How Will Sea Level Rise Affect East River Marsh?

GUILFORD/MADISON, CT — The East River Marsh in Guilford/Madison is among Connecticut’s largest and most ecologically significant coastal marshes. Together with adjacent associated habitats including inland wetlands, coastal woodlands, and grasslands, the marsh-upland complex provides critical ecosystem services such as fish and wildlife nursery habitat, water quality enhancement, shoreline flood and erosion control, and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities.

Although among Connecticut’s most productive ecosystems, coastal marshes like the East River Marsh are also extremely vulnerable to a more recently recognized threat: accelerating rates of long term sea-level-rise.

To improve understanding of the value of and threats to the East River Marsh , the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is partnering with Menunkatuck Audubon Society and Audubon Connecticut to inform stakeholders such as marsh-front property owners about how the marsh may respond to sea level rise and what can be done to protect this extraordinary natural resource.

Through an improved understanding of existing and projected future marsh conditions, the partnership hopes to develop a Resilient East River Marsh Conservation Strategy to sustain the marsh complex’s ecosystem services.

A public meeting will be held Tuesday, April 7 at 7 p.m., in the Nathaniel Green Community Center’s Menunkatuck Room at 35 Church Street, Guilford.