Wellfleet’s Other Salt Wellfleet’s Other Salt MarshesMarshes

John RiehlJohn Riehl -- Wellfleet Harbor Conference 2008

Wellfleet’s Unrestricted Salt MarshesWellfleet’s Unrestricted Salt Marshes

Value of the Salt MarshesValue of the Salt Marshes

►Primary source of productivity for the Primary source of productivity for the HarborHarbor

►Nursery for fish and other wildlifeNursery for fish and other wildlife►Storm surge protectionStorm surge protection►Pollution filterPollution filter

Threats to the MarshesThreats to the Marshes

►Global warming and sea level riseGlobal warming and sea level rise Salt Marsh Die-backSalt Marsh Die-back

►Barriers to natural marsh surface Barriers to natural marsh surface replenishmentreplenishment Harbor side and land sideHarbor side and land side

►Marsh destruction by filling, Marsh destruction by filling, compaction or ditchingcompaction or ditching

Protective ActionsProtective Actions

►Maintain natural tidal regimeMaintain natural tidal regime►Allow marshes to migrate landward in Allow marshes to migrate landward in

response to sea level riseresponse to sea level rise►Allow natural harbor sediments to re-Allow natural harbor sediments to re-

nourish marsh surfacenourish marsh surface►Do not fill or drive on marshesDo not fill or drive on marshes

(Map showing tidal restrictions in Wellfleet)

Wellfleet’s Restricted Salt MarshesWellfleet’s Restricted Salt Marshes

Restoration IssuesRestoration Issues

►High coliform bacteria, low oxygen, tidal High coliform bacteria, low oxygen, tidal creek sedimentation, invasive plantscreek sedimentation, invasive plants

►Sedimentation, invasive plantsSedimentation, invasive plants►Social issues concern in each caseSocial issues concern in each case►Restoration is slow, expensive, Restoration is slow, expensive,

controversial controversial

MORAL: PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE! MORAL: PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE!