100 acres of the Cascade Brook salt marsh in
the Scarborough Marsh Wildlife Management Area.
Problem
An unused water control structure severely limited tidal
flushing, and two underwater berms in the channel behind the
water control structure also served as tidal constrictions.
In a 1996 500-year flood, a culvert on the Old Blue Point
Road blew out, and large quantities of spoil material smothered
two acres of the marsh surface and filled a tidal creek. In
addition, 45 large piles of peat were ripped out of the marsh
during the flood, floated downstream, and came to rest on
the surface of the marsh.
Non-native Phragmites
aggressively invaded the newly disturbed areas.
Restoration Goal
To increase tidal flow into the salt marsh restoration at
Cascade Brook, this restoration work included: (1) lowering
the water control structure to increase tidal flow; (2) partial
removal of the underwater berm; (3) removal of 5,000 cubic
yards of spoil material on the surface of the marsh and in
the tidal creek; (4) removal of peat piles; and (5) Phragmites
control.
The
Cascade Brook Restoration Project was a complex restoration
project that was finished at the end of February, 2004. A
5-year monitoring process is ongoing.
Restoring this marsh has taken hard work and
cooperation, and all of the partners, can be proud of their
achievement.
Now a handsome commemorative stone and plaque
marks the site of this momentous first restoration project
achieved by Friends of Scarborough Marsh and its partners.
