Challenges facing the marsh today are largely
the result of human activities occurring over a long period
of time.
The effects of tidal flow restrictions, past
fill, networks of ditches, farming, upland fringe fragmentation
and habitat loss due to development (particularly on the critical
edge of upland within 500' of the saltmarsh), and polluted
run off linger and compromise the biological vitality of the
marsh. Today the marsh is at risk, as these harmful impacts
have resulted in lowered salinity and reduced the amount of
sediment available for marsh surface deposits or accretion.
Invasive plant species such as Common
Reed (Phragmites australis) and purple loosestrife
(Lythrum salicaria) have gained a foothold and continue to
spread. Monocultures of Spartina patens are also present.
In addition grid ditches excessively drained the high marsh
and destroyed some of the permanent pool habitat that once
supported a suite of species - aquatic plants, invertebrates,
fish, shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl.
Yet many of these impacts can be corrected through restoration
and conservation of the remaining unfragmented critical edge.
Re-establishing permanent pools of water and restoring water
flow to the marsh benefits fish and wildlife and restores
plant communities.
Because of local and regional protection efforts,
and the removal of tide gates, the marsh is many ways a healthier
ecosystem now than 100 years ago. But there remains much more
to be done to bring the marsh back to full vitality and health.
