Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge undergoes big marsh rest

as state legislators — cut the ribbon –officially opening — a new — highly needed — bridge on prime hook road — for years — prime hook road — along delaware’s coastline — struggled when severe storms hit — completely flooding the road — making it nearly impossible for coastal residents — to get in and out of the area the problem — was the old bridge — the water flowing through the marshlands — wasn’t properly going under the road like it was designed to — causing the water to overflow unto the road — the new bridge –now has special culverts that actually allow more water to flow underneath the road — dnrec’s deputy secretary — kara coates — says its not only helping the marshland but — the coastal residents as well — it’s a proactive approach to be able to have families to come out and go fishing and crabbing off the bridge as well as borders to be able to look at this amazing bay shore that we have behind us as well as meeting the transportation needs of the prime hook community the opening of the new prime hook bridge — is not the only major improvement made to the wildlife refuge — although — the bridge — is key — to improve the marshes — it was just one part of a multi — million dollar restoration project — 47 abcs dani bozzini has the story — track one about four thousand acres of tidal salt marsh — restored — at prime hook national wildlife refuge – a project — essential — to preserve the wildlife and marshland on delaware’s coast — 17:43:57 the vegetation here died, a lot of the mammals died and went away 17:44:02 track two for years — the state knew something needed to be done — storms — and even just high tides — caused major flooding — and nearly destroyedprime hook’s sand dunes — salt marshlands — and tidal channels – prime hook beach resident — john chirtea — saw it all — 18:05:28 we not only had flooding directly from the delaware bay with the bad storms but we also got hit from the marsh side when the water from the bay flowed into the marsh and then the people who were along the marsh there was major flooding of houses along 18:05:43 track three but — there was no funding — until hurricane sandy hit four years ago. that’s when the project became — one of the largest marsh restoration projects ever in on the east coast – with thirty-eight million dollars in funding from the department of interior — 17:50:11 by restoring this marsh we’ve been able to provide additional habitat for water fowl and again as well as preventing flooding and making our coastal communities more resilient 17:50:19 track four the refuge marshes — now have the ability — to withstand future storms — and rising sea levels — without flooding — and destroying wildlife habitats — making local residents who admire the area — like chirtea — very happy — 18:06:12 we can now live in a little bit of comfort that we’ve been protected to a large extent from the storms in the future 18:06:15 track five dani bozzini, 47 abc dnrec deputy secretary coats — says this restoration project has also helped with delaware’s commitments to the international migratory bird treaty — that they have with canada — by providing roosting and sanctuaries areas for birds migrating through the area — in wicomico county — two-hundred thousand dollars is up for