Wetland Sanctuary plants forest and meadow for the birds, the bugs, and the Bay

From the sheer variety of plant and animal species they host, to their water quality and flood protection benefits, both forests and meadows are extremely important ecosystems to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Alliance’s planting project at Emory Waters Nature Preserve, which is part of Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary (JBWS), operated by Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks, lies along the tidal reaches of the Patuxent River in Lothian, Maryland. The sanctuary protects roughly 1,700 acres of freshwater marshes, forested wetlands, riparian, and upland forests. JBWS was also designated an Important Bird Area in 2016.

a grey bird with an orange beak sits on on a beach

Important bird areas provide habitat for many different bird species, like this double-crested cormorant in Maryland.

The Alliance worked with JBWS staff to reforest 36 acres of former agricultural fields and plant meadow on an additional 17.5 acres. By establishing new forests and a meadow, the project provides a myriad of benefits to the park, but also, to water quality. After all, the Patuxent River flows directly into the Chesapeake Bay, so projects like this are important to keeping pollution out of the waterway.

 

Reforestation

trees growing out of protective plastic tubes

The thriving young forest on the former agricultural land

Some of the species planted included 1,000 white oaks, 600 red maples, and 600 American Sycamore. In total, Jug Bay received 9,125 tree and shrub seedlings!

park staff

Park staff examines the young forest to ensure tree survival.

“Working with the Alliance has been really incredible because for the first couple of years, my volunteers would do a survival study and count those trees that were not going to make it. The Alliance then had the funds and ability to replace those trees. The work really is only just beginning when the trees are in the ground. You plant a tree, and you make a commitment {to maintain its survival}.” – Liani Vitali, Stewardship & Citizen Science Coordinator, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary

 

Meadow

The Alliance also helped establish 17.5 acres of native meadow at the site, including meadow seed, using seed drill equipment. Some of the species planted included little bluestem, Virginia wildrye, and switchgrass. Native grasses and other meadow species like these help reduce erosion, stabilize soil, facilitate water filtration, and provide great habitat for the wildlife that depend on it.

an orange and black butterfly sits on an orange flower

A monarch butterfly enjoys its exclusive host plant, butterfly milkweed.

“In addition to the benefit of planting trees for reduction of erosion and losing of the soil, there’s also the benefit of creating a whole new habitat. So, birds are going to benefit from that as well as mammals, turtles, and all sorts of wildlife. We have seen an increase in the amount of insects, butterflies and bees that are visiting these new habitats that were not there before. It is really incredible.” – Patricia Delgado, Superintendent and Wetland Ecologist, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary

 

Learn more about this exciting project below!

By establishing the forest and the meadow at JBWS, the project is providing benefits to the Sanctuary itself, but also to water quality downstream. JBWS is in the Patuxent River watershed, which eventually finds its way into the Chesapeake Bay. Even though it’s a distance away from the actual Bay, it’s another source that now contributes to cleaner water for all who call the watershed home.

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