Secret Harbor Salt Marsh and Estuary Restoration

In 2006, DNR purchased the Secret Harbor site for inclusion into the Cypress Island Natural Resource Conservation Area (NRCA). This acquisition likely prevented large-scale development that would have permanently transformed the area and greatly reduced the opportunity to restore the site to natural conditions.

The goal of this project is to restore a continuum of 28 acres of estuarine, riverine, and palustrine wetlands and adjacent upland habitats within the NRCA of Secret Harbor on Cypress Island.

This will be accomplished initially through the removal of a tidal dike and filling of ditches to restore hydrology to the site. Expected benefits include the recovery of mud-flat, salt marsh, and estuarine channels, as well as, freshwater wetland and stream habitats.

DNR will receive approximately $580,000 in funding from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to design and construct the project. DNR is also contributing $40,000 from the 2009-2011 Aquatics Restoration Funding, as well as, in-kind services as match to the USACE funding.

Project elements in addition to the dike removal are anticipated to include:

• Restoration of freshwater marsh hydrology and wetland habitat to improve connectivity to the creek

• Provide for fish access into the restored habitat through the removal of culverts

• Restore wetland functions through regrading of berms around stock ponds and re-vegetation with native wetland plants

• Removal of a derelict creosote-treated dock

Following construction, the project will also include up to five years of monitoring to determine the extent to which the habitat has recovered. Monitoring will also provide for adaptive management of the site to improve any conditions that have not recovered.