Blackwater NWR Looking for Public Feedback

(CAMBRIDGE, Md) – As wildlife mingles about in the marshes of the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge, Biologists like Matt Whitbeck are preparing for an environmental assessment as part of a greater plan: Developing a 100 acre tidal marsh restoration project.

Whitbeck tells us, “What this project will hopefully do is take material from the bottom of the Blackwater River and spread it out over the surface of about 100 acres of marsh along the Blackwater River. Building the elevation of that marsh increasing the resiliency to sea level rise, and also repairing damage caused to that marsh by the non-native nutria.”

Throughout the next few weeks, the refuge is encouraging people to provide their feedback…

So people like Laura Birkholz from Frederick, Maryland, who are trying to visit every national park can see a place like Blackwater at its best.

“I think it’s incredibly important. I mean, it’s important for us to see and to learn….I mean, I think it’s very important so that they know that we need to be funding these places and keep them running,” says Laura.

As Blackwater waits for input, officials want to remind the public about just how important these marshlands are to the health of larger bodies of water…like the Chesapeake Bay.

“It provides water quality purification, flood protection. These marshes are really, you know, the kidney of the bay as far as filtering pollutants. And so it’s something that we really hope people appreciate and and come out here to the refuge and really enjoy it.,” says Whitbeck.

If you want to provide feedback to the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, you can visit the Blackwater Visitor’s Center at 2145 Key Wallace Drive in Cambridge, or visit their website