Watch the video of the presentation "Building Resilient Marshes in Microtidal Systems Using Compost and Dredged Sediment: Results"
The Coastal Habitat and Aquatic Resource Restoration and Management (CHARRM) meeting on Aug. 28, 2025, featured the presentation “Building Resilient Marshes in Microtidal Systems Using Compost and Dredged Sediment: Results,” by Joseph Smith, Ph.D., Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. A video of the talk can be viewed above.
Dr. Smith’s presentation shared results from an award-winning marsh restoration project at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. The project included a novel technique of incorporating municipal compost in addition to dredged sediments to restore high marsh habitats to support endangered species. Dr. Smith elaborated on both the successes in plant growth and challenges related to elevation maintenance. The presentation focused on advancing salt marsh restoration techniques, ongoing challenges faced in marsh restoration, and the urgent need of these efforts to prevent habitat loss.