Many salt marshes have been drained for agriculture or degraded through the improper installation of culverts. However these salt marshes can be restored or rehabilitated. The John Lusby salt marsh which is part of the Chignecto National Wildlife Area is former dykeland that was restored when the dikes were breached. Environment Canada in co-operation with other government agencies, and conservation groups associated with the Gulf of Maine Council are identifying opportunities to restore salt marsh function. Salt marshes may be restored through relatively simple activities such as enlarging culvert sizes, or plugging drainage ditches. More complex restoration projects involve breaching dikes on unused agricultural lands.

The Ecology Action Centre has initiated a program for community based salt marsh restoration in Nova Scotia.
http://www.ecologyaction.ca/coastal_issues/coastal_issues.shtm

Many New England states have embarked on ambitious programs to restore salt marshes.

• CEC Scooping Paper
• Conservation Council of New Brunswick and Tidal Barriers Workshop Report
• Tidal Crossing Handbook - Parker River Association
• Little River salt marsh Restoration - New Hampshire - Alan Ammon
• Gulf of Maine Tidal Wetland Restoration - Dione and Neckles (eds)
• Buzzards Bay - Massachusetts
• Salt Marsh Restoration, Narragansett Bay - Rhode Island
• Sybil Creek Salt Marsh Restoration Project - Connecticut

If you have a candidate salt marsh for rehabilitation or restoration contact
Dr. Alan Hanson, Wetland Ecologist , Canadian Wildlife Service, (al.hanson@ec.gc.ca)