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Dredged Mud Reborn as 70 Acres of Coastal Habitat
12 Aug
Summary
- Project repurposed dredged river sediment into vital tidal wetland habitat.
- Restored marsh provides nesting grounds for threatened marsh birds.
- Dredged material sustained a crucial shipping channel to a major port.
A significant restoration effort in Somerset County, Maryland, has transformed dredged river sediment into approximately 70 acres of valuable tidal wetland habitat. This $13.5 million project, spearheaded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District, revitalized a declining marsh at the Deal Island Wildlife Management Area.
The initiative utilized sand, silt, and shell removed from the Wicomico River federal navigation channel. This material was pumped via pipeline to the restoration site, effectively raising the marsh elevation by about a foot. The dredged sediment was contained by straw bale barriers and tidal plugs, allowing it to settle.
Following the sediment placement, native salt marsh grasses were planted to stabilize the new terrain, reduce erosion, and filter runoff. This restored habitat is crucial for the nesting and feeding of threatened species like the saltmarsh sparrow and black rail, which rely on high tidal marshes.
The project also serves the dual purpose of maintaining the Wicomico River's navigability, a vital commercial route for agricultural and fuel shipments to the Port of Salisbury, Maryland's second-largest commercial port. Long-term management and monitoring of the restored area have been transferred to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Wicomico County.
