Most salt marshes in Maine have been altered from their natural state by agricultural practices that began in the 1700s when the creation of dikes, berms and ditches cut off the tides and controlled how water flowed across the marsh. Farmers were able to create large amounts of salt hay and pasture for livestock. Now, Maine’s marshes are struggling to provide the necessary functions that they once did, including erosion control and storm surge protection, water filtration, and healthy habitat for critically endangered birds and fish species.
DSF’s Narraguagus Marsh Preserve, located near the Milbridge Rte. 1 bridge and generously donated to DSF in 2021 by Judith Sabourin, is no exception. The Narraguagus Preserve has five acres of saltmarsh with ditches that extend over 8 feet in depth and areas of pooled water that never drain. Healing the marsh from these legacy impacts of colonial-era farming are priority actions that DSF will begin undertaking in 2025.
DSF’s Habitat Restoration Program Manager, Ellie Mason, alongside an 8-10 foot deep ditch in the Narraguagus Marsh
DSF is fortunate to partner with Saltmarsh Adaptation & Resiliency Teams (SMARTeams) and Northeast Wetland Restoration to develop a restoration plan for the marsh that emphasizes nature-based solutions to restore salt marsh functions, gain marsh elevation and habitat, and make the marsh more resilient. Funding for this project comes from the Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
In 2025, DSF will be kicking off the restoration process by working closely with our partners to develop a site-specific restoration plan that will include a comprehensive understanding of all the current impairments in the marsh before moving towards solutions that specifically address those impairments.