Rebuilding an Island The restoration of Poplar Island Poplar Island was once an 1100 acre island in the Chesapeake Bay. In 1900, the island was home to about 100 residents. As Poplar Island eroded and its residents began to leave, it transitioned to a sportsmen’s haven. Because of its close proximity to Washington D.C., the island attracted many prominent politicians, such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, to its shores in search of fish and game. By the early 1990s, so much of Poplar Island had eroded that only 5 acres remained. That’s where a joint force of The Army Corp of Engineers, Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland Port Administration stepped in. Analysis had shown that the loss of habitat all along the Chesapeake Bay resulted in the decline of many environmental values. A plan was put in place to restore many islands, including Poplar Island, using dredge materials from channels that led to the Port
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of Baltimore. Construction of the island started in 1998, and soon the dredge-filled cells were ready to be planted. Ecological Restoration & Management (ER&M) of Cockeysville, Maryland was selected to replant 97 acres of tidal wetlands on the island. These wetlands called for over 500,000 2” herbaceous plugs and nearly 7,000 containerized shrubs. ER&M had a long history of completing similar salt marsh restoration projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Their stellar reputation, along with their proximity to Poplar Island, made them a prime candidate to successfully complete the restoration. Since the goal of the wetlands was to create habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife, selecting the right plants for the conditions was crucial. One unique attribute of the bay’s tides is that they would flood much of the job site twice each day. The plant palate was limited since only certain plants are tolerant of salt. For the tidal areas, Spartina alterniflora (Smooth Cordgrass) was the logical choice. Spartina alterniflora thrives in areas along the East Coast between the average low tide and average high tide water line. In areas of the marsh where flooding was more occasional, Spartina patens (Salt Meadow Cordgrass) was a more appropriate choice because of its high salt tolerance and ability to
