In conjunction with National Public Land Day, officials from the National Aquarium led a group of 200 community volunteers in removing debris, restoring habitat for wildlife, and maintaining trails at the Fort McHenry Wetland, located within the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore.

Involving the community in clean-up efforts is important to the Aquarium staff, and the help was very much appreciated. A special thanks goes out to all the volunteers that spent Saturday morning getting their hands dirty. The restoration was a huge success!

 About the Fort McHenry Wetland:

Restoration of the wetland began in 1997.  So much debris had accumulated over a decade that bulldozers and dumpsters were initially required for three days of work.  A year later, the Aquarium began sponsoring periodic public cleanups to maintain the site and to monitor the impact of debris.  The restoration was a conservation action project involving the National Aquarium, the National Park Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Habitat Conservation.

 A corps of volunteers known as the Aquarium Conservation Team (ACT!), managed by the Aquarium’s Conservation Department, maintain the wetland.  This team was created to monitor the health of the Fort McHenry wetland on a regular basis.  They work to eliminate debris and Phragmites australis, a non-native invasive reed that is taking over many of the Chesapeake Bay’s wetlands.  The team also plants native vegetation, conducts a regular census of wildlife, and interprets the marsh’s function at public events.  These activities have established a protocol for community involvement in monitoring created wetlands. 

Check out pictures of debris build up and past events:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalaquarium/sets/72157621764878842/show/

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