Festival Park Restoration of Coastal Marsh and Maritime Forest

before (left) -- eroding shoreline lacking low marsh; after -- stable Shoreline low marsh fringe

The NRCS Plant Materials Center in Cape May, New Jersey, has helped restore 1,500 feet of coastal marsh and maritime forest along Festival Park's eroding shoreline. Not only was this Wilmington, North Carolina area marsh an important habitat for oysters, fish, sea grass, and wildlife, but it also supported commercial fisheries.

The Cape May Plant Materials Center in cooperation with the Wilmington District and State of North Carolina began an ambitious restoration project of Festival Park at an approximate cost of $1 million for planning, design, and construction.  Ultimately the project restored and now protects five acres of maritime-forest and shallow-estuarine habitat.

As was hoped, sea grasses are becoming established in the protected open water between the shoreline and the rock sill and marsh grass show vigorous growth and good seed production.

The Roanoke Island Commission summed it up best, " There now exists a project that all are proud to claim…the public will not only enjoy the site, but also become educated about the value of environmental restoration and management."
Your contact is William Skaradek, NRCS Cape May Plant Materials Center Manager, at 609-465-5901.