In 2013, Maryland restored Fishing Battery Island with sand and 60,000 plants, and much of its 12-acre habitat footprint remained 10 years later

In 2013, Maryland restored Fishing Battery Island in the northern Chesapeake Bay using sediment placed around the remains of the historic man-made island. The project, carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, restored 12 acres of intertidal and upland habitat and included planting 60,000 native plants. The sediment was 95% medium-grained sand and was used to create a U-shaped berm designed to reach 7 feet above Mean Lower Low Water. Ten years later, much of the island’s designed footprint remained, with surviving switchgrass and trees that had naturally established across parts of the site.How was Fishing Battery Island restored with sedimentThe restoration involved placing sediment around the remains of Fishing Battery Island to form a tall U-shaped berm. According to a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the berm was designed to be 125 feet wide across the top and reach an elevation of 7 feet above Mean Lower Low Water. Its outer edge was graded to a 10:1 slope, while the inner edge was graded more steeply at 5:1 towards the existing island platform.The sediments used for the project were described as 95% medium-grained sand. The report states that there was no structural component to the built island, meaning there was no sediment containment feature or shoreline hardening. Sediment placement was completed in early spring 2013, after which the island was planted with native species suited to different elevation zones.Why were 1,600 more plants added later in 2013As part of the 2013 restoration, approximately 60,000 plants were planted across the island. The planting was intended to establish vegetation appropriate for the different elevation zones of the restored feature. Heavy human foot traffic and grazing by geese led to an additional planting effort later that year.In autumn 2013, a further 1,600 plants were planted, and 3 acres were seeded. The report states that this additional work was intended to protect the shoreline from erosion and impede foot traffic across the island. Apart from this additional planting, the site report records showed no formal maintenance of the project.How much of Fishing Battery Island remained after 10 yearsA comparison of the island's 2013 and 2023 extents showed that much of the designed footprint remained in place. According to the report, erosion affected the northern shoreline and the westernmost portions, particularly the outer tips of the U-shaped island. The island covered approximately 16 acres in 2014, while by 2015 its total area had declined to 10 acres and remained relatively stable thereafter.Elevation surveys conducted in 2023 showed that surveyed elevations along the island's higher central spine were approximately 50 centimetres (1.5 feet) lower than the designed elevations. The report states that the reason for this elevation loss was unclear, while noting that gradual slumping of the steep slopes, potentially exacerbated by human foot traffic, may have contributed. The central higher-elevation area remained above Mean High Water and was vegetated with switchgrass.How did switchgrass and trees grow on Fishing Battery IslandBy 2023, the planted switchgrass was described as successful and appeared to be thriving, although it had not formed a dense canopy. Planting rows were still visible in aerial imagery 10 years after construction. The report also records natural recruitment of tree species including locust, oak, sycamore and willow.The original restoration design included emergent grasses along the inner shoreline to establish a marsh fringe. By 2023, the report found no evidence of the planted marsh vegetation along that shoreline. Instead, much of the inner shoreline was densely vegetated with trees. The report concludes that, 10 years after construction, Fishing Battery Island continued to provide habitat and recreational benefits while protecting the remaining historic lighthouse from wave energy.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.