Silver Creek Salt Marsh

Silver Creek Salt Marsh. Restoring Tidal Flow to a Degraded Marsh. , Silver Creek Salt Marsh , Restoring Tidal Flow to a Degraded Marsh , Salt marshes, found between land and sea, are highly productive habitats. They serve as a nursery for fish and crabs and an important feeding area for birds and other wildlife. Salt marshes are also a valuable shoreline buffer against erosion and coastal flooding. , , Silver Creek has been impacted for over a hundred years by the East Bay Bike Path (historically a railroad) and Hope Street, which restrict tidal flow in and out of the 13-acre marsh. The restrictions prevented the creek from draining fully, resulting in areas of the marsh dying. Other impacts include historic filling of both sides of the creek for development and landfills, grazing geese and swans and a limited protective buffer zone. , , The Town of Bristol, Save The Bay and NRCS began the restoration of Silver Creek in 1999 by planting shrubs along the shore. In 2009, rocks impeding tidal flow between Hope Street and the East Bay Bike Path were removed, the footbridge between Veterans Park and Creek Lane was replaced with a boardwalk, fill was removed from the marsh and drainage of freshwater off of the marsh was enhanced by clearing clogged creeks. , , Project Partners , Town of Bristol, Save The Bay, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, RIDEM Mosquito Abatement Program, a partnership between NOAA's Community-based Restoration Program and Restore America's Estuaries, the RI Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration Trust Fund, Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mount Hope High School and Save Bristol Harbor., ( image captions ) , , With the help of students(above), Save The Bay planted marsh grass on newly exposed mud flats including this island in the creek. , , The restrictions reduced saltwater flow and allowed the expansion of the invasive plant Phragmites australis. Photo taken looking south (arial support from LightHawk) , , A rock sill located between the East Bay Bike Path and Hope Street was removed to increase the tidal range within the marsh. , , Excavation of clogged creeks enhanced the drainage of fresh water and the regular loading of salt water, andit reduced breeding habitat for mosquitos.