain, directs the highly saline parking lot runoff
into the adjacent Ancaster Creek. Natural groundwater sources along the surrounding
hillslopes are directed into pipes under the parking lot and into the creek. A one-hectare
riparian buffer restoration at lot M was used to assess the viability of depaving asphalt
and establishing native plants through a vegetation study. Total native plant biomass was
found to be similar to non-native plant biomass and was affected by road-salt salinity
from the parking lot. Species richness per quadrat was higher for non-native plants, and
greater for both non-native and native plants where less salt was present. Key
hydrological fluxes were examined at the parking lot that could contribute to a proposed
0.6 hectare constructed wetland on the parking lot, known as “McMarsh.” Potential
wetland water storage is in surplus year round, with an average storage of 265 mm/month.
Successful restorations require maintenance following the establishment of native species.
Management and maintenance of the restoration can help decrease non-native species.
Engaging with the community through outreach and education on restoration projects is
important for a successful restoration and increasing urban sustainability in cities.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/22208 |
| Date | 17 November 2017 |
| Creators | Matties, Reyna |
| Contributors | Dudley, Susan, Biology |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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