deteriorate due to lack of tidal flushingo Lack of salt water caused a change 

 in vegetation resulting in the dominance of less desirable species. Other hindran- 

 ces to tidal flushing, including road culverts of inadequate size and poor main- 

 tenance of mosquito ditches, have also served to cause salt marsh deterioration. 



Re-opening some wetland areas to tidal flushing will help to re- 

 establish marshlando Increasing the size of road culverts, removing or not 

 maintaining tidal impoundment in carefully selected areas, and improving mosquito 

 ditching methods to prevent salt marsh areas from drying out \~n.ll insure growth 

 of Spartina alternif lora and ^o patens , the marsh grasses which form the basis 

 of wetland productivity. Restored wetland areas will provide nursery and spawning 

 grounds for fish and shellfish and additional habitat for coastal upland bird 

 and wildlife. 



This measure presents economic and social difficulties. Econom- 

 ically, it i-rLll lessen development possibilities. Social objections v%dll come 

 from those persons whose homes would be subject to tidal flushing if tidal gates 

 were removed or not maintained. 



Establish public environmental education programs . An effective 

 environmental education program would attempt to develop a sense of inquiry 

 concerning our natural resources and a commitment to a continuing awareness 

 of Man's responsibility for these resources. In such a densely populated 

 area as the metropolitan-Sound region, emphasis on development has prevailed 

 to the point of deterioration in some places. For the future, the ways in 

 which people comprehend their environment is ot significant importance. To 

 impress upon Man his dependence and integral role \-jith nature, environmental 

 education programs and nature centers can be most conducive to learning. 



Within federal structure, most agencies have recognized the value 

 of such programs and support them through the National Park Service, U.S. Fish 

 and Wildlife Service-Wildlife Refuge System, and many others. Within State 

 and local systems, the U.S. Office of Education has made Title III grants 

 available through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Town 

 conservation agencies can promote and establish centers for educational and 

 public use, and conservation groups can develop certain areas to promote con- 

 servation aims and awareness » 



Environmental education programs have high environmental quality 

 contributions and receive continuing local support. The major oppositions to 

 such programs usually are derived from conflicts in local school system pro- 

 gramming and are resolvable. This proposal does not generally reduce NED and 

 RD proposals and benefits, but does provide extremely high social well-being 

 attitudes. 



Establish additional l^o■ldlife management areas . Proposed manage- 

 ment areas would include inland wetlands which are as important to upland ecol- 

 ogy as tidal wetlands are to the marine ecosystem. They provide habitat and 

 food for black ducks, mallards, wood ducks, rabbits, fox, raccoon, deer, and 

 many other upland species. Inland wetlands are generally more susceptible to 



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