2020 Vision: How the Wetlands Institute Plans to Build on Its 50-Year Legacy
Clean dredge material being used to build habitat.
As our year of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of The Wetlands Institute comes to a close, it’s fitting to look forward to the next 50 years. Throughout the year we have reflected upon the remarkable legacy of research, conservation, education, and stewardship that underpins the impact of The Wetlands Institute in our community and beyond. It’s a history I am proud to be a part of, but even more so, it’s the opportunity to lead our 2020 vision for the future that I am so keen to tackle.
Fifty years ago, Herbert Mills, founding director of The Wetlands Institute, saw the future. If left unchecked, rampant development would consume the vast acreage of salt marsh stretching the length of South Jersey’s Atlantic coast. He knew that the loss of such an invaluable resource would be catastrophic for the incredible network of life that depends on the marshes for food and shelter, as well as the coastal communities that benefit from the marshes for recreation and aesthetic value. He also knew that few people were aware of the critical services the marsh provided through protection from storm surges and flooding.
Mills decided to do something about it. He had a vision: undisturbed salt marsh acting as a buffer and a nursery, sustaining the life within and around it, and a world-class organization dedicated to learning about it to ensure its conservation and to educating people about the importance of protecting it.
For the past 50 years, The Wetlands Institute has embraced Mill’s vision and worked to address the challenges affecting the health and well-being of these marshes and the wildlife that depend on them. Our roots trace back to these early days, and the uninterrupted work that has been done here is incredibly powerful. As scientists, our ability to document change relies on detailed records of conditions in the past. The Wetlands Institute, thanks to the tireless work of so many before us, is extremely well-positioned to take on a leadership role studying, preserving, and conserving these marshes and coastal ecosystems now and well into the future.
Now more than ever, the threats to these marshes are acute. The onslaught of rapidly rising sea is at the forefront of issues affecting the entire back-bay system, our beaches, and our island communities. There is no question the change is already here, and critical questions emerge about how the role of wetlands is changing as a life-support system for fisheries, migratory birds, and storm protection. What does it mean for their future? For our future?
If we consider what measured sea level looks like, the best records come from nearby Atlantic City where sea level has been rising at a rate of 0.16 inches per year, which may not sound like a lot – but that is equivalent to 1.34 feet of rise in the last 100 years. If it’s helpful to think about what that actually means for the marshes, below is a graph that shows the actual water level measured in the marsh at The Wetlands Institute as part of a detailed marsh monitoring program we have established. Every time the water elevation goes above the red line, the marsh is flooded. Perhaps you have noticed that the marsh seems to be underwater a lot more frequently than in the past. Finally, we can look at the number of times, on average, that the water level floods above a certain elevation and better understand nuisance flooding of the island community. On average, water levels are higher than 3 feet 67 times each year. In areas on the island without bulkheads, or where bulkheads are too low, this typically equates to flooding of bayside streets.
How do we protect our marshes so they persist in the face of changing and intensifying threats? How do we ensure healthy populations of our coastal wildlife? Without intervention, our marshes, beaches, and the back bay itself will be dramatically different. They are already changing. Our vision for 2020 and beyond is focused on working on this seminal issue.
The Wetlands Institute has partnered with state and federal agencies, universities and other nonprofits to gather needed information about our marshes and to test methods to lift up marshes and create habitat for select wildlife species suffering most directly from rising seas. This past April, along with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, The Wetlands Institute helped launch the Seven Mile Island Living Laboratory as a think tank and demonstration area to help develop innovative interventions to mitigate some of the effects of rapidly rising sea level.
A key concept behind the Seven Mile Island Living Lab is to develop ways to utilize sand and mud that is clogging back-bay channels and basins, to help marshes keep up with sea-level rise or to build elevated habitat for wildlife that are losing important nesting and feeding grounds. The area is serving as a test bed for novel projects that are strategic, innovative, and cost-effective sediment management practices that beneficially use clean dredged material. So far, there have been three projects including a marsh-enhancement project in the marshes behind Avalon and projects to build elevated nesting habitat for black skimmers, terns and American oystercatchers. These projects were on Ring Island behind The Wetlands Institute, and at Great Flats across from Nummy Island. The projects have been successful in that they helped raise the elevation of the study marsh and created new habitat for beach-nesting birds. Upcoming projects seek to extend these successes by developing new techniques to elevate marsh islands and provide protection for marsh edge erosion. Look for more projects to be announced in the coming months.
As we look forward to the future, we have 2020 vision for how to address the critical challenges facing our marshes. The scientists at The Wetlands Institute and our partners, work hard every day to balance caution with strategic experiments. These are bold projects that are not without risk, but these times call for bold efforts. Our success will depend on strong leadership and clear vision. Thanks to excellent vision in the past and a strong foundation, The Wetlands Institute is prepared to lead again. More information about the Seven Mile Island Living Lab, The Wetlands Institute history, and all of our work, can be found on our website (wetlandsinstitute.org) or by coming for a visit.
Winter at The Wetlands Institute
It may be cold outside, but it’s always warm in The Wetlands Institute. Join us all winter long for seasonal science activities, interactive animal encounters, and science features every Saturday and Sunday from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Visit wetlandsinstitute.org/events to see what’s happening here!
Winter Lecture Series
Our winter lecture series consists of weekly daytime or monthly evening presentations occurring on-site at The Wetlands Institute. Throughout the series, guest presenters from around the region share presentations on a variety of scientific and cultural topics. Visit wetlandsinstitute.org/winter-lecture-series for details.
Holiday Gift Ideas
Looking for a meaningful gift that also supports wetland and coastal ecosystem conservation? Here are some great ideas:
Our Tidepool Shop is stocked with unique gifts and nature books for all ages.
Give the gift of flexibility with a gift card that can be redeemed for Institute merchandise, event tickets, and more!
A gift of membership to The Wetlands Institute supports our mission and allows us to advance our impactful research, conservation, and education work.
Adoptions make great gifts! Our symbolic Terrapin, Horseshoe Crab, and American Oystercatcher adoptions are a great way to directly impact conservation!
