FT #5 - Sea level rise and wetland loss at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
     Leader: Dixie Birch; Ph.: 140-228-2692

Trip departs at 12:15 PM from the circular drive at the rear entrance to the Wardman Park Hotel
Anticipated return at 9:00 PM
Limited to 40 participants

The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) has an international wetland significance and is a RAMSAR (International Convention on Wetlands) site.  The media refers to the Blackwater NWR as the "Everglades of the North" and it is one of The Nature Conservancy's "Last Great Places."  However, since the Blackwater NWR was established in 1933, it has lost over 3200 ha (8000 acres) of wetlands; areas that were once well defined river channels are now a vast lake.  Looking out over Blackwater Lake, one is reminded of scenes from the movie Waterworld with Kevin Kostner.

Several factors have contrinuted to the changes at the Blackwater NWR, including sea level rise, saltwater intrusion, erosion, subsidence, and herbivory by nutria and Canada geese.  USGS scientists predict that without intervention, the majority of the 11,300 ha (28,000 acre) refuge will be submerged by 2025.  The refuge needs to increase bottom elevations to allow reestablishment of the lost marsh.  At the same time, the Port of Baltimore needs to dispose of and place 2.3-3 million cubic meters (3-4 million cubic yards) of clean dredged material each year.  This dredged material can be used to restore the wetlands of the Blackwater Refuge.  In 2003, a pilot project demonstrated the effectiveness of using dredged material to restore wetlands.  We will take participants along the Wildlife Drive and show then Blackwater Lake and restored wetlands, and then to MoneyStump, where the forests are quickly converting to open water.

Photos from Dixie Birch and used with permission