Green Invaders

Green Invaders. . , Before 1800, there were approximately 7,000 acres of wetland in this valley. By 1980, draining had reduced the wetlands to only 130 acres of hardwood swamp forests, cedar swamp forests and sedge meadows., By the 1980s, this sedge meadow was rapidly changing into a cedar swamp forest. Over time, sedge stems and roots build up layers of muck soil. Eventually enough muck soil supports the growth of cedars. As the cedars get larger, they shade out the sedges, and their leaves and roots build even more soil., With only five acres of sedge meadow left, any further change in this critical habitat would result in the loss of many endangered species. In 1988, the state approved action to protect the sedge meadow by removing invading cedars from the meadow.