What is a tidal marsh and why is tidal marsh restoration important?
Tidal marshes form on low-lying lands adjacent to coasts and estuaries. They are flooded and drained by the tides. Much of the historical Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta was tidal marsh, which was habitat for a rich diversity of wildlife including waterfowl, deer and elk, fish, and shellfish. Today, after over 150 years of human changes, it is widely accepted that the Delta ecosystem is in crisis. Restoration of some lands to tidal marsh and related aquatic and terrestrial habitats is widely regarded as necessary to improve the health of the Delta so that it can sustain both humans and wildlife.
