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Abstract
Globally, coastal marshlands are shrinking due to the loss of sediment caused by human activities. Mannington Meadows, a coastal wetland in Salem County, New Jersey, was once a freshwater marsh but has been converted to an area of mudflats and open water due to agricultural land conversion, dredging of the Salem Shipping Channel, and the Delaware River Channel, and the installation of bypass dams on the Salem River that divert freshwater inflows and alluvial sediment. Most of the sediment loss occurred in the 1930s and 1940s due to human alterations, but it has been increasing incrementally since that time. Ducks Unlimited has identified Mannington Meadows as an important area for restoration because the wetland provides essential habitat for wildlife and waterfowl, as well as many ecosystem services, and protects infrastructure from storms, winds, and tidal surges. This study examined historical data to estimate the volume of sediment lost from Mannington Meadows and explored ways to restore the marsh. Sources such as current and historic aerial photos, soil maps, soil samples, hydrology data, and LiDAR were used to assess the current condition of the marsh and determine what is needed to restore the wetlands, including potential sediment sources and transport techniques, as well as methods for preventing further sediment loss.INDEX WORDS: Mannington Meadows, Erosion, Restoration, Sediment, Wetlands