Audubon is working to design and complete a salt marsh restoration project to increase ecosystem function and species diversity within Crab Meadow salt marsh/Jerome A. Ambro Memorial Wetland Preserve. The preserve is located in the Town of Huntington on Long Island.
Over the last few decades, Crab Meadow’s large wetland preserve has lost a significant amount of wildlife habitat due to sea level rise, development, pollution, nutrient runoff, and invasive species. We plan to create, restore, and/or enhance high marsh meadow habitat and increase the marsh's resiliency to sea level rise.
Q: How will restoration efforts impact birds that currently visit/reside in the saltmarsh?
A: There may be temporary disruptions to waterfowl and other birds during the construction phase, but the restoration project will ultimately improve the habitat.
Within the marsh you can often observe Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Willets, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Osprey. Occasionally, salt marsh obligate species such as Clapper Rail, Saltmarsh Sparrow, and Seaside Sparrow can also be observed or heard.
Q: Phragmites seem to be overtaking the high marsh at an alarming rate. What is the strategy for removing this invasive plant and restoring the native plants normally found in the high marsh?
A: Phragmites australis is a huge problem that impacts ecosystems by reducing biodiversity and altering the habitat structure. Unfortunately, it’s also very hard to successfully manage and can be costly. We are waiting for recommendations from our contractor on if and how to control the Phragmites at Crab Meadow. They will perform a cost-benefit analysis to determine the best restoration strategies for the marsh which may include targeted Phragmites control. In addition to targeted control, treatments could include improvements to drainage features within the marsh where freshwater inflow is impounded to increase salinity and make the habitat less suitable for Phragmites and more suitable for native salt marsh plants.
Q: Why are you restoring the marsh?
A: Although the marsh may look healthy from a distance, long-term data show that it has been degrading over time. Since the 1970s, the site has lost approximately 62% of its high marsh habitat. High marsh occurs at slightly higher elevations that are flooded less frequently by tides and provides critical nesting habitat for species such as the saltmarsh sparrow.
The marsh has also been altered by a network of drainage ditches that were originally dug in the 1930s to control mosquitoes. Over time, these ditches have widened substantially, changing how water moves across the marsh. Rising sea levels are increasing the frequency of tidal flooding, which is the primary driver of marsh loss and the conversion of vegetated marsh to mudflats. These impacts are further compounded by nutrient pollution and biological factors such as crab burrowing and grazing on plant roots along ditch edges.
This restoration project aims to address these stressors and make the marsh more resilient to sea level rise.
Q: Will there be any demands or restrictions recommended to be put on the neighboring housing communities?
A: No. There will be no demands or restrictions on neighboring housing communities, but voluntary septic upgrades are encouraged to help limit nutrient inputs to the marsh. A reduction in nutrients would also improve the health of the marsh and could help with reducing the Phragmites population. If you’re interested in learning more about how to upgrade your septic system, check out Suffolk County’s Septic Improvement Program.
Q: Have you considered what to do about the flooding that occurs on Makamah Beach Road when the water overflows from Crab Meadow wetlands?
A: We recognize that roadway flooding, particularly along Makamah Beach Road and Waterside Avenue, is a significant concern for the surrounding community. While the scope of this project is focused on restoring the marsh footprint, we are mindful of how marsh conditions intersect with flooding issues affecting nearby roads and homes.
Our goal is to restore a healthy, functioning marsh ecosystem that is better able to absorb and accommodate both tidal flooding and stormwater inputs. Without restoration, the marsh is at risk of converting to mudflat, which would reduce its ability to attenuate water and could worsen flooding in the surrounding area. However, marsh restoration alone cannot fully address flooding caused by sea level rise, increasing precipitation, and other broader stressors affecting coastal infrastructure. We will share community concerns about flooding with our consultants, so they are aware of the surrounding marsh issues.
While this project does not directly address roadway infrastructure, there are a variety of federal, state, and local funding opportunities that the Town or other partners could pursue to address road flooding. We are supportive of those efforts and are happy to participate in coordination and planning discussions with the Town and other stakeholders.
Q: How might the restoration plan incorporate community education and engagement opportunities?
A: We held a beach cleanup in September 2025 and will host additional volunteer events over time—likely focusing on invasive species removal or golf ball cleanup. Depending on funding, we are also considering the possibility of creating a nature trail. We welcome partnerships with schools, youth groups, and community organizations, and we will continue to support education and stewardship activities throughout the project.
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