LOCATION: Mad Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area, Lower Alloways Creek Township, Salem County

PURPOSE:  To compensate for the injury to shoreline habitat as well as the injuries to birds due to the Athos oil spill, a restoration project is proposed at Mad Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area.  This project includes manipulating nearly 200 acres to create Spartina alterniflora habitat, tidal waters, wet meadow and grassland areas.

BACKGROUND: The Mad Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area contains salt marshes, transitional wetlands dominated by Phragmites, agricultural lands, and associated buildings. The Mad Horse Creek restoration project will restore the land to marsh and grasslands.

PROJECT SUMMARY:  32.5 acres of low marsh will be created, edged by about 10.5 acres of high marsh and 16.7 acres of scrub-shrub vegetation. Uplands will be excavated in several locations to create wet meadows (approximately 40.7 acres in total), which will be surrounded by grassland habitat.

BENEFITS: The wetland restoration will compensate for non-tributary shoreline losses and a portion of the bird loss due to the Athos spill. The wet meadow and grassland habitat that is being created will serve as food sources for birds.

PARTNERS: NJDEP, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)