The Need for Restoration of the Scarborough Marsh
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 in many ways a healthier ecosystem now than 100 years ago. Friends of Scarborough Marsh has been the catalyst behind more than 10 successful restoration projects that have improved natural tidal flow at Scarborough Marsh sites including Seavey Landing, Cascade Brook, Libby River, Mill Brook and the Nonesuch River. But there remains much more to be done to bring the marsh back to full vitality. You can help!
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 in many ways a healthier ecosystem now than 100 years ago. Friends of Scarborough Marsh has been the catalyst behind more than 10 successful restoration projects that have improved natural tidal flow at Scarborough Marsh sites including Seavey Landing, Cascade Brook, Libby River, Mill Brook and the Nonesuch River. But there remains much more to be done to bring the marsh back to full vitality. You can help!
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FRIENDS of SCARBOROUGH MARSH | PO Box 7049, Scarborough ME 04070 | info@scarboroughmarsh.org | 207.650.7482
