SALT MARSH: Proposed Actions

Actions (Objective 1)

Identify, assess, and prioritize sites with > 50 ha of high marsh.
Background and Progress: All of the species requiring high-marsh habitat appear to be area-sensitive. Although a number of sites are known that support some of these species, no systematic work has been done to identify other sites that may support these species. These sites need to be surveyed to determine the presence of high-marsh species. Sites also need to be surveyed to determine their current condition.

Develop management and monitoring plan for priority sites.
Background and Progress: Based on findings of inventor work, a management plan should be developed for sites that currently contain high-marsh species or that have the potential to support them. Plans may include steps to restore high-marsh habitat by eradicating invasive plant species or by instituting prescribed burn programs. Plans should include a program to monitor sites for priority species and invasive plants. Governmental programs to monitor and eliminate invasive plants are under development. Programs within the northern portion of the planning unit specifically targeting common reed have had mixed results.

Actions (Objective 2)

Minimize impacts to marshes >10 ha in area.
Background and Progress: Although not as area-sensitive as high-marsh species, low-marsh species do seem to have area requirements within the region. A large portion of the populations of low-marsh species appear to occur within marshes >10 ha in area. Marshes > 10 ha in area should be considered significant to these populations when evaluating wetland permits.