Most of the difference was caused by the extreme low wintertides. The 

 past winter (1976-77) was severe with many hours of strong north wind 

 that pushed the tide out. MLW was 3.1 centimeters, the lowest planting 

 elevation. 



The time and cost of constructing a wave-stilling device, sloping, 

 and planting area XVII were calculated (Table 6) . Total cost for con- 

 struction of the barrier was $874.79. This was equivalent to $15.90 

 per meter of shoreline for the 55- by 31-meter block. 



Bulldozer rental for sloping was the single most expensive item. 

 This cost includes the original 10-percent slope constructed in 1974. 

 Subsequent leveling to a 2-percent slope was done by refuge personnel 

 and their time and equipment costs were difficult to estimate. Tires 

 were obtained at no cost, except for transportation charges to the site. 

 Pipe was purchased at a maximum price of $0.33 per kilogram. Planting 

 was done with a specially constructed mechanical planter pulled behind 

 a tractor. Three persons were required to operate the planter, one to 

 drive, one to supply plants, and one to plant. 



2. Evaluations of Blocks I to XVIII (1977). 



Giant reed was still alive in blocks I and III at elevations that 

 seldom received tidal inundation. In block I original surviving culms 

 had produced enough tillers to form a relatively solid stand 16.8 meters 

 wide by 2 meters deep. In block III, three clumps, 1.5 to 3.7 meters in 

 diameter, were present. Each clump represented approximately three 

 surviving original transplants. 



Several saltcedar cuttings survived in block III at elevations that 

 were not flooded except by abnormally high tides. Height was approximately 

 2.5 meters and canopy diameter was about 3 meters for each tree. In block 

 IV three saltcedar cuttings survived just above MHW with an average of 

 2 hours daily inundation (Webb and Dodd, 1976). On 23 June 1977, tree 

 heights were 2.6, 2.4, and 2.4 meters, respectively. 



In block IV needlegrass rush had spread from surviving transplants. 

 Diameter of the resulting clumps ranged from 0.5 to 2.6 meters. The 

 clumps were located at approximate high tide. 



Density per meter squared of smooth cordgrass in the five plots in 

 block IV was 91.6, 88.0, 72.6, 73.0, and 63.0, respectively in June 1977. 

 This was a significant reduction from the 216 to 300 stems per meter 

 squared recorded in September 1975 (Webb and Dodd, 1976) . In 1977, 

 smooth cordgrass haa spread 10.7 meters outside of the original plots. 



Smooth cordgrass died or was washed out in all plots originally 

 planted and exposed to direct wave action, except one. In this area the 

 soil had been covered with rocks and shell and 10 plants survived. By 

 August 1976 over 635 new stems had been produced. In June 1977 stem 



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