by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director
This past winter, NJDEP and The Wetlands Institute were awarded a two-year planning grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Coastal Resilience Fund through the Department of the Interior. Funds from the grant are being put toward a wetland enhancement project using dredged sediments to uplift the Institute’s Salt Marsh Trail and marsh areas along the trail and near the boat house that have fallen behind relative sea level rise. The Salt Marsh Trail and boat house are between 3.5’ and 4’ elevation and are now regularly underwater during both sunny-day flooding events and storms.
The idea is to use clean dredged material to elevate and widen the trail, reestablish the historic fill line, and raise low-lying areas to create sections of tiered marsh at appropriate elevations to meet ecological goals for wildlife usage. A higher trail system and marsh area along Scotch Bonnet Creek will also provide infrastructure protection to The Wetlands Institute. This project continues our work to build Institute resilience using nature-based solutions.
This effort targets historically filled areas of marsh, and seeks to expand and protect diamondback terrapin nesting areas and create additional high-marsh habitat for other marsh-dependent species. Improvements to the Salt Marsh Trail will also allow for enhanced public and education program access to Scotch Bonnet Creek. The project includes monitoring and site assessment for wildlife usage, adaptive management plan development by the Research and Conservation Department, and mapping and marsh characterization work with the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, it includes support for early career professional training for research assistants and opportunities for undergraduate interns to participate in research and education efforts centered around the enhancement project.
The Education Department will be developing and delivering programs to both formal and informal program participants and visitors to TWI about the project, impacts of climate change and sea level rise on marshes, wildlife and coastal resilience, and the importance of restoring wetlands.
The planning grant includes funding for the development of design plans and construction permits, but actual construction will also need to be funded. The grant program is designed to consider funding for implementation upon successful completion of the planning phases.