Salt Marshes are Magical Places!

Salt marshes rich in decaying ooze create life!

Salt marshes are magical places of renewal. From their death and decay they spring forth life. A primordial soup of the eternal wonderful cycle of life. They are safe havens for biological organisms, algae, marsh plants, young fish, crustaceans, birds and woodland animals. Switchgrass shoots slow water movement, trapping and accumulating sediments. This specially enhanced sedimentation, coupled with the increasing volume of below-ground roots and rhizomes, allow the elevation of developing marshes to keep up with a rising sea. As salt marsh plants die and decompose, they create organic detritus. This varying abundant food source is found in the muds of the salt marsh bottoms and are essential for salt marsh dwellers survival. The classic life cycle and food chain in action. Tidal waters move up into the marsh and then retreat, distributing detritus throughout the estuary (an area where freshwater from the land mixes with sea water). Algae are also an important food source in salt marshes. Marsh plants also adapted to salt marshes cannot grow where waves are strong, but they thrive along the calm gentle northern coast salt marshes of Long Island Sound. Another distinctive feature of salt marshes are there color - the plants are various shades of gray, brown, orange, yellow and greens.

Salt marsh life started long ago.

About 15,000 years ago, the last Ice Age glaciers melted, creating glacial Lake Connecticut. Thousands of years later it completely drained  into a sea through an outlet in the moraine dam at the Race (between Fishers and Long Islands). The glacier paused briefly and deposited small recessional moraines near Old Saybrook, Madison, Westbrook and Branford along the Connecticut shore. As the waters of Long Island Sound flooded the coastal uplands they moved the shoreline inland, a process termed "marine transgression." The drowned coastal streams and river valleys are now our present day coves, embayments, and salt marshes. In this salty sea soup, the magic of the salt marshes were created.  An easy taking off launch point for our tiktaalik acanthostega forefathers to tentatively crawl out of the sea water onto terra firma for their first breaths of air. Coexisting in both environments and paving the way for all of us who have come after. I feel so very deeply connected with it's vibrancy, rhythm and continuing regenerative power. Salt marshes cleanse the waters of pollutants and recharge groundwater supplies. They are beautiful natural places for people to enjoy being outdoors. Salt marshes use sun, salt and decomposed stuff to produce extremely fertile assorted living habitats which provides expansive and extensive food chains. Everything from bacteria to mammals turn to it for life providing nourishment. On hot days the salt marshes generate more natural algae’s. Algae fuel is a bright promise for tomorrows energies needs. Salt marshes are one the most biologically productive habitats on the planet, rivaling the rain forest!

Unfortunately, in the past, salt marshes have been treated as "wastelands", but with the passing of the Clean Water Act of 1977 salt marshes are coming back from their deplorable treatment, and are not only persevering but thriving! Native switchgrass, bulrushes, cattails and cord grass are returning. With them, the salt marsh sparrow, king rail, blue heron, Osprey, Canadian geese, fiddler crabs, snapping and diamond back turtles and short nose sturgeon that use the salt marshes, to feed, forage, breed, nest and rest.

                       So please join me in discovering all the "Magic" in "The Magical Salt Marshes"