Coastal Erosion, Habitat Loss Threaten Rachel Carson NWR

Ducks Unlimited (DU) is spearheading an innovative effort to restore salt marsh resiliency in Maine. Partnering with federal, state, academic and municipal organizations, DU is leading the implementation of Maine’s first Beneficial Use of Dredge Material (BUDM) project at Webhannet Salt Marsh located in Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). BUDM is a technique that involves placing sediment (dredge material from navigation channels, marinas, etc.) on the marsh surface to increase elevation to promote the natural ebb and flow of the tides.

“The Wells Harbor marsh elevation enhancement at Rachel Carson NWR is DU’s most pressing project in New England,” said DU Biologist Bri Benvenuti. “The goal is to design and implement Maine’s first salt marsh restoration project using dredge sediment. This work is a result of years of partnerships between the Army Corps of Engineers, the town of Wells, state regulatory agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to ultimately develop the blueprint to increase marsh elevation in the Gulf of Maine, which is subsiding due to rising sea levels.”

This effort aims to combat the impacts of coastal flooding and habitat degradation by restoring two acres of salt marsh by placing clean, stockpiled marine sediment from the Army Corps of Engineers winter 2024 dredge of Wells Harbor. The project is critical in preserving habitat for the state’s endangered Saltmarsh sparrow. It will also serve as a model for future marsh restoration efforts in New England.

At Rachel Carson NWR, dump trucks will transport the Wells Harbor dredge material to the marsh where excavators spread the sand to increase marsh elevation by 2 to 6 inches, providing improved wildlife habitat and community resilience, including an evacuation route from Drake’s Island, which is susceptible to flooding.

Along with USFWS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Town of Wells, University of New Hampshire and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection are partnering on the marsh restoration. Funding is being provided by Greenfield Penobscot Estuary Beneficial Project Trust LLC, Trustee of the Penobscot Estuary Beneficial Environmental Projects Trust and other private foundations. These organizations bring extensive expertise and resources, ensuring the project’s success and broader applicability throughout the Gulf of Maine.

The project is in the construction phase, which is expected to be completed by late March. Once finished, this pilot project will provide crucial data for future restoration projects across Maine.