Wetland Migration on MV

Welcome to the island of varied terrain. From sandplain grasslands and frost bottoms to maritime shrubland and pitch pine forest, Martha’s Vineyard encompasses a rich abundance of habitat. Of them all, wetlands – those transitional zones between land and water – may be the most critical to our ecology’s fate and our ability to endure more frequent storms and mounting Sea Level Rise (SLR). The Vineyard possesses an estimated 3,500 acres of wetlands - more than the total acreage of the town of Aquinnah!. With the exception of sea walls, rip rap and bulkheads, the 125 miles of shoreline are the most likely place to find this natural resource. Yet it may take on many forms: there are salt marshes and freshwater swamps, along with open water and beaches, to name a handful.