Highlighted Initiative: Wetlands Restoration
Beginning in the 1800s, it became common practice in Connecticut
to drain, dike, farm, develop, and otherwise alter tidal wetlands.
The fast pace of such shoreline development in the first half of
the 20th century destroyed an estimated 30 percent of Connecticut's
17,500 acres of estuarine ecosystems.
Protection of
salt marshes in Connecticut began
in 1969 with the passage of the
state's Tidal Wetlands Act, which
requires that development in
the estuarine environment be
consistent with all applicable
state rules and statutes. Subsequently,
the Connecticut Coastal Management
Act of 1980 established a policy
to "encourage the restoration
and rehabilitation of degraded
tidal wetlands." Since then,
wetlands losses in the state
have averaged less than a quarter
of an acre per year, more than
60 separate sites have been restored
along Connecticut's coast, and
the first dedicated Wetlands
Restoration Unit in the country
was established. The DEP’s
primary approach has been to
restore tidal flow through removal
of tide-gates and replacement
of undersized culverts, and to
then allow Mother Nature to take
her course. It has been found
that restoring tidal action to
a salt marsh returns it to a
fully functioning estuarine ecosystem
over a period of five to 21 years.
The state has been
able to make such progress by
teaming with unique partners,
developing a streamlined project
review process, assigning a stable
funding source, using good science,
and exercising a great deal of
patience. In particular, scientists
at Connecticut College have worked
with DEP to research a selected
series of sites to assess restoration
success, and then design and
implement new projects.
One of the most surprising and successful partnerships in this
effort has been between DEP and the state's Mosquito Control Unit.
Beginning after the Civil War, wetlands of all types, including
virtually all salt marshes adjacent to the Sound, were filled,
ditched, or drained (using tide gates) to prevent mosquito breeding.
By the 1940s, nearly all of Connecticut's salt marshes were ditched.
In 1984, the Mosquito Control Unit began the use of modern techniques
such as open marsh water management to restore tidal flow to degraded
marshes. Restoration was embraced by Mosquito Control as a strategic
mosquito control technique when it was learned that tidal flow
restoration to subsided marsh abated all mosquito breeding. In
1993, DEP and the Department of Health Services agreed to transfer
staff and equipment to DEP, where a dedicated wetlands restoration
program was created. Funding primarily comes from federal grants
and support. This support would be more difficult to secure without
a dedicated state wetlands restoration fund, which is used to match
federal monies.
Since the earliest
restoration projects in Connecticut,
the state has worked through
a site review committee. Coastal
managers, scientists, nonprofits,
and state and federal regulators
are brought into the process
early to help design the "best
restoration project based on
everyone's collective input." This
review allows federal and state
regulators to simplify the permitting
process, which means more projects
get completed.
As a result of DEP's
efforts, more than 1,700 acres of
Connecticut's tidal wetlands have
been restored. The lessons learned
through Connecticut’s restoration
efforts include:
- Re-establishing regular tidal flushing
with saltwater allows native salt marsh
plants to overtake invasive Phragmites.
The conversion takes five to 10 years.
- Re-establishment of salt marsh plants
proceeds spontaneously if a nearby
salt marsh is present to supply a seed
source. In most cases expensive planting
or transplanting programs are not necessary.
- Restoration of tidal flows to their
predisturbance volumes is not always
desirable, especially in the case of
subsided wetlands.
- Restoration will reduce or eliminate
mosquito breeding in subsided marshes.
- Restoration re-establishes scenic
vistas.
For more information
on Connecticut's tidal marsh
restoration program, you may
also point your browser to http://camel2.conncoll.edu/ccrec/greennet/arbo/publications/34/MAIN.HTM.
Relevant Agencies/Programs:
Marine Managed
Area Systems:
Natural
Area Preserve System, (CGS
22-5 (a)-(h))
State Parks, (CGS
23-5, 23-10)
State Wildlife
Management Areas, (CGS
23-73 to 3-99)
(top)
|
 |
