Before View/Heffley/July07/USFWS

After View/Heffley/July07/USFWS

Refuge Volunteer/Heffley/July07/USFWS

In an attempt to arrest erosion along Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge's western shoreline, breakwaters were installed in the 1990's. As in years past, this site recently offered an opportunity to demonstrate beneficial placement of clean dredge material and to involve the community in a Chesapeake Bay shoreline restoration project.

In a cooperative effort with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a two-acre tidal marsh was constructed utilizing 21,266 cubic yards of clean dredged material from the Kent Narrows navigation channel project.

Continuing a tradition from prior years, refuge staff once again partnered with the National Aquarium in Baltimore to construct the tidal marsh habitat. Under the direction of staff from Aquarium's conservation department, approximately 100 volunteers from 10 years old to senior citizens planted 40,000 cordgrass plants at the site, July 10-14, 2007. Sunny skies and light bay breezes helped provide an enjoyable experience for young and old alike. Aquarium staff not only provided instructions for properly planting the cordgrass, they also provided valuable educational information about the importance of the work that was being done during the 800 hours donated by the volunteers.

Other partners included the Friends of Eastern Neck NWR, Queen Anne's County, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Ecological Restoration and Management Incorporated. Volunteers came from the western shore of Maryland as well as locally. Groups represented included Ayers Saint Gross Architects, Radcliffe Creek School in Chestertown, Maryland Conservation Corp and Tuckahoe State Park. In addition to staff, interns and volunteers from Eastern Neck and Blackwater NWR's, staff from the Chesapeake Bay Field Office also assisted with the project.