Delaware Bay - restoring tidal marsh

The Salem Nuclear Power Generating Station causes the loss of large numbers of fish in its cooling system. In order to to offset the loss of the major fish species of concern in the Bay an attempt was made to estimate the area of tidal marsh needed to provide habitat to make up the loss in population. Based on the positive correlation between the primary production of salt marshes and the secondary production of nekton, an aggregated food chain model was employed to proved this estimate. From the model, over 5,040 ha of diked salt hay (Spartina patens) marsh and common reed (Phragmites australis) degraded brackish marsh was proposed for restoration, enhancement and protection. The Estuary Enhancement Program in Delaware Bay has 20,500 acres under restoration, preservation and enhancement, and includes the building of six fish ladders to aid fish migration.

For more information see Web: http://www.njmsc.org/ and the Delaware Estuary Programme @ http://www.delep.org/