Webb and Dodd (1976) concluded that smooth cordgrass survival was 

 significantly greater behind wave-stilling devices or in protected areas 

 than in unprotected areas. Although plantings behind wave-stilling 

 devices were initially successful, the devices became ineffective for 

 wave protection shortly after construction. A technique for mechanical 

 planting of single culms was used. Soil texture, pH, salinity, and 

 cation concentrations were also reported for the study area. 



3. Objectives of Studies 



During the initial phases of the studies four objectives were 

 established: [a) Isolate candidate planting materials known or believed 

 to have utility for shoreline stabilization; (b) field test candidate 

 planting materials on sites typical of shorelines along the upper Texas 

 coast; (c) refine present knowledge on germination requirements, 

 planting technology, and stand management of selected plants; and (d) 

 compile a preliminary performance estimate equating time requirements 

 and accomplishment for particular operations (Dodd and Webb, 1975). 



This study further evaluates survival and establishment of trans- 

 plants, and reports on plant survival and growth in a sloped and wave- 

 protected demonstration area established in May 1976. 



II. DESCRIPTION OF AREA 



The Galveston Bay complex is composed of Galveston Bay and West 

 Bay protected by Galveston Island, East Bay protected by Bolivar 

 Peninsula, and Trinity Bay at the mouth of the Trinity River. Central 

 parts of the bays have a maximum depth of Approximately 3 meters with 

 soft mud bottoms. East Bay and West Bay are both shallow, usually 

 less than 1.8 meters deep, and are 4.8 to 5.6 kilometers wide (LeBlanc 

 and Hodgson, 1959) . The bay shoreline generally lacks sand beaches 

 and in many places is associated with low- lying marshes. Experimental 

 plantings were located at the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, which 

 is situated along the north shoreline of East Bay in Chambers County, 

 Texas (Figs. 1 and 2). 



Soil and water parameters were measured along the shoreline of 

 the refuge in 1973. Soil textures were generally loam in the upper 

 5 centimeters and clay loam in the 5- to 15-centimeter depth (Dodd and 

 Webb, 1975). In most sites the percent sand exceeded that of other 

 particle-size classes. Clay particles occurred in smallest quantities; 

 therefore, these soils are considered highly erodible. 



Soil pH was generally about 7.0 but varied slightly at different 

 sampling dates (Webb and Dodd, 1976) . Soil salinity increased or 

 decreased with corresponding increases or decreases in bay water salinity, 

 Differences in soil salinity at various depths and elevations were 

 apparently related to changes in water salinity. Water salinity was 

 directly related to dilution by rainfall and concentration by evaporation, 



