2002 Marsh Grass Planting

On Saturday, May 18th members of NAPS met at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Heathsville to learn both the value of marsh grass in the environment and the “nuts and bolts” of how to plant it. The program started at 10:00 am. After learning the right way to plant intertidal grass, we proceeded to our demonstration planting site. This year’s site selection was an eroded point near Olverson’s Marina -- on Lodge Creek in Lottsburg. This was a great way for all of us to learn more about the value of our marshes and their contribution to the well being of our ecosystem. We installed coconut logs on part of the site at the mid-tide mark as part of an experiment to determine their value as a buffer system against wave action. This involved driving oak stakes on each side of the logs to hold them in place -- great exercise. We then “scribed” the sand in 18” intervals to provide a grid for grass installation from high water down to almost mid-tide. The grass was planted using a dibble (or stake) and a little slow release fertilizer.

Click pictures of the Marsh Grass Planting to see larger image.

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