Local eco groups tour marsh restorations

By Shanna Fortier
| 4:00 a.m. September 29, 2011

Jose Nunez stands at the first marsh restoration project located in Gamble Rogers State Park. PHOTOS BY SHANNA FORTIER

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Five years ago, a run-down, 10-acre salt marsh at Gamble Rogers Memorial State Park was restored. Now, with that restoration deemed a success, the St. Johns River Water Management District expanded its restoration project down Smith Creek and into North Peninsula State Park.

The project includes the clearing of vegetation from the site, excavation and disposal of spoil matter, grading the site to match existing elevations in adjacent marshes, and revegetation of the restored marsh.

Members from the Flagler Audubon Society, the Florida Native Plant Society and Friends of A1A boarded the IMERS Vessel Hurricane Queen Saturday, Sept. 24, to learn more about this project.

“We’re all a bunch of tree huggers, anyway,” said Mark Wheeler, Florida Native Plant Society member.

Contact Shanna Fortier at [email protected].