On August 12th, the Ducks Unlimited staff and Senator Chafee's Staff held a site review of the Narragansett Bay restoration projects, including the Walker Farm restoration project in Barrington.
Walker Farm salt marsh is an historic salt marsh that has been altered by a number of roads and dam structures that restrict the amount of salt water entering the marsh. Restricted tidal flow, decreasing salinity in the marsh, and impoundment of open water is believed to have resulted in the invasion of Common Reed (Phragmites australis) throughout the wetland. The restoration work designed by Ducks Unlimited includes the re-location of an existing culvert, installation of a water control structure and modification of a sea wall to increase tidal flow; the construction of a revetment and berm to protect existing residential property from erosion and potential flooding; and fill was also removed from the marsh surface to improve tidal circulation within the marsh. The total expected restoration area is approximately 16 acres. Construction is expected to be complete in August 2005, with a total investment of more than $200,000.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) Community-based Restoration Program grant issued to Ducks Unlimited and private contributions, provided $89,000 toward the restoration of the marsh. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Save the Bay have provided continuing on-site technical assistance throughout the project. Partners in the Walker Farm project include, NOAA, NRCS, Environmental Science Service, the Town of Barrington, the RI Mosquito Abatement Program, Save the Bay, and Ducks Unlimited (DU).
The group also toured the Town Pond project, another restoration opportunity similar to the Walker Farm. Ducks Unlimited and partners will be addressing tidal problems as well battling the invasion of Common Reed (Phragmites australis) throughout the wetland.
Additional Wetland Projects around Rhode Island include:
- Lonsdale Marsh/Drive-In Aquatic Habitat Restoration Project in Lincoln
- Pawtuxet River Fish Run Restoration in both Cranston and Warwick
- Walker's Farm Salt Marsh Restoration Project in Barrington
- Gooseneck Cove Salt Marsh Restoration in Newport
- Fields Point Wetland Creation in Providence
- Town Pond Salt Marsh Restoration Project in Portsmouth
“Putting my feet to the ground at the developing Walker Farm project establishes a real connection to what Ducks Unlimited is all about. I really cannot say enough about the DU staff for the work they do on behalf of wetlands conservation and restoration," says the new state chairman of Ducks Unlimited Steven DiMasi. DiMasi comes to the group as not only a conservationist bus also as a hunter whose interest is in maintaining the birds for sport. He says that he had hunted on occasion as a young man with his father and was re-introduced to the sport by his father-in-law.
In many ways, projects like Walker Farm have already had some success. The Department of Environmental Management has instituted a special early hunting season for resident Canada goose through the month of September to help control the state's growing resident Canada goose population. This season reduces the non-migratory local populations before the migratory Canada geese arrive.
With more than one million supporters, Ducks Unlimited (www.ducks.org/conservation) is the world’s largest wetland and waterfowl conservation organization. Wetlands are nature’s most productive ecosystems, but the United States has lost more than half of its original wetlands and continues to lose more than 100,000 wetland acres every year. For more information on how you can support RI Ducks Unlimited, please contact the Steve @ 401-789-0674 or email @ sdimasi@tidispersion.com.
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