Poquoson, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Man and the Marsh
Marshes are vital to the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay. Not only do they supply cover and food for many species of waterfowl, songbirds, mammals, crabs, reptiles and fishes; but also, as they decompose, they return very important nutrients to the entire water system. Many of the thousands of acres of wetlands that once lined the bay and its tributaries have been lost. While inhabitants relied on the marsh for food and other useful products, wetlands were often drained, dredge, filled, or otherwise altered for other uses. The rapid population increase, and the widespread use of chemical fertilizers witnessed a rapid decline in the bay's water quality by the mid-20th Century. In 1983, the Chesapeake Bay program was initiated. Laws were passed to create a Resource Protection Area (RPA) promoting the creation of riparian buffers to protect marshes, limit erosion, to catch run-off, and promote the regeneration of wetlands. The Chesapeake Bay program, and projects like the Edward R. & Mary Emma Moore Freeman Memorial Marsh Walk, are part of Virginia's commitment to preserve and restore our precious wetlands.
Erected by Poquoson
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Industry & Commerce • Natural Features • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1983.
Location. 37° 7.482′ N, 76° 21.809′ W. Marker is in Poquoson, Virginia. It is on Poquoson Museum Marsh Trail south of Poquoson Avenue (Virginia Route 171), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 24 Locust Run, Poquoson VA 23662, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Virginias Peninsula, in Coastal Virginia, and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Tidewater, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least
Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 7, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
