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The Delaware Audubon Society has adopted the 40th wetland in the State's Adopt-a-Wetland Program. The site surrounds Grass Dale Conference Center in Fort DuPont State Park at Delaware City. The wetland is a 74 acre triangle of State land bordered by the C & D Canal, the Delaware City Branch Canal, and Polktown Road.
The existing wetlands are composed of fresh to slightly brackish salinity 0-6ppt marsh grass habitats that have been experiencing a general decline in habitat quality for approximately two decades. Plant abundance, habitat heterogeneity and open water space have been greatly reduced.
The area's generally poor habitat quality is primarily the result of the restriction of tidal flow by the canal's construction and the presence of large unbroken stands of Phragmites. A 45-foot breach in the dike between the canal and the wetlands continues to enlarge, contributing to erosion, siltation, and water quality problems.
This wetland area is scheduled for restoration by the Army Corps of Engineers and Audubon plans to document the restoration process. According to Chairperson Peggy Jahn and Kathy Tidball, future plans include educational activities, species surveys, as well as wildlife and fish habitat improvement.
This page was last updated on June 3, 1998.
