Project Summary

Tidal wetlands provide a wealth of ecosystem services, including erosion control, storm protection, sequestration of carbon and other nutrients and habitat vital to various life stages of commercially and ecologically important fish and wildlife.  Restoration of tidal wetlands adds to our economy and increases coastal resilience.  The key question is: “Do living shorelines provide similar ecosystem services to naturally established estuarine habitats in Connecticut?”  A recently established living shoreline in Stratford, CT provides a unique opportunity to compare the ecosystem services of two newly planted saltmarshes to nearby established marshes in the same estuary of the Housatonic River.  Indicators of ecosystem services for this project will include measures of sediment deposition, carbon sequestration rates and fish and bird diversity.

Product

Available December 2018

Project Team Members

• James O'Donnell, UConn Marine Sciences, UConn CIRCA
• Jennifer Mattei, Sacred Heart University