IV-453 



leaving a total of 19,200 acres. Of the high and moderate value 

 areas 12,600 acres remained, which represents a 3 percent loss in 

 the more valuable tidal marsh during the 5 year period, a reduction 

 in total area of about 6 percent. However, this is not the complete 

 picture. 



While more than 3 percent of the tidal marshes were completely or 

 partially destroyed during this 5 year period, their value for 

 waterfowl was not reviewed in 1959 or 1964, and much of the area 

 that was of high or moderate value in 1954 may have been reduced in 

 quality making the loss more severe than that recorded. 



The total loss of tidal marsh tabulated in the 1954 and 1959 surveys 

 is about 6 percent for the five year period. The loss for the five 

 years 1959 to 1964 is about 7 percent. 



The data on causes of marsh destruction do not fall into well- 

 defined categories. Dredging for a marina and placing the fill 

 on adjoining marsh represent two classes of destruction, but the 

 figures do not separate the. Similarly, there are little data 

 on the use to which filled areas are put— in housing, factories, 

 boat storage, dumps. Major causes of this loss involved miscella- 

 neous fill (48%); waste disposal (14%); roads and parking (9%); 

 industry (7%); marinas (6%); housing {5%)\ recreational develop- 

 ments (3%); and schools {}%) . 



