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Why Celebrate Wetlands?

It’s worth celebrating these plants that serve as important habitat for many wildlife species. Wetland plants such as salt marsh grasses have roots that tolerate and thrive in watery soil, including along the brackish waters of Long Island Sound. They act as a buffer to stormy seas, slow shoreline erosion, and filter pollutants.

Egrets can be seen in the distance at this salt marsh pond at Hammonassett Beach State Park. (Photo by Sibel Güner)
Freshwater wetlands on Plum Island, such as the one pictured here, support species such as Virginia rail, American black duck, and common snapping turtle. (Photo by Joyce Grigonis)

Since 1998, the Long Island Sound Study and its partners have restored over 1,100 acres of tidal wetlands. Learn more at the LISS ecosystem targets and supporting indicator microsite.

Wetlands also are an important component of living shoreline projects, which are nature-based solutions to protect coastal areas from the impacts of sea level rise and climate change. Learn about living shoreline projects in Long Island Sound in the Thriving Habitats section of the Long Island Sound Study website or view a living shorelines story map produced by the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Wetlands are both an effective and economical way to enhance community safety while improving quality of life. American Wetlands Month was established in 1991 by EPA and its partners. Find out more why it’s worth celebrating in May or any time of the year on the EPA website.

See the value of wetlands at Sunken Meadow State Park in Long Island

Check Out Virtual Tour of Long Island Sound Habitats and Teacher Webinar

teacher webinar of a virtual tour of Long Island Sound Habitats
The virtual story map tour and recorded webinar includes a section on salt marshes with many educational resources. It’s in the Thriving Habitats section of the Long Island Sound Study website.

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