Project Description
Great Meadows Marsh is one of Connecticut's most extensive remaining tidal salt marshes. Like many other marshes in the state, Great Meadows Marsh has been drastically altered since the 1700s. Originally extending over 1,400 acres, the marsh has decreased in size by over 50%. Portions of the marsh were drained by mosquito ditching and filled in with dredge spoils, leading to the spread of invasive species such as Phragmites (common reeds). Other sections have experienced severe erosion due to sea level rise.
After years of planning, a $4.65-million project to restore a 34-acre section of Great Meadows Marsh began in 2021. During the fall, a prescribed burn was performed to clear standing vegetation, largely comprised of Phragmites. Construction crews then removed the berms and excavated the top soil to remove roots and seeds to prevent the invasive grass from resprouting. The site was regraded and new channels were dug to allow water to flow freely. A 12-foot-wide channel was also constructed to restore the tidal regime of this section of the marsh. Hummocks, or mounds, were also constructed near known salt marsh sparrow breeding locations to offer the birds refuge from sea level rise. During the winter and spring of 2022, volunteers, local high school students, contractors, and project partners planted more than 165,000 native grasses and other non-woody plants, such as smooth cordgrass, salt hay, and seaside goldenrod. Invasive species management is ongoing until 2025 to control Phragmites, and partners have been planting additional marsh grasses as needed. In 2023, a 6-acre portion of marsh just inland from the original 34 acres was restored. Located within the Great Meadows Marsh Unit (GMMU) of the Stewart McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, the project was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Audubon Connecticut, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Town of Stratford. Approximately $1 million for the restoration came from Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) settlements with General Electric Company (GE), Lordship Point Gun Club, and Raymark Industries, who were responsible for contamination at three nearby sites. Other sources of funding for the project included several grants and donations.
Restoration Land Ownership
Fish and Wildlife Service
Parties Implementing Restoration
Audubon Connecticut; Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; NOAA
DOI Project Representatives
Fish and Wildlife Service