The contribution of land use stressors to current wetland condition in representative watersheds of the Delaware estuary

Abstract

Coastal wetlands are a hallmark feature of the Delaware Estuary where they form a nearly continuous fringe and furnish many important ecosystem and human services. These coastal wetlands have long been threatened where nearly half have been lost, degraded or otherwise altered. According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, the loss of these habitats continues with approximately 3,000 hectares lost between 1996 and 2006 (Stedman and Dahl, 2008). . Remote sensing data suggests that the majority of our remaining 150,000 hectares of tidal wetlands (PDE Report 10-01, 2010) are also degraded in condition, likely a precursor for more losses to come (Kearney et al, 2002).Past and present land use practices appear to be contributing to the decline of coastal wetlands in the estuary. I contrasted current salt marsh condition with past land use changes in the Delaware Estuary to better understand how various human influenced stressors may have impacted these valuable habitats. Salt marsh current condition and past configuration was examined in three representative watersheds: the St Jones River watershed, DE; the Broadkill River watershed, DE; and the Maurice River watershed, NJ. Comparative analyses of past practices, wetland configuration, and current wetland condition suggest that the causes of salt marsh loss and degradation are complex and site-specific.%%%%M.S., Environmental Science – Drexel University, 2011