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Salt Marsh Dieback


Sudden Wetland Dieback
Sudden Wetland Dieback also called Brown Marsh Syndrome, is when vegetation dies suddenly or unexpectedly fails to grow across large areas of marsh. This phenomenon primarily affects Spartina alterniflora (Saltmarsh Cordgrass) but is also known to affect Spartina patens and Juncus species. Observations of Sudden Wetland Dieback have been reported in the past, but the widespread occurence on the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts of the United States within the past decade is alarming. Rapid death of marsh grass is cause for concern because these plants are the "glue" that holds the sediments and organics together. Without marshgrass, rapid erosion and marsh loss may occur. Saltmarshes are some of our most valuable coastal ecosystems: they provide us food, produce fish and shellfish, provide critical habitat, and protect us from storm surges. Click here to download the February 2007 white paper on SWD.
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    • Reference Materials
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    The following materials concern dieback and other stressors affecting saltmarshes in the Inland Bays and elsewhere in Delaware.
  • DIEBACK
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  • GENERAL (Loss, Stressors, Ecology)
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  • SEA LEVEL
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  • SNOW GEESE
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  • Marsh Dieback at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Restoration Sites, Court Stevenson -- UM Horn Pt.
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  • Mid-Atlantic Wetland Dieback Task Group Update July 25, 2007, Amy Jacobs -- DNREC
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  • Delaware Inland Bays Sudden Wetland Dieback Aerial Reconnaissance: June 2007, Chris Bason -- CIB
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  • February 2007 Whitepaper on SWD in Delaware's Inland Bays
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  • Dieback in DE's Inland Bays (presented at Delaware Estuary Science Conference, Jan, 07)
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  • DIB Saltmarsh Threats (Dieback)
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  • 2006 Dieback Weather Data
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  • 2006 Dieback Lit. Review
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