SALT MARSHES RESTORATION AT THE COAST OF NEW HAMPSHIRE CASE STUDY: THE LITTLE RIVER MARSH PROJECT

1
SALT MARSHES RESTORATION AT THE COAST OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE CASE STUDY THE LITTLE RIVER MARSH
PROJECT

• Carolina Saiz

2
Changes in Land Use
Source U.S.D.A. Natural Resources
Conservation Service
3
Little River Marsh Outlets

• Source U.S.D.A. Natural Resources
  Conservation Service

4
Changes in Salinity Levels Vegetation
Courtesy Jennifer Drociak,
New Hampshire Coastal Program
Source Kaminsky, R. Spatial modelling
and visualization of habitat response to
hydrologic restoration in New England salt
marshes.
5
Final Comments

• The restoration works conducted at the Little
  River Marsh showed that, in fact, the restoration
  of tidal flow contributed to improve the quality
  of the native environment. The salinity levels
  rose after 2000, allowing the proliferation of
  halophilic vegetation, and reducing the coverage
  area of invasive plants (especially species of
  concern like common reed and purple
  loosestrife).
• By using the studies made in the Little River
  Marsh area as a knowledge basis, and following
  the procedures to improve the environment,
  restoration along all the New Hampshire and the
  Maine Gulf coast could be initiated.
• It is important to evaluate restrictions taking
  into account social and economic factors. Flood
  potential and land rights should be evaluated.
  The flood potential must consider the probability
  of flooding for a building located near the
  marsh, and the land rights evaluation must
  consider objections that landowners could make to
  any changes at the present restrictions and the
  need for relocation.
• In some cases, the restoration works are
  expensive, but there are several locally
  sponsored funding programs.