Salt Marsh Restoration at Soundview Park

Salt Marsh Restoration at Soundview Park. . , Salt marshes play a vital role in our coastal waters. These ecosystems protect the shoreline from erosion, filter pollutants from the water, and provide a rich wildlife habitat., In the last 200 years, more than 80% of New York City's original salt marshes were lost to development. While recent restoration efforts, such as the one here in Soundview Park, have improved the condition of marshes, this invaluable ecosystem will continue to disappear unless we work together to protect it., Snowy Egrets , (Egretta thula) , Snowy Egrets nest on the small islands surrounding New York City in the summer and forage for fish, crustaceans, and insects in salt marshes and freshwater marshes., Canvasback Ducks , (Aythya valisineria) , Canvasback Ducks winter in New York City's salt marshes and estuarine bays, where they dive to catch the invertebrates that supplement their diet., Fiddler Crabs , (Uca pugnax) , Fiddler Crabs are a critical link in the salt marsh food chain. They eat decomposing plant and animal matter in the marsh and are the food for a number of wetland creatures., Ribbed Mussels , (Geukensia demissa) , Ribbed Mussels live among the salt marsh cordgrass (Spartina alternaflora), providing essential nutrients to the plants as well as support for the root structures during harsh coastal storms., Please respect the fragile ecosystem and stay out of the salt marsh.