Salt marshes throughout New England are threatened by sea level rise and development. These tidal wetlands not only absorb the impact of coastal storms, they provide critical habitat for many species of birds and marine life. Salt marshes also serve as a natural filtration system that sequesters carbon and pollutants carried in runoff from the land before it reaches the sea.

Now, thanks to a $1.4 million federal grant awarded In April 2024, efforts are being made by the Scarborough Land Trust, Ducks Unlimited, Maine Audubon, and other groups to restore and protect the 3,200-acre Scarborough Marsh—Maine’s largest contiguous salt marsh, located just south of Portland. Development is threatening to hem in the marsh, giving it little room to expand as sea levels rise.

A recent study conducted by the group Climate Central shows that efforts to conserve undeveloped land around Scarborough Marsh could see the total marsh area grow by 24 percent by 2100, even if seas rise rapidly.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, which currently owns and manages more than 95 percent of Scarborough Marsh, could be a major player in land-acquisition conservation efforts, especially if public support is on their side.