Saline lagoons - routes to restoration

Salinity levels are a key to the value of saline lagoons. Levels of <10% are considered to be too low to support the more important lagoonal species. Though individual species have different tolerances the preferred range for many lies between 15 and 35%, with regular tidal exchange providing the best option and salinity closer to 35%. Above 50% the interest is again compromised. Thus the methods of restoration in this section of the guide are concerned with moving the salinity into the 'preferred range' for the more important saline lagoon species. This is dealt with in relation to the management of the lagoon environment.

Caption: The figure provides a simplified representation of the direction of restoration. (Click on the State box to link you to its description.)

[Details of the salinity ranges for individual species which help to define the states are presented in Table 5, Section 3.3.1 of the Saline Lagoon Guide, with more detail on individual species in "Appendix 1 The habitat preferences and UK status of lagoonal specialist species or species associated with saline lagoons". Appendix 2 provides details of important saline lagoon species listed as priority under the UK's Biodiversity Action Plan.]

Comment: Where habitats have been lost or severely damaged the creation of saline lagoons should be considered.