Science » Vegetation

Nisqually Post-Restoration Plant Summary:

The following figures and tables are based on our summer 2009 pre-restoration survey of the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge restoration site prior to dike removal.

Table 1. Nisqually NWR species and categories list for summer 2009 pre-restoration vegetation
(point intercept and quadrant) surveys.

Spp. Code

Common Name

Scientific Name
AGST Creeping bentgrass Agrostis stolonifera
ATPA Patent saltbush Atriplex patens
BARE Bare ground  
CHMA Largeseed goosefoot Chenopodium macrospermum
CIAR California thistle Cirsium arvense
CIVU Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare
COCO Brass buttons Cotula coronopifolia
DOM Dead Organic Matter  
ELPA Common spikerush Eleochris palustris
ELRE Quackgrass Elymus repens
EPCI Northern willow herb Epilobium ciliatum
EQAR Field horsetail Equisetum arvense
GAssp Bedstraw Galium spp.
GATR Threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum
HOLA Velvet grass Holcus lanatus
JUBA Baltic rush Juncus balticus
JUEF Common rush Juncus effusus
LI Litter  
LOCO Birdfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus
MAFU Crab apple Malus fusca
MOPA Pasture Grass, mowed  
PHAR Reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea
PHPR Timothy grass Phleum protense
POAN Silverweed Potentilla anserine
POPU Dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum
RARE Creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens
RUDI Himilayian blackberry Rubus discolor
RUMA Golden dock Rumex maritimus
SARA Red elderberry Sambucus racemosa
SCMA Seacoast bullrush Scirpus maritimus
SODU European bittersweet Solanum dulcamara
TYLA Broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia
VIVI Hairy vetch Vicia villosa


Vegetation species cover


Figure 1a. Pre-restoration vegetation sampling survey locations, Fall 2009.
Figure 1a. Pre-restoration vegetation sampling survey locations, Fall 2009.


Figure 2. Percent cover from transect data. Species codes are listed in Table 1.
Other includes: AGRO, ATPA, CIVU ELEO, ELPA, ELRE, Galium, GRIN, JUEF, PHPR, RUDI, RUMA.
Figure 2. Percent cover from transect data. Species codes are listed in Table 1. Other includes: AGRO, ATPA, CIVU ELEO, ELPA, ELRE, Galium, GRIN, JUEF, PHPR, RUDI, RUMA.


Figure 3. Mean maximum heights (cm) by species over all sites and quadrat data.
Figure 3. Mean maximum heights (cm) by species over all sites and quadrat data.


Figure 5. Overall mean density of individuals by species from quadrat data. Survey quadrat data was extrapolated to m2.
Note: the highest densities were from graminoids.
Figure 5. Overall mean density of individuals by species from quadrat data. Survey quadrat data was extrapolated to m2. Note: the highest densities were from graminoids.


Table 2. Nisqually NWR restoration site average species height and density for Summer 2009 quadrant data.

Spp. Code

Common Name

Scientific Name

Average Height (cm)

Average Density/m2
AGST Creeping bentgrass Agrostis stolonifera 52 1240
ATPA Patent saltbush Atriplex patens 44 40
BARE Bare ground NA NA NA
CHMA Largeseed goosefoot Chenopodium macrospermum 12 12
CIAR California thistle Cirsium arvense 62 6
CIVU Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare 34 4
COCO Brass buttons Cotula coronopifolia 24 228
DOM Dead Organic Matter NA 92 332
ELPA Common spikerush Eleochris palustris 84 68
EPCI Northern willow herb Epilobium ciliatum 30 12
EQAR Field horsetail Equisetum arvense 75 8
GAssp Bedstraw Galium spp. 34 840
GATR Threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum 58 1100
HOLA Velvet grass Holcus lanatus 93 933
JUBA Baltic rush Juncus balticus 60 32
JUEF Common rush Juncus effusus 70 386
LI Litter NA 52 NA
LOCO Birdfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus 67 153
MAFU Crab apple Malus fusca 13 outside quad
MOPA Pasture Grass, mowed NA NA 800
PHAR Reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea 118 384
POAN Silverweed Potentilla anserine 16 8
POPU Dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum 28 68
RARE Creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens 27 7
RUDI Himilayian blackberry Rubus discolor 91 4
SARA Red elderberry Sambucus racemosa 235 outside quad
SCMA Seacoast bullrush Scirpus maritimus 129 44
SODU European bittersweet Solanum dulcamara 70 7
TYLA Broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia 124 18
VIVI Hairy vetch Vicia villosa 1 outside quad

In conjunction with aerial photography, remote sensing, and bathymetry surveys of the bottom substrates, on-the-ground plant surveys will provide information on species composition and condition. Vegetation sampling will be conducted during summer when vegetative cover is at its maximum. Permanent, 40-m point-intercept transects (0.5 m intervals) will be established to determine the composition, height, and percent cover of plant species and to detect changes in vegetation through time. A 0.25 m2 grid will be examined at the beginning, middle, and end of each transect (3 quadrants per transect) to estimate mean stem density, height, and ocular estimates of percent cover of each species. The location of target plants or invasive species (such as reed canary grass Phalaris arundinaceae) will be tracked with GPS ground surveys or high precision aerial photographs. Data will be used to track changes of species extent, species richness, plant cover of natives and exotics, and vegetative condition (height and density).

In addition to transects and quadrants, aerial photography, and remote sensing for vegetation cover, at each visit we will identify invasive plants and record locations and species. During each vegetation survey, field surveyors will search for target invasive plants, record GPS location of invasive plant patches, and describe condition and extent of the patch (area, density, height). For larger patches of invasive plants, such as reed canary grass, we will delineate the extent of cover with a hand-held GPS or by remote sensing, and track changes to the extent of cover annually.