Salt marshes along Mill Creek in Somers Point, Atlantic County, NJ
New Jersey's tidal marshes are at risk due to sea level rise because they are not keeping pace with the rising sea level, and a changing climate that is challenging the marshes and the communities that depend on them.
Tidal marshes may not build forests, but they do build soil. In that soil, they trap, deposit, and secure a lot of carbon. Reading an article on blog.nature.org I found that:
"They peak in abundance and in diversity all around our crowded coastlines, a green carpet flourishing on low level muds that stretch out from our estuaries and sheltered shores.
They may lack the buzz of coral reefs or the grandeur of tall, dense mangrove forests, but tidal marshes are among the hyper-productive ecosystems of our planet. The waterlogged mud, rich nutrients, fresh sediments and tidal flushing mean that the grasses and herbs which grow here grow freely, and fast.
[They] build soil. And in that soil they trap, deposit and secure carbon. Furthermore, because that soil is both perpetually wet and salty, the carbon doesn’t rot and it doesn’t give off methane (a potent greenhouse gas). The carbon just builds up, and up, and up. Mangroves are the same. They are the world’s best carbon scrubbers.
Field scientists the world over have driven cores into these muds and measured the carbon they contain. It’s a lot, but it is also a history lesson. Some of this carbon goes back decades, even centuries.
If only there was enough of them, this could solve our climate change problem very quickly, extracting the CO2 from the air, converting it to organic matter, then packing it away, every day, year on year."
Salt marshes Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Galloway Township
There are several notable tidal marshes in New Jersey.
The Meadowlands in northern New Jersey is a complex of wetlands and marshes. It's a crucial habitat for various wildlife and also serves as a natural buffer against flooding.
Raritan Bay is situated along the coast and includes marshes that provide habitat for numerous aquatic species.
Barnegat Bay has extensive tidal marshes, although it has experienced some erosion over the years.
Delaware Bay also features tidal marshes which have been migrating inland due to sea level rise.
These and smaller marshes are essential for maintaining biodiversity, protecting shorelines, and providing habitat for many species
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