The saltwater marshes found along the Delaware Bay and Jersey Shore badly need some restoration work. For several reasons, they are losing their marshlike attributes and are becoming more watery. In other words, these marshes are drowning.
On Monday, officials announced that an $8.2 million project is launched which will focus on cleaning dredge material in order to restore salt marshes. When this happens, it can help the towns to become more resilient during a storm.
The first phase of the marsh restoration project began in Cape May County a week ago. It would require clean dredged sentiment that would increase the level of marshes, making them gain back their healthy stage. Roughly measuring at 1 acre, the project shall be carried on next year in Avalon and near Fortescue. This time, the restoration will cover a larger area of 45 acres.
"We are very excited about this project and believe it has the potential to provide many benefits in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner," says Bob Martin, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner.
Martin adds that the project can make coastal communities become more resilient to storms. It will also help solve the problem on disposing the sediment which builds up over time and hampers navigation in the waterways. Moreover, the marshes will create new places for birds to hunt for something to eat.
One problem with marshes is their difficulty in keeping up with sea-level rising. Scientists are predicting that the situation will be accelerated by climate change. Much of the sediment originally came from marshes which had been terribly affected by storms and erosion.
The project's mission is to keep the navigational channel clear as opposed to the option of restoring the ecosystem. It will involve the accepted solution of transporting dredged material into disposal places. While the process can be expensive and places for disposal can be difficult to find due to lack of space, the real cause of concern is the fact that all sediments are different.
Placing an eight-inch topping is considered optimal. However, every project would usually require unique analysis of the muck and the marsh while the thickness is constantly tweaked.
Another thing to consider is the varying state regulations. Normally, officials feel aghast on the idea of "filling in" a marsh land.
The project will also include the creation of a higher and sandier habitat for the state-endangered black skimmers and the rebuilding of marshes near Fortescue on Delaware Bay.
The first months of the project will not be pretty as there would be mud placed everywhere. It would need at least two years before plants can start peeking again and bring the marshes back to its natural glory.
