Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on the planet and support rich biodiversity, yet they are declining at alarming rates. In honor of World Wetlands Day on 2 February 2023, The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Conn. celebrated the critical role wetlands play in Long Island Sound and highlighted its conservation work that aims to increase the resiliency of the Sound’s marshes.
Marshes act as a filter and barrier between people and the sea. They protect coastal communities from storm damage, remove nutrients and pollutants from runoff, and store high levels of carbon below ground. When marshes are destroyed, their adjacent communities are at higher risk for erosion and storm impacts, which is why the work to protect them is so pressing.
“It is critical that we act as good stewards of our marshes,” said The Maritime Aquarium Director of Conservation and Policy, Dr. Sarah Crosby. “At The Maritime Aquarium, our research and restoration efforts are forward-thinking and center climate change as we work to protect these habitats. If we make smart investments in restoration now, the positive impacts will be felt for generations to come.”
Dr. Crosby is a marine ecologist trained in conservation science with experience in coastal and marine ecosystems. Her upcoming research will examine the effects of restoring salt marshes with locally sourced marsh grass against the same species of marsh grass sourced from further south, where it is acclimated to higher temperatures. If the southern marsh grass thrives in the area, it could better prepare local marshes for increased temperatures caused by climate change, making them less likely to drown and maximizing the impact of restoration projects in the future.
Another project led by The Maritime Aquarium, in partnership with the City of Norwalk and the Norwalk River Watershed Association, examines the feasibility of creating a “living shoreline” at Veterans Memorial Park. Living shorelines are restoration techniques that use native plants to protect and stabilize the shoreline. Installing a living shoreline would increase the resilience of the park’s waterfront while also improving the surrounding area’s water quality and habitat value. The Norwalk Land Trust and neighborhood groups are already working on similar projects in the area.
The Aquarium has over $1.2 million in grant funding to support its conservation research. Of that, nearly $600,000 is dedicated to wetlands-related research.
Photo Credit: © The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
Edited by Sarah Gilsoul, a writer and communications program assistant at AZA.
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