Great Meadows Salt Marsh Restoration in Stratford

Connecticut’s coastline has received an exciting refresh: After years of planning and fundraising, 44 acres of salt marsh and other important coastal habitat has been restored at Great Meadows Marsh, a Globally Important Bird Area, and part of Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. The public is now welcome to visit the marsh’s old - and new - trails, and take in the sights of fall migration via two viewing platforms. 

Since construction began in October 2021, Great Meadows Marsh has transformed into a haven for threatened plants and animals, and community access has been greatly improved. Nearly 200,000 native coastal plants and shrubs were added to the site by paid, seasonal “Salt Marsh Stewards” from Stratford and Bunnell high schools - with the help of crew leaders and over 150 volunteers; a new creek restored the natural flow of salt water in and out with the tides; grassy mounds were created to provide an elevated home for nesting Saltmarsh Sparrows; and two ADA-accessible viewing platforms were built.

The project site remains active: We are continually monitoring and managing for invasive species, and added over 50,000 native plants and shrubs since the original work was completed. Our Saltmarsh Stewards crew works on-site every summer! To-date, 32 different students have participated in this program, four of whom have gone on to be hired as Crew Leaders.