Table 2. Smooth cordgrass survival in lower intertidal areas. 



Location Tidal range Lowest survivors 



(source) (m) (m, MLW) 



Snow's Cut, N.C. 1.2 0.2 



(Woodhouse, Seneca, and 

 Broome, 1972) 



Cold Springs Harbor, N.Y. 2.4 0.5 



(Johnson and York, 1915) 



Romney Marsh, Mass. 2.8 0.9 



(Chapman, 1940) 



Barnstable Marsh, Mass. 2.9 1.1 



(Redfield, 1972) 



wind setup, this relationship may not hold. However, in general, smooth 

 cordgrass can be established from just above MLW to MHW in areas with a tidal 

 range of less than about 2.0 meters. In areas where tidal amplitude exceeds 

 2.0 meters, the lower limit or the planting zone is more restricted. In the 

 north Atlantic where tidal amplitude may reach or exceed 3.0 meters, the 

 plants are restricted to the upper one-half of the tidal zone. Observations 

 of stable natural marshes in the vicinity of the proposed planting will 

 generally provide reliable estimates of suitable planting zones. 



d. Planting Density . On sheltered sites, a spacing of 1.0 meter will, 

 under average conditions, provide complete cover by early spring of the second 

 growing season. A 1-meter spacing is a density of about 10,000 propagules per 

 hectare. On sites exposed to waves, a closer spacing of 0.5 meter is 

 required. A spacing of 0.5 meter quadruples the density to about 40,000 

 propagules per hectare. 



e. Planting Width . On sheltered sites, no minimum planting width 

 (landward to seaward) is necessary. On sites exposed to waves, a practical 

 minimum width is about 6.0 meters. However, at least 60 percent of the 

 intertidal zone should be planted. If the planting area is not wide enough, 

 the beach face must be graded to provide a suitable planting width. Grading 

 must be well in advance of planting to allow for consolidation of the 

 disturbed soil. 



f. Planting Date . Smooth cordgrass can be planted year round but early 

 spring planting avoids the winter storms and provides a longer growing season 

 for plant establishment. A late spring and early sxnnmer planting may lessen 

 the storm hazard but provide too little time for full plant establishment, 

 particularly in the more northern latitudes. March, April, and early May 

 probably represent the optimum planting season along the mid-Atlantic coast 

 with the season starting somewhat later and becoming shorter northward. The 

 practical planting season starts as early as February and extends much longer 

 in the more southern extremes. Midsummer plantings have been successful on 

 sheltered sites along the gulf coast. 



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